BMI trendsetters Lil Wayne and Chris Brown each garnered three nods. Wayne’s chart-topping year resulted in Rap/Hip-Hop Music Favorite Male Artist and Favorite Album nominations, along with a slot in the multi-genre Artist of the Year list. Brown’s star has enjoyed a meteoric rise, reflected in his Pop/Rock Music Favorite Male Artist, Soul/Rhythm & Blues Music Favorite Male Artist, and overall Artist of the Year nods.

Pop/r&b siren Mariah Carey scored two nods including Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist and Favorite Soul/Rhythm & Blues album for E=MC2. Rihanna ties Carey’s two nominations, and will vie for the Favorite Female Pop/Rock Artist award along with the Soul/Rhythm & Blues Favorite Female Artist crown. Kanye West also garnered two nods in the Rap/Hip-Hop category: one for Favorite Male Artist and one in the genre’s Favorite Album field. Daughtry received two nominations as well in the Pop/Rock Favorite Band, Duo or Group and Adult Contemporary Favorite Artist categories. Country titans Rascal Flatts also generated two nods in the Country sphere of the awards, garnering Favorite Band, Duo or Group and Favorite Album taps. Reigning country queen Carrie Underwood also earned two Country Music nominations: her album Carnival Ride will contend for Album of the Year while Underwood is on the short list for Favorite Female Artist.

Slated for Sunday, November 3 and broadcast live on ABC at 8 p.m. EST, the ceremony will be hosted by late night guru Jimmy Kimmel. For more information about the 2008 American Music Awards, click here.

2008 BMI American Music Award Nominees
 
POP/ROCK MUSIC
Favorite Male Artist
Chris Brown
Kid Rock
 
Favorite Female Artist
Mariah Carey
Rihanna
 
Favorite Band, Duo or Group
The Eagles
Daughtry
 
Favorite Album
Long Road Out of Eden by the Eagles
 
COUNTRY MUSIC
Favorite Female Artist
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
 
Favorite Band, Duo or Group
Brooks & Dunn
Rascal Flatts
Sugarland
 
Favorite Album
Still Feels Good by Rascal Flatts
Carnival Ride by Carrie Underwood
 
RAP/HIP-HOP MUSIC
Favorite Male Artist
Lil Wayne
Kanye West
 
Favorite Band, Duo or Group
Three 6 Mafia
Wu-Tang Clan
 
Favorite Album
Tha Carter III by Lil Wayne
Graduation by Kanye West
 
SOUL/RHYTHM & BLUES MUSIC
Favorite Male Artist
Chris Brown
 
Favorite Female Artist
Rihanna
 
Favorite Album
E=MC2 by Mariah Carey
 
ALTERNATIVE ROCK MUSIC
Favorite Artist
Foo Fighters
Linkin Park
 
ADULT CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
Favorite Artist
Daughtry
The Eagles
Jordin Sparks
 
LATIN MUSIC
Favorite Artist
Juanes
Wisin & Yandel
 
CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL
Favorite Artist
Casting Crowns
 
T-MOBILE BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST
Colbie Caillat
The Jonas Brothers
 
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Lil Wayne
Chris Brown
The Eagles

After garnering her first hit single as a teenager (T.G. Sheppard and Karen Brooks' "Faking Love"), gilt-edged songwriter Matraca Berg proceeded to pen some of contemporary country music's most poignant hits. Deanna Carter's "Strawberry Wine"; Patty Loveless' "I'm That Kind of Girl" and "You Can Feel Bad"; Reba McEntire's "The Last One to Know"; the Dixie Chicks' "If I Fall You're Going Down With Me"; Gretchen Wilson's "I Don't Feel Like Loving You Today"; and Trisha Yearwood's "Wrong Side of Memphis" and current single "They Call It Falling for a Reason" skim the surface of her catalog lined with more than a dozen BMI Country Awards and Million-Air winners. Also an esteemed vocal stylist and performer, Berg released albums on RCA and Rising Tide labels in the 90s.

Four-time BMI Country Songwriter of the Year Tom Shapiro has composed more than twenty no. 1 songs throughout an exceedingly prodigious career. Hits penned by Shapiro include "Ain't Nothin' 'Bout You" (Brooks & Dunn); "Wink" (Neal McCoy); "Thinkin' 'Bout You" (Trisha Yearwood); "That Ain't My Truck" (Rhett Akins); "Watch Me" (Lorrie Morgan); "Perfect" (Sara Evans); "My Give A Damn's Busted" (Jo Dee Messina); "You'll Always Be My Baby" (Sara Evans) and "I Miss My Friend" (Darryl Worley). Along with receiving BMI's Country Songwriter of the Year three times in a five year period ('93,'96,'97), he was named Music Row magazine's top country songwriter in 1995, NSAI Songwriter of the Decade for the 1990s, and won the CMA Triple Play award in 1995 and 1997. The owner of more than 30 BMI Pop and Country Awards, Shapiro earned his fourth BMI Songwriter of the Year crown in 2002.

John Hiatt's long career grounded in uncanny creative dexterity and sheer productivity has influenced generations of songwriter/artists treading steadily in his wake. The purveyor of more than 20 albums, Hiatt has also penned compositions recorded by a who's who of the rock canon: Three Dog Night ("Sure As I'm Sittin' Here"); Joe Cocker ("Have a Little Faith in Me"); Rosanne Cash ("The Way We Make a Broken Heart"); The Jeff Healy Band ("Angel Eyes"); Suzy Bogguss ("Drive South"); Earl Thomas Conley ("Bring Back Your Love to Me"); B.B. King & Eric Clapton ("Ridin' With the King"); The Neville Brothers ("Washable Ink"); Bonnie Raitt ("Thing Called Love"); and Elvis Costello ("She Loves the Jerk") make up the list of famous Hiatt fans. Named 1987's Rock Male Vocalist of the Year by Rolling Stone magazine, he has also amassed multiple BMI Pop, Country and Million-Air honors. Currently touring in support of his critically acclaimed new album Same Old Man, Hiatt will receive the Americana Music Association's Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting at the organization's award ceremony this month.

Effervescent duo Sugarland underscored their critically acclaimed year, counting an inaugural nod in the prestigious Entertainer of the Year club among their five nominations. The pair also snagged a Single of the Year nod for the emotive "Stay," co-produced by Kristian Bush and Byron Gallimore, along with Vocal Duo, Video and Musical Event of the Year nominations.

Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert garnered more industry recognition, mirroring their increasing popularity, while Taylor Swift joined Female Vocalist of the Year ranks for the first time. Reigning Female Vocalist of the Year Underwood gained another nod in that category and added an Album of the Year nomination for her sophomore release, Carnival Ride. Lambert joins Underwood in the Female Vocalist of the Year category, and her fierce composition "Gunpowder and Lead" is up for Single of the Year.

Ace guitarist and crooner Keith Urban also earned two nominations, remaining in the elite Entertainer and Male Vocalist of the Year ranks. Perennial favorites Brooks & Dunn retained their dominance, garnering nods in Album and Vocal Duo of the Year categories. Trio Lady Antebellum also added more prestige to their glowing breakout year, earning Vocal Group and New Artist of the Year nominations. Little Big Town's success with critics and the industry remains potent, as the quartet scored Vocal Group and Musical Event nods. The ethereal Alison Krauss also earned two nods: a Female Vocalist of the Year nomination and Musical Event of the Year tap for her work with legend Robert Plant.

BMI songwriters Monty Criswell, Rodney Clawson and Wade Kirby earned a Song of the Year nomination for the poignant "I Saw God Today," while BMI troubadour Lee Thomas Miller also boasts a nod in the prestigious category for his composition "You're Gonna Miss This."

The 42nd Annual CMA Awards will be broadcast live from the Sommet Center in Nashville, Wednesday, Nov.12 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on ABC.

2008 BMI CMA Nominees

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Sugarland
Keith Urban

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Alison Krauss
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Keith Urban

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Jason Aldean
Rodney Atkins
Lady Antebellum
James Otto

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Eagles
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Big & Rich
Brooks & Dunn
Montgomery Gentry
Sugarland
The Wreckers

SINGLE OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to Artist and Producer)
"Gunpowder & Lead"
Miranda Lambert
Produced by Frank Liddell and Mike Wrucke
Columbia Records

"I Saw God Today"
Co-produced by Tony Brown
MCA Nashville

"Stay"
Sugarland
Co-produced by Byron Gallimore and Kristian Bush
Mercury Nashville

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to Artist and Producer)
Carnival Ride
Carrie Underwood
19 Recordings Limited/Arista/Arista Nashville

Cowboy Town
Brooks & Dunn
Produced by Tony Brown, Ronnie Dunn and Kix Brooks
Arista Nashville

Good Time
Produced by Keith Stegall
Arista Nashville

Troubadour
Co-produced by Tony Brown
MCA Nashville

SONG OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to Songwriter and Primary Publisher)
"I Saw God Today"
Co-written by Rodney Clawson, Monty Criswell and Wade Kirby
Big Red Toe/Extremely Loud Music/Steel Wheels Music/Blind Mule Music

"You're Gonna Miss This"
Co-written by Lee Thomas Miller
EMI Blackwood Music/New Songs of Sea Gayle

MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
(Award to each Artist)
Josh Turner featuring Trisha Yearwood
"Another Try"
MCA Nashville

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
"Gone, Gone, Gone"
Rounder Records

Sugarland featuring Little Big Town and Jake Owen
"Life In A Northern Town"
Mercury Nashville

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to Artist and Director)
"Good Time"
Alan Jackson
Directed by Trey Fanjoy

"Stay"
Sugarland

MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Jerry Douglas - Dobro
Brent Mason - Guitar

The prestigious Album of the Year trophy went to Miranda Lambert for her critically acclaimed project, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Lambert accepted the award with genuine surprise and gratitude, thanking both the industry and fans for embracing her "left of center" approach. Her charged performance of single "Gunpowder and Lead" was easily one of the night's best.

Contemporary country royalty Carrie Underwood garnered the Top Female Vocalist crown for the second consecutive year. With the release of her sophomore effort, Carnival Ride, the powerhouse vocalist has eloquently underscored her undeniable staying power. Underwood also delivered a highlight of the ceremony, performing a duet with Brad Paisley on a beautifully pared-down version of Eddy Arnold's "Make the World Go Away," in tribute to the late icon.

Perennial favorites Brooks & Dunn took home yet another Top Vocal Duo win, marking their 15th award in the category. Brooks & Dunn stake a comfortable claim to the most-awarded pair in ACM history and remain contemporarily potent on top of their historically successful career.

Country golden girl Taylor Swift enjoyed more official recognition of her overwhelming crossover dominance with the Top New Female Vocalist honor. Eighteen year-old Swift tearfully thanked her mother for her early sacrifices and steadfast support.

Top New Male Vocalist went to singer/songwriter Jack Ingram. Already a familiar face to Texas and Americana fans, Ingram's win arrives on the heels of more than a decade of critically heralded albums and live shows. His breakout success in 2007 introduced him to a wider audience and delivered long overdue recognition.

Lady Antebellum earned Top New Duo or Vocal Group honors. The win marks the budding trio's first award and bodes well for their self-titled debut album.

Top Vocal Group honors went home with Rascal Flatts for the sixth consecutive year. The dominating crossover titans are now tied with legendary group Alabama for most wins in the coveted category. Rascal Flatts also received the Home Depot Humanitarian Award in recognition of their substantial philanthropic endeavors.

Tim McGraw shared in the Vocal Event of the Year win for "Find Out Who Your Friends Are," while Sugarland's Kristian Bush and producer Byron Gallimore enjoyed honors for their individual creative contributions to "Stay," named Single Record of the Year.

All BMI 2008 ACM Award Winners

Top Female Vocalist
Carrie Underwood

Top Vocal Group
Rascal Flatts

Top Vocal Duo
Brooks & Dunn

Top New Male Vocalist
Jack Ingram

Top New Female Vocalist
Taylor Swift

Top New Duo or Vocal Group
Lady Antebellum

Album of the Year
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Miranda Lambert

Single Record of the Year [Award to Artist(s)/ Producer(s)/ Record Company]
"Stay" by Sugarland
Co-produced by Kristian Bush and Byron Gallimore

Vocal Event of the Year
"Find Out Who Your Friends Are" featuring Tim McGraw

Home Depot Humanitarian Award
Rascal Flatts

Rodney Atkins nailed the capstone on his red-letter year by receiving six nominations, including Top Male Vocalist, Album and Song of the Year. One of the feel-good stories of 2007, Atkins saw his ACM-nominated project If You're Going Through Hell achieve platinum status. After toiling in Nashville for 10 years in relatively ambiguity, the universally loved honky tonker's hard-earned recognition and fan-driven success slapped smiles on faces all over Music Row.

Duos Big & Rich and Sugarland each scored four nods. Charismatic and eclectic, Big & Rich earned recognition in the prestigious Top Vocal Duo category and Single, Song and Video of the Year for the poignant ballad "Lost in this Moment." Big Kenny landed an additional two nominations for his producing credits. Sugarland underscored their staying power with a Top Vocal Duo nod as well; the pair's stirringly original tune "Stay" became one of the industry's buzz songs, earning nominations for Single Record, Song and Video of the Year. Member Kristian Bush also earned recognition for his production of the tune.

Miranda Lambert and Taylor Swift snagged three nods each. Critical darling Lambert's nominations for Top Female Vocalist, Album and Single Record of the Year reflect both the growth of her audience and creativity. Country's favorite wunderkind Taylor Swift's nominations reflect the strength of her year: nods in both Top Female Vocalist and Top New Female Vocalist reiterate the breakout strength of her year.

BMI affiliates swept both the Top Vocal Duo and Top New Male Vocalist categories. Duo nominees include Brooks & Dunn, Halfway to Hazard and Montgomery Gentry; Luke Bryan, Jack Ingram and Jake Owen will vie for the Top New Male Vocalist prize.

Additional BMI nominees include Keith Urban for Entertainer of the Year and Top Male Vocalist; Rascal Flatts, also for Entertainer of the Year plus Top Vocal Group; Martina McBride and Carrie Underwood for Top Female Vocalist; Diamond Rio, the Eagles and Little Big Town for Top Vocal Group; Sarah Buxton for Top New Female Vocalist; Lady Antebellum and The Wreckers for Top New Duo Vocal Group; Gary Allan and his latest no. 1 single "Watching Airplanes" for Single Record of the Year; producers Tony Brown, Mark Wright, Nathan Chapman, Scott Borchetta, John Hobbs, Justin Niebank and Byron Gallimore; songwriters Rodney Clawson and Keith Anderson for co-penning Big & Rich's "Lost in this Moment"; as well as Tim McGraw, Vince Gill and Sheryl Crow in the Vocal Event of the Year category.

2008 BMI ACM Award Nominees

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Rascal Flatts
Keith Urban

TOP MALE VOCALIST
Rodney Atkins
Keith Urban

TOP FEMALE VOCALIST
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

TOP VOCAL GROUP
Diamond Rio
Eagles
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts

TOP VOCAL DUO
Big & Rich
Brooks & Dunn
Halfway To Hazard
Montgomery Gentry
Sugarland

TOP NEW MALE VOCALIST
Luke Bryan
Jack Ingram
Jake Owen

TOP NEW FEMALE VOCALIST
Sarah Buxton
Taylor Swift

TOP NEW DUO OR VOCAL GROUP
Lady Antebellum
The Wreckers

ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Miranda Lambert (Columbia)

If You're Going Through Hell
Rodney Atkins (Curb)
Co-produced by Rodney Atkins

Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift (Big Machine)
Produced by Scott Borchetta, Nathan Chapman

SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
Famous In A Small Town"
Miranda Lambert
Columbia

Lost In This Moment"
Big & Rich
Co-produced by Big Kenny
Warner Bros/WRN

"Stay"
Sugarland
Co-produced by Kristian Bush, Byron Gallimore
Mercury

"Watching Airplanes"
Gary Allan
Co-produced by Gary Allan, Mark Wright
MCA Nashville

SONG OF THE YEAR [Award to Composer(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
"Don't Blink"
Co-written by Casey Beathard
Publishers: Lavender Zoo Music (BMI), Sony/ATV Acuff
Rose (BMI)

"Lost In This Moment"
Big & Rich
Co-written by Keith Anderson, Rodney Clawson
Publishers: Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI), Writer's Extreme Music (BMI)

"Watching You"
Rodney Atkins
Co-written by Rodney Atkins, Steve Dean
Publishers: Bethar Music (BMI), Mike Curb Music (BMI)

"Stay"
Sugarland

VIDEO OF THE YEAR [Award to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]
"Lost In This Moment"
Big & Rich
Co-produced by Big Kenny

"Stay"
Sugarland
Producer: Kristian Bush, Byron Gallimore

"Watching You"
Rodney Atkins

VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
"Because Of You"
Produced by Tony Brown
MCA Nashville

"Find Out Who Your Friends Are"
Featuring Tim McGraw

"What You Give Away"
Vince Gill With Sheryl Crow
Produced by Vince Gill, John Hobbs, Justin Niebank
MCA Nashville

Marriage to a major movie star no doubt increased media attention on the country artist tenfold, but it also seems to have fueled his creative powers as well, since the new album has been hailed by many as Urban’s best and most powerful. The first single, “Once in a Lifetime,” has already made history as the highest-charting debut (No. 17) in the 62-year history of Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart; it was also the most-downloaded album on iTunes.

The road to success has been rocky for this superstar, who spent a decade paying dues in Nashville after moving to the States in 1992. He first garnered attention as part of the Aussie-tinged band The Ranch, which packed houses around town with their dynamic live shows, but failed to catch fire at radio with their Capitol Records debut in 1997. Going solo proved to be the ticket for Urban, and his 1999 self-titled debut secured him a place as a standout talent among country’s newcomers. But it was 2002’s Golden Road that truly launched Urban’s career. Hits like “You’ll Think of Me,” “Somebody Like You” and “Raining On Sunday” made him a platinum seller.

The album eventually sold over three million copies, and by the time Be Here was released in 2004, Urban was spending the majority of his time at the top of the charts, racking up No. 1s with hits like “Days Go By,” the monster ballad “Making Memories of Us,” and his seventh chart-topper, “Better Life,” which he co-penned with Richard Marx. (The two also collaborate on the new album on the song “Everybody.”)

With that caliber of success comes a certain pace, however, and Urban no doubt battled exhaustion and weariness as he conquered the road first as a supporting act for both Brooks & Dunn and Kenny Chesney, and then on his own headlining theater tour in 2004 and arena tour in 2005. And so he found himself sequestered in rehab during the honeymoon phase of his marriage and the crucial promotional set-up period for his fourth studio album. The move was a courageous one for anyone, but for an artist at the height of his popularity even more so, some might say. But honesty and emotional sincerity has always been a hallmark of Urban’s work.

“It’s just an accurate reflection of where I am now,” Urban says of his new record. “It’s about life. The title came from a great old movie called ‘Love, Pain and the Whole Damned Thing,’ and we just swapped ‘damned’ for ‘crazy,’ and it gave the right sense of how the album feels and what it’s about.”

Co-producing the album with longtime collaborator Dan Huff at Urban’s Nashville home may have provided an extra creative stimulant as well. “I found this house that had a great room in the front with windows all around and amazing views, and almost all of the songs for this album were written there. It was supposed to be the dining room, but I sacrificed that for the music.”

Dinner-parties-be-damned turned out to be a smart philosophy for Urban, whose first two songs from the album have already skyrocketed up the charts. One of his favorite songs, current single “Stupid Boy,” was the most-added song on the charts two weeks in a row, and was chosen by Kidman. The ballad addresses how foolish and reckless men can be with the hearts of the women they love, and was co-written by new artist Sarah Buxton, who also recorded it for her own record.

Other gems on the record include “God Made Woman,” featuring choir backing and a majestic mix of string arrangements by David Campbell, and “Raise the Barn,” a rousing nod to those rebuilding in New Orleans featuring buddy Ronnie Dunn. “I’ve always wanted to do a song with Ronnie, and he records all his vocals in an old barn on his property. Needless to say, when we did it there was a whole lot of ‘raising’ going on!”

The album includes a healthy mix of country and pop, which is just what Urban was going for in widening the road for not only country artists, but all artists in general. “I have different tastes,” explained Urban recently. “Diverse is not necessarily scattered. I can’t take too much of the same thing. The iPod has allowed for diversity in people’s tastes. It’s not about genre. It’s for short attention span people who want Metallica and Merle Haggard. And I think it has created acceptance for diversity on a single record.”

The new artist categories were reserved for BMI singer/songwriters as well, albeit the respected winners are far from "new" to most listeners. Critic and fan favorite Miranda Lambert earned a Top New Female Vocalist win, while hard-working Rodney Atkins claimed the Top New Male Vocalist crown-10 years after signing his first record deal. Harmony-drenched quartet Little Big Town secured Top New Duo or Vocal Group honors as well.

Perennial favorites Brooks & Dunn won four awards including Top Vocal Duo and Vocal Event of the Year for "Building Bridges." The song featured fellow BMI members Sheryl Crow and Vince Gill, and both Ronnie Dunn and Kix Brooks also received nods for their work as producers. Brooks & Dunn now hold the record for most Top Vocal Duo wins with 14. In recognition of their numerous charitable endeavors, the duo was also presented with the Home Depot Humanitarian of the Year honor.

Both Song and Single Record of the Year went to "Give It Away," produced by BMI affiliate Tony Brown and co-written by BMI songwriters Whisperin' Bill Anderson and Jamey Johnson. The staunchly honky tonk tune was a No. 1 hit for recent Country Music Hall of Fame inductee George Strait, and it earned the first ACM award for Country Music Hall of Fame and Grand Ole Opry member Bill Anderson.

Megastars Rascal Flatts took home Top Vocal Group honors. The group recently saw their single "Stand" hit No. 1 and were also named Billboard's top-selling act for 2006. Their fifth ACM Top Vocal Group win ties them with Country Music Hall of Famers Alabama for the most consecutive wins in this category.

BMI legends swept the prestigious Pioneer and International Award categories. Peerless songwriter Harlan Howard, American treasure Dolly Parton and rebel icon Waylon Jennings were each honored with Pioneer Awards, while the academy bestowed the International Award on Bakersfield sound architect Buck Owens.

The Academy of Country Music, an artist and industry-driven organization, exists to produce a world-class network television awards show, and its associated events, to provide the financial resources to ensure the on-going philanthropic work of its Charitable Fund. Academy of Country Music Charitable Fund promotes and supports music education and humanitarian programs that transform the human spirit. Through its charitable donations, the ACMCF works towards two main goals: encouraging Learning Through Music and Healing Through Music. The Academy, which is comprised of more than 4,500 professional members and more than 48,000 associate members, was established in 1964 and is headquartered in Encino, Calif.

For more information on the Academy of Country Music Awards and the Academy of Country Music, please visit www.acmcountry.com.

BMI 2007 ACM Winners

Top Female Vocalist
Carrie Underwood

Top Vocal Group
Rascal Flatts

Top Vocal Duo
Brooks & Dunn

Top New Male Vocalist
Rodney Atkins

Top New Female Vocalist
Miranda Lambert

Top New Duo or Vocal Group
Little Big Town

Album of the Year [Award to Producer(s)/ Artist(s)/ Record Company]
Some Hearts
Carrie Underwood
19 Recordings Limited/Arista Records

Single Record of the Year [Award to Artist(s)/ Producer(s)/ Record
Company]
"Give It Away"
Producer: Tony Brown
MCA Nashville

Song of the Year [Award to Composer(s)/ Publisher(s)/ Artist(s)]
"Give It Away"
Writers: Bill Anderson and Jamey Johnson
Publishers: Sony/ATV Tree Publishing/Mr. Bubba Music, Inc., Admin. By
Sony/ATV Music Publishing and EMI Blackwood Music, Inc.

Video of the Year [Award to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]
"Before He Cheats"
Carrie Underwood

Vocal Event of the Year [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
"Building Bridges"
Brooks & Dunn with Vince Gill & Sheryl Crow
Producers: Tony Brown, Ronnie Dunn & Kix Brooks
Arista Nashville

Pioneer Award
Harlan Howard
Dolly Parton
Waylon Jennings

International Award
Buck Owens

Musicians

Aubrey Haynie
Fiddle

Brent Mason
Guitar

John Hobbs
Piano/Keyboards

Stuart Duncan
Specialty Instrument

Michael Johnson
Steel Guitar

Country music sensation and last year’s Top New Female Vocalist Carrie Underwood carried her streak of success into 2007, bagging five nominations, including Top Female Vocalist, Album and Single of the Year.

2006’s top selling country artists Rascal Flatts are up for Entertainer, Top Vocal Group, Album and Single of the Year. Big & Rich scored a total of four nominations in recognition of their diverse work as songwriters, artists and collaborators.

Old friends and country mainstays Tony Brown and Vince Gill each secured three nominations. Gill’s now platinum These Days earned an Album of the Year nod, while Brown’s production work on the last albums by George Strait and Brooks & Dunn turned Academy heads in his direction.

Singer/songwriter Miranda Lambert autonomously bridges the gap between newbees and veterans, snagging nominations in both Top New Female Vocalist and Top Female Vocalist of the Year categories. Jason Aldean earned two nods as well for his hit “Amarillo Sky.” Little Big Town, The Wreckers and Rodney Atkins also landed two nominations each.

The Academy of Country Music Awards will be broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 at 8 p.m. ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.

BMI's 2007 ACM Nominees

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Brooks & Dunn
Tim McGraw
Rascal Flatts

TOP MALE VOCALIST
Toby Keith
Keith Urban

TOP FEMALE VOCALIST
Sara Evans
Faith Hill
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Carrie Underwood

TOP VOCAL GROUP
Diamond Rio
Little Big Town
Lonestar
Rascal Flatts

TOP VOCAL DUO
Big & Rich
Brooks & Dunn
Montgomery Gentry
Sugarland
The Wreckers

TOP NEW MALE VOCALIST
Rodney Atkins
Craig Morgan

TOP NEW FEMALE VOCALIST
Miranda Lambert
Taylor Swift

TOP NEW DUO OR VOCAL GROUP
Heartland
Little Big Town
The Wreckers

ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
Hillbilly Deluxe
Brooks & Dunn (Arista Nashville)
Produced by Tony Brown, Ronnie Dunn and Kix Brooks
#3 Produced by Mark Wright, Tony Brown, Ronnie Dunn, Kix Brooks
#6 Original demo produced by Kix Brooks, Tom Shapiro

It Just Comes Natural
Produced by Tony Brown

Me and My Gang
Rascal Flatts (Lyric Street Records)
Produced by Rascal Flatts

Some Hearts
Carrie Underwood (19 Recordings Limited/Arista Records)

These Days
Vince Gill (MCA Nashville)
Produced by Vince Gill, John Hobbs, Justin Niebank

SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
"Before He Cheats"
Carrie Underwood

"Give It Away"
Produced by Tony Brown

"I Loved Her First"
Heartland

"What Hurts the Most"
Rascal Flatts
Produced by Rascal Flatts

SONG OF THE YEAR [Award to Composer(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
"Amarillo Sky"
Jason Aldean
Writers: Big Kenny, Rodney Clawson
Publishers: Big Love Music, Carol Vincent and Associates, Grinnin' Girl Music
"Before He Cheats"
Carrie Underwood

"Give It Away"
Writers: Bill Anderson, Jamey Johnson
Publishers: Sony/ATV Tree Publishing/Mr. Bubba Music, Inc., Sony/ATV Music Publishing, EMI Blackwood Music Inc.

"If You're Going Through Hell (Before the Devil Even Knows)"
Rodney Atkins

"Would You Go With Me"
Writers: Shawn Camp, John Scott Sherrill
Publishers: Sony/ATV Songs LLC/All Mighty Dog Music/Travelin' Arkansawyer Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing; Sony/ATV Songs LLC/All Mighty Dog Music/City Wolf Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing

VIDEO OF THE YEAR [Award to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]
"8th of November"
Big & Rich

"Amarillo Sky"
Jason Aldean

"Before He Cheats"
Carrie Underwood

"Hillbilly Deluxe"
Brooks & Dunn

"Seashores of Old Mexico"
Director: Trey Fanjoy

VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
"Building Bridges"
Brooks & Dunn with Vince Gill & Sheryl Crow
Produced by Tony Brown, Ronnie Dunn and Kix Brooks
Arista Nashville

"I Don't Want To"
Ashley Monroe & Ronnie Dunn
Produced by Mark Wright
Columbia Nashville

"Me and God"
Featuring Dr. Ralph Stanley and Marty Roe, Dana Williams and Gene Johnson of Diamond Rio
MCA Nashville

"Politically Uncorrect"
Featuring Merle Haggard
Produced by Mark Wright
Columbia Nashville

"That's How They Do It In Dixie"
Hank Williams Jr. with Big & Rich
Produced by Doug Johnson for Curb Productions
Curb Records