FIRST ROUND OF PERFORMERS ANNOUNCED FOR “THE 43rd ANNUAL CMA AWARDS”

Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Reba McEntire, Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker, George Strait, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, and Keith Urban to Perform on “Country Music’s Biggest Night”

NASHVILLE – The star-packed lineup for “The 43rd Annual CMA Awards” launches with the announcement today that nominees Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Reba McEntire, Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker, George Strait, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, and Keith Urban will perform. “The 43rd Annual CMA Awards,” hosted by Paisley and Underwood, airs live from the Sommet Center in Nashville, Wednesday, Nov. 11 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network. 

Brooks & Dunn are nominated this year for Vocal Duo (which they have won a record 14 times) and Musical Event with McEntire for “Cowgirls Don’t Cry.”

Chesney, the reigning Entertainer of the Year (with four total wins in this category), has three nominations, including Entertainer; Male Vocalist; and Musical Event with Mac McAnally for “Down the Road.”

McEntire has two nominations, including Female Vocalist (which she won four consecutive years during 1984-1987) and Musical Event with Brooks & Dunn for “Cowgirls Don’t Cry.”

Paisley, the reigning Male Vocalist (2007 and 2008), is this year’s top-nominated artist with seven nominations, including Entertainer; Male Vocalist; Album for American Saturday Night; Single and Song for “Then” (which he co-wrote with Chris DuBois and Ashley Gorley); and Musical Event and Music Video for “Start a Band” with Urban. 

Rucker, who released his debut solo Country album in 2008, received his first two CMA nominations this year for New Artist and Male Vocalist.

Country Music Hall of Fame member Strait received four nominations including Entertainer; Male Vocalist; Music Video for “Troubadour” and Musical Event for “Everything But Quits” with Lee Ann Womack (a category they won in 2005 with “Good News, Bad News”). With 79 career nominations, Strait is now tied with Alan Jackson as the most nominated artist in CMA Awards history.  

Sugarland, the reigning Vocal Duo (2007 and 2008), has two nominations including Vocal Duo and Album for Love on the Inside. Sugarland members Kristian Bush and Jennifer Nettles could each receive a second trophy for producing Love on the Inside with Byron Gallimore.

Swift, who won the Horizon Award in 2007, received four nominations this year with Entertainer; Female; Album for Fearless; and Music Video for “Love Story.” She could receive a second trophy for producing Fearless with Nathan Chapman. At age 19, Swift is the youngest artist ever to be nominated for Entertainer. Prior to this nomination, Wynonna was the youngest at age 22 when The Judds were first nominated in that category in 1986. Swift is also the first solo female artist to be nominated for Entertainer since 2000 when Faith Hill was nominated. The last solo female artist to win the category was Shania Twain in 1999. 

Underwood, the reigning Female Vocalist for three consecutive years (2006-2008), has two nominations including Female Vocalist and Musical Event for “I Told You So” with Randy Travis. Should Underwood win the Female Vocalist category again this year, she would tie Martina McBride and McEntire as the top winners in the category with four wins each.

Urban received five nominations this year, with Entertainer (which he won in 2005); Male Vocalist (which he won three consecutive years in 2004-2006); Album for Defying Gravity;  and Musical Event and Music Video for “Start a Band” with Paisley. Urban could receive a second trophy for producing Defying Gravity with Dann Huff.

Tickets for the 2009 CMA Awards can be purchased by logging on to www.ticketmaster.com;  calling (800) 745-3000; or in person at the Sommet Center box office, 501 Broadway (corner of Fifth Avenue and Broadway, in Nashville). Ticket prices begin at $110 for Upper Level. All ticket prices include sales tax but exclude applicable service/handling fees.
 
"The 43rd Annual CMA Awards" is a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton is the Executive Producer, Paul Miller is the Director, and David Wild is the writer. The special will be shot in high definition and broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound.

Premiere Radio Networks is the official radio packager of the CMA Awards. American Airlines is the official airline of the 2009 CMA Awards. Chevy: The Official Ride of Country Music.

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