NASHVILLE, TN. (Country
Music Association Press Release) - The final list of nominees for "The 38th Annual CMA Awards" is an across-the-board collection of hard-core traditionalists, Country
Music hitmakers, sentimental favorites and mainstream innovators with a healthy dose of up-and-comers added to the mix.
"Country
Music is making waves in 2004 and this list of outstanding nominees is one of the reasons why," said CMA Executive
Director Ed Benson.
"These talented performers, musicians, songwriters and producers demonstrate the artistic depth and creativity driving the burgeoning growth of our format over the past year. It is an exciting time for Country
Music and the 2004 CMA Awards will definitely reflect that in November."
"The 38th Annual CMA Awards" will be broadcast live from the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tuesday, Nov. 9 (8:00-11:00 PM; live ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network.
For the first time in the history of the CMA Awards, the announcement of the final nominees was carried live on network and cable television from New York during "The Early Show" with CBS Anchor Hannah Storm and Country Music icon Kris Kristofferson on the CBS Television Network; and on "CMT Insider: CMA Special Edition" with host Katie Cook and artist guests Gretchen Wilson and Big & Rich on CMT from Nashville.
After Kristofferson announced the final nominees in several key categories, Storm surprised him with the news that he will be formally inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame during 2004 CMA Awards [separate release]. Industry veteran Jim Foglesong, who attended the CMA Awards Press Conference at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, will also be inducted. Capitol Nashville recording artist Dierks Bentley delivered the news after announcing the finalists for the 2004 CMA Broadcast Awards [separate release].
One of the most anticipated announcements at the 2004 CMA Awards Press Conference wasn't just the stellar list of artist nominees, but who would take over hosting duties since Vince Gill stepped down in January after 12 consecutive years at the host's podium. It's official, multi-Platinum duo Brooks & Dunn will host the 2004 CMA Awards with a variety of special guests including superstar Shania Twain [separate release].
Reigning CMA Entertainer and Male Vocalist of the Year Alan Jackson scored seven nominations including Entertainer; Male; Single and Song for "Remember When;" Musical Event for Jimmy Buffett's ensemble celebration of the Hank Williams' classic "Hey Good Lookin'" from Buffett's License To Chill album; and two Music Video nominations for "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" with Buffett and the poignant "Remember When."
Toby Keith, who won his first CMA Award in 2001 for Male Vocalist, is a close second in 2004 with six nominations for Entertainer; Male; Album for Shock'N Y'all; Single and Music Video for "I Love This Bar;" and Musical Event with Buffett for "Hey Good Lookin'". Keith is eligible for two additional trophies as co-producer of his nominated Album and Single.
Close to the top with five nominations each were Kenny Chesney, Alison Krauss and powerhouse newcomer Wilson. Chesney racked up nominations for Entertainer; Album for When The Sun Goes Down, which debuted in February at the top of the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart with 550,000 units; Male Vocalist; and two Musical Event nominations for "Hey Good Lookin'" and his duet with Uncle Kracker on "When The Sun Goes Down." Chesney could collect another trophy as co-producer of his album.
Known for her collaborations and artistic sensibility, Krauss returns to the CMA Awards in 2004 with five nominations including Female Vocalist; Single, Video and Musical Event for her work with Brad Paisley on "Whiskey Lullaby;" and a second Musical Event nod for her duet with James Taylor on "How's The World Treating You" from Livin', Lovin', Losin': Songs of the Louvin Brothers. This marks her third consecutive nomination for Female Vocalist.
Wilson, who burst on the scene in May, amassed an amazing collection of five nominations including the coveted Horizon Award; Album for her double-Platinum debut Here For The Party; along with Single, Song and Video for her every-woman anthem, "Redneck Woman."
In 2004, Paisley received four nominations including Album for Mud On The Tires; and Single, Musical Event and Video for his emotional ballad "Whiskey Lullaby" with Krauss.
Brooks & Dunn scored three nominations for Entertainer; Album for Red Dirt Road; and Duo of the Year, a category they have won a record setting 11 times. They can also win an additional trophy for co- producing their record.
Making a run at the impressive Brooks & Dunn winning juggernaut in the Duo of the Year category are newcomers Big & Rich. The pair received two nominations for Duo and the Horizon Award and John Rich picked up a third nomination for Single of the Year as co-writer with Wilson on her scorching "Redneck Woman." Rounding out the Duo of the Year category in 2004 are Blue County, Montgomery Gentry and The Warren Brothers.
Completing the list of artists with two nominations were Buffett, Tim McGraw, George Strait and newcomer Josh Turner, who was nominated for Horizon and Song of the Year for "Long Black Train," which he wrote while a student at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. McGraw could also pick up a third trophy for production of his Single, "Live Like You Were Dying."
Other standouts included Alabama, who have retired from the road, but not the hearts of CMA voters who nominated them for Vocal Group of the Year - a trophy they haven't claimed since 1983. After a breathtaking performance on the 2003 CMA Awards, Dolly Parton and Norah Jones are nominated for Musical Event in 2004 for "Creepin' In" from Jones' album Feels Like Home. Industry standout/actress and innovator Reba McEntire is nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year, an Award she first claimed 20 years ago in 1984 and last received in 1987.
Rounding out the Female Vocalist category is Terri Clark, Sara Evans,Krauss, who won the Award in 1995, and Martina McBride, who has won the trophy three times in 1999, 2002 and 2003 - tying her with Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette. McEntire holds the record with four wins for Female Vocalist.
Mainstream performers continued their migration to Country Music in 2004 with several crossover artists from the pop and rock worlds connecting with a Country audience.
Non-Country acts receiving nominations for their work with Country performers included Jones with Parton; Taylor with Krauss; Uncle Kracker with Chesney; and Buffett's "Hey Good Lookin'" with an assist from Clint Black, Chesney, Jackson, Keith and Strait.
In 2003, Buffett won his first-ever music award when he and Jackson won Vocal Event for their party-ode "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere." Buffett received his first CMA Award nomination in 1977 when he was nominated for Single of the Year for "Margaritaville."
In the Male Vocalist of the Year category, four of the five nominees were nominated in 2003 including Chesney, Jackson, Keith and Strait. Making his debut in the Male Vocalist category is the multi-talented Keith Urban. Urban won the Horizon Award in 2001. With his nomination in the Male Vocalist and Musical Event categories, Strait still holds the record of most career CMA Award nominations with 73.
In addition to Big & Rich, Wilson and Turner, Country artists receiving their first CMA Award nominations in 2004 included Bentley, Blue County, Julie Roberts and Trick Pony. Other groups rounding out the category include Alabama, Diamond Rio, Lonestar and Rascal Flatts, who are the reigning Group of the Year.
The CMA Awards was the first music awards special to be broadcast annually on network television. Since 1968, the program has consistently earned top ratings and is traditionally one of the highest-rated specials in the television season.
More than 40 million viewers watched all or part of the 2003 CMA Awards sweeps broadcast (12.8/20), making it the No. 3 show of the week - the highest CMA Awards ranking since 1992. "The 37th Annual CMA Awards" delivered its best ratings since 1997 in households, 1996 in viewers, 1998 in adults 25-54, and 2000 in adults 18-49.
Winners of "The 38th Annual CMA Awards" will be determined in the third and final round of voting by the 5,000 industry professional 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 event on CBS and CMT, a video news release with footage from the 2003 CMA Awards and interviews with some of the 2004 nominees will be serviced today, Monday, Aug. 30 at 3:00 PM/EDT (2:00 PM/CDT). The VNR package will be available by KU Digital, IA6/Transponder 1D, Downlink 11721 Vertical, Data rate 5.5, Symbol rate 3.978723, FEC 3/4; C-Band, IA6/Transponder C24, Downlink frequency 4180 Horizontal. For information about picking up the VNR feed, please contact Bob Winsor in CBS Communications at (212) 975-2881 or Cory Chapman in the CMA Communication Department at (615) 244-2840 or by e-mail at [email protected].
The CMA Awards are produced by Walter C. Miller, directed by Paul Miller and scripted by David Wild. MJI Programming, a division of Premiere Radio Networks, is the official radio packager of the CMA Awards, which includes Red Carpet coverage and a stereo-radio simulcast of the gala event.
The final nominees for the 2004 CMA Awards are:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Brooks & Dunn
Kenny Chesney
Alan Jackson
Toby Keith
Tim McGraw
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Terri Clark
Sara Evans
Alison Krauss
Martina McBride
Reba McEntire
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Kenny Chesney
Alan Jackson
Toby Keith
George Strait
Keith Urban
HORIZON AWARD
Dierks Bentley
Big & Rich
Julie Roberts
Josh Turner Gretchen Wilson VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Alabama
Diamond Rio
Lonestar
Rascal Flatts
Trick Pony
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Big & Rich
Blue County
Brooks & Dunn
Montgomery Gentry
The Warren Brothers
SINGLE OF THE YEAR (Award goes to artist and producer)
"I Love This Bar" - Toby Keith
"Live Like You Were Dying" - Tim McGraw
"Redneck Woman" - Gretchen Wilson
"Remember When" - Alan Jackson
"Whiskey Lullaby" - Brad Paisley featuring Alison Krauss
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Matt Chamberlain - Drums
Kenny Greenberg - Electric Guitar
Dann Huff - Guitar
Larry Paxton - Bass Guitar
Brent Rowan - Guitar
ALBUM OF THE YEAR (Award goes to artist and producer)
Here For The Party - Gretchen Wilson
Mud On The Tires - Brad Paisley
Red Dirt Road - Brooks & Dunn
Shock'N Y'All - Toby Keith
When The Sun Goes Down - Kenny Chesney
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
"It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" - Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett
"Redneck Woman" - Gretchen Wilson
"Remember When" - Alan Jackson
"Whiskey Lullaby" - Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
Norah Jones with Dolly Parton - "Creepin' In"
Jimmy Buffett with Clint Black, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith & George Strait - "Hey Good Lookin'"
James Taylor and Alison Krauss - "How's The World Treating You"
Kenny Chesney (Duet with Uncle Kracker) - "When The Sun Goes Down"
Brad Paisley featuring Alison Krauss - "Whiskey Lullaby"
SONG OF THE YEAR
"Live Like You Were Dying" - Tim Nichols/Craig Wiseman
"Long Black Train" - Josh Turner
"Redneck Woman"- Gretchen Wilson/John Rich
"Remember When" - Alan Jackson
"Whiskey Lullaby" - Bill Anderson/Jon Randall
