NASHVILLE, TN. (Country
Music Association/ www.cmaworld.com) - The impressive list of performers continues to grow for "The 38th Annual CMA Awards" with the addition of
George Strait,
Martina McBride and Horizon Nominees Dierks Bentley, Big & Rich,
Julie Roberts and
Josh Turner to the list of performers for
"Country Music's Biggest Night" Tuesday, Nov. 9 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the CBS Television Network from the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville.
"The anticipation and excitement really starts to build in the weeks leading up to the Awards," said CMA Executive
Director Ed Benson. "That's when the performances are set and the fabric of the show falls in place. In my opinion, this is going to be one of the best CMA Awards broadcasts ever. We have such an outstanding list of performance along with a very exciting slate of nominees."
Strait is nominated for two CMA Awards in 2004 including Male Vocalist and Musical Event of the Year with Jimmy Buffett for Buffett's ensemble celebration of the Hank Williams classic "Hey Good Lookin'." Incredibly, Strait holds the record for most career CMA Awards nominations with 73 - including 20 Male Vocalist nominations. He won the Male Vocalist Award in 1985, 1986, 1996, 1997 and 1998. Throughout his career, Strait has earned 15 CMA Awards including two Entertainer of the Year honors.
Three-time Female Vocalist of the Year Martina McBride is again nominated in the category. McBride won the Award each of the last two years and in 1999, tying her with Tammy Wynette and Loretta Lynn for three wins in the category - second only to fellow nominee Reba McEntire who holds the record with four wins.
Big & Rich (Big Kenny and John Rich), recently featured in the Power issue of Entertainment Weekly, received two nominations for Duo of the Year and the coveted Horizon Award. Rich also picked up a third nomination for Single of the Year as co-writer with Gretchen Wilson on her scorching "Redneck Woman."
Celebrating his first CMA Awards nomination with a performance this yearis Bentley, who was named one of People magazine's "50 Hottest Bachelors." Bentley, who performed a bumper on the 2003 CMA Awards, is approaching Platinum with his self-titled debut. Also scheduled to perform is Roberts, who has received extensive critical acclaim and unprecedented national media coverage. Roberts' performance will be her CMA Awards debut as a Horizon Award nominee.
Turner is also nominated for two CMA Awards - the Horizon Award and Song of the Year for his No. 1 hit "Long Black Train," which Turner wrote while he was a student at Belmont University in Nashville.
"The 38th CMA Awards" will be hosted by Brooks & Dunn, who will also perform. Previously announced performers include Kenny Chesney; Sara Evans; Alan Jackson; Alison Krauss and Brad Paisley; Toby Keith; Reba McEntire; Tim McGraw; Rascal Flatts; Shania Twain with Billy Currington; Keith Urban; and Gretchen Wilson, with additional names to be announced soon.
The CMA Awards are produced by Walter C. Miller, directed by Paul Millerand scripted by David Wild. 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 event. American Airlines is the Official Airline of the 2004 CMA Awards.
