Congratulations to those nominated! I see a lot of folks on there that I've had the opportunity to perform with or meet over the past couple years. Hopefully... well, "hopefully." We'll just leave it at that for now. Here they are:
Topping the list of final nominees with five nominations each for “The 45th Annual CMA Awards” including Jason Aldean, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, and Taylor Swift. Right on their heels are The Band Perry and Zac Brown Band, who each received four nominations as a group while individual members Kimberly Perry (of The Band Perry), Coy Bowles and Zac Brown (of Zac Brown Band) each earned a solo nod as a songwriter.
Aldean received first-time nominations in five categories in 2011 including Entertainer; Male Vocalist; Album for My Kinda Party, produced by Michael Knox; and Single and Musical Event of the Year for “Don’t You Wanna Stay” with Kelly Clarkson, also produced by Knox. Aldean has two prior nominations including the Horizon Award in 2007 and in 2008 when the category changed names to CMA New Artist of the Year.
The 45th Annual CMA Awards Live on ABC November 9, 2011 8|7c
Entertainer of the Year Jason Aldean Brad Paisley Blake Shelton Taylor Swift Keith Urban
Male Vocalist of the Year Jason Aldean Kenny Chesney Brad Paisley Blake Shelton Keith Urban
Female Vocalist of the Year Sara Evans Miranda Lambert Martina McBride Carrie Underwood Taylor Swift
New Artist of the Year The Band Perry Luke Bryan Eric Church Thompson Square Chris Young
Vocal Group of the Year The Band Perry Lady Antebellum Little Big Town Rascal Flatts Zac Brown Band
Album of the Year Blake Shelton, All About Tonight Jason Aldean, My Kinda Party Taylor Swift, Speak Now Brad Paisley, This is Country Music Zac Brown Band, You Get What You Give
Single of the Year Sara Evans, “A Little Bit Stronger” Zac Brown Band, “Colder Weather” Jason Aldean ft. Kelly Clarkson, “Don’t You Wanna Stay” Blake Shelton, “Honey Bee” The Band Perry, “If I Die Young”
Song of the Year “Colder Weather,” Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette, Levi Lowrey, and Coy Bowles “Dirt Road Anthem,” Brantley Gilbert and Colt Ford “If I Die Young,” Kimberly Perry “Mean,” Taylor Swift “You and Tequila,” Matraca Berg and Deana Carter
Musical Event of the Year “As She’s Walking Away” Zac Brown Band featuring Alan Jackson Southern Ground Artists/Atlantic Records
“Coal Miner’s Daughter” Loretta Lynn, Sheryl Crow, and Miranda Lambert Columbia Records Nashville
“Don’t You Wanna Stay” Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson Broken Bow Records
“Old Alabama” Brad Paisley featuring Alabama Arista Nashville
“You and Tequila” Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter BNA Records
Vocal Duo of the Year Civil Wars Montgomery Gentry Steel Magnolia Sugarland Thompson Square
Music Video of the Year “Honey Bee” Blake Shelton Directed by Trey Fanjoy
“If I Die Young” The Band Perry Directed by David McClister
“Mean” Taylor Swift Directed by Declan Whitebloom
“Old Alabama” Brad Paisley featuring Alabama Directed by Jim Shea
“You and Tequila” Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter Directed by Shaun Silva
Musician of the Year Sam Bush Jerry Douglas Paul Franklin Dann Huff Mac McAnally