NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Reuters) -
Sara Evans and her song ``Born to Fly'' soared above the competition by earning the most nominations on Tuesday for the 35th Annual Country
Music Association Awards.
Evans was nominated in five categories -- Female Vocalist, Single, Album, Song and Music Video of the Year.
She could win another two awards for co-producing her album ''Born to Fly'' and the title single with Paul Worley.
Alan Jackson and the Brooks & Dunn duo added four nominations each to their long list of credits. Four other nominations went to performers from the movie soundtrack ``O Brother, Where Art Thou?''
``Don't kid yourself. We are thrilled and happy to have those nominations,'' said Ronnie Dunn afterward. ``This has been a year where we've really refocused on the music ... Kix (Brooks) and I did it for ourselves and our fans, but it's nice when people respond to the change along with you.''
A vocal duo nomination for the Bellamy Brothers marked the 19th association nod in the 25-year career of the popular combo, best known for the 1975 tune ``Let Your Love Flow.''
``We are excited to be nominated this year, as this is a year of celebration for us,'' David Bellamy said in a statement. ''To be acknowledged by our peers and the industry only makes us want to 'let the love flow' as long as we can.''
Winners will be named Nov. 7 during a three-hour CBS telecast from the Grand Ole Opry House.
The complete list of nominees are:
Entertainer of the Year: Brooks & Dunn, Dixie Chicks, Alan Jackson, Tim McGraw and George Strait.
Male Vocalist of the Year: Alan Jackson, Toby Keith, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley and George Strait.
Female Vocalist of the Year: Sara Evans, Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Lee Ann Womack and Trisha Yearwood.
Horizon Award: Jessica Andrews, Nickel Creek, Jamie O'Neal, Keith Urban and Phil Vassar.
Vocal Group: Alabama, Diamond Rio, Dixie Chicks, Lonestar and Nickel Creek.
Vocal Duo: Bellamy Brothers, Brooks & Dunn, Montgomery Gentry, The Kinleys, The Warren Brothers.
Single: ``Ain't Nothing 'Bout You,'' Brooks & Dunn; ``Born to Fly,'' Sara Evans; ``I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow,'' The Soggy Bottom Boys; ``I'm Already There,'' Lonestar; ``One More Day,'' Diamond Rio.
Album of the Year: ``Born to Fly,'' Sara Evans; ``O Brother Where Art Thou?'' various artists; ``Set This Circus Down,'' Tim McGraw; ``Steers & Stripes,'' Brooks & Dunn and ``When Somebody Loves You,'' Alan Jackson.
Song of the Year (Songwriters) ``Born to Fly,'' Sara Evans, Marcus Hummon and Darryl Scott; ``How Do You Like Me Now?'' Chuck Cannon and Toby Keith; ``I'm Already There,'' Richie McDonald, Gary Baker and Frank Myers; ``Murder on Music Row,'' Larry Cordle and Larry Shell and ``One More Day,'' Steven Dale Jones and Bobby Tomberlin.
Vocal Event of the Year: Dwight Yoakam (duet with Buck Owens) for ``Alright, I'm Wrong''; Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch, ``Didn't Leave Nobody But the Baby''; Brad Paisley and Chely Wright, ``Hard to Be a Husband, Hard to Be A Wife''; Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch, ``I'll Fly Away''; Brad Paisley with George Jones, Bill Anderson and Buck Owens, ``Too Country.''
Musician of the Year: Stuart Duncan, Paul Franklin, John Hobbs, Dann Huff and Brent Mason.
Music Video of the Year: ``Ashes by Now,'' Lee Ann Womack; ''Born to Fly,'' Sara Evans; ``I Would've Loved You Anyway,'' Trisha Yearwood; ``There Is No Arizona,'' Jamie O'Neal; ''www.memory'' Alan Jackson.
