44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards - 2009

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44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards - 2009



ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC, DICK CLARK PRODUCTIONS & CBS TELEVISION ANNOUNCE THE 44th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC(R) AWARDS HOSTED BY REBA McENTIRE TO BE BROADCAST LIVE FROM THE MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA IN LAS VEGAS SUNDAY, APRIL 5, 2009.

ARTIST OF THE DECADE, A NEW SPECIAL HONORING GEORGE STRAIT, TO BE TAPED AT THE MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA IN LAS VEGAS MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2009

Country Music's Party of the Year(TM), the 44th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, honoring country music's top talent and the industry's hottest emerging talent. In addition, the Academy will tape a new special, ARTIST OF THE DECADE, honoring George Strait. This marks the first time the Artist of the Decade Award will be delivered during its own, unique televised event.

Music, film and television legend Reba McEntire will host the 44th ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS for the 11th time. She has won 11 Academy of Country Music Awards including the first-ever annual Academy of Country Music/The Home Depot Humanitarian Award for her outstanding philanthropic work. This is the second year the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS will take place on a Sunday, the fourth year the show will be based at MGM Grand and the seventh year the show will be held in Las Vegas.

"King of Country" George Strait will receive the Academy's ARTIST OF THE DECADE award in recognition of his record-breaking career which spans nearly 25 years. Only four other acts have been honored as ARTIST OF THE DECADE in the Academy's history, including Marty Robbins in 1969, Loretta Lynn in 1979, Alabama in 1988 and Garth Brooks in 1998. Strait has won 19 Academy of Country Music Awards including Entertainer of the Year in 1990. Strait also holds the record for the most Number One hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, and currently has 56 number one singles to his credit. He has sold more than 68 million records, garnering him 32 different platinum or multi-platinum albums resulting in the most RIAA platinum certification in country music and the third in all genres, behind The Beatles and Elvis Presley. His current album, Troubadour, is certified gold.

"We are thrilled that Reba is back to host and that George will be honored with this milestone award," said Bob Romeo, Executive Director of the Academy of Country Music. "The Academy and dick clark productions are committed to bringing the best in country music entertainment to fans in their own homes in 2009-both shows are not-to-be-missed events!"

About the Academy of Country Music

Founded in 1964, the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC is an artist and industry- driven organization, providing the financial resources to ensure the on-going philanthropic work of the ACM Charitable Fund (ACMCF). The ACMCF supports music-related humanitarian programs that facilitate healing through music. The Academy is comprised of more than 4,500 professional members and more than 40,000 associate members and is headquartered in Encino, Calif.

About the Academy of Country Music Awards

The 44th Academy of Country Music Awards is dedicated to honoring and showcasing the biggest names and emerging talent in the country music industry. The show is produced for television by dick clark productions and will be broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Sunday, April 5, 2009 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network. Orly Adelson and R.A. Clark are executive producers, Barry Adelman is producer and Bob Bardo is executive in charge of production.