The final list of nominees for “The 41st Annual CMA Awards” covers the broadest spectrum of the format from traditionalists, Country Music hit makers, crossover innovators with several fresh faces added to the mix.

 “Country Music is thriving on the talent and creativity of an outstanding group of artists and they are well represented with our nominees,” said CMA Chief Operating Officer Tammy Genovese. “These talented performers, musicians, songwriters, producers, and directors demonstrate the artistic depth and creativity of our format. It is an exciting time for Country Music and the 2007 CMA Awards will definitely reflect that in November.”

 “Since our inaugural broadcast of the Awards last year with the historic 40th anniversary, we’ve enjoyed a special and growing relationship with the Country Music Association as true partners to bring the very best of the country’s music to ABC,” said Vicki Dummer, Senior Vice President, Alternative Series, Specials, and Late-Night, ABC Entertainment. “We’re proud and honored to be the network that is home to the CMA Awards and we congratulate all of the outstanding nominees for their achievements.”

“The 41st Annual CMA Awards” will be broadcast live from the Sommet Center in Nashville, Wednesday, Nov. 7 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network.

For the second year, the announcement of the final nominees in five of the 12 CMA Awards categories was made on ABC News’ “Good Morning America.” Sara Evans and Sugarland delivered the news from the “Good Morning America” studios in the heart of New York City’s Times Square. The remaining categories were announced by Montgomery Gentry and Taylor Swift on a special edition of CMT’s “CMT Insider” live from the CMA Awards Nominees Press Conference at the Sommet Center in Nashville.    

“Having both ‘Good Morning America’ and ‘CMT Insider’ broadcast our CMA Awards final nominees live brings a whole new level of excitement to these highly-anticipated announcements and allows fans across the country to experience the same thrill our artists and the industry feel as the names are read,” Genovese said.

At the conclusion of the announcements, Brad Paisley and Country Music Hall of Fame member George Strait lead the list of nominees with five nominations each. Paisley was nominated for Entertainer, Male Vocalist, Album for 5th Gear (produced by Frank Rogers and Chris DuBois), Single for “Ticks,” and Music Video of the Year for “Online,” which was directed by actor-turned-video director Jason Alexander.

 Strait received nominations for Entertainer, Male Vocalist, Album for It Just Comes Natural (co-produced by Tony Brown), Musical Event with Jimmy Buffett and Alan Jackson on the live version of “Hey Good Lookin’,” and Single of the Year for “Wrapped.” Strait could win two additional trophies as producer for Single and Album of the Year. Other nominees benefiting from Strait’s windfall are songwriters Bill Anderson, Buddy Cannon and Jamey Johnson, who were nominated for Song of the Year for “Give It Away.” Strait now has 70 career CMA Awards nominations, trailing only Jackson, who has 75 with this year’s nomination for Musical Event of the Year.

Reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year Kenny Chesney received four nominations this year for Entertainer, Male Vocalist, Musical Event with Tracy Lawrence and Tim McGraw on Lawrence’s “Find Out Who Your Friends Are,” and Music Video of the Year for “You Save Me” directed by Shaun Silva.

Alison Krauss received four nominations including Female Vocalist, Vocal Group of the Year for Alison Krauss and Union Station Featuring Jerry Douglas, and two for Musical Event of the Year with John Waite (his first CMA Awards nomination) on “Missing You” and with Vince Gill on “The Reason Why.” Douglas was also nominated for Musician of the Year. Krauss last won the Female Vocalist of the Year category in 1995. She has been nominated in the category five times including each year from 2002-2005.

Martina McBride also had four nominations for the 2007 CMA Awards including Female Vocalist, Single, Song and Music Video of the Year for “Anyway,” which she co-wrote with Brad Warren and Brett Warren. The music video was directed by Robert Deaton and George J. Flanigen IV. McBride could pick up an additional trophy as producer for Single of the Year for the inspiring ballad.

John Rich scored a variety of three nominations in 2007 including Vocal Duo and Single of the Year for “Lost In This Moment” with partner Big Kenny Alphin as Big & Rich (which they also produced), and as a songwriter with Keith Anderson and Rodney Clawson for “Lost In This Moment.”

After winning CMA Female Vocalist of the Year and the Horizon Award in 2006, Carrie Underwood is back in 2007 with three nominations for Female Vocalist, Single for “Before He Cheats” and Music Video of the Year for the same song directed by Roman White. Songwriters for “Before He Cheats” Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins were nominated for Song of the Year.

Reigning Male Vocalist of the Year Keith Urban had three nominations for Entertainer, Male Vocalist and Album of the Year for Love, Pain & the whole crazy thing, which he co-produced with Dann Huff, who is a Musician of the Year nominee. Songwriters Dave Berg, Deanna Bryant and Sarah Buxton also received a nomination for Song of the Year for Urban’s “Stupid Boy.” Urban has won the Male Vocalist Award every year he has been nominated (2004-2006). He won Entertainer of the Year in 2005.

Rounding out the nominees for Entertainer of the Year is Rascal Flatts. The group was first nominated in the category in 2006. The category has only been won by two groups in CMA Awards history: Alabama (1982, 1983, 1984) and Dixie Chicks (2000).  Rascal Flatts has swept the Vocal Group of the Year category the past four years and is nominated in that category again in 2007.

Completing the list of nominees in the Vocal Group of the Year category are Dixie Chicks, Emerson Drive and Little Big Town. Dixie Chicks have won the category four times (1998, 1999, 2000 and 2002) and were last nominated in 2003. This marks Emerson Drive’s first CMA Awards nomination. They also received a nomination for Music Video of the Year for “Moments” directed by Steven Goldmann.  Little Big Town was nominated for the first time in the Vocal Group category in 2006. They also received their second Horizon Award nomination this year.

Expectation surrounds the Female Vocalist of the Year category. Rounding out the list with McBride, Krauss and Underwood are Miranda Lambert and Reba McEntire. This marks Lambert’s first nomination in this category. She received her first CMA Awards nomination in 2005 for the Horizon Award and in 2006 was nominated for Horizon and Music Video of the Year.

McBride and McEntire are tied with the most wins in the Female Vocalist category in history – even surpassing Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette’s previous records. McBride won in 1999, 2002, 2003 and 2004. McEntire won in 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987. McEntire was last nominated in the category in 2004. With her two nominations, McEntire solidifies her position as the female artist with the most nominations (45) in the 41-year history of the CMA Awards.
 
She is also nominated in the Musical Event of the Year category with Kelly Clarkson for “Because of You,” marking the “American Idol” winner’s first CMA Awards nomination.

This is the first year that Josh Turner’s name is on the list of nominees for Male Vocalist of the Year. Turner was nominated for the Horizon Award in 2004 and 2006.

An artist may only be nominated for the Horizon Award two times and this year there are several new hopefuls joining two-time nominee Little Big Town on the list including Jason Aldean, Rodney Atkins, Kellie Pickler and Taylor Swift.

Dierks Bentley won his first CMA Award in 2005 with the Horizon trophy and in 2007, he received his first nomination for Album of the Year for Long Trip Alone, produced by Brett Beavers. A CMA Awards voter favorite, Vince Gill, is also nominated for Album of the Year for These Days. Gill could pick up an additional trophy as producer with John Hobbs and Justin Niebank.

Sugarland makes its debut in the Vocal Duo of the Year category this year with fellow nominees Big & Rich, Brooks & Dunn, Montgomery Gentry, and The Wreckers.

The 2006 CMA Awards, held in Nashville during November Sweeps (Nov. 6), ranked in the Top 5 with the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes, Grammy Awards and Emmy’s during the 2006-2007 season for awards shows among total viewers. With “The 40th Annual CMA Awards,” ABC won Monday evening in both total viewers (16.0 million) and adults 18-49 (5.4/13). According to Nielsen, research estimates that more than 30 million viewers watched all or part of the ceremony.

The CMA Awards nominees and winners are determined by the 6,000 industry professional members of CMA, which was the first trade organization formed to promote an individual genre of music in 1958. The first “CMA Awards Banquet and Show” was held in 1967. The following year, the CMA Awards were broadcast on NBC Television for the first time – making it the longest running, annual music awards program on network television. The show aired on NBC through 1971 and on the CBS Television Network from 1972 through 2005.

Winners of “The 41st Annual CMA Awards” will be determined in a third and final round of voting by eligible voting members of the Country Music Association. CMA Awards balloting is officiated by the international accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

In addition to live coverage of today’s events, the special edition of CMT’s “CMT Insider” will re-air immediately following the live broadcast at 10:30 AM/ET; and again at 1:00 PM/ET; and on Friday, Aug. 31 at 8:00 AM/ET and 1:30 PM/ET; and Saturday, Sept. 1 at 10:30 AM/ET. Footage from the nomination special will also be available immediately following the telecast on CMT’s broadband channel, CMT LOADED at CMT.com.

“The 41st Annual CMA Awards” is a production of the Country Music Association. Walter C. Miller is the Executive Producer, Robert Deaton is the Producer. Paul Miller is the Director. The special will be shot in high definition and broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC’s selected HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound.

Premiere Radio Networks is the official radio packager of the CMA Awards, including a stereo-radio simulcast of the gala event. American Airlines is the official airline of the 2007 CMA Awards. Chevy: The Official Ride of Country Music. Mary Kay® is the Official Beauty Sponsor. Additional promotional partners include Crisco®, Gibson Guitar®, and Greased Lightning® Cleaning Products.

The final nominees for the 2007 CMA Awards are:

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
Rascal Flatts
George Strait
Keith Urban

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Alison Krauss
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Reba McEntire
Carrie Underwood

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Josh Turner
Keith Urban

HORIZON AWARD
Jason Aldean
Rodney Atkins
Little Big Town
Kellie Pickler
Taylor Swift

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas
Dixie Chicks
Emerson Drive
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Big & Rich
Brooks & Dunn
Montgomery Gentry
Sugarland
The Wreckers

SINGLE OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to Artist and Producer)
“Anyway”
Martina McBride
Produced by Martina McBride
RCA Records

“Before He Cheats”
Carrie Underwood
Produced by Mark Bright
19 Recordings Limited/Arista Records

“Lost In This Moment”
Big & Rich
Produced by Big Kenny and John Rich
Warner Bros. Nashville

“Ticks”
Brad Paisley
Produced by Frank Rogers and Chris DuBois
Arista Nashville

SINGLE OF THE YEAR (Cont.)
(Award goes to Artist and Producer)
“Wrapped”
George Strait
Produced by Tony Brown and George Strait
MCA Nashville

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to Artist and Producer)
5th Gear
Brad Paisley
Produced by Frank Rogers and Chris DuBois
Arista Nashville

It Just Comes Natural
George Strait
Produced by Tony Brown and George Strait
MCA Nashville

Long Trip Alone
Dierks Bentley
Produced by Brett Beavers
Capitol Records Nashville

Love, Pain & the whole crazy thing
Keith Urban
Produced by Dann Huff and Keith Urban
Capitol Records Nashville

These Days
Vince Gill
Produced by Vince Gill, John Hobbs and Justin Niebank
MCA Nashville

SONG OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to Songwriter and Primary Publisher)
“Anyway”
Martina McBride/Brad Warren/Brett Warren
Delemmava Music/Bucky and Clyde Music

“Before He Cheats”
Josh Kear/Chris Tompkins
That Little House Music/Mighty Under Dog Music/Sony/ATV Cross Keys
-MORE-
2007 CMA AWARDS FINALISTS ANNOUNCED – PAGE 8

SONG OF THE YEAR (Cont.)
(Award goes to Songwriter and Primary Publisher)
“Give It Away”
Bill Anderson/Buddy Cannon/Jamey Johnson
Sony/ATV Tree/Mr. Bubba Music/Slow Run Music/EMI Blackwood

“Lost In This Moment”
John Rich/Keith Anderson/Rodney Clawson
Rich Texan Music/Warner-Tamerlane/Writer’s Extreme/
EMI April Music/Romeo Cowboy

“Stupid Boy”
Dave Berg/Deanna Bryant/Sarah Buxton
Song Planet/That Little House Music/Cal IV Songs/ BergBrain Music

MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
(Award to each Artist)
Reba McEntire with Kelly Clarkson
“Because of You”
MCA Nashville

Tracy Lawrence featuring Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney
“Find Out Who Your Friends Are”
Rocky Comfort Records/CO5

Jimmy Buffett with George Strait and Alan Jackson
“Hey Good Lookin’” (Live)
MCA Nashville

Alison Krauss and John Waite
“Missing You”
Rounder Records

Vince Gill with Guest Vocalist Alison Krauss
“The Reason Why”
MCA Nashville

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to Artist and Director)
“Anyway”
Martina McBride
Directed by Robert Deaton and George J. Flanigen IV

“Before He Cheats”
Carrie Underwood
Directed by Roman White

“Moments”
Emerson Drive
Directed by Steven Goldmann

“Online”
Brad Paisley
Directed by Jason Alexander

“You Save Me”
Kenny Chesney
Directed by Shaun Silva

MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Eddie Bayers, Jr. – Drums
Jerry Douglas – Dobro
Dann Huff – Guitar
Mac McAnally – Guitar
Randy Scruggs – Guitar

Popularity: 1%

Two-time GRAMMY winner and reigning CMA and ACM Female Vocalist Carrie Underwood is preparing to release her new 19 Recordings/Arista Records/Arista Nashville album, Carnival Ride, on October 23.

With first single, “So Small,” already a country airplay Top 10 after only four weeks, the Checotah, Oklahoma native who went from college student to American Idol winner to six-million-selling, multi-format superstar in less than three years has clearly been on an adventure ride of her own.

In choosing the album title, Underwood found Carnival Ride (taken from a lyric line in the new disc) to be a great metaphor. She explains, “You step onto this ride called life, and it’s a crazy thing you don’t know anything about, but you get on it anyway. You do what you can to lean different directions to try and get it to go where you want it to go, but you can’t stop it – it just keeps moving. That’s why Carnival Ride works as my album title, because it describes the wonderful craziness that I’ve been through over the past couple years.”

Underwood’s debut disc, Some Hearts, was released on November 15, 2005 and spent a remarkable 27 weeks at #1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart, holding that position across multiple weeks in 2005, 2006, and 2007. Currently 6x Platinum, and with SoundScan sales in excess of 1.2 million copies this year alone, Some Hearts remains the best-selling country album of 2007.

 

Popularity: unranked

NBC Sports selected five-time Grammy Award-winner and multi-platinum recording artist, Faith Hill, to perform the opening theme for NBC Sunday Night Football, “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night.” A special version of the song, “Waiting All Year for Opening Night” will air Thursday, Sept. 6 in the “NFL Opening Kickoff” as the entire 2007 NFL season kicks off on NBC with the Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts hosting the New Orleans Saints. “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night” debuts Sunday, Sept. 9, NBC’s first “Sunday Night Football” broadcast of 2007 featuring NFC East rivals – Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys hosting Eli Manning and the New York Giants. The opening theme will continue to weekly kicking off “Sunday Night Football” every Sunday night throughout the NFL season on NBC.

“It’s exciting to have been asked to sing the open for this season’s Sunday Night games,” said Faith. “Maybe now I’ll be able to get my jersey size and some better seats for the games?”

Faith has sold 30 million records worldwide and topped the charts with 11 No. 1 singles and 20 No. 1 videos throughout her 15-year career. Her last three album releases, 1999’s BREATHE, 2002’s CRY and 2005’s FIREFLIES all debuted consecutively at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Pop Album Chart and Country Chart, making her the only female artist ever to accomplish this feat.

“Faith Hill is a true recording star with mass appeal,” said Fred Gaudelli, “NBC Sunday Night Football” producer. “It's not often that you get the opportunity to have a mega-star like Faith Hill perform the signature open to your show. We were thrilled when she agreed to do it, and even more thrilled with the performance she delivered.”

“Waiting All Day for Sunday Night” is set to the original Joan Jett song, “I Hate Myself for Loving You” and marks Faith’s first production with NBC Sports.

She recorded the track with her longtime producer Byron Gallimore at Legacy Recording Studios in New York City. The video was shot at The Wiltern theatre in Los Angeles.

Faith, along with John Mellencamp and Kelly Clarkson, will also headline the special pregame show, “NFL Opening Kickoff 2007 Presented by Sprint” on Thursday, Sept. 6 at 8 p.m. ET prior to the NFL season opener on NBC.

Faith has established herself as one of the music industry’s top vocalists, with a voice that is as powerful as it is recognizable. Faith will be releasing “Faith Hill: The Hits,” her first greatest hits collection, on Tuesday, October 2.

A video preview of the making of the “NBC Sunday Night Football” 2007 Open is available at www.NBCSports.com.

“Waiting All Day For Sunday Night” lyrics:
All right Sunday Night where are you?
Just kicking back from the things that you do
You want the Big Game, we want it too!

Hey Jack it’s a fact, the show's back in town,
The stadium's rockin', time to crank up the sound

The NFL’s best have come to play
For every fan there’s just one thing left to say

I’ve been waiting all day for Sunday Night
The tough get rough in a primetime fight
The last one standing gets to turn out the lights
Cause I been waiting all day for Sunday Night

Sunday Night Football on NBC
Al & John are the best on TV
Players are ready, kick that ball off the tee
Cause the NFL rocks on NBC

Popularity: unranked

FOX has announced that Kellie Pickler will compete in a special celebrity edition of "Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?" Pickler's "5th Grader" show will air on a Thursday night sometime in November 2007.

Other celebrities to appear on "Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?" include American Idol finalist Clay Aiken, Live With Regis And Kelly's Regis Philbin, Billy Bush from Access Hollywood, skateboarder Tony Hawk, and Miss America Lauren Nelson.

Celebrities appearing on Mark Burnett's "5th Grader" will donate their winnings to charities of their choice.

New episodes of "Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?" will air this fall on Thursday and Friday nights. A special two-hour episode will kick off the season on Thursday, Sept. 6 at 8 ET.

Popularity: unranked

Rodney Atkins achieved his third consecutive number one single this week when "These Are My People" jumped ahead of Kenny Chesney's "Never Wanted Nothing More" to gain the number one spot on both Billboard and Radio and Record's charts.

Atkins' previous chart toppers are "If You're Going Through Hell," and "Watching You," respectively.

"The best songs are the ones that you see yourself inside of even if you didn't write it. I swear to ya'll, I grew up down by the railroad tracks shooting BB's at everything. It was us boys at the Shawanee railroad tracks and then going to Barnard's or Buford's. School was exactly what this song says. I still like a good game of church league softball, Brother Ralph Berry, the man who baptized me was the most tenacious softball player ever! He was in his sixties back then," Atkins said.

"These Are My People" was co-written by Dave Berg and Rivers Rutherford.

Rodney Atkins joins Brad Paisley and Taylor Swift on Paisley's "Bonfires and Amplifiers" tour starting September 6 in London, Ontario, Canada. Atkins is currently scheduled to open for Brad Paisley through the first of December.

Popularity: unranked

Jones Radio Networks' Lia got an anonymous email Monday night from a listener who claims to know the new lead singer for the group Lonestar.

A few months ago, the former lead vocalist, Richie McDonald, announced he was leaving the group to begin a solo career. The rest of the guys vowed to continue on and find a new lead singer.

While rumors were circulating that JOSH GRACIN was picked to take McDonald's place, apparently there is another guy named CODY COLLINS who really is the new lead!

Lia's efforts to reach Cody have been in vain but they can tell you that they've talked to some of his family members who confirmed that Cody is indeed the new front man for the group Lonestar!

Apparently the official announcement will be next week and the group will debut their new vocalist on the Grand Ole Opry in November.

Find out more about Cody Collins on his myspace page. Click here: http://www.myspace.com/codycollinsmusic

Popularity: unranked