Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts will announce CMA nominees Sept. 10
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.
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CD reviews
Unwrapped EP
If the best things in life do indeed come in small packages, this "Unwrapped" EP from Rascal Flatts fits that most worthy description. All but one song have been unavailable for about a year, and one track (God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen) is a brand new recording. For Jingle Bell Rock, Rascal Flatts actually trade rock music for big band jazz; this one features plenty of brass horn work. However, White Christmas sticks to a stately orchestrated formula. The trio shows off its vocal chops on »»» |
Unstoppable
The Rascal Flatts hit making music machinery continues as its latest is filled with a lot of commercial pop country for which the trio is known. Rascal Flatts does not move very far outside of their comfort zone. Lead singer Gary LeVox's sturdy, sometimes plaintive vocals, and well-chosen material can have that effect.
Dann Huff once again produced along with lead singer Gary LeVox, guitarist Joe Don Rooney and bassist Jay DeMarcus. Huff gets a big sound once again out of the band, perhaps »»» |
Fearless
Taylor Swift took the county world by storm with her huge selling debut and its five hit singles. With a huge marketing push and myspace, Swift was on her way. Kind of like an Avril Lavigne for the teen female country set.
Sophomore slump? There's no indication of that. Swift once again writes her material - all 13 songs here with help sometimes from Liz Rose, Colbie Caillat and John Rich. Swift writes of what she knows about - relationships and teen love come and gone in songs speak to her fans. »»» |
Editorial: American Idol's Carrie Underwood can sing –
If anyone saw the Super Bowl – what a great great game that was – they would have heard American Idol winner and country superstar Carrie Underwood sing the National Anthem. Underwood did with her voice what Kelly Clarkson did last week with her written words – give it to Scott Borchetta, the head of Big Machine Records,, who tried defending Taylor Swift by knocking American Idol performers. »»»
Concert Review: McBride, Adkins shine sometimes –
As Martina McBride pointed out, the pairing of the country singer with Trace Adkins on their current jaunt was surprising. After all, she's of diva-quality voice, petite, non-controversial unless you call singing songs that empower women controversial. Adkins, on the other hand, has not been afraid to speak his mind with a kick butt attitude.... »»»
Concert Review: Eilen Jewell wears her musical hats well –
Eilen Jewell wears a lot of musical hats. The Idaho native, who now lives in Boston, fronts the Eilen (ee-lin) Jewell Band, a pretty much traditional country band. She's a member the Sacred Shakers, an octet doing gospel country with a country beat. And she has yet another project, Butcher Holler, covering Loretta Lynn songs.... »»»
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Here it is the top 30 for 2009. This isn't authoritative in case you thought otherwise. It's just one man's opinion about his favorite CDs of the year, which seemed a cut above everything else. It was incredibly hard figuring out a number one CD for the year between the Avett Brothers, Brad Paisley and George Strait. All three were great albums from different perspectives of country and roots music, and at any one time over the past few days, each was my favorite. Come back in a few days, and who knows? Maybe the order will change.... »»»
Haywire
There are two versions of Josh Turner's fourth CD - standard and deluxe. The deluxe has the same 11 tracks as the standard, plus (among other goodies) live versions of previously released songs Long Black Train and Your Man . But don't spend more money than you have to; if it's redundancy you're looking for, there's plenty to be had on the standard version. »»» |
Somewhere in Time
If Rascal Flatts is country music's clean cut, commercially palatable Beatles, then Reckless Kelly is the genre's Rolling Stones; grittier, more authentically influenced, rawer at the core even when their output is every bit as polished. The brainchild of Idaho brothers Willy and Cody Braun, Reckless Kelly was crowned Austin's Best Country Band in the city's 2008 music awards, an incredible honor. »»» |
As He Wanders
Fans of country - and we're using a definition starting just west of real country and stopping a bit south of alt.-country - who aren't sold on Austin's Texas Sapphires four songs in can be suspected of unnecessary stubbornness. Just look what that first third offers. You get both male and female voices: Billy Brent Malkus' is handsome yet tough and wiry enough for a bar fight, and Rebecca Lucille Cannon's is lovely yet, well, tough and wiry enough for a bar fight. »»» |
Dailey & Vincent Sing The Statler Brothers
In the 60's through '80's, the Statler Brothers, Don and Harold Reid, Phil Balsley, Jimmy Fortune and the late Lew Dewitt, were the hottest thing going. They set the standard for modern country vocal groups. Bluegrassers Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent do a great job of honoring their idols, covering classics like "Flowers On The Wall," "Bed of Roses," "Thank You World" and "Class of '57." »»» |
Need You Now
Despite their commercial success and numerous awards, some critics felt that Lady Antebellum's self-titled debut, released in 2007, wasn't country enough. And those critics won't be happy with its follow-up. A pleasant selection of pop-infused songs, this sophomore offering from the photogenic trio stays in a fairly safe middle range. »»» |
Shoulda Been Gold
The premise of the title track of this compilation from I See Hawks In L.A. is that they have been denied the commercial success they deserve, but their unconventional band name, song topics and lyrics suggest they are comfortable residing outside the mainstream. »»» |
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