Brooks & Dunn "Believe" in Special CMA Awards Performance World Class Musicians Enlisted for 11/15 Telecast from Madison Sq. Garden

New York: When Ronnie Dunn and Kix Brooks find something special, they're the first ones to comb the face of the globe to support it the way they feel

it deserves to be supported. So when the decision was made to perform the spiritually-powerful "Believe" on the CBS telecast of the "39th Annual Country Music Association Awards," live from Madison Square Garden, they knew they wanted to enlist the finest musicians they could get their hands on.

"Some things are just a cut above," says guitarslinger/singer/songwriter

and current CMA Chairman of the Board Kix Brooks. "We knew when it was time to stage this song, it was gonna take some pretty big guns to get the feel and the soul we were after. Thankfully, we not only know a lot of people, this is the kind of song that inspires players in ways that go beyond words."

Written by Ronnie Dunn and Craig Wiseman, "Believe" is a song about the power of faith reaching across generations and inspiring a sense of a world beyond our mortal coil. Juxtaposing a taut hushed arrangement with a swooping gospel choir, Dunn -- deemed "country's finest male vocalist" by Entertainment Weekly -- is supported by no less than Grammy-winning producer and musician Randy Scruggs on acoustic guitar, Steve Winwood/Rodney Crowell/Lee Ritenour lynchpin Michael Rhodes on bass and Steve Ray Vaughn vet Reese Wynans on B-3.

"I had to strip this song down to the basics with no fluff," says Dunn, trying define the challenge of mounting "Believe" for both the audience in Madison Square Garden and in their living rooms across the country. "That meant picking 4 gifted players. Reese Wynans is the best B3 organ player on the planet. Michael Rhodes is equally as gifted on bass, and Randy Scruggs is quite simply country royalty.

"I'm the weakest link up there," Dunn continues with an honest laugh, "but thanks to these guys, I will have a magic wave to surf."

Having rocked both downtown's legendary Irving Plaza last week and been the first act to ever perform a set on the marquis at Madison Square Garden today, Brooks & Dunn are bringing their hardcore brand of modern day honky tonk to New York City in a big way. With "Play Something Country" having just topped both the Billboard and Radio & Records Country Singles charts and their critically-acclaimed Hillbilly Deluxe also bowing at #1 on Billboard's Country Album chart, this year's "CMA Awards" hosts understand the power of connection -- and with back-up musicians of this quality, it makes it very easy for the 14-time CMA Award winners to "Believe.".