Two American Icons - Dan Rather and Willie Nelson - Sit Down for Rare One-On-One Interview

Two American Icons - Dan Rather and Willie Nelson - Sit Down for Rare One-On-One Interview

HDNet's World Premiere of 'American Voices: A Conversation with Dan Rather and Willie Nelson' Airs Sunday, November 25 at 8:00 p.m. ET

DALLAS, Nov. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- This Sunday, HDNet presents a conversation between two of America's most legendary personalities. In a rare one-on-one interview, HDNet's Dan Rather talks to Country music legend Willie Nelson for the world premiere of "American Voices: A Conversation with Dan Rather and Willie Nelson."

"American Voices: A Conversation with Dan Rather and Willie Nelson" airs Sunday, November 25 at 8:00 pm ET on HDNet. The program will also be shown at 11:00 pm ET to accommodate West Coast prime time.

In the wide-ranging interview, shot at his ranch near Austin, TX, Nelson speaks candidly about his views on the war in Iraq, the controversial farm bill and the legalization of marijuana.

Nelson also tells Rather that he opposes the farm bill -- currently at a stalemate in the Senate -- calling for an end to the enormous federal agricultural subsidies for farmers who are already wealthy. Despite his opposition to the bill, Nelson is unwavering in his commitment to helping family farmers keep their lands through his work with Farm Aid, the nonprofit organization he helped establish 22 years ago to raise awareness about the loss of small family farms.

HDNet's special hour of "American Voices: A Conversation with Dan Rather and Willie Nelson" precedes the live high definition presentation of "Farm Aid 2007: A HOMEGROWN Festival," at 9:00 pm ET, which was recorded live on September 9, 2007 at Randall's Island in New York City.

Nelson is among the featured performers at Farm Aid 2007. The live concert will also include performances by Neil Young, John Mellencamp, and Dave Matthews, who performed with Tim Reynolds, along with The Allman Brothers Band, Counting Crows, Matisyahu, Guster, The Derek Trucks Band, Warren Haynes, Montgomery Gentry, and Danielle Evin.

Willie Nelson is an American legend and is one of the Country music industry's most prolific songwriters and performers. He has recorded nearly 300 albums and has won countless honors, including nine Grammy Awards. Earlier this month Nelson was recognized by BMI with its icon award, which recognizes artists who have a "unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers."

HDNet's presentation of "American Voices: A Conversation with Dan Rather and Willie Nelson" airs Sunday, November 25 at 8:00 pm ET, followed by "Farm Aid 2007: A HOMEGROWN Festival," at 9:00 pm ET.

About HDNet

HDNet (www.hd.net) provides viewers with the best in original comedy, drama, news, sports and music programming.

HDNet is your exclusive, high definition home for popular, critically acclaimed original programming, including television's only HD news feature programs "HDNet World Report", "Dan Rather Reports" featuring legendary journalist Dan Rather and "NASA on HDNet" (presenting live shuttle launches through 2010). HDNet presents championship sports coverage featuring the National Hockey League, Major League Soccer, NASCAR Grand National Division, NASCAR NEXTEL Cup re-broadcasts, boxing and Mixed Martial Arts; groundbreaking music programming with the HDNet Concert Series featuring leading artists and bands including U2, Coldplay, Gwen Stefani and more; entertaining and irreverent lifestyle programming including "Deadline!", "Art Mann Presents", and "Get Out!" HDNet is also the exclusive high definition home to the critically acclaimed and award winning programs such as the Emmy Award winning "Arrested Development", "The Black Donnellys", "Blade: The Series", "Star Trek: Enterprise", "Smallville", "Joan of Arcadia", "Boomtown" and "Andy Richter Controls the Universe".

HDNet Movies also features a wide selection of major studio theatrical releases -- all uncut, unedited, and appearing in their original aspect ratio so that HDNet Movies viewers get the best possible home theater experience.

Only HDNet Movies exclusive "Sneak Previews" bring feature films to viewers before they premiere in theaters! Some of the HDNet Movies "Sneak Previews" have included the Academy Award nominated "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room", Toronto Film Festival nominee "The War Within", and "Bubble", the first of six movies by acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh and produced exclusively for HDNet Films "Cashback", written and produced by Sean Ellis, and, most recently, "Broken English", from Zoe Cassavetes, starring Gena Rowlands, Parker Posey, Drea de Matteo and Griffin Dunne. Upcoming Sneak Previews include the critically acclaimed "Redacted" directed by Brian De Palma, "Quid Pro Quo", starring Nick Stahl and Vera Farmiga, "Hunter", the story of the life and death of infamous gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson from director Alex Gibney and producer Graydon Carter, and "Flawless", starring Michael Caine and Demi Moore.

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First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: HDNet

CONTACT: Colette Carey of HDNet, +1-303-542-5576, ccarey@hd.net, or
Sakura Amend of Goodman Media for HDNet, +1-212-576-2700 Ext. 237,
samend@goodmanmedia.com

Web site: www.hd.net

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