The Year's Top Artists Perform on 'The 40th Annual CMA Awards'

The Year's Top Artists Perform on 'The 40th Annual CMA Awards'

Reigning CMA Horizon Award Winner Dierks Bentley; Former CMA Entertainer of the Year Kenny Chesney; Reigning CMA Female Vocalist Gretchen Wilson; and 2006 Country Music Hall of Fame Inductee George Strait to Perform During "Country Music's Biggest Night"

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- The list of Country luminaries performing on "The 40th Annual CMA Awards" reads like a who's who of the format's finest with the announcement today that Dierks Bentley, Kenny Chesney, Gretchen Wilson, and 2006 Country Music Hall of Fame inductee George Strait will all perform during this year's gala.

"The 40th Annual CMA Awards" will be held Monday, Nov. 6 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) and will air live from the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville on the ABC Television Network. The CMA Awards will be hosted for the third consecutive year by Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn of Brooks & Dunn.

In 2004, Bentley received his first nomination for the Horizon Award. He claimed the trophy in 2005, and in 2006 he is nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year, for the first time. Bentley, who has been on the road with Chesney's "The Road and the Radio" tour, will headline his own tour. "The Locked & Loaded" tour begins Oct. 4 in Auburn, Ala., and Bentley's next album, Long Trip Alone, comes out Oct. 17.

Chesney received four CMA Awards nominations in 2006 including Entertainer, which he won in 2004; Male Vocalist; Album for The Road and the Radio; and Single of the Year for "Summertime." Chesney could win two additional Awards for co-producing his nominated Album and Single of the Year with Buddy Cannon. Chesney, who has sold nearly 25 million albums, released a concert disc, Live Those Songs Again, Sept. 19. He concluded his successful, summer stadium tour on Sept. 3 and has performed for close to 6 million fans over the past five summers.

Wilson won the Horizon trophy in 2004 and last year she was named CMA Female Vocalist of the Year. She is nominated in that category again in 2006 and picked up an additional nomination for Musical Event of the Year with Merle Haggard for "Politically Uncorrect." The multi-Platinum artist's highly- anticipated autobiography, Redneck Woman: Stories from My Life, will be published by Warner Books on Nov. 1.

The legendary Strait will also perform in addition to being formally inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame on the CMA Awards along with artist Sonny James and musician/producer Harold Bradley. Strait recently enjoyed his 53rd No. 1 single with "Give It Away," making him Billboard magazine's all-time leader for No. 1 Country singles. The song is from Strait's forthcoming album, It Just Comes Natural, which is due in stores Oct. 3.

Performers already announced include Brooks & Dunn, Sara Evans, Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, and Carrie Underwood. More performers and presenters will be announced soon.

Tickets for "The 40th Annual CMA Awards" are now on-sale to the general public, and can be purchased by logging on to www.ticketmaster.com; calling (615) 255-9600; or in-person at the Gaylord Entertainment Center box office, 501 Broadway (corner of Fifth Avenue and Broadway, in Nashville). The ticket price is $150 for Bronze level seating; $200 for Silver level seating (excluding applicable service/handling fees).

"The 40th Annual CMA Awards" is a production of the Country Music Association. Walter C. Miller is the Executive Producer; Robert Deaton is the Consulting Producer. Premiere Radio Network is the official radio packager of the CMA Awards, including a stereo-radio simulcast of the gala event. American Airlines is the official airline of the 2006 CMA Awards. Chevy, an American Revolution, is the official ride of the 2006 CMA Awards. Additional promotional partners include aolmusic.com, Greased Lightning Cleaning Products(R), and Hallmark Cards(R). Charles Fazzino is the official artist of the 2006 CMA Awards.

Source: Country Music Association

CONTACT: Wendy Pearl, or Scott Stem, both of CMA, +1-615-244-2840; or
Mozell Miley of ABC (NY), +1-212-456-6444

Web site: http://www.cmaawards.com/
http://www.ticketmaster.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: For CMA Awards information, history and high-resolution images visit CMApress.com. Media may also register for credentials at this site which is for media only and is not intended for public use. The public should be directed to CMAawards.com.

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