MBN: The Monte Bubbles Network

Faith Hill, Toby Keith, Martina McBride and Big & Rich with Special Guest John Legend Set to Perform   

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

 "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" Stars Gary Dourdan and Eric Szmanda, Sara Evans, Heartland, Brad Mates of Emerson Drive, Justin McBride, Dr. Phil and Robin McGraw, Craig Morgan, Joe Nichols, Kellie Pickler, Gabrielle Reece, Emma Roberts, Darius Rucker, Luke Wilson and Chris Young Set to Present

             Faith Hill, Toby Keith, Martina McBride and Big & Rich with special guest John Legend are set to perform, while special guest Shania Twain will participate, making her first awards show appearance in two years, and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" stars Gary Dourdan and Eric Szmanda, Sara Evans, Heartland, Brad Mates of Emerson Drive, Justin McBride, Dr. Phil and Robin McGraw, Craig Morgan, Joe Nichols, Kellie Pickler, Gabrielle Reece, Emma Roberts, Darius Rucker, Luke Wilson and Chris Young are set to present on THE 42nd ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, hosted by Reba McEntire, to be broadcast live from Las Vegas' MGM Grand, Tuesday, May 15 (8:00-11:00 PM, live ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network.  The event honors country music's top talent as well as the industry's hottest emerging talent.

              These artists join previously announced 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, Tracy Lawrence, Blake Shelton, CBS' "The Young and the Restless" star Michelle Stafford, CBS News' "Early Show" Co-Anchor Hannah Storm and The Wreckers.  McEntire will host the event for an unprecedented ninth time.

             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 are 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 and Eric Szmanda, who play Warrick Brown and Greg Sanders, respectively, on the hit CBS drama series "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation"; 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; Luke Wilson and Chris Young.

             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 ongoing 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 toward 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 42nd ANNUAL 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, and produced by Barry Adelman.  The executive in charge of production is Bob Bardo, and the executive in charge is Fran LaMaina.

RATING:  To Be Announced

           Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, George Strait, Sugarland and host Reba McEntire with special guest Kelly Clarkson are set to perform on the 42ND ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, to be broadcast live from Las Vegas' MGM Grand, Tuesday, May 15 (8:00-11:00 PM, live ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network.  The event honors country music's top talent as well as the industry's hottest emerging talent. 

            Brooks & Dunn are nominated for seven awards including Top Vocal Duo and Album of the year for Hillbilly Deluxe.  They have previously won 21 Academy of Country Music Awards and are the 2007 recipients of the Academy of Country Music/The Home Depot Humanitarian Award. 

            Reigning and back-to-back Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year, Kenny Chesney, is slated to perform.  Should he win Entertainer of the Year again, he will become only the fourth performer in the Academy's history to win the coveted title three or more times.  One of the six elite ACM Triple Crown winners -- for Best New, Top and Entertainer -- Chesney's The Road and The Radio Tour in 2006 was North America's most attended concert tour in any genre.  He is also nominated for Top Male Vocalist.

            George Strait leads with eight nominations including Entertainer of the Year and Top Male Vocalist and is being recognized as an artist and producer for his album It Just Comes Natural.  In his career, Strait has accepted 15 Academy of Country Music Awards, including Entertainer of the Year. In 2003, he was honored with a Career Achievement Award from the Academy for having more number one singles than any other country artist.

            Sugarland is nominated for Top Vocal Duo, giving them six Academy of Country Music Award total nominations over the last two years.  Jennifer Nettles was also nominated for            Vocal Event last year with Bon Jovi. In addition, they took home Top New Duo or Vocal Group honors.

            Host Reba McEntire and Kelly Clarkson will perform their song from McEntire's new album, Duets.  McEntire has hosted the show for a record-breaking nine years and has previously won 11 Academy of Country Music Awards. Grammy-winning artist Kelly Clarkson performed for the first time on a country music award show last year with Rascal Flatts.

            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 ongoing 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 toward 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, and produced by Barry Adelman.  The executive in charge of production is Bob Bardo, and the executive in charge is Fran LaMaina.

RATING:  To Be Announced