The Recording Academy to Honor Lady Antebellum at Grammys on the Hill Awards

Music and politics unite at The Recording Academy's 2014 GRAMMYs on the Hill Awards where seven-time GRAMMY winners Lady Antebellum will be presented with the Recording Artists' Coalition Award (named for The Academy's artists' rights program founded by Don Henley and Sheryl Crow), while House of Representatives majority whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) will also be honored for their support and understanding of music creators' unique role in American life. Known as "Washington's most interesting mix of music and politics," the event will take place on Wednesday, April 2, at The Hamilton Live in D.C., and will include live performances and one-of-a-kind tributes.

In addition, Westfield Academy and Central School (Westfield, N.Y.) music teacher Kent Knappenberger, the recipient of the inaugural Music Educator Award, presented by The Recording Academy and the GRAMMY Foundation, will be acknowledged for his dedication to music education. The GRAMMYs on the Hill Awards are sponsored by SESAC, and proceeds from the event will benefit the GRAMMY Foundation's GRAMMY Signature Schools, which provides support for underserved music programs throughout the country. For updates and breaking news, please visit The Recording Academy's Advocacy social networks on Twitter (@TRAinDC) and Facebook.

"We are proud to honor Lady Antebellum for their artistry and inventiveness in the country arena as well as their philanthropic efforts to make a difference for disadvantaged children here and abroad," said Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow. "The Academy is also pleased to honor House leaders McCarthy and Pelosi for their tireless support of music, and we look forward to another incredible evening in our nation's capital."

The high-profile celebration at The Hamilton Live will be attended by members of the recording and entertainment industries, including GRAMMY-winning group Los Lonely Boys, pop trio Hanson, Wesley Schultz (of folk rock group The Lumineers), SESAC hit songwriters Gary Burr and Victoria Shaw, pop music legend and five-time GRAMMY winner Dionne Warwick, and many others, in addition to numerous Washington luminaries and policymakers. The celebration will begin with a cocktail reception and dinner, followed by the awards presentation.

GRAMMYs on the Hill Advocacy Day - April 3

The day after the awards ceremony, The Recording Academy will host GRAMMYs on the Hill Advocacy Day, where hundreds of music professionals from across the country will visit with lawmakers to advance policies that improve the environment for American music. Now in its 10th year, the program is the music community's only annual advocacy day in Washington, D.C.

About Lady Antebellum

Since their 2006 inception, Lady Antebellum - Dave Heywood, Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott - have been awarded seven GRAMMYs including Record and Song Of The Year. The trio has sold more than 11 million albums worldwide, has taken seven trips to No. 1 on the country radio charts, and has earned five platinum singles. They have earned the Country Music Association's and the Academy of Country Music's Vocal Group of the Year honor three times in a row. Lady A are currently out on the road headlining their 2014 Take Me Downtown tour with guests Kip Moore and Kacey Musgraves. They also recently released Golden Deluxe, which includes their current Top 5 smash "Compass" and platinum-certified chart-topper "Downtown." The group's LadyAID Fund brings awareness to and generates support for the plight of children locally, nationally, and globally who cannot otherwise help themselves. The multilevel campaign focuses primarily on children's hospitals in the United States and Canada, and the overall betterment of children's lives around the world. For more information, please visit www.ladyantebellum.com.

About Rep. Kevin McCarthy

Congressman Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) represents the 23rd District of California, which spans Kern, Tulare, and Los Angeles counties. First elected in 2006, McCarthy is a native of Bakersfield and a fourth-generation Kern County resident. After the 2010 midterm elections, he was elected by his colleagues to serve as Majority Whip of the United States House of Representatives.

In 2013, McCarthy joined Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) as the new co-chair of the Recording Arts and Sciences Congressional Caucus. Since its founding with Recording Academy consultation in 2005, this bipartisan caucus has provided members of Congress with opportunities to interface directly with music creators to better inform their understanding of the music business and the impact it has on the U.S. economy.

McCarthy was announced as the new co-chair of the caucus at last year's GRAMMYs on the Hill Awards, giving the caucus the high-profile leadership of both the House Majority Whip and the House Minority Whip. At the ceremony, McCarthy lauded the creative work of the music community and affirmed the need to protect it from online theft.

On Jan. 25, 2014, during GRAMMY Weekend in Los Angeles, McCarthy led a first-of-its-kind GRAMMY Town Hall with Recording Academy leadership. McCarthy engaged in a frank and free-flowing conversation with Academy Trustees and Chapter Presidents regarding the congressional outlook for the coming year.

About Rep. Nancy Pelosi

For 25 years, Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has represented California's 12th District in the House of Representatives. The 12th District includes most of the city of San Francisco. Congresswoman Pelosi has led House Democrats for a decade and previously served as House Democratic Whip and is currently the Democratic Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives for the 113th Congress.

From 2007 - 2011, Pelosi served as Speaker of the House, the first woman to do so in American history. In October, she was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Seneca Falls, N.Y., the birthplace of the women's rights movement. Under the leadership of Pelosi, the 111th Congress was heralded as "one of the most productive Congresses in history" by congressional scholar Norman Ornstein. President Barack Obama called Speaker Pelosi "an extraordinary leader for the American people," and the Christian Science Monitor wrote: "...make no mistake: Nancy Pelosi is the most powerful woman in American politics and the most powerful House Speaker since Sam Rayburn a half century ago."

A familiar presence to America's creative community, Pelosi gave the featured address at GRAMMYs on the Hill Advocacy Day in 2010 and convened a meeting with leading music producers from The Recording Academy the following year. Addressing music advocates at GRAMMYs on the Hill, Pelosi noted, "Artists deserve to be compensated for their work and rewarded for their contributions to our economy and our culture. You have an army of advocates standing by your side - from both parties - on Capitol Hill."

About The Recording Academy

Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards - the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music - The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, follow @TheGRAMMYs on Twitter, like "The GRAMMYs" on Facebook, and join The GRAMMYs' social communities on Foursquare, GetGlue, Google +, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, and YouTube.

To post a comment, you must register and login.