ACM Awards Announced, George Strait to Be Honored

The 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards will take place on Sunday, April 5, 2009, at 8 p.m. EST on the CBS television network, it was announced. The Country Music honors will air live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.The Artist of the Decade for the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards will be Country Music legend George Strait. A one-hour special Artist of the Decade will be filmed in Vegas and aired at a later date. Strait will join an esteemed group of artists to receive the award, including Garth Brooks, Alabama, Loretta Lynn and Marty Robbins.The 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards will be hosted by 11-time ACM winner Reba McEntire.