Press Release Source: Country Music Association
2003 CMA Awards Top Nominee Toby Keith Slated to Perform
Wednesday October 8, 10:59 am ET
More Star Performances Announced Including Martina McBride, George Strait and Shania Twain
NASHVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- The stars align for "The 37th Annual CMA Awards." CMA has added to a growing list of Country Music's biggest artists scheduled to appear on the CMA Awards, with the announcement that top nominee Toby Keith; reigning CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Martina McBride; the artist with the most career CMA Award nominations George Strait,
and the format's top selling female solo artist of all time Shania Twain will all perform during "Country Music's Biggest Night(TM)."
Hosted by Vince Gill, "The 37th Annual CMA Awards" will be broadcast live from the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Nov. 5 (8:00- 11:00 PM/ET) on the CBS Television Network.
Toby Keith racked up the most CMA Award nominations this year with seven including Entertainer; Male Vocalist; Album for "Unleashed"; and Song, Single, Music Video and Vocal Event of the Year for "Beer For My Horses," a duet with Willie Nelson. Keith is also eligible to take home two additional trophies as co-producer of the Single and Album of the Year. "Unleashed" has sold more than 3 million copies and his next CD, "Shock 'N Y'all," will be released the day before the CMA Awards on Nov. 4.
Reigning CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Martina McBride is nominated again for that honor in 2003. She first claimed the CMA Female Vocalist trophy in 1999. Her Greatest Hits project has been certified by the RIAA as double Platinum and her latest studio album, "Martina," which features the single "This One's for the Girls," was released last week.
Country mainstay and perennial favorite George Strait has received more CMA Award nominations during his career than any other artist with 71. He has claimed the trophy 15 times. So, it comes as no surprise that he is nominated again in 2003 for Male Vocalist of the Year. Every Strait album released during his 20-plus-year career has reached Gold or better and to date, he has sold more than 58 million albums. His current album is "Honkytonkville."
In 2002, Shania Twain selected the CMA Awards for her television debut after a three-year hiatus -- and she is back again in 2003. The 1999 CMA Entertainer of the Year is interrupting her "Up! World Tour," which launched Sept. 25 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, to appear on the CMA Awards broadcast.
Previously announced stars confirmed to perform on "The 37th Annual CMA Awards" include Alan Jackson with Jimmy Buffett; Dolly Parton with Norah Jones; Brooks & Dunn; Kenny Chesney; and Patty Loveless.
The industry professional members of the Country Music Association vote to determine the CMA Award winners. The CMA Awards are produced by Walter C. Miller, directed by Paul Miller and scripted by veteran television writer and Rolling Stone Senior Contributing Editor David Wild. MJI Programming, a Division of Premiere Radio Networks, is the official radio packager of the CMA Awards, which includes the stereo-radio simulcast of the event. American Airlines is the Official Airline of the 2003 CMA Awards. The Awards will also be seen around the world, including BBC Two Television in the United Kingdom.
The CMA Awards became the first music awards show to be broadcast on network television in 1968. In 2002, the CMA Awards led CBS to its first Wednesday victory of the season in viewers and households with 38 million viewers.
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Source: Country Music Association
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