Jessie made her screen debut as the endearing toy cowgirl in the 1999 Disney/Pixar film, Toy Story 2. Once the most beloved toy of a little girl, Jessie is heartbroken when she is outgrown and forgotten by her owner. Through the course of the story she overcomes her fear of abandonment and learns to love again. The voice of Jessie is provided by Academy Award�-nominee Joan Cusack. Jessie's heartfelt, emotional ballad ``When She Loved Me'' was written and composed by Randy Newman and sung by Grammy Award-winning recording artist Sarah McLachlan. Toy Story 2 was created and produced by Pixar at its Northern California studios.

Pixar has prepared a special animated acceptance speech for Jessie. ``Yee-haw! I am just pleased as punch to be receiving this honor in memory of the original yodeling cowgirl, Patsy Montana,'' said Jessie. John Lasseter, director of Toy Story 2, added, ``We are incredibly honored that Jessie is getting this award. Jessie is a strong female character with spirit and emotion -- a true role model to aspiring cowgirls everywhere.''

The Patsy Montana Entertainer Award was established to pay tribute to female western entertainers. ``As the first woman to have a million selling country record with her hit 'I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart,' Patsy Montana was a real trailblazer in the field of western entertainment,'' said Pat Riley, Executive Director of the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. ``We established this award in her honor to pay tribute to a female entertainer who is keeping Patsy's pioneering spirit and love of western music alive. This year who better than Jessie -- she introduced the cowgirl to a whole new generation of moviegoers. Besides, Jessie and Patsy are both terrific yodelers!''

The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, in the midst of its silver anniversary, is the only museum in the world dedicated to honoring and documenting the lives of extraordinary women who exemplify the pioneer spirit of the American West. Now located in Fort Worth, Texas, the museum has garnered national recognition for its exhibits, research library, rare photographs, and the almost 150 honorees in its Hall of Fame. Honorees are pioneers, artists, writers, entertainers, humanitarians, businesswomen, educators, ranchers and rodeo cowgirls including: Sacajawea, principal guide for the Lewis and Clark expedition; painter Georgia O'Keeffe; sharpshooter Annie Oakley; Enid Justin, who created the multi-million dollar Nocona Boot Company; Wilma Mankiller, the first woman to serve as the Cherokee Nation's Principal Chief; and Hollywood film icon Dale Evans, as well as Alice Van Springsteen, her stunt double. In 2002, a new 33,000 square-foot museum and hall of fame is scheduled to open in the heart of Fort Worth's cultural district.

Toy Story 2 opened in theatres across America on November 24, 1999 and went on to become the second highest grossing animated film of all time. It made its home video and DVD debut on October 17, 2000. Jessie's Patsy Montana Entertainer Award acceptance speech and other Jessie items will be incorporated into the museum's REEL COWGIRLS exhibit, which will explore the rich, colorful history of cowgirls in film.

Pixar Animation Studios combines creative and technical artistry to create original characters and stories in the medium of computer animation. Pixar created and produced the first computer-animated feature film, the Academy Award�-winning Toy Story, released in 1995. Pixar has since released two more animated features: A Bug's Life, the highest grossing animated film released in 1998; and Golden Globe-winner Toy Story 2, the highest grossing animated film released in 1999. The studio is currently in production on its fourth animated feature, Monsters, Inc., scheduled for a November 2001 release.

Walt Disney Feature Animation is a division of The Walt Disney Studios, which has created and produced the most successful animated films of all time. Walt Disney Studios is a unit of the Walt Disney Company, the world's foremost family entertainment company engaged in animated and live-action film and television production; cable and broadcast television; theme parks and resorts; character merchandise licensing; consumer products retailing; and book, magazine and music publishing.

SOURCE: Pixar Animation Studios

[Posted 10/19/2000]