The Academy of Country Music today announced that country music superstars Toby Keith, Kellie Pickler, LeAnn Rimes will perform during the 43rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards and that Kenny Chesney and George Strait will perform a special live duet for the first time ever. The ceremony honoring country music's top talent and the industry’s hottest emerging talent will be broadcast live from MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 18th, 2008 at 8:00 PM ET on the CBS Television Network.

The Academy also announced that Criss Angel, Clint Black, Brooks & Dunn, Kaley Cuoco, Sara Evans, Jewel, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Brad Mates of Emerson Drive, Dr. Phil & Robin McGraw, Randy Owen, John Rich, Carrie Underwood, Clay Walker and Trisha Yearwood will make special appearances.

As a special performance, superstars Kenny Chesney and George Strait will perform their duet "Shiftwork" from Chesney's album Just Who I Am: 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 artists announced today will join 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 who were previously announced as performers. Reba McEntire will host the event for the tenth time.

Labels: Academy of Country Music