2007 Primetime Emmy� Nominee Tony Bennett and CHristina Aguilera to duet ON THE "59th PRIMETIME EMMY� AWARDS" LIVE SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, ON FOX
Music legend and 2007 Primetime Emmy� nominee Tony Bennett and pop star Christina Aguilera will perform together at the 59TH PRIMETIME EMMY� AWARDS airing live from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles Sunday, Sept. 16 (8:00-11:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX. Bennett and Aguilera will reprise their duet performance of "Steppin' Out (With My Baby)" from the special "Target Presents Tony Bennett: An American Classic." The number will be recreated by Rob Marshall and John DeLuca, award-winning choreographers of the special, which is nominated for a total of eight Primetime Emmy� Awards. "Tony Bennett: An American Classic" recently won a juried Primetime Emmy� Award for Outstanding Costumes for a Variety/Music Program or a Special, for Colleen Atwood.
Ryan Seacrest is set to host the biggest night in television along with previously announced presenters Steve Carell, Kyle Chandler, the cast of "Entourage," Kelsey Grammer, Patricia Heaton, Katherine Heigl, Hayden Panettiere, Jimmy Smits, Jon Stewart, Kiefer Sutherland and Kate Walsh.
Bennett celebrated his 80th birthday on Aug. 3, 2006, launching an extensive celebration of his life and career. "Tony Bennett: Duets/An American Classic" features Bennett performing his greatest hits together with such musical guests as Barbra Streisand, Bono, the Dixie Chicks, Billy Joel, Elton John, k.d. lang, Paul McCartney, Sting, Stevie Wonder and many others. The album has become the best-selling CD of Bennett's long recording career. The groundbreaking musical special "Target Presents Tony Bennett: An American Classic," directed by Academy Award winner Rob Marshall ("Chicago," "Memoirs of a Geisha"), received eight Primetime Emmy� nominations, including nods for Bennett, Marshall and Bennett's two sons, Danny and Dae. The UN honored Bennett this year with its 2007 Humanitarian Award, and Billboard, the music industry's premier publication, presented him with its Century Award in December 2006. In 2005, Bennett became a Kennedy Center Honoree and an NEA Jazz Master.
With over 50 million records sold worldwide and platinum and gold albums to his credit, Bennett has received 15 Grammy Awards, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. The MTV generation first took him to heart during his appearance with the Red Hot Chili Peppers on the 1993 MTV Video Awards ceremony. He appeared on "MTV Unplugged," and the resulting recording of the same name garnered the singer Grammy's top award, Album of the Year. "Tony Bennett has not just bridged the generation gap," pointed out The New York Times, "he has demolished it. He has solidly connected with a younger crowd weaned on rock. And there have been no compromises." Bennett credits his son and manager, Danny, for his success in capturing a whole new generation of listeners. The Clint Eastwood-produced documentary "Clint Eastwood Presents Tony Bennett: The Music Never Ends," airs on PBS' "American Masters" on Sept. 12. On Sept. 25, Sony Legacy will release "Tony Bennett Sings The Ultimate American Songbook, Vol. 1," a 15-track CD of Bennett's favorite recordings from the Great American Songbook. On that date, Netflix will make the Eastwood documentary available for rental and Target will have the DVD version exclusively for purchase. In October, Sterling Publishing will release a new art book on Bennett's pairing of genres: "Tony Bennett in the Studio: A Life of Art and Music."
Christina Aguilera first performed the classic "Steppin' Out (With My Baby)" with Bennett for his groundbreaking special "Tony Bennett: An American Classic." Aguilera again sang with Bennett as a special surprise when she performed as the musical guest on "Saturday Night Live" last November.
Four-time Grammy Award winner Aguilera has sold well over 25 million records worldwide. Her "Back to Basics" album has made her the top-seller in the SoundScan era for a female artist. This November, RCA will release a live version of Aguilera's "Back to Basics" tour, capturing the excitement and sound of her sold-out worldwide concerts.
Produced by AEG Ehrlich Ventures LLC, the 59TH PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS on FOX will originate from the historic Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.
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