MY picks are in bold:

38th Awards Nominees


Entertainer of the Year
Brooks & Dunn
Kenny Chesney
Alan Jackson
Toby Keith
Tim McGraw

*CMA Favorite artist

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Terri Clark
Sara Evans
Alison Krauss
Martina McBride
Reba McEntire

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Kenny Chesney
Alan Jackson
Toby Keith
George Strait
Keith Urban

HORIZON AWARD
Dierks Bentley
Big & Rich
Julie Roberts
Josh Turner
Gretchen Wilson


VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Alabama
Diamond Rio
Lonestar
Rascal Flatts
Trick Pony



VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Big & Rich
Blue County
Brooks & Dunn
Montgomery Gentry
The Warren Brothers

SINGLE OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to artist and producer)
“I Love This Bar” – Toby Keith
Produced by Toby Keith/James Stroud
DreamWorks Records Nashville
“Live Like You Were Dying” – Tim McGraw
Produced by Byron Gallimore/Tim McGraw/Darran Smith
Curb Records
“Redneck Woman” – Gretchen Wilson
Produced by Mark Wright/Joe Scaife
Epic Records
“Remember When” – Alan Jackson
Produced by Keith Stegall
Arista Nashville
“Whiskey Lullaby” – Brad Paisley featuring Alison Krauss
Produced by Frank Rogers
Arista Nashville

MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Matt Chamberlain – Drums
Kenny Greenberg – Electric Guitar
Dann Huff – Guitar
Larry Paxton – Bass Guitar
Brent Rowan – Guitar

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to artist and producer)
Here For The Party – Gretchen Wilson
Produced by Mark Wright/Joe
ScaifeEpic Records
Mud On The Tires – Brad Paisley
Produced by Frank Rogers
Arista Nashville
Red Dirt Road – Brooks & Dunn
Produced by Kix Brooks/Ronnie Dunn/Mark Wright
Arista Nashville
Shock’N Y’All – Toby Keith
Produced by Toby Keith/James Stroud
DreamWorks Records Nashville
When The Sun Goes Down – Kenny Chesney
Produced by Buddy Cannon/Kenny Chesney
BNA Records



MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to artist and director)
“I Love This Bar” – Toby Keith
Directed by Michael Salomon
“It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere”– Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett
Directed by Trey Fanjoy
“Redneck Woman” – Gretchen Wilson
Directed by David Hogan
“Remember When” – Alan Jackson
Directed by Trey Fanjoy
“Whiskey Lullaby” – Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss
Directed by Rick Schroder


MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
Norah Jones with Dolly Parton – “Creepin’ In”
Blue Note Records
Jimmy Buffett with Clint Black, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith & George Strait – “Hey Good Lookin’”
RCA Records
James Taylor/Alison Krauss – “How’s The World Treating You”
Universal South
Kenny Chesney (Duet with Uncle Kracker) – “When The Sun Goes Down”
BNA Records
Brad Paisley featuring Alison Krauss – “Whiskey Lullaby”
Arista Nashville


SONG OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to songwriter and primary publisher)
“Live Like You Were Dying”
Tim Nichols/Craig Wiseman
Warner-Tamerlane/Big Loud Shirt
“Long Black Train”
Josh Turner
Sony/ATV Tunes/Drivers Ed Music
“Redneck Woman”
Gretchen Wilson/John Rich
Sony/ATV/Cross Keys/Hoosiermama Music/WB Music/Warner-Tamerlane
“Remember When”
Alan Jackson
EMI April Music/Tri-Angels Music
“Whiskey Lullaby”
Bill Anderson/Jon Randall
Mr. Bubba Music/Reynsong/SonyATV Tree/Wha Ya Say