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JAMIE FOXX JOINS RASCAL FLATTS FOR PERFORMANCE ON "THE 41st ANNUAL CMA
AWARDS" WEDNESDAY, NOV. 7 ON ABC
Rascal Flatts to Open"Country Music's Biggest Night" With Music From
TheirThird Consecutive No. 1 Album, Still Feels Good; Foxx to Join Them
Later in the Broadcast for Second Performance
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NASHVILLE - Multi-talented, Academy Award winning actor Jamie Foxx joins
reigning CMA Awards Vocal Group of the Year Rascal Flatts for a duet
performance during "The 41st Annual CMA Awards" Wednesday, Nov. 7
(8:00-11:00 PM/ET) live from the Sommet Center in Nashville on the ABC
Television Network.
Rascal Flatts, who are nominated for Entertainer of the Year, will open
"Country Music's Biggest NightT" with the title track from their third
consecutive No. 1 album, Still Feels Good. Later in the broadcast, they
will perform "She Goes All the Way" with Foxx. The duet with Foxx was
penned by Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney and is also on the
album.
LeVox and Foxx have known each other for more than a decade. They were
introduced by Foxx's manager Marcus King and were roommates for a brief
time in the late 1990s while LeVox was pursuing a music career on the
west coast. They reestablished their friendship after running into each
other at the 2007 Grammy Awards and have been in regular contact since,
which resulted in the duet.
"Jamie is an incredible talent and we were thrilled he took us up on our
invitation to join us on the song," said LeVox. "He said he'd do it if
we would sing on one of his records, so it's a pretty good swap. He came
to Nashville just after finishing his comedy tour to work on it with
us."
"It was an easy song to write once we had the first few lines and it's a
really wonderful thing to have Jamie join us on the record," said
DeMarcus. "We run into him at awards show and he always tells us how
much he enjoys the music and how proud he is of Gary. We sent the song
to him early this year and he said he'd love to do it."
"This is destined to be the sort of one-of-a-kind performance the CMA
Awards are known for," said Tammy Genovese, CMA Chief Operating Officer.
"When there is a meaningful and tangible connection between artists from
seemingly diverse musical styles, bringing them together on the CMA
Awards creates magical moments that resonate with our audience and
expand awareness of the format."
Rascal Flatts was nominated for Entertainer and Vocal Group of the Year.
The Entertainer of the Year category has only been won by two groups in
CMA Awards history: Alabama (1982, 1983, 1984) and Dixie Chicks (2000).
Rascal Flatts has swept the Vocal Group of the Year category the past
four years.
Their album, Still Feels Good, was released Sept. 25 and posted first
week sales of 547,000 units, making it the week's top selling CD across
all genres of music and the biggest unit opener in the Country format
for the year. In 2006, Rascal Flatts were the top selling artists of any
genre of music. In the seven years since launching their career, the
band has sold more than 15 million albums and scored nine No. 1 singles.
Performers previously announced for the 2007 CMA Awards include Rodney
Atkins, Big & Rich, Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Eagles, Miranda
Lambert, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire in a duet with LeAnn Rimes, Brad
Paisley, George Strait, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Josh Turner, Carrie
Underwood, and Keith Urban.
Sara Evans and Rimes will host segments of the three-hour broadcast.
Presenters recently announced include Luke Bryan, Jason Michael Carroll,
Bucky Covington, Jewel with Ty Murray, Kid Rock, Montgomery Gentry, and
Dwight Yoakam.
Tickets for the 2007 CMA Awards are on sale now and can be purchased by
logging on to www.ticketmaster.com; calling (615) 255-9600; or in person
at the Sommet Center box office, 501 Broadway (corner of Fifth Avenue
and Broadway, in Nashville). Ticket prices begin at $164 (excluding
applicable service/handling fees), with prices increasing depending on
seating level.
"The 41st Annual CMA Awards" is a production of the Country Music
Association. Walter C. Miller is the Executive Producer, and Robert
Deaton is the Producer. Paul Miller is the Director. The special will be
shot in high definition and broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's
selected HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound.
Premiere Radio Networks 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 2007 CMA Awards. Chevy: The
Official Ride of Country Music. Mary Kay® is the Official Beauty
Sponsor. Additional promotional partners include Borders® Books & Music,
Carl Black Chevrolet, Gibson Guitar®, Greased Lightning® Cleaning
Products, Mr. Coffee® and The Yankee Candle Company.
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