Cmt Award Nominations Are Out!

Vote 4 CMT Awards

Video of the Year

Video: "American Ride"
Artist: Toby Keith

Video: "Cowboy Casanova"
Artist: Carrie Underwood

Video: "Need You Now"
Artist: Lady Antebellum

Video: "Out Last Night"
Artist: Kenny Chesney

Video: "'Til Summer Comes Around"
Artist: Keith Urban

Video: "Toes"
Artist: Zac Brown Band

Video: "The Truth"
Artist: Jason Aldean

Video: "Welcome to the Future"
Artist: Brad Paisley

Video: "White Liar"
Artist: Miranda Lambert

Video: "You Belong With Me"
Artist: Taylor Swift


Male Video of the Year

Video: "Alright"
Artist: Darius Rucker

Video: "American Ride"
Artist: Toby Keith

Video: "Out Last Night"
Artist: Kenny Chesney

Video: "People Are Crazy"
Artist: Billy Currington

Video: "Southern Voice"
Artist: Tim McGraw

Video: "'Til Summer Comes Around"
Artist: Keith Urban

Video: "The Truth"
Artist: Jason Aldean

Video: "Welcome to the Future"
Artist: Brad Paisley


Female Video of the Year

Video: "Consider Me Gone"
Artist: Reba McEntire

Video: "Cowboy Casanova"
Artist: Carrie Underwood

Video: "Didn't You Know How Much I Loved You"
Artist: Kellie Pickler

Video: "Giddy On Up"
Artist: Laura Bell Bundy

Video: "I Just Call You Mine"
Artist: Martina McBride

Video: "Solitary Thinkin'"
Artist: Lee Ann Womack

Video: "White Liar"
Artist: Miranda Lambert

Video: "You Belong With Me"
Artist: Taylor Swift


Group Video of the Year

Video: "American Honey"
Artist: Lady Antebellum

Video: "Here Comes Goodbye"
Artist: Rascal Flatts

Video: "Highway 20 Ride"
Artist: Zac Brown Band

Video: "How Far Do You Wanna Go?"
Artist: Gloriana

Video: "Need You Now"
Artist: Lady Antebellum

Video: "Rockin' the Beer Gut"
Artist: Trailer Choir

Video: "Summer Nights"
Artist: Rascal Flatts

Video: "Toes"
Artist: Zac Brown Band


Duo Video of the Year

Video: "Address in the Stars"
Artist: Caitlin & Will

Video: "Fight Like a Girl"
Artist: Bomshel

Video: "Indian Summer"
Artist: Brooks & Dunn

Video: "Keep On Lovin' You"
Artist: Steel Magnolia

Video: "Keep You"
Artist: Sugarland

Video: "My Maria (Invitation Only)"
Artist: Brooks & Dunn

Video: "Nightswimming/Joey"
Artist: Sugarland

Video: "Play the Song"
Artist: Joey & Rory


CMT Performance of the Year

Video: "Consider Me Gone (Invitation Only)"
Artist: Reba McEntire

Video: "Heaven (from CMT Crossroads)"
Artist: Jason Aldean and Bryan Adams

Video: "Lookin' for a Good Time (from the 2009 CMT Music Awards)"
Artist: Lady Antebellum

Video: "Love Shack (from the 2009 CMT Music Awards)"
Artist: Sugarland and The B-52s

Video: "Sideways (from the 2009 CMT Music Awards)"
Artist: Dierks Bentley

Video: "Southern Voice (from Invitation Only)"
Artist: Tim McGraw

Video: "Temporary Home (from Invitation Only)"
Artist: Carrie Underwood

Video: "Then (from the 2009 CMT Music Awards)"
Artist: Brad Paisley

Full List

If you are in town for the CMA Festival you might want to attend the awards;

CMT wants you to be part of the action at the 2010 CMT Music Awards. Make plans to be in Nashville on June 9. Tickets go on sale Saturday (April 10), but look for a special pre-sale offer on Wednesday (April 7). The party can't start without the biggest country music fans.

Carrie Underwood Is Everywhere, CMA Fest & Other News

Carrie Underwood is off to a Super (Bowl) start for the New Year
It is possible that, the above title is an understatement! She really is everywhere and I think for her this year has been more then Super so far, and only look to get better (if possible).

After getting engaged in just before Christmas, Underwood went back to Nashville to do some work on her upcoming tour, then it was off to Hollywood to film her small screen debut for "How I Met Your Mother". After she went back for some time with her new fiance in Ottawa only to return to L.A. for the Grammys, where she took part in the highlight of the show the Micheal Jackson tribute, which she receive much praise for.

After the chaos of January she headed off to Miami, to have the prestigious privilege of sing the National Anthem. This portion of the Super Bowl had been pre-recorded since 1993, but Underwood being the artist that she is and would never lip sing, went live for the first time in 17 years. So the nerves must have been tremendous, but she handle it with nothing less then poise, and class. Although there was a faulty note at the end (awaiting the fly over) the performance was what is exactly what is expected when you have Underwood involved in anything, perfection.

Immediately after the game she was jet set for Hawaii, to start filming her big screen debut in the bio epic Soul Surfer. Underwood will play a church youth leader to Bethany, a 13 yr old who had her arm severed after a shark attack while surfing and is now a champion surfer. Underwood's character apparently played a big role in getting Bethany back on her feet, staying positive and to start surfing again. She is said to be filming for he week.

How could there possibly be more....well there is, she will have to return to Nashville to start rehearsing for her Play On tour which begins in less then a month. She just added an additional nine dates to her tour to bring he through the end of June, when presumably she will get hitched. After the wedding there is already talk about a fall leg of the tour she announced at the Super Bowl press conference. At the press conference she impressed the room full of male reporters with her whit, humor, class, and love for "Pants On The Ground". She went in depth to explain how "Pants On The Ground" is a song with a message, much to the crowd and Queen Latifah's delight. Here's the clip;



2010 CMA Fest
Underwood was the the first artist announced for the CMA Festival June 10 - 13, with a surprise phone call to one of her biggest fans who emailed the CMA requesting Underwood's appearance at the Festival this year.



Just announced today Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride, Reba McIntire, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, Keith Urban and Zac Brown Band! Wow that is already more then worth the cost of a four day pass! Check out all your CMA Fest info here;CMA Fest

Also announced is Miranda Lambert setting out on her first headlining tour, so watch out for dates near you.

Grammys And Parties

A picture is worth a thousand plus words, Swift drops one of her four Grammys. Not sure if it was the excitement of the night, the weight of the awards, the fact that she needed to catch a quick plane to Australia, or she was getting nervous someone might take them away after the immediate negative reaction to her performance during the show.

She may have won four awards but, the reactions to her less then Grammy worthy performance, to her seemingly fake surprise to winning, and her not to grateful speech for Country Album Of The Year, started rolling in immediately after her performance and the show. Some jockey's who have been riding the Swift train all year were now questioning how good she actually is, and if she really was deserving of any vocal awards. She may have deserved her Album awards but any that pertain to vocals have been in question by many for some time, and now it seems the majority of Grammy viewers are thinking the same. But she did end up on many best dressed lists.

Zac Brown Band won their first Grammy for Best New Artist, and were the first country act to do so in four years since Carrie Underwood. Underwood's traditional duet with Randy Travis on a re-recording of his 1988 No. 1 hit song "I Told You So" won a Grammy for best country collaboration with vocals and proved again that the worth of country music's heritage is lasting and profound.

Also first time winner's Lady Antebellum solidified its stature as the group of the future with their award for duo/group performance, putting a halt to the longtime dominance of Brooks & Dunn, Rascal Flatts and Sugarland. Similarly, Keith Urban, with his win for male country performance.

Carrie Underwood also took part in the biggest event of the night, the Michael Jackson Tribute, with Celin Dion, Jennifer Hudson, Usher and Smokey Robinson. They performed MJ's Earth Song, singing along with MJ, Underwood's versatility really shone through, and being chosen was a real testimate to how much she is respected in the industry.

On the evening before the Grammys was the famous Clive Davis Grammy party where the only the cream of the crop were invited. Representing Country were Dierks Bentley, Taylor Swift, and Carrie Underwood. Underwood has become a favorite of Davis, perform for the third year in a row, she sang All The Way with Harry Connick Jr, before singing Cowboy Casanova, which was well received with a standing "O", which made her new fiance Mike Fisher notably proud.

This Week in Country Music

Lady A stills on top of the song chart while Carrie Underwood spends her fourth week at #1 on the album chart, while her Cowboy Casanova video remains the best video on CMT and GAC.

The AMA's have come and gone, Keith Urban won his first and performed. Carrie Underwood performed another steamy performance of Cowboy Casanova this time with a Vegas feel and male dancers. Although she did loose the Country Female to Taylor Swift.

Taylor Swift accepted her 5 AMA's from London where it was 3am, she beat out Micheal Jackson for the top award, but for a country singer she also took home 2 Pop category awards.....hmmm. This set the internet a buzz the following day, questioning if Swift is country and if people are tired of seeing her?

The most inspirational and touching moment of the week was when Carrie Underwood performed on CNN Heros, which is an amazing show in itself. Then there was Underwoods performance of "Change" from her new album which once again showcased how the CMA people voted the wrong Female Vocalist, brought the audience to there feet for an extensive standing O. Check it out!

ABC Is Going Country For Fall

ABC GOES COUNTRY WITH PROGRAMMING AND APPEARANCES LEADING UP TO THE "THE 43rd ANNUAL CMA AWARDS"


ABC, the official broadcast home of "Country Music's Biggest Night," is getting the festivities started early with programming celebrating the best of Country Music leading up to the big gala, "The 43rd Annual CMA Awards." The show will be broadcast live from the Sommet Center in Nashville, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11 (8:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

From Primetime to Daytime, ABC is going Country! Highlights include:

Tuesday, October 27 (9:00-10:01 p.m., ET) "Dancing with the Stars Results Show" It's Country Music night at "Dancing" when Taylor Swift, who sold more records in 2008 than any artist in the world, makes a very special appearance on the release date of the Platinum Edition of her "Fearless" album to premiere a brand-new single, "Jump, Then Fall," as well as perform her worldwide chart-topping hit, "Love Story." Taylor, who at 19 is the youngest artist in history to be nominated for the Country Music Association's prestigious Entertainer of the Year Award, is currently nominated for four Country Music Association Awards and 6 American Music Awards.

Tuesday, November 3 (7:00-9:00 a.m., ET) "Good Morning America" CMA Awards co-host and five-time CMA Award winner and the first country music artist in history to achieve 10 No.-1 singles from their first two albums, Carrie Underwood will be stopping in New York to make an appearance on "Good Morning America." Her highly anticipated new album, "Play On," featuring the current smash single, "Cowboy Casanova," is being released on November 3.

Sunday, November 8 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" Country Music sensation Kellie Pickler joins the "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" team in Beavercreek, Ohio, to tell James Terpenning, a wheelchair sports champion and mentor to disabled Iraqi War veterans, that he and his family will have their home rebuilt in seven days. Kellie will be the celebrity volunteer for this build and will perform her new song at the family's reveal.

Tuesday, November 10 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) "In the Spotlight with Robin Roberts: Bright Lights. Big Stars. All Access Nashville." ABC News' Robin Roberts sits down wish some of Country Music's hottest stars in this hour-long special. In addition to interviews with legendary artists Loretta Lynn, Vince Gill and Rosanne Cash, Carrie Underwood takes Roberts back to her hometown in Oklahoma where Underwood surprises her former high-school with a very big, musical surprise; Tim McGraw takes Roberts horseback riding on his family farm and opens up about his challenging childhood; and Robin Roberts joins Martina McBride and her family in their Nashville home and also spends time with the country superstar at Blackbird Studios.

Tuesday, November 10 (7:00-9:00 a.m., ET) "Good Morning America" Returning CMA co-hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood will perform live outside the Sommet Center in Nashville. This concert is free and open to the public.

Tuesday, November 10 ABCNEWS.com ABCNEWS.com will feature a special section for "In the Spotlight with Robin Roberts: Bright Lights. Big Stars. All Access Nashville." The section will feature extended interviews with Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw and Martina McBride, as well as additional photos and music. Viewers will be able to log onto ABCNEWS.com and vote for their favorite country song immediately following the special on Tuesday evening. America's favorite country song will be revealed live on "Good Morning America" the following morning.

Country Music's superstars and the industry's elite will gather to recognize and celebrate the best and brightest performers, songwriters, record producers and music video directors on "The 43rd Annual CMA Awards." Some of the performers will include Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, who are hosting the gala for the second time, Kenny Chesney and Dave Matthews, Jason Aldean, Brooks & Dunn, Billy Currington, Vince Gill and Daughtry, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker, George Strait, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban and Zac Brown Band. Additional artists and presenters will be added to the lineup and announced soon.

Info Friday

- Keith Urban topped the Billboard country song chart for the week ending Oct. 31 with Only You Can Love Me This Way and Taylor Swift's "Fearless" was back atop the album chart going from third to first.


- Tim McGraw announced Thursday he will kick off the Southern Voice Tour in February with dates into the summer. Lady Antebellum will open the shows.

McGraw released "Southern Voice" on Tuesday, his first album of new material since "Let It Go" in April 2007. As usual, his backing band, the Dancehall Doctors, were the musicians on the disc.

"I'm real excited to have this opportunity to hit the road next year with the 'Southern Voice' tour and look forward to playing new songs and old favorites for all my fans," said McGraw, who will perform this morning on Today as part of the Toyota Concert Series on Rockefeller Plaza. On October 27th he'll appear on The Jay Leno Show where McGraw will be joined by Gregg Allman for a rendition of Southern Voice. McGraw will close out the week with an Oct. 29 performance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. On Nov.13, CMT will premiere "INVITATION ONLY: TIM MCGRAW," a one-hour special featuring McGraw performing before a small studio audience and taking questions from fans.


- Carrie Underwood answer questions for The Boot and showed her respect for her peers.

Who do you think is the most underrated singer in country music?

Miranda Lambert! She gets attention and people know who she is, of course, but I'd lose an award to her any day. I just think she's supertalented and really sweet and fun. I think she deserves more accolades. She gets some, but she deserves more.

When offered an advanced copy of Miranda's new album "Revolution", Carrie turned down the offer and said "No, I'm going to go out and buy it".


- Kenny Chesney may not be launching his typical stadium summer tour in 2010, but that doesn't mean he's going to be hanging in the islands all year. Chesney will headline Bama Jam and the Bayou Country Superfest next year, he announced Wednesday.

"I can't imagine a year not rocking the fans... not seeing those faces or hearing my songs sung back to me," Chesney said. "That is where I'm the most alive, and those people are such a big part of who I am and why I do this. To me, not being out there would be the worst thing I could imagine."

"For us to be able to get out there and rock at a few of these festivals, it means we can do the big show people expect without having to put six months into getting ready for it. Me and the guys can come on out, play the songs as hard as possible and get to be part of everybody's summer... whether it's kicking it off at LSU's Tiger Stadium or getting June started at Bama Jam."

I personally hope he will include the 2010 CMA Festival!!!

Kenny Chesney Won't Be "Living In Fast Forward" Much Longer

Kenny's Slowing It Down!

It seems Kenny Chesney has been thinking a lot about one of the lines from his song "Don't Blink".

"So I've been tryin' ta slow it down,I've been tryin' ta take it in, In this here today, gone tomorrow world we're livin' in"

Kenny Chesney has announced that he will not be touring in the summer of 2010. His Indianapolis on Saturday will be the last big stadium show this year.

Chesney told Entertainment Weekly, “I’m not quitting!” Chesney told EW. “It’s just a short pause. The last couple of years I’ve been on an empty tank. And that’s gotta change.”

Chesney is the biggest ticket seller this decade, since 2004 he has been selling out stadiums annually. Every summer has included a huge production of a tour, which includes multiple acts, almost to the extent of every show being its own country fair. For dedicated followers who have come year after year it has become tradition, to partake in the tailgating, drinking making a whole day of the event, something to look forward to all year!

When ask do you see a band or an artist that could pick up your torch next summer? Who can step up? His response, "I do think that anybody who hasn’t gone to see Keith Urban is missing it. That’s my opinion."

"We'll be back. We're not going away forever. But to make it what I think it can be for the next chapter of my life, those parking lots have got to be empty, at least for my show, for one year," he says. "I just think I owe it to myself, I owe it to the fans, for our show to be the best it can possibly be. And sometimes that means getting away from it." says Chesney.

Well this news comes shortly after the announcement of the CMA Awards nominations which included one for Chesney to take home his fifth Entertainer of the Year award. Well this will open the door for other artist who'll being having big 2010 tours at next years awards show, especially for the big one!

Read the whole interview here; ew.com

What is Kenny giving up next year, what will Kenny fans be missing? Something like this!

CMA Awards Predictions; Entertainer of the Year

CMA Awards Predictions; Entertainer of the Year
This award is for the act displaying the greatest competence in all aspects of the entertainment field. Voter should give consideration not only to recorded performance, but also to the in-person performance, staging, public acceptance, attitude, leadership, and overall contribution to the Country Music image. Award to artist.

Carrie Underwood - When considering this year’s eligibility period runs from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009, it includes the better half of Carrie's year of touring, the half in which she only headlined, there was no co-headlining with Keith Urban, it just wasn't necessary anymore. She had learned the ropes and was ready to take off running, and that is exactly what she did, as her Carnival Ride tour came to a close she was the top selling country female touring artist of 2008,with fan attendance close to 1.2 million. Even though since finishing her tour she has been pretty much out of the lime light, she was never far away. She won three People's Choice Awards, and won her fourth Grammy, displaying her public acceptance. She also captured the ACM Entertainer of the Year. She continues her constant presence at The Grand Ole Opry. She is also no where near being done breaking records, as per the recorded performance criteria she ended 2008 as the Most Heard Artist on Country Radio. "I Told You So” marked her 10th #1 Single, which made her the first country artist in history ever to achieve 10 #1 singles on the strength of their first two albums. All of the above displays her leadership and overall contribution to the Country Music image. She really has become a true ambassador for Country Music!

But seeing as most people remember the most current part of the eligibility period I can see them overlooking Underwood which they shouldn't, considering most think she was snubbed for the nomination last year. So if this were to be the case I would have to go with Brad Paisley or Sugarland. I have seen both acts and both put on great shows. Besides consistent singles do they have the leadership, and overall contribution to the Country Music image that Underwood possesses? I think not.

Possible Contenders - Kenny Chesney, or Keith Urban.

CMA Awards Predictions; Male Vocalist of the Year

Male Vocalist of the Year
This award is based on individual musical performance on records or in person. Award to artist.


Brad Paisley - Two time reigning champ is the most consistant hit maker out of the men. This year he scored his 10th straigh #1 single. Also in the eligibility period he release and instrumental album and his current #1 album American Saturday Night, which is probably one of his best to date. His songs range from humor and love to make the perfect combination when releasing singles. I think this is safe to say three peat for Brad.

Possible Contenders - George Straigt, Blake Shelton, Toby Keith, Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney or Darius Rucker.

CMA Awards Predictions; Music Video of the Year

Music Video of the Year:
This award is for an original music video not more than ten (10) minutes in length featuring the performance of not more than one (1) song or medley. The video must have been first released domestically for exhibition or broadcast during the eligibility period. The video should be judged on all audio and video elements including, but not limited to, the artist's performance, video concept and production. Award to artist and director.


Carrie Underwood Just A Dream - She received many praises for her performance and it stayed at the top of the video charts for months. Who knew Carrie could be such a convincing actress, we do now. It is amazing that she could make those feelings of lose come through with every tear that matched every lyric perfectly.

Or


George Strait Troubadour - Displaying his life's work on screen plays the perfect match to the song.



Possible Contenders - Taylor Swift "Love Story", Lee Ann Womack “Last Call”,Brad Paisley & Keith Urban “Start A Band”, Blake Shelton “She Wouldn’t Be Gone”, or Zac Brown Band, “Chicken Fried”.

Keith Urban to put on Country Concert of the Year

Keith Urban has assembled a slue of top notch acts, including himself, Brad Paisley, Faith Hill and Vince Gill for a concert that will raise money for the Country Music Hall of Fame.

"The All For The Hall" show, is to be held at Nashville’s Sommet Center on Oct. 13, will also feature Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town and Taylor Swift with other stars likely to be added. Tickets will be as little as $25 apiece, with most,if not all, of the money to be donated to the Hall of Fame.

Urban said during the official announcement Monday morning at the Hall’s Ford Theater accompanied by Vince Gill, the creator of "All For The Hall". "Right now particularly it’s hard times for a lot of folks in this country — in some cases, some of the hardest they’ve ever known in their generation. So we tried to make this as affordable as we possibly could. We want it full." Urban said.

Tickets go on sale Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. CT through Ticketmaster outlets and through the Sommet Center box office.

If you have never visited the Country Music Hall Of Fame, I suggest you do. I went this past June, and it was amazing, the nostalgia, and historic information is intriguing.

My hopes for some additional acts include, Carrie Underwood, Martina Mcbride, Sugarland, and Montogomery Gentry, maybe even throw in some Gloriana for the future of country!