ALABAMA, GARTH BROOKS, BROOKS & DUNN, KENNY CHESNEY, RASCAL FLATTS, MONTGOMERY GENTRY, MICKEY GILLEY, MERLE HAGGARD, ALAN JACKSON, BARBARA MANDRELL, REBA McENTIRE, GEORGE STRAIT, TRISHA YEARWOOD AND LEE ANN WOMACK TO APPEAR ON "THE ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC'S 40TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION," A NEW ENTERTAINMENT SPECIAL TO BE BROADCAST SATURDAY, DEC. 3 ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK

Special To Celebrate the Rich Heritage of the Academy of Country Music

Country music superstars Alabama, Garth Brooks, Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, Montgomery Gentry, Mickey Gilley, Merle Haggard, Alan Jackson, Barbara Mandrell, Reba McEntire, George Strait, Trisha Yearwood and Lee Ann Womack will appear on THE ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC'S 40TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, a new entertainment special to be broadcast Saturday, Dec. 3 (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. The special, which was taped May 18 at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, will celebrate the rich heritage of the Academy of Country Music.

The special will honor the Academy's 40 extraordinary years as an organization supporting, promoting and enhancing the advancement of the country music industry worldwide. The two-hour special will look back into the history of the Academy and commemorate the strides the organization has made, with a special nod to the Academy's founders, and acknowledge artists who have achieved Academy-related milestones in their careers.

Country music's finest will guide viewers through the career achievements of artists who have earned the Academy's most prestigious accolades. Additionally, the Academy will present its Triple Crown Award, given to artists who have previously won ACM Awards in all three of the following categories: Top New Male/Female Vocalist and/or Duo/Group; Top Male/Female Vocalist and/or Duo/Group; and Entertainer of the Year. Those eligible to be honored for the Triple Crown include Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Dixie Chicks, Mickey Gilley, Merle Haggard and Barbara Mandrell.

The special will also acknowledge artists who have unique and outstanding individual Academy-related achievements, including those who lead a category with the most number of wins.

Each award recipient on the 40th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION will be honored with a trophy that was specially jeweled by Johnathon Arndt Gallery of Jewels in Beverly Hills. This one-of-a-kind trophy contains 13.38 ct weight of rubies and 3.2 ct weight of diamonds.

The Academy of Country Music was founded in 1964 with a mission to support, promote, and enhance the advancement of the country music industry worldwide. The Academy, which is comprised of more than 3,800 professional members and a newly established Associate Membership, is headquartered in Burbank, Calif. For more information on the Academy of Country Music Awards and the Academy of Country Music, please visit www.acmcountry.com.

THE ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC'S 40TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION is produced by dick clark productions. Dick Clark and R.A. Clark are the executive producers. Barry Adelman is the producer, and Jeff Margolis is the director. The executive in charge of production is Bob Bardo, and the executive in charge is Fran LaMaina.

RATING: To Be Announced