CMA Announces First Round of Nominees for 'The 44th Annual CMA Awards

The first round of nominees in seven categories for "The 44th Annual CMA Awards" was announced today at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville by Justin Moore and Chris Young. Nominees for the remaining five categories will be revealed tomorrow on ABC News' "Good Morning America" with Dierks Bentley and Miranda Lambert.

"The 44th Annual CMA Awards" will be broadcast live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Wednesday, Nov. 10 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network. "Country Music's Biggest Night(TM)" will be hosted for the third time by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood.

"We are continuing a promising trend we saw last year with several artists receiving their first CMA Awards nomination or making a debut in a new category," said Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer. "The infusion of fresh faces is great for the format and speaks to the strength and future of Country Music."

The announcement of the final nominees in seven of the 12 CMA Awards categories was made by Justin Moore and Chris Young from the stage of the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville in recognition of the Grand Ole Opry's 85th Anniversary. The Grand Ole Opry House has been undergoing major renovations following devastating floods in May and is scheduled to reopen Sept. 28.

The finalists in the remaining five categories will be announced tomorrow morning on ABC News' "Good Morning America." Premiere Radio Networks, CMA's official radio partner, will make the full slate of announcements available to radio stations including the announcement of the CMA Broadcast Awards finalists made today by Steel Magnolia.

The 2009 CMA Awards, held in Nashville during Sweeps (Nov. 11), ranked behind only the Academy Awards and Grammy Awards during the 2009-2010 season for awards shows among total viewers. With "The 43rd Annual CMA Awards," ABC won the night in both total viewers (17.2 million) and adults 18-49 (5.3/14). According to Nielsen research, 35.8 million unique viewers ages 2+ watched six minutes or more of the program.

The CMA Awards nominees and winners are determined by the 6,000 industry professional members of CMA, which was formed in 1958 as the first trade organization dedicated to promoting an individual genre of music. The first CMA Awards Banquet and Show was held in 1967. The following year, the CMA Awards was broadcast on NBC television for the first time - making it the longest running, annual music awards program on network television. The show aired on NBC through 1971 and on the CBS Television Network from 1972 through 2005 before moving to ABC in 2006.

Winners of "The 44th Annual CMA Awards" will be determined in a final round of voting by eligible voting members of the County Music Association. CMA Awards balloting is officiated by the international accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

In addition to coverage of today's events on CMT.com, "CMT Insider Special Edition: 2010 CMA Awards Nominations" will air on CMT Wednesday, Sept. 1 (11:00 AM/ET). The program, which features in-depth coverage of the nominees, artist interviews, and more, re-airs on Saturday, Sept. 4 (1:30 PM/ET) and Sunday, Sept. 5 (11:00 AM/ET).

A video news release including footage of the nominee announcements from Nashville, exclusive interviews, music video clips, and more will be serviced Wednesday, Sept. 1 (2:00-2:30 PM/ET). The VNR package will be available by Galaxy 28 - Transponder 10 (C-Band; analog) Downlink Frequency - 3900 Horizontal.

If you have difficulty picking up the VNR or have questions about the feed, please contact Scott Sklarin with Sklarin Communications at (917) 929-5564; or Maria Eckhardt at CMA (615) 664-1637, or by e-mail at meckhardt@CMAworld.com.

Tickets for the 2010 CMA Awards will go on sale to the public on Saturday, Sept. 18 (10:00 AM/CT) and can be purchased by logging on to www.ticketmaster.com; calling (800) 745-3000; or in person at the Bridgestone Arena box office, 501 Broadway (corner of Fifth Avenue and Broadway), Nashville. Ticket prices begin at $110 for Upper Level. All ticket prices include sales tax, but exclude applicable service/handling fees. Purchase tickets early for best available seats. In 2009, the CMA Awards sold out in advance.

"The 44th Annual CMA Awards" is a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton is the Executive Producer, Paul Miller is the Director, and David Wild is the writer. The special will be shot in high definition and broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound.

The Final Nominees in Select Categories for "The 44th Annual CMA Awards" are:

New Artist of the Year
Luke Bryan
Easton Corbin
Jerrod Niemann
Chris Young
Zac Brown Band

Vocal Group of the Year
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts
The Band Perry
Zac Brown Band

Vocal Duo of the Year
Brooks & Dunn
Joey + Rory
Montgomery
Gentry
Steel Magnolia
Sugarland

Single of the Year (Award goes to Artist and Producer(s))

"A Little More Country Than
That"
Easton Corbin
Produced by Carson Chamberlain
Mercury Nashville

"Hillbilly Bone"
Blake Shelton featuring Trace
Adkins
Produced by Scott Hendricks
Reprise Records

"Need You Now"
Lady Antebellum
Produced by Paul Worley and
Lady Antebellum
Capitol Records Nashville

"The House That Built Me"
Miranda Lambert
Produced by Frank Liddell and
Mike Wrucke
Columbia Nashville

"White Liar"
Miranda Lambert
Produced by Frank Liddell and
Mike Wrucke
Columbia Nashville

Song of the Year (Award goes to Songwriter(s))

"A Little More Country Than That"
Rory Lee Feek, Don Poythress, and Wynn
Varble

"Need You Now"
Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Hillary
Scott, and Josh Kear

"The House That Built Me"
Tom Douglas and Allen Shamblin

"Toes"
Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette, John Driskell
Hopkins, and Shawn Mullins

"White Liar"
Miranda Lambert and Natalie Hemby

Music Video of the Year (Award goes to Artist and Director)

"Hillbilly Bone"
Blake Shelton featuring
Trace Adkins
Directed by Roman White

"Need You Now"
Lady Antebellum
Directed by David
McClister

"The House That Built
Me"
Miranda Lambert
Directed by Trey Fanjoy

"Water"
Brad Paisley
Directed by Jim Shea

"White Liar"
Miranda Lambert
Directed by Chris Hicky

Musician of the Year

Paul Franklin -
Steel Guitar
DAnn Huff - Guitar
Brent Mason -
Guitar
Mac McAnally -
Guitar
Randy Scruggs -
Guitar

Premiere Radio Networks is the official radio packager of the CMA Awards. American Airlines is the official airline of the 2010 CMA Awards. Chevrolet, Proud Sponsor of the CMA Awards and Official Ride of Country Music.

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