Final Nominees Announced Today For Country Music's Biggest Night 'The 37th Annual CMA Awards'

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (CMA Website) - The final list of nominees for "The 37th Annual CMA Awards" is an across-the-board mix of hard-core traditionalists, sentimental favorites, Country mainstream stalwarts and bluegrass innovators - with a shaker of salt tossed in thanks to Jimmy Buffett. Rich in heritage, talent and appeal, the nominees span the history of the CMA Awards from Johnny Cash, who received his first CMA Award on the inaugural television broadcast of the Awards in 1968, to Buddy Jewell, who released his debut CD this summer.

Toby Keith leads the pack of nominees with seven nominations, including entertainer, male vocalist, album (Unleashed), single, and song of the year. Brooks & Dunn, Johnny Cash, and Brad Paisley tie with four nods each, followed by Alan Jackson, Tim McGraw, Willie Nelson, and Darryl Worley, with three each.

Martina McBride and Rascal Flatts were on hand to announce the nominations. The complete list of nominees is as follows:

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Brooks & Dunn
Kenny Chesney
Alan Jackson
Toby Keith
Tim McGraw

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Terri Clark
Alison Krauss
Patty Loveless
Martina McBride
Dolly Parton

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Kenny Chesney
Alan Jackson
Toby Keith
Tim McGraw
Brad Paisley
George Strait

HORIZON AWARD
Gary Allan
Buddy Jewell
Joe Nichols
Blake Shelton
Darryl Worley

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Alabama
Diamond Rio
Dixie Chicks
Lonestar
Rascal Flatts

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Bellamy Brothers
Brooks & Dunn
Montgomery Gentry
Sons of the Desert
The Warren Brothers

SINGLE OF THE YEAR
"Beer For My Horses" - Toby Keith duet with Willie Nelson
"Celebrity" - Brad Paisley
"Have You Forgotten?" - Darryl Worley
"Hurt" - Johnny Cash
"Three Wooden Crosses" - Randy Travis

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
American IV: The Man Comes Around - Johnny Cash
Home - Dixie Chicks
Man With A Memory - Joe Nichols
Tim McGraw And The Dancehall Doctors - Tim McGraw/Dancehall Doctors
Unleashed - Toby Keith

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
"Beer For My Horses" - Toby Keith duet with Willie Nelson
"Celebrity" - Brad Paisley
"Concrete Angel" - Martina McBride
"Hurt" - Johnny Cash
"Red Dirt Road" - Brooks & Dunn

VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
Toby Keith duet with Willie Nelson - "Beer For My Horses"
Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett - "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere"
Kid Rock featuring Sheryl Crow - "Picture"
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band featuring Johnny Cash - "Tears In The Holston River"
Tracy Byrd (with Andy Griggs, Montgomery Gentry and Blake Shelton) - "The Truth About Men"

SONG OF THE YEAR
"Beer For My Horses" - Toby Keith
"Celebrity" - Brad Paisley
"Have You Forgotten?" - Darryl Worley
"Red Dirt Road" - Brooks & Dunn
"Three Wooden Crosses" - Randy Travis

The 37th annual CMA Awards will be held on November 5 at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. The show will be broadcast live on CBS beginning at 8 p.m. ET.