August 10, 2006

News, Gospel

Christian Country Music Celebrates the Year’s Best

BMI Christian country artists and songwriters top the list of nominees for the 12th Annual Inspirational Country Music Awards, being held at Nashville's Acuff Theater on Nov. 9. The awards are presented and voted on by members of the Christian Country Music Association (CCMA) and will serve as the endnote to the organization's week-long conference, which takes place Nov. 5-9.

Last Light Band	Del Way	Fox Brothers

BMI artists Last Light Band lead the pack with three nominations: Entertainer of the Year, Group of the Year and Trio of the Year. Renowned BMI Christian artists Del Way, Melanie Walker and Mike Manuel received two nominations each, along with Branded, the Fox Brothers, Gayla Earlene, Tommy Brandt, Steven Paul McCollum, Mary James, Nannette Vaughan and Carpenters Tools. Other performers gaining recognition for their work this year include newcomer Corey Brooks, husband and wife team Randy & Heidi Gunn, and songwriter Cory Mayo.

Mary James	Nannette Vaughan	Clifton Janksy

Other ICM nods include popular Christian singer/songwriter Clifton Janksy for Male Vocalist of the Year and two nominations for Brooks & Dunn as a duo, as well as a Songwriter of the Year mention for Ronnie Dunn. Superstar Keith Urban snagged a nomination for Musician of the Year, while stars Carrie Underwood, Diamond Rio, Marty Stuart and Tim McGraw all received nods as well.

Tickets to the award ceremony are currently available for $45 through TicketMaster at 615-255-9600. The show will also be nationally televised and then re-broadcast on various affiliates.

BMI's ICM Nominees:

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Branded
Del Way
Fox Brothers
Gayla Earlene
Last Light Band
Melanie Walker
Tommy Brandt

MALE VOCALIST
Clifton Jansky
Del Way
Gordon Mote
Jackie Cox
Mike Manuel
Robert Martin
Steven Paul McCollum
Tommy Brandt

FEMALE VOCALIST
Debbie Bennett
Gayla Earlene
Joyce Wagster
Mary James
Melanie Walker
Nannette Vaughan

GROUP
Carpenters Tools
Chigger Hill Boys & Terri
ELA
Fox Brothers
Last Light Band
Michael King & One True North
Philadelpheia

VOCAL DUO
Branded
Calvary Cowboys
Gene & Lavada Triesch
Jeff & Sheri Easter
Randy Heidi Gunn
Twice Robin
2 Days Later

TRIO
Booth Brothers
Carpenters Tools
Haddix Family
Jeff Treece Band
Last Light Band
Mere Image
Roy Knipp & Southern Harmony

SONG OF THE YEAR
Brooks & Dunn -- "Believe"
Tim McGraw -- "Drugs Or Jesus"
Diamond Rio -- "God Only Cries" (For The Living)
Carrie Underwood -- "Jesus Take The Wheel"
Rascal Flatts -- "Skin (Sarabeth)"
Brad Paisley with Dolly Parton -- "When I Get Where I'm Going"

SONGWRITER
Cory Mayo
Ronnie Dunn
David Phelps
Mike Manuel
Russ Murphy

MAINSTREAM COUNTRY
Billy Ray Cyrus
Brooks & Dunn
Carrie Underwood
Craig Morgan
Diamond Rio

NEW ARTIST
Corey Brooks
Haddix Family
Jerry Utley
Mary James
Mike Rimmey
Nannette Vaughan
Rebecca Linda Smith
Steven Paul McCollum

MUSICIAN
Charlie Daniels
Justin Todd Herod
Keith Urban
Marty Stewart
Robin Bullock

In this story: Debbie Bennett, Booth Brothers, Branded, Tommy Brandt, Brooks & Dunn, Corey Brooks, Robin Bullock, Calvary Cowboys, Carpenters Tools, Chigger Hill Boys & Terri, Jackie Cox, Charlie Daniels, Diamond Rio, Ronnie Dunn, Gayla Earlene, Jeff & Sheri Easter, The Fox Brothers, Randy & Heidi Gunn, Haddix Family, Justin Todd Herod, Mary James, Clifton Jansky, Jeff Treece Band, Michael King, Last Light Band, Mike Manuel, Robert Martin, Steven Paul McCollum, Tim McGraw, Mere Image, Craig Morgan, Gordon Mote, Russ Murphy, One True North, Dolly Parton, David Phelps, Philadelpheia, Rascal Flatts, Mike Rimmey, Roy Knipp & Southern Harmony, Rebecca Linda Smith, Marty Stewart, Marty Stuart, Gene & Lavada Triesch, Twice Robin, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Jerry Utley, Nannette Vaughan, Joyce Wagster, Melanie Walker, Del Way

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