More Star Power to Perform on 'The 40th Annual CMA Awards'

More Star Power to Perform on 'The 40th Annual CMA Awards'

Reigning CMA Entertainer and Male Vocalist of the Year Keith Urban and Female Vocalist of the Year Nominee Martina McBride to Perform During "Country Music's Biggest Night"

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- "Country Music's Biggest Night(TM)" continues to grow with the announcement today that Martina McBride and Keith Urban will perform when "The 40th Annual CMA Awards" airs live Monday, Nov. 6 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network from the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville. The three-hour gala will be hosted for the third time by Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn of super duo Brooks & Dunn.

McBride received a nomination in 2006 for Female Vocalist of the Year, an Award she has won four times in the past (first in 1999, and then consecutively in 2002, 2003 and 2004). McBride is currently tied with Reba McEntire for the most wins in this category. McBride's current album is Timeless, featuring her renditions of 18 classic Country songs. The album was certified platinum by the RIAA. She recently added her vocals to the late Dean Martin's version of the holiday standard "Baby, It's Cold Outside" for an expanded version of his classic Christmas With Dino album released on Sept. 12. McBride will kick off her 16-city "Joy of Christmas" tour, now in its fourth year, in Chicago on Nov. 24.

Urban received four nominations in 2006, including Entertainer and Male Vocalist of the Year, both of which he won in 2005; Song of the Year for "Tonight I Wanna Cry," which he co-wrote with Monty Powell; and Single of the Year for "Better Life," which he co-produced with Dann Huff. Both songs are from Urban's 2004 album Be Here, which has sold more than three million copies to date. His current single, "Once in a Lifetime," the first from his forthcoming fourth studio album, Love, Pain & the whole crazy thing, made history by debuting at No. 17 on the Billboard Hot Country Song Chart, the highest debuting single in the 62-year history of that chart. The album will be released Nov. 7.

Performers already announced include Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Sara Evans, Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, George Strait, Carrie Underwood and Gretchen Wilson. 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.

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Source: Country Music Association

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

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