Monday, August 11, 2008 – Taylor Swift and Rascal Flatts will announce the nominees on Sept. 10 for this year's Country Music Association awards. The announcement of the finalists will be carried live Wednesday, Sept. 10, on ABC's "Good Morning America" studios and from the Sommet Center in Nashville on CMT Insider.
The 42nd Annual CMA Awards will be broadcast live from Nashville Wednesday, Nov. 12.
"Having 'Good Morning America' and 'CMT Insider' broadcast our CMA Awards final nominees live brings a heightened level of excitement to these highly-anticipated announcements," said CMA Chief Executive Officer Tammy Genovese. "These special broadcasts will allow fans across the nation to experience the same excitement our artists and industry feel as the names are announced for the first time by our hosts. It also demonstrates the enthusiasm of our network partner ABC, and the continued and valued support of 'Good Morning America' and CMT."
The final nominees in select categories will be announced live on national television during "Good Morning America" with Rascal Flatts and Swift on Wednesday, Sept. 10 during the 8:30 a.m. segment. "We're excited to be a part of the live CMA nominee announcements on Good Morning America," said Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts, who also serves on the CMA Board of Directors. "We had our first CMA win in 2002 and know how thrilling it is to hear your name called out as a nominee, so we're glad to be the one's to share that good news."
"CMA provided me with one of the most amazing moments of my life, and it's an honor to be asked to announce this year's nominees with my tour mates Rascal Flatts," said Swift.
Broadcasting live from Nashville, CMT's Katie Cook and Lance Smith will present exclusive coverage of the remaining 2008 CMA Awards nominee announcements in a special half-hour edition of CMT Insider, premiering Wednesday, Sept. 10 on CMT.
Following the announcements on Good Morning America, CMT will go live Lady Antebellum and James Otto, as they reveal the remaining CMA Awards nominees. Following the nominations, Cook and Smith will interview nominees and examine the categories and evaluate the finalists.
"We are so honored to have been asked by CMA to help them make this announcement," said Lady Antebellum's Hillary Scott. "The CMA Awards are something we've dreamed about being a part of since Charles, Dave and I sat down to write our first song together. It is truly one of the most anticipated events of the year, and we are excited that we get to call the nominees names."
"This is Country Music's Biggest Night - what an honor to be asked to participate in announcing the CMA Award nominations," said Otto. "I don't think there is a Country artist out there, including myself, who hasn't dreamed of winning a CMA Award. To be asked to announce the nominee's names that morning with Lady Antebellum is a moment I will always remember."
In addition to the nominee announcements, Bucky Covington and Chuck Wicks will announce the finalists for the 2008 CMA Broadcast Personality and Radio Station of the Year in four categories (small, medium, large and major markets) as well as the finalists for the CMA National Broadcast Personality of the Year.
The CMA Awards nominees and winners are determined by the 6,000 industry professional members of CMA.
