Giving props to some old friends

Wednesday, May 31, 2006 | 7:23 a.m.

Who: Reba McEntire

When: 9 p.m. June 7-10 and June 14-17; 8 p.m. June 11 and June 18

Where: Las Vegas Hilton Theater

Tickets: $138 to $225

Information: 732-5755

Las Vegas Hilton headliner Reba McEntire introduced two future Hilton headliners at a press conference last week - her close friends Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn.

The country duo of Brooks & Dunn will perform at the Hilton during National Finals Rodeo week in December and then return next year for three engagements.

In addition to being in Las Vegas to announce their deal with the Hilton, they were here for the 41st annual Academy of Country Music Awards ceremony held last week at the MGM Grand.

The vocalists picked up their 20th ACM award, this one for Song of the Year - "Believe."

McEntire, who hosted the event for the eighth time, will return to the Hilton on June 7 for her second engagement.

McEntire talks about her singing career, her on-again, off-again, on-again TV show and other subjects:

Q: Did you have any part in bringing Brooks & Dunn to the Hilton?

No. The Hilton went to them. But when someone asks me who my favorites are, I always say them because we've toured together for years and I've known them forever. I love their show - it's very entertaining and you get so much from them.

How about the Academy of Country Music Awards? You've hosted it eight times.

I've hosted, I've co-hosted, I've tri-hosted it. One time I hosted with Hank (Williams) Jr.; one time with Randy Owen of Alabama and George Strait; several times I've been by myself; one time with Mack Davis and John Schneider and one time with Randy Travis.

There are so many award shows. Which is your favorite?

The ACM and the Country Music Association are my two favorite because they're the ones I started out with. I love them because one is kind of West Coast and one is kind of East Coast. Those are the ones I really enjoy - I've hosted both of them.

The thing that's totally different about the ACMs is that they bring a little Hollywood into it. Dick Clark (Productions) was always interested in bringing in the movie stars and TV stars to spice up things.

Was your TV show on the WB canceled or not?

It was canceled (this month) and then it came back. Welcome to the roller coaster of the TV world.

What do you mean it came back?

They ordered 13 more episodes for a mid-season replacement, so we're going to start Aug. 9, and we're going to go right back into production like we would have usually done - starting on our sixth season. At the end of December they will let us know if we get picked up for the back nine (shows).

Does the roller coaster bother you or are you used to it?

No, I'm not used to this kind of thing. No, I'm not. We were the No. 1 sitcom on the WB.

Did they give you a reason?

It's all about money. Our ratings are very, very good. Hopefully I will learn the reason someday.

You've been a country singer for more than 30 years. How has the music evolved?

How has it not evolved? It has changed in the electronics of instrumentation. Keeping in the old, but bringing in a new way of doing things.

Some say new country is overproduced. Do you like that?

I think a happy medium is always the best of anything.

Country music has been described as todays pop. What do you think?

I would agree with that. I think country music is like pop, the '60s music that I loved to listen to - with great story songs, great feelings. It has soul to it, it has heart to it.