TOBY KEITH, KELLIE PICKLER AND LEANN RIMES SET TO PERFORM, AND KENNY CHESNEY AND GEORGE STRAIT WILL PERFORM A DUET, ON THE "43RD ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS" TO BE BROADCAST LIVE FROM LAS VEGAS, SUNDAY, MAY 18 ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK

Chriss Angel, Clint Black, Brooks & Dunn, Kaley Cuoco, Sara Evans, Jewell, Lady Entebellum, Little Big Town, Brad Mates of Emerson Drive, Dr. Phil and Robin McGraw, Randy Owen, John Rich, Carrie Underwood, Clay Walker and Trisha Yearwood to Present

Toby Keith, Kellie Pickler and LeAnn Rimes will perform, and Kenny Chesney and George Strait will perform a duet 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.

Chriss Angel, Clint Black, Brooks & Dunn, Kaley Cuoco, Sara Evans, Jewell, Lady Entebellum, Little Big Town, Brad Mates of Emerson Drive, Dr. Phil and Robin McGraw, Randy Owen, John Rich, Carrie Underwood, Clay Walker and Trisha Yearwood have been set to present. As previously announced, country music superstar Reba McEntire returns to host the show for the 10th time.

Previously announced performers include Trace Adkins, Rodney Atkins, Garth Brooks, Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, Montgomery Gentry, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, George Strait, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban.

Toby Keith has won nine Academy of Country Music Awards, including two back-to-back Entertainer of the Year Awards. He will release a greatest hits album, Toby Keith's 35 Biggest Hits, later this year. The album will feature his latest single, "She's a Hottie." Keith will also hit the road this June with the Biggest & Baddest Tour.

Kellie Pickler is nominated for the second year in a row for Top New Female Vocalist. Her gold certified and debut album, Small Town Girl, yielded three Top 20 hits, including "Red High Heels" and "I Wonder," both of which she wrote. She's currently working on her sophomore album, which will be released later this year.

LeAnn Rimes has won three Academy of Country Music Awards. In 2007, she released her 12th studio album, Family. The album debuted at number four on the Billboard charts. She is currently touring with Kenny Chesney on his Poets & Pirates tour.

Kenny Chesney and George Strait will perform their duet, "Shiftwork," from Chesney's album, Poets & Pirates. This will be the first time the pair have performed this song live. Both Chesney and Strait are nominated for multiple Academy of Country Music Awards, including Entertainer of the Year, which fans can vote for at http://www.voteacm.com/.

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