Not too many surprises here. It is great to see Reba nominated for female vocalist again. Shouldn't be too hard to pick the winners this time around. Horizon Award might be the most difficult one to call, as all five have had big years. (I personally say LBT all the way, but we'll see.) Not really surprised there are none for Trisha this year. That'll come next year once the album and a couple of other singles are released from it and Big Machine can pull for her.

Brad Paisley, George Strait Lead Field of CMA Award Nominees
Kenny Chesney, Alison Krauss, Martina McBride Reel in Four Nominations Each
By: Calvin Gilbert

With five nominations each, Brad Paisley and George Strait will be the top contenders at the 41st annual CMA Awards show. Kenny Chesney, Alison Krauss and Martina McBride received four nominations each while John Rich, Carrie Underwood and Keith

Urban racked up three each for the Nov. 7 awards show.

The nominees were announced in New York and Nashville

Sara Evans and Sugarland revealed the final nominees in five of the 12 categories Thursday morning (Aug. 30) in New York during an appearance on Good Morning America. Taylor Swift and Montgomery Gentry were at Nashville's Sommet Center to announce the other finalists during a live press conference that aired as a special edition of CMT Insider.

Paisley and Strait are both nominated for entertainer of the year, male vocalist and album of the year. In addition to his album nomination for 5th Gear, Paisley's "Ticks" is nominated for single of the year and "Online" is up for video of the year. The video also provided a CMA nomination for Seinfeld actor Jason Alexander, Paisley's friend who directed and appears in the production. Strait's album nomination is for It Just Comes Natural, and he's also nominated for single of the year (for "Wrapped) and musical event of the year for his collaboration with Jimmy Buffett and Alan Jackson on a live version of Hank Williams' "Hey Good Lookin'."

The 2007 CMA Awards show takes place at the Sommet Center and will be telecast live on ABC.

Here's a complete list of this year's CMA nominees:

Entertainer of the Year
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
Rascal Flatts
George Strait
Keith Urban

Female Vocalist
Alison Krauss
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Reba McEntire
Carrie Underwood

Male Vocalist
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Josh Turner
Keith Urban

Vocal Group
Alison Krauss & Union Station Featuring Jerry Douglas
Dixie Chicks
Emerson Drive
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts

Vocal Duo
Big & Rich
Brooks & Dunn
Montgomery Gentry
Sugarland
The Wreckers

Horizon Award
Jason Aldean
Rodney Atkins
Little Big Town
Kellie Pickler
Taylor Swift

Album of the Year
(Award goes to artist and producer.)

5th Gear
Brad Paisley
Producers: Frank Rogers and Chris DuBois
Arista Nashville

It Just Comes Natural
George Strait
Producers: Tony Brown and George Strait
MCA Nashville

Long Trip Alone
Dierks Bentley
Producer: Brett Beavers
Capitol Records Nashville

Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing
Keith Urban
Producers: Dann Huff and Keith Urban
Capitol Records Nashville

These Days
Vince Gill
Producers: Vince Gill, John Hobbs and Justin Niebank
MCA Nashville

Single of the Year
(Award goes to artist and producer.)

"Anyway"
Artist: Martina McBride
Producer: Martina McBride
RCA Records

"Before He Cheats"
Artist: Carrie Underwood
Producer: Mark Bright
19 Recordings Limited/Arista Records

"Lost in This Moment"
Artist: Big & Rich
Producers: Big Kenny and John Rich
Warner Bros. Nashville

"Ticks"
Artist: Brad Paisley
Producers: Frank Rogers and Chris DuBois
Arista Nashville

"Wrapped"
Artist: George Strait
Producers: Tony Brown and George Strait
MCA Nashville

Song of the Year
(Award goes to songwriter and primary publisher.)

"Anyway"
Songwriters: Martina McBride, Brad Warren and Brett Warren
Publishers: Delemmava Music, Bucky and Clyde Music

"Before He Cheats"
Songwriters: Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins
Publishers: That Little House Music, Mighty Under Dog Music and Sony/ATV Cross Keys

"Give It Away"
Songwriters: Bill Anderson, Buddy Cannon and Jamey Johnson
Publishers: Sony, ATV Tree, Mr. Bubba Music, Slow Run Music and EMI Blackwood

"Lost in This Moment"
Songwriters: John Rich, Keith Anderson and Rodney Clawson
Publishers: Rich Texan Music, Warner-Tamerlane, Writer's Extreme, EMI April Music and Romeo Cowboy

"Stupid Boy"
Songwriters: Dave Berg, Deanna Bryant and Sarah Buxton
Publishers: Song Planet, That Little House Music, Cal IV Songs and BergBrain Music

Musical Event
"Because of You"
Artists: Reba McEntire With Kelly Clarkson
MCA Nashville

"Find Out Who Your Friends Are"
Artists: Tracy Lawrence Featuring Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney
Rocky Comfort Records, CO5

"Hey Good Lookin'" (Live)
Artists: Jimmy Buffett With George Strait and Alan Jackson
MCA Nashville

Artists: Alison Krauss and John Waite
"Missing You"
Rounder Records

"The Reason Why"
Artists: Vince Gill With Guest Vocalist Alison Krauss
MCA Nashville

Music Video of the Year
(Award goes to artist and director)

"Anyway"
Artist: Martina McBride
Directors: Robert Deaton and George J. Flanigen IV

"Before He Cheats"
Artist: Carrie Underwood
Director: Roman White

"Moments"
Artist: Emerson Drive
Director: Steven Goldmann

"Online"
Artist: Brad Paisley
Director: Jason Alexander

"You Save Me"
Artist: Kenny Chesney
Director: Shaun Silva

Musician
Eddie Bayers Jr. -- Drums
Jerry Douglas -- Dobro
Dann Huff -- Guitar
Mac McAnally -- Guitar
Randy Scruggs -- Guitar

http://www.cmt.com/news/articles/1568556/2...sley_brad.jhtml

Alision Krauss had a very weak year as far as mainstream country goes. And I am suprised to see Miranda for female vocalist goes. They seemed desperate for female artists. Too bad Trisha didnt have material out

Miranda's current CD is an excellent CD and one of my favorites this year. Plus it's gotten several good reviews, so I'm not so surprised. And if I remember correctly, she's been nominated a few times for the Horizon award.

Looking at the list, I actually wouldn't mind seeing her win. I think she'll have strong competition from Reba and Carrie though.

Brooks and Dunn only have 1 nomination! They have to win - they're the best duo ever!

These award Nominations our a joke a complete and utter joke.

Where is the talent at for pete's sake.

I"M happy that Rodney Atkins got a nomination but only 1 ROBBED

Josh Turner glad to see him in the male vocalist.

Keith Anderson glad he got a songwriting nod but damn he deserved more in horizon catergory.

Julie Roberts should have been on the Album list. Her cd missed the cut off for the 2006 awards and should have been nominated this year. BEST CD of 2006

Miranda Lambert and Martina Mcbride in any Catergory is the BIGGEST Joke going IMO.

AND why not Gary Allan, it's a real shame year after year this man get's nothing from the CMA's when he has one of the best voices ever.

Ok now I step off my soapbox LOL!!!


Robert

Im not surprised at the nominations, and the only people I want to win are Sugarland for duo of the year, theyre one of my favorite acts ever, and they deserve the award.

Also, I'd like to see Miranda win female vocalist, because I think she's awesome!
She probably wont win though, because Carrie's in that category.

Also, I cant believe Sara Evans wasn't nominated. she's got such an amazing voice.

I'm hoping for Trisha nominations at the ACM awards and at next year's CMA awards.

If excellent albums and good reviews were enough for a female vocalist nod then Trisha should have been nominated every active year of her career.
Alison won 4 CMA's in 1995 including Female Vocalist and Horizon she has won a few others as well

Excellent CDs and good reviews are obviously not the only prerequisites to being nominated or winning (as I've never read a bad review of Trisha's albums and have always wondered why her albums weren't/aren't nominated more often, if they ever have?? Never mind Female Vocalist), but it certainly doesn't hurt.

As for the nominations being a joke, I don't think so. Just to name one, Keith Urban is very talented and after seeing him perform live this year, I think so even more. I'm hoping he takes Male Vocalist, Entertainer and Album honors. . I also think Miranda Lambert's album should have been nominated. And as for the nominations/awards in general, let's not kid ourselves, popularity and politics drives alot of these nominations too.

Also, was anyone as surprised as I was to see the Dixie Chicks nominated. Where'd that come from, I thought they'd be banished for life. (Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan and think they're hugely talented).

I was *shocked*. I wondered if it was hard for the CMA to ignore a Grammy sweep, never mind such an amazing album.

Quote by tyjunkie:

Reply by sandis:



I daresay, though, that the CMA will still ignore the Chicks--and as far as I'm concerned, it's to the country music industry's detriment in general.

Interesting opinion in Beverly Keel's column.


Should female artists skip CMAs?

I've received numerous e-mails and calls about Friday's column about the lack of female nominations in the Entertainer and Album of the Year categories in the CMA Awards for the second consecutive year. In addition, the Country Music Hall of Fame has not inducted a woman since 1999.

I've heard from artists on major and independent labels, including one female legend, as well as songwriters, label employees and publicists, and concerned readers who aren't in the industry.

Smyrna's Teri-Ann James writes, "I think it might make a point if all females on the artistic side of the business were to just continue whatever they are doing the night of the CMAs and let the CMA fend for itself. The CMA might take notice of how crucial women are to whatever success country music enjoys."


http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/articl...T0501/709060384

I am a Carrie fan but I actually hope that Miranda,Reba, or Martina actually beat her... She wins too much and coming from a fan I do not think it would be fair if she won again because she is not the only female Country artist out there.... Martina is very good it is no joke that Martina was nominated in my opinion... That woman can sing she has a gorceous voice...

I am really disappointed that Sara Evans was not nominated as well as Trisha Yearwood they are like in my top 5 with Martina,Reba and Taylor Swift...I really want Taylor to win the Horizon award but if Kellie Pickler wins I will happy too.