BURBANK, CA. (Academy of Country Music/ www.acmcountry.com ) - The Academy of Country
Music is announcing the lineup of its 40th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, a live concert event that will be taped at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las
Vegas on Wednesday, May 18th, 2005. Country music superstars Alabama, Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Merle Haggard, Alan Jackson,
Barbara Mandrell, Reba McEntire, Montgomery Gentry, Rascal Flatts,
George Strait,
Trisha Yearwood and many more surprise guests will appear on stage. The special, which toasts the rich heritage of the Academy of Country Music, will air in December on the CBS Television Network. Tickets for the event are on sale now at the Mandalay Bay Box Office and Ticketmaster outlets.
The 40th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION will celebrate the Academy's 40 extraordinary years as an organization supporting, promoting and enhancing the advancement of the country music industry worldwide. The 2-hour special will look back into the history of the Academy and commemorate the strides the organization has made with a special nod to the Academy's founders, as well as acknowledging artists who have achieved Academy-related milestones in their careers.
The 40th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION will take a look back on the career achievements of artists who have earned one of the Academy's most prestigious Awards. The Merle Haggard Award honors those who have won in the Top New Male/Female Vocalist and/or Duo/Group category, Top Male/Female Vocalist and/or Duo/Group category, and also in the Entertainer of the Year category. The award is named in honor of Merle Haggard because he is the first artist to achieve all three wins. Those eligible to be honored for this include Brooks & Dunn, Dixie Chicks, Mickey Gilley, Merle Haggard and Barbara Mandrell.
Each recipient on the 40th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION will be honored with a trophy that has been specially jeweled by Johnathon Arndt Gallery of Jewels in Beverly Hills. This one-of-a-kind trophy contains 10.81 ct weight of rubies and 3.62 ct weight of diamonds.
The Academy of Country Music was founded in 1964 with a mission to support, promote, and enhance the advancement of the country music industry worldwide. The Academy, which is comprised of 3,800+ professional members and a newly established Associate Membership, is headquartered in Burbank, CA. For more information on the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS and the Academy of Country Music, please visit https://www.acmcountry.com.
ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC 40th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL is produced for television by dick clark productions. The show is executive produced by Dick Clark 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.
The ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC 40th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL will be broadcast from the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on CBS Television Network in December 2005.
