First Round of Performers & Presenters Set for the 41st ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC(R) AWARDS, Country's Night to Shine(TM)

First Round of Performers & Presenters Set for the 41st ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC(R) AWARDS, Country's Night to Shine(TM)

Telecast to Air Live From MGM Grand in Las Vegas Tuesday, May 23rd at 8:00 PM ET/PT on CBS Television Network

Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts and Sugarland Set to Perform Dr. Phil & Robin McGraw, Kathryn Morris Set to Present

BURBANK, Calif., April 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Today the Academy of Country Music is announcing that country music superstars Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts and Sugarland will perform as part of the 41st ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS. The ceremony, which honors country music's top talent as well as the industry's hottest emerging talent, will be broadcast LIVE from MGM GRAND in Las Vegas on Tuesday, May 23rd, 2006 at 8:00 PM ET/PT on the CBS Television Network.

Reigning Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year Kenny Chesney returns with another nomination in the same category, as well as being nominated for Top Male Vocalist, an award he took home in 2003. The 25-million-selling singer/songwriter from Luttrell, Tennessee is the Academy's newest Triple Crown winner, an honor given to recognize those elite artists -- there are six total -- who have taken home Top New, Top Vocal Designation and Entertainer, over the Academy's 41 year history. Toby Keith has won Entertainer of the Year honors twice, and is nominated for that same award again this year. He is also nominated for Video of the Year for "As Good As I Once Was."

First-time nominee Carrie Underwood is nominated in four categories including Top Female Vocalist, Top New Female Vocalist, Single Record of the Year and Song of the Year (both for "Jesus Take the Wheel"). Rascal Flatts is nominated in four categories including Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year ("Feels Like Today"), Song of the Year ("Skin (Sarabeth)") and Top Vocal Group, which they have won the past three years. Sugarland is nominated for five awards including Top Vocal Group, Top New Duo or Vocal Group, Album of the Year ("Twice the Speed of Life"), Single Record of the Year and Song of the Year (both for "Baby Girl").

Presenting awards at the 41st ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS are Dr Phil & Robin McGraw, best known for the nationally syndicated one-hour series Dr. Phil and the forthcoming book Inside My Heart: Choosing to Live with Passion and Purpose, respectively. Also presenting is Kathryn Morris who stars as homicide detective Lilly Rush in the hit CBS show Cold Case.

The Academy of Country Music was founded in 1964 with a mission to support, promote, and enhance the advancement of the country music industry worldwide. The Academy, which is comprised of more than 4,000 professional members and a newly established Associate Membership, is headquartered in Burbank, Calif. For more information on the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS and the Academy of Country Music, please visit www.acmcountry.com.

The ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS is produced for television by dick clark productions. The show is executive produced by Allen Shapiro and R.A. Clark, and produced by Barry Adelman. The executive in charge of production is Bob Bardo, and the executive in charge is Fran LaMaina.

The ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS will be broadcast LIVE from MGM GRAND in Las Vegas on Tuesday, May 23rd, 2006 at 8:00 PM ET/PT on the CBS Television Network.

Source: The Academy of Country Music

CONTACT: Brooke Primero of BNC, +1-310-854-4800, for The Academy of
Country Music

Web site: http://www.acmcountry.com/

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