DIERKS BENTLEY, BIG KENNY OF BIG & RICH, JOSH GRACIN, HEARTLAND, CRAIG MORGAN, AND MORE TO PARTICIPATE IN ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC® 4th ANNUAL MOTORCYCLE RIDE HOSTED BY MONTGOMERY GENTRY ON SUNDAY, MAY 13, 2007 IN LAS VEGAS

4TH annual motorcycle ride TO BENEFIT THE ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC ® CHARITABLE FUND COUNTRY MUSIC’S BIGGEST RIDE

The Academy of Country Music announced today that more than 36 all-star country artists will participate in the Academy of Country Music 4th Annual Motorcycle Ride benefiting the Academy of Country Music Charitable Fund on Sunday, May 13, 2007 in Las Vegas, Nevada. For the fourth time in the Motorcycle Ride’s history, Montgomery Gentry will host the event.

Artists participating in this year’s event are Keith Anderson, Dierks Bentley, Big Kenny of Big & Rich, Carolina Rain, Emerson Drive, Cory Gierman, Josh Gracin, Heartland, Steve Holy, Buddy Jewel, Little Texas, Montgomery Gentry, Craig Morgan, Heidi Newfield, John Nicholson, James Otto, The Road Hammers, Ray Scott, Trent Tomlinson, Trick Pony, Two Foot Fred, The Warren Brothers and Trent Willmon.

The Academy of Country Music Charity Motorcycle Ride will kick-off from one of the largest Harley-Davidson dealerships, Las Vegas Harley-Davidson. The riders will cruise through Nevada’s vast desert oasis and up along snowy mountain tops until they reach their final destination, the world famous Fremont Street. The sun will be begin to set upon a concert extravaganza that will feature past and present Academy of Country Music Award nominees and some of country’s best new artists.

To register for this year’s Academy of Country Music Celebrity Motorcycle Ride please visit www.acmcountry.com. Registration fees start as little as $30, with proceeds benefiting the Academy of Country Music® Charitable Fund.

The 42nd ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS ceremony honoring country music’s top talent as well as the industry’s hottest emerging talent, will be broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.

ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC
The ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC, an artist and industry-driven organization, exists to produce a world-class network television awards show, and its associated events, to provide the financial resources to ensure the on-going philanthropic work of its Charitable Fund. Academy of Country Music Charitable Fund promotes and supports music education and humanitarian programs that transform the human spirit. Through its charitable donations, the ACMCF works towards two main goals: encouraging Learning Through Music and Healing Through Music.

The Academy, which is comprised of more than 4,500 professional members and more than 40,000 associate members, was established in 1964 and is headquartered in Encino, Calif. For more information on the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS and the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC, please visit www.acmcountry.com. For more information on the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC CHARITABLE FUND, please visit www.acmcf.org.

The ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS is produced for television by dick clark productions. The show is executive produced by Allen Shapiro and R.A. Clark, and produced by Barry Adelman. The executive in charge of production is Bob Bardo, and the executive in charge is Francis LaMaina.

ENCINO, CA (March 8, 2007) –

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