Brooks Also Set to Perform During the LIVE Telecast from the MGM Grand Garden Arena In Las Vegas, Sunday, May 18th at 8:00 PM ET/PT On CBS
LOS ANGELES, CA (May 7, 2008) –The Academy of Country Music today announced that country music superstar GARTH BROOKS will be presented with the first-ever artist bestowed Academy of Country Music Crystal Milestone Award during the 43rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards airing LIVE on CBS television Sunday, May 18th at 8:00 PM live ET/tape delayed PT. Brooks will also perform a special medley of his greatest hits during the telecast.
The Academy of Country Music Crystal Milestone Award is given to an artist or industry leader to commemorate a specific, remarkable achievement. This award was originally acknowledged during a presentation in Hollywood last fall celebrating the Record Industry Association of America’s (RIAA) special recognition of Brooks’ 123 million in unit sales. As the only solo artist in RIAA history to have six albums top the 10 million sales mark, Brooks has been certified the top-selling solo artist in U.S. history. His most recent release, The Ultimate Hits, has been certified 5 times platinum.
“The Academy wanted to more formally recognize Garth’s career achievements and success,” said Bob Romeo, Executive Director of the Academy of Country Music. “We felt the only way to underline his unmatched contribution to the genre of country music was to recognize him on our Awards show.” “The ACM has always taken care of me and my music,” said Garth Brooks. “From Gene Weed to Bill and Fran Boyd, the ACM family has been a frontrunner in my career. I am flattered and humbled by what this award means. The fact that they have never awarded it before makes me feel the respect and the faith they have in me as an artist, and I will continue to work my butt off to make sure they are happy with their choice.” Garth Brooks has won a total of eighteen Academy of Country Music Awards throughout his career, including Artist of The Decade in 1998. He has received every accolade the industry can bestow on an artist, including 2 Grammys, 17 American Music Awards, 11 Country Music Association Awards, 5 World Music Awards, 12 People’s Choice Awards and 36 Billboard Music Awards, among many others.
The 43rd ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS is dedicated to honoring and showcasing the biggest names and emerging talent in the country music industry. The show is produced for television by DICK CLARK PRODUCTIONS and will be broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Sunday, May 18, 2008 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network. R.A. Clark is executive producer, Barry Adelman is producer and Bob Bardo is executive in charge of production. For more information on the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC and the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, please visit www.VoteACM.com, where for the first time ever, fans can vote for Entertainer of the Year nominees Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, George Strait, Keith Urban or Rascal Flatts through the last hour of the 43rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards airing LIVE on CBS television Sunday, May 18th at 8:00 PM live ET/tape delayed PT.
The Academy will present the Special Awards and MBI Awards to recipients at a special event in Nashville later this year, date to be announced. The Industry and Radio Awards will be presented during the New Artists’ Party for a Cause on Saturday May 17, in Las Vegas.
KENNY CHESNEY & GEORGE STRAIT TO PERFORM SPECIAL DUET FOR THE FIRST TIME LIVE Criss Angel, Clint Black, Brooks & Dunn, Kaley Cuoco, Sara Evans, Jewel, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Brad Mates of Emerson Drive, Dr. Phil & Robin McGraw, Randy Owen, John Rich, Carrie Underwood, Clay Walker and Trisha Yearwood Will Make Special Appearances During Country Music’s Party of the Year™
TELECAST TO AIR LIVE FROM THE MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA IN LAS VEGAS SUNDAY, MAY 18 th AT 8:00 PM ET/PT ON CBS TELEVISION NETWORK
JASON ALEXANDER, KAROLINA KURKOVA, AND DAVID SPADE ADDED AS PRESENTERS TELECAST TO AIR LIVE FROM THE MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA IN LAS VEGAS SUNDAY, MAY 18th AT 8:00 PM ET/PT ON CBS TELEVISION NETWORK
ENCINO, CA (May 16, 2008) – The Academy of Country Music today announced that Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood will perform a live special tribute to country music legend Eddy Arnold during the 43rd ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS. Actor Jason Alexander, supermodel Karolina Kurkova and actor David Spade, star of the CBS comedy series "Rules of Engagement," have been added as presenters on the broadcast. Reba McEntire will host the event for the tenth time. The ceremony honoring country music’s top talent and the industry’s hottest emerging talent will be broadcast LIVE from MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 18th, 2008 at 8:00 PM LIVE ET/tape delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.