Toby Keith, Rascal Flatts, Reba, Blake Shelton and Josh Turner to Perform at First-Ever AMERICAN COUNTRY AWARDS

Country music superstars Toby Keith, Rascal Flatts, Reba, Blake Shelton and Josh Turner are set to perform at the AMERICAN COUNTRY AWARDS airing live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Monday, Dec. 6 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX.

The inaugural two-hour event will also feature appearances by country recording artists Laura Bell Bundy, Rodney Carrington, Jewel, Lady Antebellum and Bret Michaels; rodeo star Ty Murray; comic Jeff Dunham; and NASCAR drivers Clint Bowyer, Michael Waltrip and Elliott Sadler. Hosts, performers and additional presenters will be announced soon.

AMERICAN COUNTRY AWARDS is the only country music awards show that gives fans the opportunity to vote for their favorite artists not only in traditional categories but also in previously unrecognized areas of the business such as touring, encompassing the entire spectrum of country music and bestowing honors that no other awards show has.

Fans can still vote once each day for their favorite nominees in the Artist of the Year category, at www.theacas.com until December 4, 2010.

Toby Keith has been among the top musical performers in any genre and one of music’s longest-running hit makers.  For the past decade, he is ranked among the top-selling artists in all genres on Billboard’s Top 200 Artists of the Decade and also named Billboard’s No. 1 Country Artist of the Decade and No. 1 Country Songwriter of the Decade. Keith’s most recent album, “Bullets in the Gun,” debuted at No. 1 on both the Billboard Top 200 and Billboard’s Country Album chart. He has sold over 33 million albums. Keith has been honored by Nashville Songwriters Assn. International (NSAI), which awarded him its prestigious Songwriter/Artist of the Decade Award, and he is a three-time BMI Country Artist/Songwriter of the Year. His business empire is as expansive as his hit-making ability, encompassing restaurants, movies and a clothing line. In 2009, his album, “American Ride,” also debuted at the top of the Country Albums chart, with the title track and the second single from the album, “Cryin’ For Me (Wayman’s Song),” landing Keith two consecutive No. 1 singles – the 27th and 28th chart-toppers of his career. His tours continue to be among the top-drawing concerts in the world.

In the past 10 years, Rascal Flatts – Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney – have sold more than 20 million albums and 25 million digital downloads, and all six of their studio albums have made Billboard’s Top 100 Country Albums of the Decade listing. They’ve placed 11 No. 1 singles since the launch of their career, and have more titles in Billboard’s Top 100 Songs of the Decade than any other group in the country format. Rascal Flatts is currently nominated for “Artist of the Year: Group,” “Single of the Year: Group,” “Touring Act of the Year” and “Video of the Year: Group” at the American Country Awards.

One of the most successful female recording artists in history, Reba has sold over 56 million albums worldwide, and her previous 13 studio albums have all achieved Gold or Platinum-plus status. She has won 15 American Music Awards, 12 Academy of Country Music Awards, nine People’s Choice Awards, six Country Music Association Awards and two Grammy Awards. Reba’s reign of No. 1 hits spans four decades, and she was recently recognized by Billboard, Country Aircheck and Mediabase as the biggest female hit-maker in country music history. The superstar recently earned her 64th Top 10 hit with “Turn on the Radio,” the first single from her new album, “All The Women I Am.” Reba’s unprecedented run of sales successes extended her lead as the female artist with the most RIAA sales certifications in country music history. Reba has more No. 1 albums than any female country music artist in history. Also an acclaimed film, TV and Broadway actress, Reba recently surpassed the 1 million-fan mark on Facebook, propelling her into an elite group of only 10 country artists to achieve the popularity milestone.

Blake Shelton has been dubbed one of the “most versatile of contemporary country singers” by The New York Times. The CMA Male Vocalist of the Year continues to prove to be one of the industry’s hottest vocalists as he caps a successful year with career highlights that include ACM and CMT Awards, multiple CMA Award wins, the release of three albums: “Hillbilly Bone,” “All About Tonight” and a greatest-hits album, “Loaded: The Best of Blake Shelton.” He garnered two No. 1 hits with the title tracks, “Hillbilly Bone” (featuring long-time friend Trace Adkins) and “All About Tonight.” Shelton was recently being inducted to the Grand Ole Opry. He has seven No. 1 hits, including his back-to-back multi-week No. 1 singles “She Wouldn’t Be Gone” and “Home”; his five-week No. 1 debut single, “Austin”; and two additional multi-week No. 1 hits, “The Baby” and “Some Beach.” Every single one of Shelton’s singles released since 2007 has peaked in the Top 10.

Josh Turner is a Hannah, SC, native who has sold more than 4.5 million albums and garnered four No. 1 singles. He will perform his four-week No. 1 hit, “Why Don’t We Just Dance,” which is currently 2010’s most-played song on country radio. Earlier this year, Turner’s fourth studio album, “Haywire,” debuted at No. 5 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart. Six years after his Grand Ole Opry debut, he was inducted into the prestigious organization, becoming one of the youngest artists ever to receive the honor.

AMERICAN COUNTRY AWARDS is executive-produced by Bob Bain (TEEN CHOICE 2010, “Kids’ Choice Awards”). Paul Flattery and Tisha Fein serve as producers; Fletcher Foster is co-producer; and Greg Sills is supervising producer. Michael Dempsey will direct the special.

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