Country music superstar MARTINA McBRIDE will host the first official ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC
HONORS, an evening dedicated to recognizing the special honorees and off-camera category winners
from the 43rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. The event will take place on Wednesday,
September 17, 2008 in Nashville at the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum.
Those being honored include Special Award recipients Bill Anderson, Dick Clark, Brenda Lee, the
Oak Ridge Boys, Fred Rose, Conway Twitty and Porter Wagoner, and winners of the MBI (musician,
bandleader, instrumentalist) categories, which are not televised during the live telecast of the Academy of Country Music Awards.
“The Academy is delighted that Martina McBride will help us pay tribute to our special honorees and
MBI winners,” said Michelle Goble, Director of Membership and Events at the Academy of Country
Music. “A similar reception we held last year was so well-received that we’re naming and officially
devoting this new annual Academy event, to acknowledge the contributions these winners make to the
country music industry.”
“I’m thrilled to be a part of the ACM Honors,” said Martina McBride, who has been nominated for Top
Female Vocalist every year since 1997 and has won that award three times.
The Academy of Country Music Special Awards are voted on by the ACM Board of Directors and are
awarded during years where the Board of Directors feels there are clear and deserving candidates.
Honorees include:
• DICK CLARK has been selected as the recipient of the Jim Reeves International Award,
presented to an individual for outstanding contributions to the acceptance of country music
worldwide. Past recipients of the Jim Reeves International Award include Merv Griffin, Roy
Clark, Garth Brooks, Charlie Nagatani and Buck Owens, among others.
• BILL ANDERSON and FRED ROSE have been selected to receive the first-ever Poet’s
Award, honoring songwriters for outstanding musical and/or lyrical contributions throughout
their careers in the field of country music.
• BRENDA LEE, THE OAK RIDGE BOYS, CONWAY TWITTY, and PORTER
WAGONER have been chosen to receive the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award honoring individuals
who are pioneers in the country music genre. Past recipients of the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award
include Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Bob Wills, Tex Ritter, Charlie Pride, Loretta Lynn, Charlie
Daniels, Hank Williams, Sr., Merle Haggard, George Jones, Dolly Parton and Alabama, among
others.
The winners of the MBI awards are voted based on Academy of Country Music ballots in their respected
category. Honorees include:
• TOP GUITARIST OF THE YEAR – Dann Huff
• TOP PIANO/KEYBOARD PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Matt Rollings
• TOP BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Michael Rhodes
• TOP PERCUSSIONIST/DRUMMER OF THE YEAR – Shannon Forrest
• TOP STEEL GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Paul Franklin
• TOP FIDDLE PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Stuart Duncan
• TOP SPECIALTY INSTRUMENT(S) PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Jerry Douglas
• AUDIO ENGINEER OF THE YEAR – Justin Niebank
• PRODUCER OF THE YEAR – Mark Wright
Founded in 1964, the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC is an artist and industry-driven organization,
providing the financial resources to ensure the on-going philanthropic work of its Charitable Fund. The
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
promoting Learning Through Music and Healing Through Music. The Academy is comprised of more
than 4,500 professional members and more than 40,000 associate members and is headquartered in
Encino, Calif.