Final Performers and Presenters Set for the Sold Out 42nd Annual Academy of Country Music(R) Awards, Country Music's Party of the Year(TM)

Final Performers and Presenters Set for the Sold Out 42nd Annual Academy of Country Music(R) Awards, Country Music's Party of the Year(TM)

Telecast to Air Live From MGM GRAND in Las Vegas

Tuesday, May 15th at 8:00 PM ET/PT on CBS Television Network

Faith Hill, Toby Keith, Martina McBride and Big & Rich With Special Guest John Legend Set to Perform Along With Jason Aldean, Rodney Atkins, Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Vince Gill, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, George Strait, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Josh Turner, Carrie Underwood & Reba McEntire With Special Guest Kelly Clarkson

Special Guest Shania Twain Will Participate, Her First Awards Show Appearance in Two Years

Gary Dourdan, Sara Evans, Heartland, Brad Mates of Emerson Drive, Justin McBride, Dr. Phil & Robin McGraw, Craig Morgan, Joe Nichols, Kellie Pickler, Gabrielle Reece, Emma Roberts, Darius Rucker, Eric Szmanda, Luke Wilson and Chris Young Set to Present Along With Terri Clark, Montgomery Gentry, Tracy Lawrence, Blake Shelton, Michelle Stafford, Hannah Storm & The Wreckers

ENCINO, Calif., May 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Today the Academy of Country Music is announcing that country music superstars Faith Hill, Toby Keith, Martina McBride and Big & Rich with special guest John Legend will perform, special guest Shania Twain will participate and Gary Dourdan, Sara Evans, Heartland, Brad Mates of Emerson Drive, Justin McBride, Dr. Phil & Robin McGraw, Craig Morgan, Joe Nichols, Kellie Pickler, Gabrielle Reece, Emma Roberts, Darius Rucker, Eric Szmanda, Luke Wilson and Chris Young will present as part of the sold out 42nd 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 15th, 2007 at 8:00 PM ET/PT on the CBS Television Network.

Faith Hill is nominated for Top Female Vocalist and has previously won 14 Academy of Country Music Awards.

Toby Keith is nominated for Top Male Vocalist and has previously won nine Academy of Country Music Awards, including two back-to-back Entertainer of the Year Awards.

Martina McBride is nominated for Top Female Vocalist -- her 16th career nomination by the Academy -- and has previously won three Academy of Country Music Awards. She has also been honored with the Academy of Country Music/Home Depot Humanitarian Award.

Big & Rich is nominated for Top Vocal Duo, Video of the Year for "8th of November" and for Vocal Event of the Year for "That's How They Do It In Dixie," with Hank Williams Jr., Gretchen Wilson and Van Zant. John Rich has an additional nomination for producing Gretchen Wilson's single, "Politically Uncorrect" which brings his total to five nominations. They have previously been nominated for six Academy of Country Music Awards. This will be John Legend's first performance at the Academy of Country Music Awards.

Presenting awards at the 42nd ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS are Gary Dourdan, Sara Evans, Heartland, Brad Mates of Emerson Drive, Justin McBride, Dr. Phil & Robin McGraw, Craig Morgan, Joe Nichols, Kellie Pickler, Gabrielle Reece, Emma Roberts, Darius Rucker, Eric Szmanda, Luke Wilson and Chris Young.

These artists and participants listed above join previously announced 42nd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards performers Jason Aldean, Rodney Atkins, Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Vince Gill, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, George Strait, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Josh Turner, Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire with special guest Kelly Clarkson and previously announced presenters Terri Clark, Montgomery Gentry's Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry, Tracy Lawrence, Blake Shelton, Michelle Stafford of "The Young and the Restless," Hannah Storm of "The Early Show," and The Wreckers' Michelle Branch and Jessica Harp. McEntire will host the event for an unprecedented 9th time.

The 42nd ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS ceremony honoring country music's top talent as well as the industry's hottest emerging talent, will be broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.

The ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC, an artist and industry-driven organization, exists to produce a world-class network television awards show, and its associated events, to provide the financial resources to ensure the on-going philanthropic work of its Charitable Fund. Academy of Country Music Charitable Fund promotes and supports music education and humanitarian programs that transform the human spirit. Through its charitable donations, the ACMCF works towards two main goals: encouraging Learning Through Music and Healing Through Music. The Academy, which is comprised of more than 4,500 professional members and more than 40,000 associate members, was established in 1964 and is headquartered in Encino, Calif.

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, produced by Barry Adelman and directed by Louis J. Horvitz. The executive in charge of production is Bob Bardo, and the executive in charge is Francis LaMaina.

For more information on the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS and the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC, please visit www.acmcountry.com.

For more information on the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC CHARITABLE FUND, please visit www.acmcf.org.

Source: Academy of Country Music

CONTACT: Brooke Primero of BNC, +1-310-854-4800, bprimero@bncpr.com, for
Academy of Country Music

Web site:

http://www.acmcf.org/

Web site:

http://www.acmcountry.com/

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