NASHVILLE, TN. (Country
Music Association/ www.cmaworld.com) - "Country Music's Biggest Night" continues to grow with the announcement today that superstar nominee
Tim McGraw will perform the opening song on "The 38th Annual CMA Awards," which airs at 8:00 PM/EST, Tuesday, Nov. 9 on the CBS Television Network live from the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tenn. McGraw will perform "How Bad Do You Want It" from his new album Live Like You Were Dying, which debuted atop the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart with more than 765,000 albums sold in its debut week. After just a few weeks of release, the album is approaching Double-Platinum status.
"The CMA Awards are highly regarded for our outstanding performances each year," said CMA Executive
Director Ed Benson. "Tim McGraw is one of the most sensational musical entertainers in the business today. His performance will undoubtedly be electric, and we are excited to have him open this year's Awards."
A former CMA Entertainer of the Year (2001), McGraw is once againnominated in that category. His other nomination is for Single of the Year for "Live Like You Were Dying," which topped the Radio and Records Country Singles chart for 10 weeks, breaking a 30-year chart record. If the song should win the Single of the Year Award, McGraw would also receive a trophy as co-producer.
McGraw has earned eight CMA Awards in his career, including consecutive Male Vocalist nods in 1999 and 2000. During his career he has sold more than 31 million albums and charted 23 number-one singles. His first major motion picture role will be in "Friday Night Lights," scheduled to be in theaters nationwide on Oct. 8. "The Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors Fall Tour 2004" continues through Oct. 10, ending at the Civic Center in Charleston, WV.
Brooks & Dunn will host this year's CMA Awards with special guest Shania Twain. In addition to Brooks & Dunn and Twain, previously confirmed performers include Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith and Gretchen Wilson, with more names to be added in the coming weeks.
The CMA Awards are produced by Walter C. Miller, directed by Paul Miller and scripted by David Wild. 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 event. American Airlines is the Official Airline of the 2004 CMA Awards.
