CMA Nominees

In addition to CBS, which will broadcast the awards, I am certain there are several of people who care about the Country Music Association Awards:

Brooks & Dunn To Host 2004 CMA Awards With Special Guests Including Shania Twain

Country Icon Kris Kristofferson And Industry Veteran Jim Foglesong To Be Inducted Into Country Music Hall of Fame During 2004 CMA Awards On November 9

NASHVILLE – 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 demonstrates 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.



….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. Industry veteran Jim Foglesong, will also be inducted.



….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.

….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
Produced by Toby Keith/James Stroud
DreamWorks Records Nashville

“Live Like You Were Dying” – Tim McGraw
Produced by Byron Gallimore/Tim McGraw/Darran Smith
Curb Records

“Redneck Woman” – Gretchen Wilson
Produced by Mark Wright/Joe Scaife
Epic Records

“Remember When” – Alan Jackson
Produced by Keith Stegall
Arista Nashville

“Whiskey Lullaby” – Brad Paisley featuring Alison Krauss
Produced by Frank Rogers
Arista Nashville

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
Produced by Mark Wright/Joe Scaife
Epic Records

Mud On The Tires – Brad Paisley
Produced by Frank Rogers
Arista Nashville

Red Dirt Road – Brooks & Dunn
Produced by Kix Brooks/Ronnie Dunn/Mark Wright
Arista Nashville

Shock’N Y’All – Toby Keith
Produced by Toby Keith/James Stroud
DreamWorks Records Nashville

When The Sun Goes Down – Kenny Chesney
Produced by Buddy Cannon/Kenny Chesney
BNA Records

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to artist and director)
“I Love This Bar” – Toby Keith
Directed by Michael Salomon

“It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere”– Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett
Directed by Trey Fanjoy

“Redneck Woman” – Gretchen Wilson
Directed by David Hogan

“Remember When” – Alan Jackson
Directed by Trey Fanjoy

“Whiskey Lullaby” – Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss
Directed by Rick Schroder

MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
Norah Jones with Dolly Parton – “Creepin’ In”
Blue Note Records

Jimmy Buffett with Clint Black, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith & George Strait – “Hey Good Lookin’”
RCA Records

James Taylor and Alison Krauss – “How’s The World Treating You”
Universal South

Kenny Chesney (Duet with Uncle Kracker) – “When The Sun Goes Down”
BNA Records

Brad Paisley featuring Alison Krauss – “Whiskey Lullaby”
Arista Nashville

SONG OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to songwriter and primary publisher)
“Live Like You Were Dying”
Tim Nichols/Craig Wiseman
Warner-Tamerlane/Big Loud Shirt

“Long Black Train”
Josh Turner
Sony/ATV Tunes/Drivers Ed Music

“Redneck Woman”
Gretchen Wilson/John Rich
Sony/ATV/Cross Keys/Hoosiermama Music/WB Music/Warner-Tamerlane

“Remember When”
Alan Jackson
EMI April Music/Tri-Angels Music

“Whiskey Lullaby”
Bill Anderson/Jon Randall
Mr. Bubba Music/Reyn Song/Sony/ATV Tree/Wha Ya Say

Sounds reasonable to me. Kristofferson has never really been a Nashville-type country singer, more of a folky Americana kind of guy, and has always been a much better songwriter than singer, but what songs: “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Highwayman,” “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down,” “Help Me Make It Through the Night,” “Why Me, Lord?” “For the Good Times,” “Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again).” Dude also became an actor, after a fashion.