Rascal Flatts, Jamie Foxx Perform on CMAs

Posted by amyclark on 08/18/2008
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10/16/2007 Stephen L. Betts   Reigning CMA Vocal Group of the Year Rascal Flatts will perform twice on the upcoming CMA Awards telecast. The group will open the show with the title track of their No. 1 album, Still Feels Good, then later in the broadcast will be joined by Academy Award-winner Jamie Foxx to perform another track from the current album, "She Goes All the Way." Singer Gary LeVox and Jamie Foxx have known each other for more than a decade. They were introduced by Jamie’s manager Marcus King. They were also roommates for a brief time in the late 1990s while Gary was pursuing a music career on the west coast. After running into each other at the 2007 Grammy Awards, the pair renewed their friendship. They’ve kept in regular contact since, which resulted in the duet. "Jamie is an incredible talent and we were thrilled he took us up on our invitation to join us on the song," says Gary. "He said he'd do it if we would sing on one of his records, so it's a pretty good swap. He came to Nashville just after finishing his comedy tour to work on it with us." The track was written by Gary with the other members of Rascal Flatts – Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney. "It was an easy song to write, once we had the first few lines. And it's a really wonderful thing to have Jamie join us on the record," says Jay. "We run into him at awards show and he always tells us how much he enjoys the music and how proud he is of Gary. We sent the song to him early this year and he said he'd love to do it." Rascal Flatts is nominated for Entertainer and Vocal Group of the Year. The Entertainer of the Year category has only been won by two groups in CMA Awards history: Alabama (1982, 1983, 1984) and Dixie Chicks (2000). Rascal Flatts has swept the Vocal Group of the Year category the past four years. Performers previously announced for the 2007 CMA Awards include Rodney Atkins, Big & Rich, Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Eagles, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire in a duet with LeAnn Rimes, Brad Paisley, George Strait, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Josh Turner, Carrie Underwood, and Keith Urban. Sara Evans and LeAnn Rimes will host segments of the three-hour broadcast. Presenters recently announced include Luke Bryan, Jason Michael Carroll, Bucky Covington, Jewel with Ty Murray, Kid Rock, Montgomery Gentry, and Dwight Yoakam. Tickets for the 2007 CMA Awards are on sale now and can be purchased by logging on to www.ticketmaster.com; calling (615) 255-9600; or in person at the Sommet Center box office, 501 Broadway (corner of Fifth Avenue and Broadway, in Nashville). Ticket prices begin at $164 (excluding applicable service/handling fees), with prices increasing depending on seating level. The 41st Annual CMA Awards will be telecast live, Wednesday, Nov. 7, on ABC-TV.