NASHVILLE, TN – The Academy of Country Music will honor the late Conway Twitty with the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award during the non televised portion of the 43rd ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS. The ceremony, which honors country music’s top talent as well as the industry’s hottest emerging talent, will be broadcast LIVE from MGM GRAND in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 18th, 2008 at 8:00 PM ET/PT on the CBS Television Network.

In 1970, Conway Twitty set the astonishing pace for the decade with “Hello Darlin’” one of the most recognizable singles in country music history. He later teamed with Loretta Lynn and the Academy of Country Music awarded their partnership with four trophies for Top Vocal Group in 1971, 1974-1976. In 1975, he won two more Awards for Album of the Year and Top Male Vocalist. Before he died in 1993, Twitty had scored a record breaking 55 number one hits, either as a solo artist or with his close friend Loretta Lynn.

“To the world, Conway Twitty was a country music superstar, a legend, but, to us, he was our Dad.  We are so very proud of this honor that has been bestowed upon him.  He certainly was a pioneer in both rock-n-roll and country music and well deserving of this award.  We are very proud of all he achieved in his musical career, but, we are even more proud of the kind, loving and gentle man he was to everyone he ever met,” says Joni Twitty on behalf of Conway Twitty United.
 
Brenda Lee, The Oak Ridge Boys, and Porter Wagoner have also 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.

About the Academy of Country Music
Founded in 1964, the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC is an artist and industry-driven organization, that provides 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.

About the Academy of Country Music Awards
The 43rd ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS is dedicated to honoring and showcasing the biggest names and emerging talent in the country music industry.  The show is produced for television by DICK CLARK PRODUCTIONS and will be broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Sunday, May 18, 2008 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.  R.A. Clark is executive producer, Barry Adelman is producer and Bob Bardo is executive in charge of production.

For more information on the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC and the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, please visit www.acmcountry.com. For more information on the ACADEMYOF COUNTRY MUSIC CHARITABLE FUND, please visit www.acmcf.org.