COUNTRY MUSIC FANS EVERYWHERE HAVE THE POWER TO VOTE FOR THE 44th ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC® AWARDS ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

ECINO, CA (March 16, 2009) –The Academy of Country Music announced that starting today, March 16th, anyone can vote for Entertainer of the Year nominees Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, George Strait, Carrie Underwood or Keith Urban by logging on to www.voteACM.com or www.cbs.com/acma . Fans can vote through the last hour of the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards airing LIVE on CBS television Sunday, April 5th at 8:00 PM live ET/tape delayed PT. Each Entertainer of the Year nominee is also scheduled to perform. Fans can also log onto www.cbs.com/acma to access videos and photos featuring the hottest country music stars, as well as information on all of this year’s nominees

Carrie Underwood is a six-time ACM award winner who is nominated for four awards, including Entertainer of Year. If Underwood wins Entertainer of the Year, she will be only the 7th female to take the award; previous winners include Loretta Lynn in 1975, Dolly Parton in 1977, Barbara Mandrell in 1980, Reba McEntire in 1994, Shania Twain in 1999 and most recently Dixie Chicks in 2000. Additionally, if she takes home the honor, she will be eligible for the Triple Crown Award. Underwood is also nominated for Top Female Vocalist, Album of the Year and her video “Just a Dream” is nominated for Video of the Year. If she wins Top Female Vocalist, it will be the third consecutive year she has won the category.