NASHVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Two of music's most respected,
performer/songwriters Dolly Parton and Sir Elton John are joining forces for a
musical first on "The 39th Annual CMA Awards" when they perform together
during "Country Music's Biggest Night."
"I've always admired Sir Elton's songwriting, musicianship and singing and
I'm thrilled to be working with him," Parton said. "It should be a very
passionate performance."
"The audience and our viewers are in for a magical experience when two of
the most flamboyant and best-loved entertainers in the world take the stage,"
said CMA Executive Director Ed Benson.
"The 39th Annual CMA Awards" airs live Tuesday, Nov. 15 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET)
on the CBS Television Network from Madison Square Garden in New York City.
A member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, Dolly Parton has adroitly
navigated Country and pop record charts as well as successful forays into
television and film ("9 to 5," "Steel Magnolias"). She has authored more than
3,000 songs including the hits "Coat of Many Colors," "Jolene," "Tennessee
Mountain Home" and "I Will Always Love You." She has been nominated for 35 CMA
Awards and won Entertainer of the Year (1978), Female Vocalist of the Year
(1975), and Musical Event of the Year twice, once with Emmylou Harris and
Linda Ronstadt (1988) and then with Vince Gill (1996).
Parton's latest musical project, Those Were the Days (Sugar Hill Records,
Oct. 8), is a heartfelt effort on which this single-minded artist locates
renewed relevance in a dozen era-defining songs from the 1960s and '70s,
including the John Lennon penned anthem "Imagine," which she is performing on
the CMA Awards, backed by Elton John's band with him at the piano. "I was
inspired to record 'Imagine,'" she said. "It is a song of hope and inspiration
and perfect for the times."
Elton John's monumental career has spanned more than three decades making
him one of the top-selling solo artists of all time with more than 200 million
records sold worldwide. He has won a wide array of industry awards including
GRAMMYs, Tonys and an Oscar as he continues to add innovative work to his
personal catalog of 35 Gold and 25 Platinum albums (certified by the Recording
Industry Association of America RIAA). He continues to perform his critically
acclaimed "Red Piano" show exclusively at Caesars Palace.
John has continued his new millennium critical renaissance with the Gold
certified, Top-20 charting album Peachtree Road, which will be re-released as
a special CD+DVD package on November 15. The new package features three
previously un-released bonus tracks from the hit British musical "Billy
Elliot" as well as the new single and video for "Turn The Lights Out When You
Leave," the video of which stars Teri Hatcher of "Desperate Housewives."
Parton will join John in a performance of "Turn the Lights Out When You
Leave" on the CMA Awards.
Performers already announced for the 2005 CMA Awards include Dierks
Bentley, Big & Rich, Bon Jovi with Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland, CMA hosts
Brooks & Dunn, Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney, Sara Evans, Faith Hill, Alan
Jackson, Alison Krauss + Union Station Featuring Jerry Douglas, Miranda
Lambert, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Julie Roberts, George
Strait, Sugarland, Keith Urban, Gretchen Wilson, Lee Ann Womack, and Willie
Nelson and Paul Simon, who will perform and then present CMA Song of the Year.
Presenters previously announced include Trace Adkins, James Gandolfini,
Vince Gill, Billy Joel, Kris Kristofferson, LeAnn Rimes, Shania Twain, Trisha
Yearwood, Reese Witherspoon and Joaquin Phoenix.
For the first time ever, tickets for the 2005 CMA Awards are available to
the general public. Tickets can be purchased by logging on to
http://www.ticketmaster.com; calling (212) 307-7171 (or any local Ticketmaster outlet
phone number); or in-person at the Madison Square Garden box office. Tickets
to the 2005 CMA Awards can also be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets
across the nation. The ticket price is $250 (not including tax and service
charges).
The CMA Awards are produced by Walter C. Miller and directed by Paul
Miller. David Wild will script the ceremonies. MJI Programming, a division of
Premiere Radio Networks, is the official radio packager of the CMA Awards,
which includes Red Carpet coverage and a stereo-radio simulcast of the gala
event. Chevy, an American Revolution, is the official automotive sponsor of
the 2005 CMA Awards. American Airlines is the official airline of the 2005 CMA
Awards. Additional promotional sponsors include Prilosec OTC(R), aolmusic.com,
BMG Columbia House, Inc., Chase, Country Weekly, Creme Savers(R) Candy,
Crisco(R), Gibson Guitars, Jack Daniel's, Kellogg's(R), Kmart(sm), Kodak,
Lever 2000(R) and XM Satellite Radio(R). Charles Fazzino is the official
artist of the 2005 CMA Awards.
SOURCE Country Music Association
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.cmaworld.com
http://www.CMAawards.com
CONTACT:
Press, Wendy Pearl of CMA, +1-615-244-2840;
or Kim Fowler of Sugar Hill Records, +1-615-297-6890, for Dolly
Parton; or Marty Maidenberg of Sanctuary Records,
+1-212-430-1213, for Elton John; or Fran Curtis of Rogers &
Cowan, +1-212-445-8423, for Elton John; or Beth Stoller-Feldman
of CBS-NY, +1-212-975-3183; or Susan Marks of CBS-LA,
+1-323-575-2118
NOTE TO EDITORS: For CMA Awards information, history and
high-resolution images visit http://www.CMApress.com. This is a
protected site for media only and is not intended for public use.
The public should be directed to http://www.CMAawards.com.
|
