Las Vegas Weekly

April 4, 2009 · 9:02 PM

ACM Awards to feature Hollywood celebrities and David Copperfield magic

By Robin Leach

Toby Keith rehearses for his performance at the Academy of Country Music Awards.

Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images/ACM

Superstars Matthew McConaughey, Jamie Foxx and Jennifer Love Hewitt will be among the guest presenters at tomorrow night’s live, three-hour CBS telecast of the Academy of Country Music Awards from the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

The show will have a blockbuster blow-you-away opening number. Right after the helicopter live shot of the Strip zooming into MGM and cutting into host Reba McEntire, there’s a seven-minute opening number with some of country’s biggest stars all performing individually and then together. Backed by Brooks & Dunn, the medley also will feature Taylor Swift, Sugarland, Carrie Underwood and Rascal Flatts. It’s the first time for all of them together as they wrap up the opening with “Play Something Country.”

Final rehearsals ended tonight, and at yesterday’s rehearsals, ACM official photographer Kevin Winter captured these stunning stage shots of Miranda Lambert and Toby Keith. Tomorrow morning, we’ll have Kevin’s final rehearsal day photographs.

Illusionist and marvel magician David Copperfield had his top secret rehearsals yesterday, too, and all went well for Taylor’s magic segment with David before she sings “You’re Not Sorry.”

I’ve also confirmed that John Rich will perform his new single “Shuttin’ Down Detroit,” which Reba discussed in her interview with me yesterday. Click HERE for that interview. It’s also planned that Billy Ray Cyrus will introduce his daughter Miley Cyrus.

The show will have a 10-second delay in the event of any wardrobe malfunction or overly excited winner. The awards show will start here at 5 for the live 8 p.m. airing on the East Coast.

Vegas DeLuxe will be on the red carpet tomorrow starting at 2:30 p.m., and then we’ll have the winners posted early evening with a full photo wrap up in place Monday.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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