Third Round of Performers and Presenters Set for the 40th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, Country's Night to Shine(TM)

Third Round of Performers and Presenters Set for the 40th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, Country's Night to Shine(TM)

Telecast to Air Live From Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas Tuesday, May 17th at 8:00 PM ET/PT on CBS Television Network

Kenny Chesney, Reba McEntire and Montgomery Gentry Set to Perform; Terri Clark, Emily Procter, Rob Schneider & Neal McCoy and The Warren Brothers Will Present Awards

BURBANK, Calif., April 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Today the Academy of Country Music is announcing that country music superstars Kenny Chesney, Reba McEntire and Montgomery Gentry will perform and Terri Clark, Emily Procter, Rob Schneider & Neal McCoy and The Warren Brothers will serve as presenters at the 40TH ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS. The ceremony, which honors country music's top talent as well as the industry's hottest emerging talent, will be broadcast LIVE from the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on Tuesday, May 17th, 2005 at 8:00 PM ET/PT on the CBS Television Network.

Kenny Chesney is nominated for five awards this year, including Entertainer of the Year, Top Male Vocalist and Album of the Year. He also has two nominations for producing -- for Vocal Event of the Year (the single "When the Sun Goes Down") and Album of the Year (the album "When the Sun Goes Down"). Chesney has won four ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS in the past, including Top New Male Vocalist, Top Male Vocalist and two for Single Record of the Year. If he wins Entertainer of the Year, he will be eligible for the Merle Haggard Award, an honor given to those artists who win the Academy's triple crown of Top New Artist, Top Male/Female Artist and Entertainer of the Year.

Reba McEntire who has hosted the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS a record seven times, will perform as part of this year's telecast. In 2002 she was awarded the first annual Academy of Country Music / Home Depot Humanitarian Award for her outstanding philanthropic work. In 2003, the Academy of Country Music awarded her the title of "Leading Lady" in recognition of her status as the all-time leading winner in the Top Female Vocalist category.

Montgomery Gentry are nominated for Top Vocal Duo this year. Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry are riding the smash success of their recent album "You Do Your Thing." They just concluded their cross-country "Turn It Up And Bring It On" tour, and will continue to headline fairs and festivals throughout the summer. Montgomery Gentry has six ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS nominations, including a win for Top New Vocal Duo.

Terri Clark has two nominations this year: one for Top Female Vocalist and another for Video of the Year (for "Girls Lie Too"), she is currently on the Two Hats and Redhead tour with Reba McEntire and Brad Paisley. Emily Procter stars on the hit CBS drama "CSI: Miami." Rob Schneider stars in Neal McCoy's video for "Billy's Got His Beer Goggles On"; McCoy is nominated for this year's 4th annual Academy of Country Music / Home Depot Humanitarian Award. The Warren Brothers, stars of CMT's "Barely Famous: The Warren Brothers," are nominated for Top Vocal Duo this year.

These artists join previously announced 40TH ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS performers Alan Jackson, Toby Keith, Rascal Flatts, George Strait, Big & Rich, Sara Evans and Tim McGraw.

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 www.acmcountry.com.

ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS 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.

Southwest Airlines is the official airline of the Academy of Country Music Awards.

The ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS will be broadcast LIVE from the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on Tuesday, May 17th, 2005 at 8:00 PM ET/PT on CBS Television Network.

Source: Academy of Country Music

CONTACT: Brooke Primero or Melissa Armstrong, both of BNC, +1-310-854-4800, for the Academy of Country Music

Web site: http://www.acmcountry.com/

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