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

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

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

I'LL TAKE THAT AS A YES (THE HOT TUB SONG)
Jon McElroy
Vince Melamed
Senor Vicente Music
Songs of Mighty Isis
Vista Larga Music
Phil Vassar
Arista Nashville

LIKE WE NEVER LOVED AT ALL
Vicky McGehee
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Faith Hill
Warner Bros.

LONG, SLOW KISSES
Jeff Bates
Gordon Bradberry
New Works Music Co.
Smith Haven Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Jeff Bates
RCA

LOT OF LEAVIN' LEFT TO DO
Brett Beavers
Run The Trotline Music
Sony/ATV Tree
Dierks Bentley
Capitol Records

ME AND CHARLIE TALKING
Miranda Lambert
Heather Little
Nashville Star Music
Sony/ATV Tree
Tiltawhirl Music
Miranda Lambert
Epic Records

MY GIVE A DAMN'S BUSTED
Joe Diffie
Tony Martin
Tom Shapiro
Difftunes
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Mike Curb Music
Music of Stage Three
Sony/ATV Tree
Jo Dee Messina
Curb Records
MY OLD FRIEND
Steve McEwan (PRS)
Careers-BMG Music Publishing
Tim McGraw
Curb Records

MY SISTER
Amy Dalley
Music of Stage Three
Reba McEntire
MCA Nashville

NOBODY BUT ME
Shawn Camp
Phillip White
Big Yellow Dog Music
Murrah Music Corporation
Sony/ATV Tree
Travelin' Arkansawyer Music
Blake Shelton
Warner Bros.

PLAY SOMETHING COUNTRY
Ronnie Dunn
Terry McBride
Showbilly Music
Sony/ATV Tree
Still Working For The Man Music, Inc.
Turn Me On Music
Brooks & Dunn
Arista Nashville

PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE THIS WAY
Tammi Kidd
Irving Music
LeAnn Rimes
Asylum-Curb

SHE DON'T TELL ME TO
Bob DiPiero
Tom Shapiro
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Love Monkey Music
Piano Wire Music LLC
Sony/ATV Tree
Montgomery Gentry
Columbia Records

SHE LET HERSELF GO
Dean Dillon
Sony/ATV Acuff Rose
Unwound Music
George Strait
MCA Nashville

SKIN (SARABETH)
Doug Johnson
Mike Curb Music
Sweet Radical Music
Rascal Flatts
Lyric Street

SOMEBODY'S HERO
Ed Hill
Shaye Smith
Careers-BMG Music Publishing
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Sagrabeaux Songs
Shaye Smith Music
Jamie O'Neal
Capitol Records

SOMETHING MORE
Kristian Bush
Dirkpit Music
Sugarland
Mercury Nashville

SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF
Jeffrey Steele
Gottahaveable Music
Songs of Windswept Pacific
Montgomery Gentry
Columbia Records

SONGS ABOUT ME
Ed Hill
Shaye Smith
Careers-BMG Music Publishing
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Sagrabeaux Songs
Shaye Smith Music
Trace Adkins
Capitol Records

STAY WITH ME (BRASS BED)
Jedd Hughes
Terry McBride
Still Working For The Man Music, Inc.
Terry McBride Music
Wilmington Road Publishing
Josh Gracin
Lyric Street

THE TALKIN' SONG REPAIR BLUES
Dennis Linde
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Rising Gorge Music
Alan Jackson
Arista Nashville

TEQUILA MAKES HER CLOTHES FALL OFF
Gary Hannan
John Wiggins
Chobe Music
Fiddle Stock Music
Heavy Leather Music, Inc.
Notewrite Music
Joe Nichols
Universal South

TONIGHT I WANNA CRY
Keith Urban
Coburn Music, Inc.
Guitar Monkey Music
Keith Urban
Capitol Records

WHEN I GET WHERE I'M GOING
George Teren
House of Full Circle Music
Brad Paisley featuring Dolly Parton
Arista Nashville

WHO YOU'D BE TODAY
Bill Luther
Aimee Mayo
Careers-BMG Music Publishing
Evansville Music
Little Blue Typewriter Music
Kenny Chesney
BNA

YOU'LL BE THERE
Cory Mayo
Coburn Music, Inc.
George Strait
MCA Nashville
YOUR MAN
Jace Everett
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Josh Turner
MCA Nashville

It wasn’t an easy ascent for Kimberly Roads, Karen Fairchild, Jimi Westbrook and Phillip Sweet, who had each put in time singing in church and bands before meeting up in Music City and finding their Fleetwood Mac-esque harmonies. They landed and lost several record deals, and lost their way musically a bit along the path, before settling in to make their now-gold Equity Records album, The Road To Here, with producer Wayne Kirkpatrick.

By the time they landed on Kirkpatrick’s doorstep, they were worn by career defeat, relationship struggles and even death (Kimberly’s husband passed away unexpectedly in 2005), but they were ready to write.

“We’re all real strong believers there’s purpose in all of this,” says Roads. “Many days we went into the studio to write and ended up having a long therapy session! We’d talk for hours and our emotions just kind of flowed out.”

“I think everything that’s happened, happened for a reason,” explains Fairchild. “And we made much better music for going through all this. Our lives are not that much different from anyone else out there . . . we just get to pour that emotion into art, which is a beautiful gift.”]]> 2006-10-15T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/334967 Alison Krauss and Union Station, Big & Rich, Brooks & Dunn, Crow, Sheryl, DiPiero, Bob, Douglas, Jerry, Dunn, Ronnie, Evans, Sara, Gentry, Montgomery, Gill, Vince, Haggard, Merle, Hill, Faith, Krauss, Alison, Lambert, Miranda, Little Big Town, Lonestar, McBride, Martina, McGraw, Tim, Parton, Dolly, Rascal Flatts, Shapiro, Tom, Sugarland, Teren, George, Underwood, Carrie, Urban, Keith, Wreckers, The, Wright, Mark, Country

Brooks & Dunn	Keith Urban	Carrie Underwood

Brooks & Dunn garnered a whopping six nominations for their work last year, plus a Song of the Year nod for member Ronnie Dunn's co-writing skills on the pair's moving hit, "Believe." The duo will also vie for awards in the Entertainer, Album, Single, Vocal Duo, Musical Event, and Video of the Year categories.

Rascal Flatts	Big Kenny	Faith Hill

Superstar Keith Urban received due acknowledgement of another outstanding year, securing four nominations, including yet another Male Vocalist of the Year nomination; Urban won the award consecutively in 2004 & 2005. His name also appears in Entertainer, Single and Song of the Year divisions.

Little Big Town	Miranda Lambert

Carrie Underwood continues on the road to superstardom, earning four nominations, including Female Vocalist of the Year and the Horizon Award, the title bestowed upon the most promising up-and-comer of the year. Rascal Flatts secured nominations in the prestigious Entertainer, Vocal Group and Album of the Year categories. The dynamic Big & Rich also received three nominations, including Vocal Duo of the Year.

Faith Hill earned a solo nod for Female Vocalist of the Year and a nomination for her collaboration with husband Tim McGraw in the Musical Event of the Year category for "Like We Never Loved At All," while Little Big Town also garnered two nominations, one for Vocal Group of the Year and the other for the Horizon Award. Joining Little Big Town in the Horizon Award race are Sugarland and Miranda Lambert, who also landed Vocal Group of the Year and Video of the Year nods, respectively.

Other nominations include perennial favorites Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas for Vocal Group of the Year, the Wreckers for Vocal Duo of the Year, and dobro master Jerry Douglas for Musician of the Year. Martina McBride earned another Female Vocalist of the Year nomination, along with Sara Evans. Lonestar and Montgomery Gentry earned nominations in the Vocal Group and Vocal Duo of the Year categories, respectively.

Brooks & Dunn will host the ceremony for the third year. The CMA Awards will be broadcast live (8:00-11:00 p.m./ET) from the Gaylord Entertainment Center on ABC. Tickets for the awards go on sale Sept. 15 at Ticketmaster outlets.

2006 BMI CMA AWARD NOMINEES
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Brooks & Dunn
Rascal Flatts
Keith Urban


SINGLE OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to artist and producer)

"Believe"
Brooks & Dunn
Produced by Tony Brown/Kix Brooks/Ronnie Dunn
Arista Nashville

"Better Life"
Keith Urban
Produced by Keith Urban
Capitol Records Nashville

"Jesus Take The Wheel"
Carrie Underwood
Arista Nashville


ALBUM OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to artist and producer)

Hillbilly Deluxe
Brooks & Dunn
Produced by Ronnie Dunn/Kix Brooks/Mark Wright/Tom Shapiro/Tony Brown/Bob DiPiero
Arista Nashville

Me And My Gang
Rascal Flatts
Produced Rascal Flatts
Lyric Street Records


SONG OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to songwriter and primary publisher)

"8th of November"
Big Kenny
Big Love Music

"Believe"
Ronnie Dunn
Sony/ATV Tree/Showbilly Music

"Tonight I Wanna Cry"
Keith Urban
Guitar Monkey Music/Coburn Music

"When I Get Where I'm Going"
George Teren
House of Full Circle Music


FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Sara Evans
Faith Hill
Martina McBride
Carrie Underwood


MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Keith Urban


VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR

Alison Krauss + Union Station Featuring Jerry Douglas
Little Big Town
Lonestar
Rascal Flatts
Sugarland


VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR

Big & Rich
Brooks & Dunn
Montgomery Gentry
The Wreckers


MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR

Brooks & Dunn (Guest vocals by Sheryl Crow and Vince Gill)
“Building Bridges”
Arista Nashville

Faith Hill Featuring Tim McGraw
“Like We Never Loved At All”
Warner Bros. Records

Gretchen Wilson (Featuring Merle Haggard)
“Politically Uncorrect”
Epic Records

Brad Paisley (Featuring Dolly Parton)
“When I Get Where I’m Going”
Arista Nashville


MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR

Jerry Douglas – Dobro
Brent Mason – Guitar/Electric Guitar
Randy Scruggs – Guitar


MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to artist and director)

"8th of November"
Big & Rich

"Believe"
Brooks & Dunn

"Jesus Take The Wheel"
Carrie Underwood

"Kerosene"
Miranda Lambert
Directed by Trey Fanjoy

"When I Get Where I'm Going"
Brad Paisley (Featuring Dolly Parton)


HORIZON AWARD

Miranda Lambert
Little Big Town
Sugarland
Carrie Underwood]]> 2006-08-31T05:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/334736 Artists, Aldean, Jason, Brooks & Dunn, Evans, Sara, Hill, Faith, Keith, Toby, Lambert, Miranda, Little Big Town, McGraw, Tim, Parton, Dolly, Rascal Flatts, Sugarland, Underwood, Carrie, Urban, Keith, Musical Styles, Country Toby Keith, Brooks & Dunn, Keith Urban, Faith Hill and Carrie Underwood lead an all-star list of nominees with three nods each in this year's CMT Music Awards race. The only awards show whose winners are strictly determined by the fans, the annual ceremony celebrates the music videos that make the biggest splash throughout the year.

Toby Keith	Brooks & Dunn	Keith Urban

Miranda Lambert and Sugarland swept both the music industry and the fans off their feet this year, and the newcomers surge forward on their unstoppable road to superstardom with two nominations each. Other fresh faces sharing the limelight include Jason Aldean and Little Big Town.

Faith Hill	Carrie Underwood	Miranda Lambert

The award show also seeks to shine the spotlight on those who help to create the flood of videos that air each year. Trey Fanjoy, one of Music City's most sought-after video directors who also happens to be a BMI songwriter, was nominated for Director of the Year for her work on Miranda Lambert's "Kerosene" video.

Sugarland	Jason Aldean

Final voting for the winners is underway on CMT.com, where country music devotees have already whittled the lists down to four videos each in all categories except Video of the Year. The four Video of the Year finalists will be announced at the beginning of the live broadcast of the actual awards show, and viewers may cast their votes online during the telecast. The 2006 CMT Music Awards will air Monday, April 10 at 8 pm EST on CMT.

Little Big Town	Trey Fanjoy

BMI's 2005 CMT Music Awards Nominees

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Toby Keith-"As Good as I Once Was"
Brooks & Dunn-"Believe"
Keith Urban-"Better Life"
Faith Hill with Tim McGraw-"Like We Never Loved At All"

MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Toby Keith-"As Good as I Once Was"
Keith Urban-"Better Life"

FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Sara Evans-"A Real Fine Place to Start"
Carrie Underwood-"Jesus Take the Wheel"
Miranda Lambert-"Kerosene"
Faith Hill-"Mississippi Girl"

GROUP/DUO VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Brooks & Dunn-"Believe"
Little Big Town-"Boondocks"
Sugarland-"Just Might Make Me Believe"
Rascal Flatts-"Skin (Sarabeth)"

BREAKTHROUGH VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Jason Aldean-"Hicktown"
Carrie Underwood-"Jesus, Take the Wheel"
Miranda Lambert-"Kersosene"
Sugarland-"Something More"

COLLABORATIVE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Faith Hill with Tim McGraw-"Like We Never Loved at All"
Dolly Parton (with Brad Paisley)-"When I Get Where I'm Going"

HOTTEST VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Keith Urban-"Making Memories of Us"

MOST INSPIRING VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Brooks & Dunn-"Believe"
Carrie Underwood-"Jesus, Take the Wheel"
Dolly Parton (with Brad Paisley)-"When I Get Where I'm Going"

VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Trey Fanjoy-"Kerosene"-Miranda Lambert]]> 2006-03-21T17:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/334729 Artists, Alabama, Aldean, Jason, Allan, Gary, Big & Rich, Brignardello, Mike, Brooks & Dunn, Bush, Kristian, Corenflos, J.T., Darken, Eric, Duncan, Glen, Dunn, Ronnie, Evans, Sara, Franklin, Larry, Franklin, Paul, Gallimore, Byron, Garrish, Sonny, Gentry, Montgomery, Greenberg, Kenny, Hajacos, Rob, Haynie, Aubrey, Hill, Faith, Hoke, Jim, Horn, Jim, Hughey, John, Hungate, David, Ickes, Rob, Johnson, Doug, Johnson, Mike, Keith, Toby, Lambert, Miranda, Little Big Town, Lonestar, McBride, Martina, McGraw, Tim, Morgan, Craig, Mote, Gordon, Niebank, Justin, Parton, Dolly, Paxton, Larry, Rascal Flatts, Roberts, Julie, Sugarland, Teren, George, Underwood, Carrie, Urban, Keith, Wright, Mark, Wynans, Reese, Yudkin, Jonathan, Musical Styles, Country Academy of Country Music Award nominations, announced March 8. The pair is up for Entertainer, Top Vocal Duo, Single Record, Song and Video of the Year for "Believe."

Brooks & Dunn	Sugarland	Little Big Town

In addition to the veteran duo, new faces dominated many of the categories this year, from Sugarland's Top New Vocal Duo or Group, Album, Single Record and Song of the Year nominations, to Rascal Flatt's first-ever Entertainer of the Year nod, adding to the trio's total of four ACM nominations (including Top Vocal Group, Album and Song).

Miranda Lambert	Julie Roberts	Carrie Underwood

Newcomers Miranda Lambert, Julie Roberts and Carrie Underwood are all contenders for Top New Female Vocalist, while Underwood gained an impressive Top Female Vocalist nomination as well. Comeback kids Little Big Town continue to plunge through their life-changing year with nominations for Top Vocal Group and Top New Duo or Vocal Group.

Rascal Flatts	Gary Allan	Mark Wright

BMI writers vying for the Song of the Year trophy include Sugarland's Kristian Bush for "Baby Girl," Ronnie Dunn for "Believe," Doug Johnson for the Rascal Flatts' hit "Skin (Sarabeth)" and George Teren for "When I Get Where I'm Going" by Dolly Parton.

Keith Urban	Toby Keith	Tim McGraw

Songwriter/producer/artist Gary Allan received praise for his moving release, Tough All Over, nominated for Album of the Year; he also scored a Single Record of the Year nomination for "Best I Ever Had." Mark Wright, the album's co-producer, hopes to share the spotlight with Allan.

Faith Hill	Big and Rich	Byron Gallimore

Fan favorites Keith Urban and Toby Keith earned two nods each and will face off in the Entertainer of the Year category, while Tim McGraw and Faith Hill's collaboration "Like We Never Loved at All" landed the couple a Vocal Event of the Year nomination.

Other BMI nominees included Big and Rich, who garnered three mentions, and producer Byron Gallimore, who secured yet another nomination for Producer of the Year.

The 41st Annual Academy of Country Music Awards will air live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Tuesday, May 23 at 8:00pm ET/PT on CBS.

BMI's 41st Annual ACM Nominees:

Entertainer of the Year
Brooks & Dunn
Toby Keith
Rascal Flatts
Keith Urban

Top Male Vocalist
Keith Urban

Top Female Vocalist
Sara Evans
Martina McBride
Carrie Underwood

Top Vocal Group
Alabama
Little Big Town
Lonestar
Rascal Flatts
Sugarland

Top Vocal Duo
Big & Rich
Brooks & Dunn
Montgomery Gentry
The Warren Brothers

Top New Male Vocalist
Jason Aldean
Craig Morgan

Top New Female Vocalist
Miranda Lambert
Julie Roberts
Carrie Underwood

Top New Duo or Vocal Group
Big & Rich
Little Big Town
Sugarland

Album of the Year
Feels Like Today
Rascal Flatts
Rascal Flatts, producer

There's More Where That Came From
Byron Gallimore, producer

Tough All Over
Gary Allan
Mark Wright and Gary Allan, producers

Twice the Speed of Life
Sugarland

Single Record of the Year
"Baby Girl"
Sugarland

"Believe"
Brooks & Dunn
Tony Brown, Ronnie Dunn and Kix Brooks, producers

"Best I Ever Had"
Gary Allan
Mark Wright and Gary Allan, producers

"Jesus Take the Wheel"
Carrie Underwood

Song of the Year
"Baby Girl"
Sugarland
Kristian Bush, writer
Dirkpit Music

"Believe"
Brooks & Dunn
Ronnie Dunn, writer
Sony/ATV Tree Publishing Co. and Showbilly Music

"Jesus Take the Wheel"
Carrie Underwood

"Skin (Sarabeth)"
Rascal Flatts
Doug Johnson, writer
Mike Curb Music/Sweet Radical Music

"When I Get Where I'm Going"
Dolly Parton
George Teren, writer
House of Full Circle Music Publishing

Video of the Year
"As Good As I Once Was"
Toby Keith

"Believe"
Brooks & Dunn

"I May Hate Myself in the Morning"
Trey Fanjoy, director

"Kersosene"
Miranda Lambert
Trey Fanjoy, director

"When I Get Where I'm Going"
Dolly Parton

Vocal Event of the Year
"I Play Chicken with the Train"
Big & Rich
Big Kenny, producer

"Like We Never Loved at All"
Faith Hill with Tim McGraw
Faith Hill, producer

"When I Get Where I'm Going"
Dolly Parton

Producer of the Year
Byron Gallimore

Audio Engineer of the Year
Justin Niebank

Musicians of the Year
Bass
Mike Brignardello
David Hungate
Larry Paxton

Fiddle
Glen Duncan
Larry Franklin
Rob Hajacos
Aubrey Haynie
Jonathan Yudkin

Guitar
J.T. Corenflos
Kenny Greenberg

Piano/Keyboards
Gordon Mote
Reese Wynans

Specialty Instrument
Eric Darken
Jim Hoke
Jim Horn
Rob Ickes

Steel Guitar
Paul Franklin
Sonny Garrish
John Hughey
Mike Johnson