Tim McGraw, Vince Gill & rockers Daughtry latest adds to 2009 CMA performers list

Tim McGraw performs for the first time in four years
at this year's CMA event. (Photo/Red Light Mngmt)

For the first time in four years, cologne-endorsee Tim McGraw will perform once more when he takes part in the  upcoming 43rd Annual CMA Awards on Nov. 11.

Broadcast live on ABC-TV and co-hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, the star-laced awards show also will be the place to spy the most CMA-winning artist around, Vince Gill, take on a duet with rock band Daughtry, whose lineup will mark its first time at the event.

CMA reps also announced that the AMA-nominated Jason Aldean and Zac Brown Band, as well as Billy Currington, Lady Antebellum and Miranda Lambert are officially confirmed to perform at the CMAs, which will get under way at Nashville's Sommet Center at 8-11 p.m. (ET).

Previously announced performers include Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Reba McEntire, Paisley, Darius Rucker, George Strait, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Underwood and Keith Urban. But one can't help but wonder if the newly unretired Garth Brooks will now make an appearance, since he's returning to the live stage, albeit for 15 weekends per year for the next five years beginning in December.

 Rockers Daughtry will duet with Vince Gill during the live
 CMA Awards broadcast Nov. 11. (Photo/Sony Music)

Nevertheless, country fans will be tickled to see the sweet-smellin' McGraw back on the broadcast. The Louisiana native hasn't performed on the CMA Awards stage in 2005, when he joined wife Faith Hill on "Like We Never Loved At All."  Before that, his last solo performance on the CMA Awards was in 2004, when he opened the show with "How Bad Do You Want It?" 

In the awards department, McGraw last received a CMA in 2007 for Musical Event of the Year on "Find Out Who Your Friends Are" with Tracy Lawrence and 2009 nominee Chesney. His upcoming performance will undoubtedly support his forthcoming CD, Southern Voice, which drops Oct. 20.

As for the Grammy-nominated rock band Daughtry, the act will make it's inaugural CMA performance alongside a veteran, Country Music Hall of Fame member Gill, to duet on "Tennessee Line," a track the musicians teamed to record for Daughtry's new album, Leave This Town, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in July.

Although a string of non-country artists are not uncommon at other country awards events, such as the Academy of Country Music contest held on the West Coast each year or the CMT Music Awards, which mix 'n' mingle somewhat regularly with the MTV set, it's interesting to see organizers for the CMA Awards delving across the aisle, so to speak, and inviting rockers to come on over.

Perhaps this summer's CMA Music Festival, complete with Kid Rock dueting with Martina McBride, has helped convince the powers that be that mixing 'n' matching genres can be an inviting awards-show characteristic? Or, maybe it's simply all about the ratings? No matter the reasoning, however, rest assured that country fans are the primary audience, and for them, it's all about the twang.