Reigning CMA Horizon Award Winner Dierks Bentley; Former CMA Entertainer of
the Year Kenny Chesney; Reigning CMA Female Vocalist Gretchen Wilson; and
2006 Country Music Hall of Fame Inductee George Strait to Perform During
"Country Music's Biggest Night"
NASHVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- The list of Country
luminaries performing on "The 40th Annual CMA Awards" reads like a who's
who of the format's finest with the announcement today that Dierks Bentley,
Kenny Chesney, Gretchen Wilson, and 2006 Country Music Hall of Fame
inductee George Strait will all perform during this year's gala.
"The 40th Annual CMA Awards" will be held Monday, Nov. 6 (8:00-11:00
PM/ET) and will air live from the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville
on the ABC Television Network. The CMA Awards will be hosted for the third
consecutive year by Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn of Brooks & Dunn.
In 2004, Bentley received his first nomination for the Horizon Award.
He claimed the trophy in 2005, and in 2006 he is nominated for Male
Vocalist of the Year, for the first time. Bentley, who has been on the road
with Chesney's "The Road and the Radio" tour, will headline his own tour.
"The Locked & Loaded" tour begins Oct. 4 in Auburn, Ala., and Bentley's
next album, Long Trip Alone, comes out Oct. 17.
Chesney received four CMA Awards nominations in 2006 including
Entertainer, which he won in 2004; Male Vocalist; Album for The Road and
the Radio; and Single of the Year for "Summertime." Chesney could win two
additional Awards for co-producing his nominated Album and Single of the
Year with Buddy Cannon. Chesney, who has sold nearly 25 million albums,
released a concert disc, Live Those Songs Again, Sept. 19. He concluded his
successful, summer stadium tour on Sept. 3 and has performed for close to 6
million fans over the past five summers.
Wilson won the Horizon trophy in 2004 and last year she was named CMA
Female Vocalist of the Year. She is nominated in that category again in
2006 and picked up an additional nomination for Musical Event of the Year
with Merle Haggard for "Politically Uncorrect." The multi-Platinum artist's
highly- anticipated autobiography, Redneck Woman: Stories from My Life,
will be published by Warner Books on Nov. 1.
The legendary Strait will also perform in addition to being formally
inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame on the CMA Awards along with
artist Sonny James and musician/producer Harold Bradley. Strait recently
enjoyed his 53rd No. 1 single with "Give It Away," making him Billboard
magazine's all-time leader for No. 1 Country singles. The song is from
Strait's forthcoming album, It Just Comes Natural, which is due in stores
Oct. 3.
Performers already announced include Brooks & Dunn, Sara Evans, Alan
Jackson, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, and Carrie Underwood. More performers
and presenters will be announced soon.
Tickets for "The 40th Annual CMA Awards" are now on-sale to the general
public, and can be purchased by logging on to http://www.ticketmaster.com; calling
(615) 255-9600; or in-person at the Gaylord Entertainment Center box
office, 501 Broadway (corner of Fifth Avenue and Broadway, in Nashville).
The ticket price is $150 for Bronze level seating; $200 for Silver level
seating (excluding applicable service/handling fees).
"The 40th Annual CMA Awards" is a production of the Country Music
Association. Walter C. Miller is the Executive Producer; Robert Deaton is
the Consulting Producer. Premiere Radio Network 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 2006 CMA Awards.
Chevy, an American Revolution, is the official ride of the 2006 CMA Awards.
Additional promotional partners include aolmusic.com, Greased Lightning
Cleaning Products(R), and Hallmark Cards(R). Charles Fazzino is the
official artist of the 2006 CMA Awards.
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