TRACE ADKINS, BROOKS & DUNN, MIRANDA LAMBERT AND MONTGOMERY GENTRY SET TO PERFORM ON THE "43RD ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS" TO BE BROADCAST LIVE FROM LAS VEGAS, SUNDAY, MAY 18 ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK

Trace Adkins, Brooks & Dunn, Miranda Lambert and Montgomery Gentry are set to perform on the 43RD ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, to be broadcast live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Sunday, May 18 (8:00-11:00 PM, live ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network. The event honors country music's top talent as well as the industry's hottest emerging talent.

They join previously announced performers Rodney Atkins, Dolly Parton, Sugarland, Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood. Country music superstar Reba McEntire returns to host the show for the 10th time.

Trace Adkins' current single, "You're Gonna Miss This," was number one for three weeks on the Billboard Country charts. Fresh from his appearance on "Celebrity Apprentice," the two-time Academy nominee will release his next album later this fall.

Fourteen-time Top Vocal Duo winners Brooks & Dunn are nominated for the 17th time in the same category. They are currently on tour promoting their album, Cowboy Town, which debuted at number four on the charts. With 24 awards, they have the highest number of ACM wins ever.

Last year's Top New Female Vocalist, Miranda Lambert, is nominated for three awards, including Top Female Vocalist, Single of the Year for "Famous in a Small Town" and Album of the Year for her number one Platinum-selling album, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, for which she co-wrote eight of the 11 songs. Her nominated hit, "Famous in a Small Town," is her highest charting single to date.

Montgomery Gentry is nominated for Top Vocal Duo. This June, they will release their eagerly awaited album, Back When I Knew it All, the follow-up to Some People Change, which delivered three back-to-back Top Five singles, including the number one "Lucky Man." Their new single, "Back When I Knew it All," is currently the duo's fastest rising to date and already a Top 20 hit on the country charts.

The 43RD ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS is produced for television by dick clark productions. The show is executive produced by R.A. Clark and produced by Barry Adelman. The executive in charge of production is Bob Bardo. Louis J. Horvitz is directing.

RATING: To Be Announced