Brooks & Dunn photo courtesy of Sony Music Nashville.

A year ago, the Academy of Country Music used the day after its awards show to shoot a massive special celebrating George Strait as the organization’s Artist of the Decade. This year, the ACM makes it a repeat performance, using the day after the 45th annual awards to film another CBS special, “ACM Presents: Brooks & Dunn — The Last Rodeo.”

Artists already on board for the B&D tribute include Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban and one Reba McEntire, who makes a lot of sense as a guest. She did, after all, join Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn on their single “Cowboys Don’t Cry” — which was a nominee during last year’s ACMs — and Ronnie also wrote the title track of her current Keep On Loving You album. Plus, it’s not like she won’t be around — Reba is set to host the ACMs for the 12th time in its history.

“No one does it better than Reba McEntire,” said Orly Adelson, the ACM Awards’ executive producer. “She always brings spunk and personality to the show and we are honored to have the Queen of Country Music back.”

The awards air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 18. Tickets are available to the public for both the awards and the April 19 Brooks & Dunn taping through the ACM beginning Friday.

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