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Sunday, 4 November, 2007 12:37 PM
The Year's Top Artists Perform
on the CMA Awards
PHOTO
BY ANDREW MACPHERSON
Eagles
will perform on "The 41st Annual CMA Awards" on Nov. 7,
2007, broadcast live on ABC Television from the Sommet Center in
Nashville, Tenn. (l-r) Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh, Timothy B. Schmit,
Don Henley.
| By
Wendy Pearl |
| ©
2007 CMA Close Up News Service |
The list of Country luminaries
performing on "The 41st Annual CMA Awards" reads like
a who's who of the format's finest and freshest faces.
"The slate of nominees
for the 2007 CMA Awards speaks to the strength, diversity and vitality
of the format," said CMA Chief Operating Officer Tammy Genovese.
"And this year's Awards will reflect that in every performance.
The CMA Awards is the industry's biggest single opportunity to expand
the format and reach a broader audience with our music. And we have
a strong slate of nominees and an incredible pool of music to draw
from. We are dedicated to delivering the best-of-the-best."
Artists performing on
the CMA Awards include Jason Aldean, Rodney Atkins, Big & Rich,
Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Eagles, Alison Krauss, Miranda
Lambert, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire in a duet with LeAnn Rimes,
Brad Paisley, Kellie Pickler, George Strait, Sugarland, Taylor Swift,
Josh Turner, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban. Rascal Flatts will
open the festivities and also perform with Jamie Foxx later in the
broadcast.
The Eagles will make
their first-ever awards show performance at "The 41st Annual
CMA Awards" airing live on Wednesday, Nov. 7 (8-11 PM/ET) on
the ABC Television Network from the Sommet Center in Nashville.
The band's decision to
appear on the CMA Awards follows the success of their recently released
Country single, "How Long," which has been embraced by
Country Music fans and is climbing the Country Music charts. "How
Long" is the first single from the group's new double album,
Long Road out of Eden, featuring 20 new studio recordings.
"From the early
'70s this group has defined Country rock, and more than three decades
later they are still creating music that resonates with our audience,"
said Genovese. "They are an outstanding addition to the incredible
lineup of performers for the CMA Awards."
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 CMA
Awards. Rascal Flatts 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 for which the CMA Awards
are known for," said Genovese. "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."
For the first time in
the history of the CMA Awards, multiple artists will share hosting
duties during the three-hour gala including Sara Evans and LeAnn
Rimes. Other segment hosts will be announced soon.
"The CMA Awards are a platform for reaching a large network
audience with our best and brightest stars," said Genovese.
"Providing additional on-air opportunities for several of our
artists to host segments of the program provides a different point
of view throughout the night and keeps the pace of the CMA Awards
fresh and exciting. These artists are personable, engaging, respected
by their peers and beloved by the fans. Having artists host the
CMA Awards is a cornerstone of this event - we are simply inviting
a few more to the podium."
Presenters on the CMA
Awards include Luke Bryan, Jason Michael Carroll, Bucky Covington,
Sheryl Crow, Jewel with Ty Murray, Kid Rock, Montgomery Gentry,
Blake Shelton, Gretchen Wilson and Dwight Yoakam.
Additional artists performing
and presenters at the CMA Awards will be announced at a later date.
And just like their favorite nominated artists and CMA Awards' performers
and presenters, fans too can dress up for "The 41st Annual
CMA Awards" with a complete line of branded merchandise available
now at the official Web site of the CMA Awards, www.CMAawards.com.
"While the legends,
rising stars, and superstars of Country Music are shining at 'The
41st Annual CMA Awards,' our fans can also look like stars in their
official CMA Awards merchandise," said Genovese.
Thirteen items are currently available at www.CMAawards.com.
To view the selection, click on the Official CMA Awards Store. Featured
CMA Awards attire includes a polo-style shirt; quarter zip pullover;
track jacket; two ball caps; and various men and women's T-shirts.
CMA Awards field and mini-duffle bags are available as well as a
commemorative coffee mug.
CMA is once again proud
to announce Music City Merchandise as the official merchandiser
for the CMA Awards. Music City Merchandise is the official merchandiser
for Country artists including CMA Awards nominees Jason Aldean and
Dierks Bentley, in addition to Trace Adkins, Travis Tritt as well
as legendary artists The Beach Boys and B.B. King.
"We have enjoyed
working with Music City Merchandise to develop merchandise which
embodies the fun and excitement of the CMA Awards," Genovese
said.
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. David Wild is the writer.
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 AOL, LLC.; Borders Books & Music; Carl Black
Chevrolet; Coca-Cola; Dr Pepper; Gibson Guitar; Greased Lightning
Cleaning Products; Hard Rock Cafe Nashville; Mr. Coffee; and The
Yankee Candle Company.
PHOTO
BY JOHN RUSSELL / CMA
Carrie
Underwood will perform on "The 41st Annual CMA Awards"
on Nov. 7, 2007, broadcast live on ABC Television from the Sommet
Center in Nashville, Tenn. Underwood is pictured performing on "The
40th Annual CMA Awards."
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