Producer, host and "America's youngest teenager" Dick Clark suffered a massive heart attack following an inpatient procedure in Los Angeles on April 18. He was 83. Clark was best known for hosting and creating American Bandstand and New Year's Rockin' Eve -- the latter of which he hosted until he suffered a stroke in 2004, handing over the reigns to Ryan Seacrest and only appearing for a few moments during the annual broadcast to kiss his wife Kari Wigton at midnight.
STORY: Dick Clark Dead of Heart Attack at 82
Nearly one full year after his April death, Dick Clark will be celebrated once again at the Academy of Country Music Awards.
George Strait and Garth Brooks, the ACM Awards’ two most recent Artist of the Decade recipients, will perform together for the first time in history in honor of the late icon. Clark, though his Dick Clark Productions, began producing the ACM Awards in 1979.
“Dick helped make country music accessible to a larger fan base and his efforts will not be forgotten. Garth and I were so grateful when we each received the ACM Artist of the Decade Award, so it’s only fitting that we’ll be honoring him with this tribute performance,” said Strait.
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The ceremony will be broadcast live from MGM’s Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 7, airing at 8 p.m. on the east coast and tape delayed on the west coast via CBS.
“Although there is no award the entertainment industry has that can match the magnitude of the star Dick Clark was, and still is, it is an honor to get to be a part of the Academy’s tribute to him,” said Brooks. “There may be others who have contributed as much to the music industry, but there is definitely no one that contributed more than Dick Clark. He was music’s best friend, and a dear friend to me.”
Clark died on April 18, 2012, of a heart attack. His legacy has been celebrated by the likes of Ryan Seacrest, as well as during the American Music Awards, the Grammy Awards and during this year’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve broadcast.
Email: Sophie.Schillaci@THR.com; Twitter: @SophieSchillaci
