Big Country Notes for Mar 6

GEORGE STRAIT DRAWS EIGHT NOMONATIONS FOR ACM AWARDS
George Strait’s name showed up in every category he qualified for in yesterday’s Academy of Country Music awards nominations. Strait, who is celebrating his 25th anniversary in music this year, is nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Top Male Vocalist and Album of the Year for “It Just Comes Natural.” His single “Give It Away” got a nod for Single and Song of the Year. “Seashores of Old Mexico” was noted for Video of the Year. He also received two producer nominations. Brooks and Dunn, who have received more Academy of Country Music awards than any artist, have seven nods, including Entertainer of the Year and Top Vocal Duo. Ronnie Dunn, one half of the award-winning pair, is also nominated for Vocal Event for his duet with Ashley Monroe on “I Don’t Want To.” The nominations were announced by reigning Entertainer of the Year, Kenny Chesney, and last year’s New Vocal Duo or Group’s Sugarland from the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville. CBS’s “The Early Show” broadcast the nominations along with an interview with Chesney by the show’s Hanna Storm. Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush also performed their single “Settlin’.” The 42nd annual Academy of Country Music Awards will air live from MGM Grand in Las Vegas May 15th at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS. Below are the nominees:

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Brooks & Dunn
Kenny Chesney
Tim McGraw
Rascal Flatts
George Strait

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

TOP MALE VOCALIST
Kenny Chesney
Toby Keith
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Keith Urban

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

TOP VOCAL GROUP
Diamond Rio
Emerson Drive
Little Big Town
Lonestar
Rascal Flatts

SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR (Award to Artist/Producer(s)/Record Company
· “Before He Cheats”—Carrie Underwood
· “Give It Away”—George Strait
· “I Loved Her First”—Heartland
· “What Hurts The Most”—Rascal Flatts
· “Would You Go With Me”—Josh Turner

SONG OF THE YEAR (Award to Artist/Composer(s)/Publisher(s)
· “Amarillo Sky” – Jason Aldean (written by John Rich, Big Kenny, Rodney Clawson)
· “Before He Cheats”—Carrie Underwood (written by Chris Tompkins)
· “Give It Away”—George Strait (written by Bill Anderson, Buddy Cannon)
· “If You’re Going Through Hell (Before the Devil Even Knows)”—Rodney Atkins (written by Sam and Annie Tate, Dave Berg)
· “Would You Go With Me—Josh Turner (written by Shawn Camp, John Scott Sherrill)

ALBUM OF THE YEAR (Award to Artist/Producer(s)/ Record Company)
· “Hillbilly Deluxe”—Brooks and Dunn
· “It Just Comes Natural”—George Strait
· “Me and My Gang”—Rascal Flatts
· “Some Hearts”—Carrie Underwood
· “These Days”—Vince Gill

VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR (Award to Artist/Producer)

· “Building Bridges”—Brooks & Dunn with Vince Gill & Sheryl Crow
· “I Don’t Want To”—Ashley Monroe & Ronnie Dunn
· ”Me and God—Josh Turner featuring Dr. Ralph Stanley and Marty Roe, Dana Williams and Gene Johnson of Diamond Rio
· “Politically Uncorrect”—Gretchen Wilson featuring Merle Haggard
· “That’s How They Do It in Dixie”—Hank Williams Jr. with Gretchen Wilson, Big & Rich and Van Zant

VIDEO OF THE YEAR (Award to Artist/Producer(s)/Director(s))
· “8th of November”—Big & Rich
· “Amarillo Sky”—Jason Aldean
· “Before He Cheats”—Carrie Underwood
· “Hillbilly Deluxe”—Brooks and Dunn
· “Seashores of Old Mexico”—George Strait

TOP NEW MALE VOCALIST
· Rodney Atkins
· Craig Morgan
· Chris Young

TOP NEW FEMALE VOCALST
· Miranda Lambert
· Kellie Pickler
· Taylor Swift

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


EIGHT ARTISTS RECEIVE FIRST TIME NOMINATIONS FOR ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS

When the Academy of Country Music nominations were announced yesterday morning, eight singers saw their name on the list of nominees for the first time. Rodney Atkins, Sheryl Crow, Heartland, Ashley Monroe, Kellie Pickler, Taylor Swift, the Wreckers and Chris Young all received first-time nods. Atkins and Young are nominated for Top New Male Vocalist while Pickler and Swift are in the Top New Female Vocalist category. Heartland and The Wreckers are up for Top New Duo or Vocal Group. Crow finds herself in the Vocal Event of the Year category for “Building Bridges,” which she sang with Vince Gill and Brooks and Dunn. Monroe is also in that category, dueting with Ronnie Dunn of Brooks and Dunn. The announcement was hosted by The Early Show’s” Hanna Storm, who welcomed Kenny Chesney and Sugarland to the show to read the announcement. The 42nd annual Academy of Country Music Awards will air live from MGM Grand in Las Vegas May 15th at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.

TIM McGRAW SCHEDULED FOR “GOOD MORNING AMERICA” NEXT WEEK

Tim McGraw will perform his hit single “Last Dollar” on ABC’s “Good Morning America” next Wednesday. The singer is busy promoting his new album “Let it Go,” which will be released on March 27th. This is McGraw’s first studio album in almost three years. The single is one of 13 tracks on the new project. The album was recorded in Nashville with McGraw’s touring band, The Dancehall Doctors. This is the third project the band has recorded with Tim. McGraw co-produced the disc with Byron Gallimore and Darran Smith. In other news, McGraw and his wife, Faith Hill, are finalizing plans for their 2007 tour.

GARY ALLAN RELEASES “GREATEST HITS” DISC TODAY

Gary Allan is feeling great about today’s release of his first-ever “Greatest Hits” album. The singer/songwriter says all the songs are special to him because, quote, “Every song I cut means something to me even if I didn’t write it. That usually means somebody else wrote something better than I could of.” Allan picked 15 songs for the new disc including two new ones – his single “A Feelin’ Like That” and “As the Crow Flies.” Allan says, quote, “Lookin’ back I’m proud of everything I’ve done.” He adds, “I know my stubbornness has probably caused my career to go so slow.” He insists that if he’d handled his career any other way he would have been one of those artists that had a few hits and then was gone. Allan says, quote, “I believe I’ve got another ten years in me of steady hits. I think I’ve always known I’d be an artist who would have a steady climb. That was my goal coming in anyway.” Among the hits on the new disc are “Man of Me,” “Nothing on but the Radio” and “Right Where I Need to Be.”

BROOKS AND DUNN RECIPIENTS OF ACM/HOME DEPOT HUMANITARIAN AWARD

Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn of Brooks and Dunn will be helping out their favorite charities even more this year. The duo is the recipient of The Academy of Country Music/The Home Depot Humanitarian Award. They will receive the honor during the 42nd Academy Of Country Music awards ceremony on May 15th in Las Vegas. The Humanitarian Award recognizes artists who serve others, have a generous spirit and help build the dreams of those in need. Kix and Ronnie were selected for their ongoing community service and charitable giving of their time and talent. Kix says, quote, "In our career, Ronnie and I have done things we could have only dreamed of, but the most rewarding has been when we've made a difference for someone else.”
As the recipient of the Humanitarian Award, Brooks and Dunn will be honored with a playground donated by The Home Depot and the company’s national nonprofit partner KaBOOM. The playground will be built by The Home Depot volunteers and community members in the city of Brooks and Dunn’s choice. The duo will also receive a crystal trophy designed by Tiffany & Co. during the live CBS telecast from the MGM Grand. Past recipients of the award include Vince Gill, Lonestar, Martina McBride, Neal McCoy and Reba McEntire.
Brooks & Dunn have worked with many charities, among them Hurricane Katrina relief, Vanderbilt Children's Hospital, Habitat for Humanity, Ronald McDonald House and Laughter for the Children that benefits a Nashville children's home. Ronnie says, quote, “We appreciate The Home Depot and the Academy giving us this award, but what makes it even better is that a bunch of kids will get a new playground.”

SUNNY SWEENEY RELEASES DEBUT ALBUM TODAY

Sunny Sweeney is certainly not heartbroken despite the title of her debut album, “Heartbreaker’s Hall Of Fame,” which is in stores today. Sunny says, quote, “This is the hardest I've worked on anything in my life.” She adds, quote, “I still cannot believe this is my job. I'm doing what I've always wanted to do, and, honestly, it's the thing I'm supposed to do because I haven't gotten fired yet!” The singer says she road-tested most of the songs from the album before she went in the studio. She says, quote, “We played all but two of the songs before a live audience before we recorded them. The reason I cut the songs was because people would come up to me and say ‘Wow that’s a great song’ and then they would tell me why they liked it.” Sweeney duets with singer/songwriter Jim Lauderdale on “Lavender Blue” and covers the Lacy J. Dalton hit “16th Avenue” on the 12-song disc.

JERRY LEE LEWIS RELEASES LIVE DVD

Jerry Lee Lewis called in a few friends for his new live DVD. Lewis’s “Last Man Standing Live” features a few close friends including Willie Nelson, Toby Keith, Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson, rapper Kid Rock, rocker Eric Clapton and the Eagles’ Don Henley. The project was recorded live in New York City and Los Angeles before friends and family at a series of private shows. A companion television special is airing on PBS through March 18th. A special double disc version includes the DVD plus an audio CD with eight never-before-released live recordings of some of Lewis’ all time greats. The album release of “Last Man Standing” debuted at number four on the “Billboard” Top Country album chart. The DVD is in stores today.

QUICK BITES

Toby Keith was presented the Artist Humanitarian Award by Country Radio Broadcasters during the opening ceremonies of the 38th Annual Country Radio Seminar in Nashville last week.

John Rich and Big Kenny of Big & Rich helped write the song “We Got It Goin’ On” for the Arena Football League (AFL). The other writers on the song were Richie Sambora and Jon Bon Jovi. Bon Jovi will record the theme, which will be played on ESPN’s coverage of the AFL this year. The Big & Rich song – “Comin’ To Your City” – was the theme for ESPN’s College Game Day in 2005.

John Michael Montgomery will oversee the Second Annual Hunting & Fishing Show in Bardstown, Kentucky, this weekend. Montgomery created the three-day event that will attract thousands of hunting enthusiasts to the exhibits, a photo contest and daily seminars ranging from Turkey Calling to Habitat Improvement and Training Your Dog. Steve Holy performs Friday night and Montgomery takes to the stage on Saturday.

Trent Willmon has a great deal to celebrate today, which is his 34th birthday. Brad Paisley and former Professional Bull Rider Justin McBride have each recorded one of his songs. He’ll celebrate his birthday tonight before heading to Texas for dates that will take him across the Lone Star State.

Willie Nelson will announce the formation of Pedernales Records at a press conference on March 16th in Austin during the annual South By Southwest Music & Media Conference. Nelson will introduce his company, top executives and the first artists signed to the independent label. Pedernales Records takes its name from the river that flows by Nelson’s home and headquarters outside of Austin, where he also owns Pedernales Country Club and founded Pedernales Studios.

Big & Rich’s new single "Lost In This Moment" is digitally available from Sprint. It will be available at all other digital music retailers and mobile carriers on March 20th. The “Lost In This Moment” video is scheduled to shoot in Nashville this weekend. Look for some old-school Hollywood glamour from the shoot.

IN STORES TODAY

Gary Allan -- "Greatest Hits"
Sunny Sweeney -- "Heartbreaker's Hall of Fame"
Mary Chapin Carpenter -- "The Calling"
Johnny Cash -- "Here Was a Man: The Ultimate Gospel Collection"
Jerry Lee Lewis -- "Last Man Standing" (Live DVD)