Multi-Platinum, Multi-Award Winning Duo Brooks & Dunn Return to Host 'The 39th Annual CMA Awards' in New York City

Multi-Platinum, Multi-Award Winning Duo Brooks & Dunn Return to Host 'The 39th Annual CMA Awards' in New York City

NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn, of super duo Brooks & Dunn, return to host "The 39th Annual CMA Awards" when the gala airs live on the CBS Television Network, Tuesday, Nov. 15 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) from Madison Square Garden in New York City.

"After the great job they did in 2004, Kix and Ronnie were the natural choice to host 'Country Music's Biggest Night(TM)' from the world's biggest stage -- New York City," said CMA Executive Director, Ed Benson. "After all, they are consummate entertainers and among the formats biggest stars. They are the total package -- humor, talent, credibility and artistic integrity. The CMA Awards are in very good hands."

"It's great to know we didn't screw it up too bad last year," Brooks said with a laugh. "Obviously we are not comedians, but if we learned anything, it is to stay out of the way and let the great music on the show take care of itself."

"The 'Big Apple' is a well-seasoned pro. As second-year hosts, we are far from that, but we are honored to go to New York and humbly fill in as hosts for this year's CMA Awards," added Dunn.

Since blasting onto the scene with their No. 1 debut single "Brand New Man" in 1991, Brooks & Dunn have had 21 No. 1 singles, sold more than 27 million albums and picked up 14 CMA Awards, including Entertainer of the Year in 1996. They hold 12 CMA Vocal Duo of the Year Awards -- a record for the category. Their ninth Arista Nashville studio album will be released later this summer.

"We couldn't ask for better ambassadors of Country Music and the CMA Awards," Benson said. "We are taking our industry's most important show and the best our format has to offer to the media and marketing capital of the world. And that will speak for itself."

The 2004 CMA Awards, which aired for the first time on Tuesday night, posted an 11.5 rating with an 18 share. CBS estimates that 18.46 million people watched the entire broadcast and more than 37 million viewers watched all or part of the gala event. CBS was first in households, viewers and key demographics during the three-hour broadcast (8:00-11:00 PM/ET). CBS won every half-hour in households, viewers, adults 18-49 and adults 25-54. This was CBS's best delivery in households, viewers and adults 25-54 and adults 18-49 since November 2001.

To put the success of the CMA Awards rating in perspective, during the 2004-2005 television season, the CMA Awards placed third behind the Academy Awards and in a statistical tie with the GRAMMY Awards.

In the week immediately following the broadcast, the Billboard Top 75 Country albums chart reflected a 166 percent increase factoring in new releases from Shania Twain (529,567) and Toby Keith (435,489) according to Nielsen SoundScan. More than 30 other acts, who either performed or presented trophies on the CMA Awards, also enjoyed sales spikes according to Nielsen SoundScan.

"This speaks to the strength of Country Music and the CMA Awards, that a single format awards program can reach so many viewers," Benson said.

CMA Awards nominees and winners are determined by the industry professional members of the Country Music Association, which was the first trade organization formed to promote an individual genre of music in 1958. The first "CMA Awards Banquet and Show" was held in 1967. The following year, the CMA Awards were broadcast on network television - making it the longest running music awards program on network television.

The final nominees for the 2005 CMA Awards will be announced during a press conference to be held in New York City in early September. "The CMA Awards" will be held in New York City this year only. The gala returns to Nashville in 2006 for its 40th Anniversary at the Gaylord Entertainment Center.

The CMA Awards are produced by Walter C. Miller and directed by Paul Miller. 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 gala event. Chevy, an American Revolution, is the official automotive sponsor of the 2005 CMA Awards. American Airlines is the official airline of the 2005 CMA Awards.

http://www.cmaawards.com/

Source: Country Music Association

CONTACT: Wendy Pearl, +1-615-244-2840 or Scott Stem, +1-615-244-2840, both of CMA; or Beth Stoller-Feldman, +1-212-975-3183 of CBS Television Network/NY; or Holly Gleason, +1-615-269-3238 of Joe's Garage (for Brooks & Dunn)

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

NOTE TO EDITORS: Visit www.CMApress.com for CMA Awards history, photos, press releases and logos. This is a protected site for the media only. The public should be directed to www.CMAawards.com.

------- Profile: Ent