Neil Diamond performs on his "Hot August Night: NYC" special

Nearly five decades, 37 Top 10 singles, a Golden Globe and more than 125 million records sold worldwide, and now one "Hot August Night."

If you're a music lover (and who isn't?), and especially if you consider yourself part of the Diamond Cutter's fan club, you'll want to cancel your plans this Friday, Aug. 14, and stay in to watch "Neil Diamond -- Hot August Night: NYC."

Airing on CBS, this rare broadcast is a celebration of the same-day release of Diamond's concert DVD by the same name (the title "Hot August Night" is a tribute to Diamond's 1972 live double album and is the opening lyric to his 1969 single "Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show"). It will feature classic chart-topping hits such as "America," "Cherry Cherry," and, of course, "Sweet Caroline," plus many more.

The "Hot August Night" broadcast features select footage from Diamond's recent four-night performance at the famous Madison Square Garden stadium in New York City, but to get the entire concert, diehard fans will have to head to Wal-Mart (the exclusive retail carrier of the DVD). In addition to the hours of live music, fans will also get a bonus CD and documentary titled "Welcome Home Neil," made up of footage from the musician's pilgrimage to Brooklyn, N.Y., where he grew up.

CBS has dedicated special broadcasts to music in the past, but the network certainly doesn't bestow the honor upon just anybody. To have a slot of airtime dedicated solely to you is, for a musician, a true sign of superstardom (though Diamond was probably already aware of his status in the music business).

As far as CBS music specials go, Diamond is joining the ranks of honky tonk hero George Strait, country legend Garth Brooks and Canadian sensation Celine Dion, who have also been featured by the network over the past year or so.

However, not one of these names can boast a resume quite like Neil "The Jewish Elvis" Diamond. Known for sparkling rhinestone shirts (he likes to be seen from every last row) and his huge voice, Diamond was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1984 and was given the 2000 Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award. Most recently, he was named the 2009 MusiCares Person of the Year.

His music has been covered time and time again by artists ranging from legends such as Frank Sinatra and Elvis himself to punk rockers Me First and the Gimme Gimmes and the Brit reggae group UB40, who made a career out of turning classic love songs (such as Diamond's "Red Red Wine") into club hits.

In some cases, covers of Diamond's songs have out-famed the originals. "I'm a Believer," for example, is a Diamond composition, though people tend to associate the 1966 chart topper with the 1960s group The Monkees (the younger folks may be more familiar with Smash Mouth's 2001 version featured on the "Shrek" soundtrack).

Regardless of who's amplifying his songs, Diamond has remained at the top of the adult-contemporary genre for decades, falling short only of Barbra Streisand and Elton John in all-time sales in that category, according to Billboard. Not a bad third place, when you think about it.

But in an ever-changing and growing record industry, adult contemporary began losing its sheen. Diamond's record sales began taking a hit as far back as the 1980's when another generation, more versed in punk and alternative rock, really started taking over the mainstream. But it seems Diamond is back on the rise and proving he's certainly not done yet.

He's kept his career fresh over the years with dozens of television appearances and even made a movie cameo in the 2001 comedy "Saving Silverman." His latest album, "Home Before Dark" became his first No. 1 debut and led to one of the most successful tours of his career. To top it off, he's been active on the web, keeping his Twitter account regularly updated with pictures and anecdotes, like when Dr. Phil (obviously a fan) recently made and delivered a sandwich to his table at the Carnegie Hall Deli.

One thing Twitter lacks, however, is the music. So this hot, August Friday night, fans will have to turn off their computers and tune in while CBS pays homage to one of the greats.