August 30, 2004

NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED FOR "THE 38TH ANNUAL CMA AWARDS," TO BE BROADCAST TUESDAY, NOV. 9 ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK

BROOKS & DUNN TO HOST WITH SPECIAL GUESTS, INCLUDING SHANIA TWAIN

Top Nominee Alan Jackson Receives Seven Nominations Newcomer Gretchen Wilson Receives Five Nominations

Country Icon Kris Kristofferson and Industry Veteran Jim Foglesong To Be Inducted Into Country Music Hall of Fame

Nominations were announced today at press conferences in Nashville and New York for THE 38TH ANNUAL CMA AWARDS, to be broadcast live from Nashville's Grand Ole Opry House, on Tuesday, Nov. 9 (8:00-11:00 PM, live ET; delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network. Multi-platinum recording duo Brooks & Dunn will host the 2004 CMA Awards with a variety of special guests, including music superstar Shania Twain.

Reigning CMA Entertainer and Male Vocalist of the Year Alan Jackson received seven nominations: Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Single of the Year and Song of the Year, Musical Event of the Year for his duet with Jimmy Buffett and two nominations for Music Video of the Year.

Toby Keith, who won his first CMA Award in 2001 for Male Vocalist, received six nominations. Keith is nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year, Single of the Year, Music Video of the Year and Musical Event of the Year with Jimmy Buffett. Keith is eligible for two additional CMA Awards as co-producer of his nominated Album and Single.

Kenny Chesney, Alison Krauss and newcomer Gretchen Wilson received five nominations each. Chesney was nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year and two nominations for Musical Event of the Year. Chesney is also nominated as a co-producer in the Album of the Year category.

Alison Krauss was nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year, Single of the Year, Video of the Year and Musical Event of the Year for her duet with Brad Paisley and a second Musical Event of the Year nomination for her duet with James Taylor. This marks her third consecutive nomination for Female Vocalist.

Gretchen Wilson, who burst on the scene in May, received five nominations including Album of the Year, Single of the Year, Song of the Year and Video of the Year for her hit single, "Redneck Woman" and the coveted Horizon Award. The last female Horizon-nominated artist to receive this many nominations in a single year was Deana Carter in 1997. Brad Paisley holds the record of new artist nominations with six in 2000.

This year, Brad Paisley received four nominations including Album of the Year, Single of the Year, Musical Event of the Year and Video of the Year for his duet with Alison Krauss.

CMA Award hosts Brooks & Dunn received three nominations: Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year and Duo of the Year, a category they have won a record-setting 11 times. They are also eligible for an additional CMA Award for co-producing their album.

Big & Rich received two nominations for Duo of the Year and the Horizon Award. John Rich earned a third nomination for Single of the Year as co-writer with Gretchen Wilson on her hit single "Redneck Woman." Rounding out the Duo of the Year category in 2004 is Blue County, Montgomery Gentry and The Warren Brothers.

Jimmy Buffett, Tim McGraw, George Strait and newcomer Josh Turner each earned two nominations. Buffett was nominated for Musical Event of the Year and Music Video of the Year. McGraw was nominated for Entertainer of the Year and Single of the Year. George Strait was nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year and Musical Event of the Year. Turner was nominated for Horizon and Song of the Year.

Joining Gretchen Wilson and Josh Turner in the Horizon Award category are Dierks Bentley, Big & Rich and Julie Roberts.

Additional nominees include: Blue County for Vocal Duo of the Year, Trick Pony, Alabama, Diamond Rio, Lonestar and Rascal Flatts for Vocal Group of the Year.

CMA Award hosts Brooks & Dunn have won CMA Awards every year since Vince Gill began his unprecedented 12-year stint as host of the CMA Awards. In 1992, Brooks & Dunn were not only nominated for the Horizon Award and Album of the Year, they also won their first of 11 Duo of the Year Awards. Consistently recognized for Single, Song, Album and Video of the Year, Brooks and Dunn also won the prestigious CMA Entertainer of the Year in 1996.

Shania Twain was named CMA Entertainer of the Year in 1999. Her most recent Diamond multi-platinum selling album is Up! Twain's additional best-selling albums include The Woman In Me and Come On Over.

For the first time in the history of the CMA Awards, the announcement of the final nominees was carried live on network and cable television from New York during "The Early Show" with CBS Anchor Hannah Storm and Country Music icon Kris Kristofferson on the CBS Television Network; and from Nashville on "CMT Insider: CMA Special Edition" with host Katie Cook and guest artists Gretchen Wilson and Big & Rich on CMT.

After announcing the final nominees in several key categories, Storm surprised Kristofferson with the news that he will be formally inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame? during the 2004 CMA Awards. Industry veteran Jim Foglesong, who attended the CMA Awards Press Conference at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, will also be inducted.

Nominations for THE 38TH ANNUAL CMA AWARDS, the most prestigious in the world of country music, are determined by the votes of CMA members, all of whom are actively involved in the country music industry. Winners are also determined by the votes of CMA members. Presenters and performers who will appear on the special will be announced at a later date.

This year's CMA Award nominees include:

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

Brooks & Dunn

Kenny Chesney
Alan Jackson

Toby Keith

Tim McGraw

SINGLE OF THE YEAR

(Award goes to artist and producer)

"I Love This Bar" - Toby Keith

Toby Keith/James Stroud, DreamWorks Records Nashville

"Live Like You Were Dying" - Tim McGraw Byron Gallimore/Tim McGraw/Darran Smith, Curb Records

"Redneck Woman" - Gretchen Wilson

Mark Wright/Joe Scaife, Epic Records

"Remember When" - Alan Jackson
Keith Stegall, Arista Nashville

"Whiskey Lullaby" - Brad Paisley featuring Alison Krauss Frank Rogers, Arista Nashville

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Kenny Chesney

Alan Jackson

Toby Keith

George Strait

Keith Urban

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Terri Clark

Sara Evans

Alison Krauss

Martina McBride

Reba McEntire

HORIZON AWARD

Dierks Bentley

Big & Rich

Julie Roberts

Josh Turner

Gretchen Wilson

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR

Alabama
Diamond Rio
Lonestar
Rascal Flatts
Trick Pony

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR

Big & Rich

Blue County

Brooks & Dunn
Montgomery Gentry

The Warren Brothers

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to artist and producer)

HERE FOR THE PARTY, Gretchen Wilson, Epic Records Produced by Mark Wright/Joe Scaife

MUD ON THE TIRES, Brad Paisley, Arista Nashville Produced by Frank Rogers

RED DIRT ROAD, Brooks & Dunn, Arista Nashville Produced by Kix Brooks/Ronnie Dunn/Mark Wright

SHOCK 'N Y'ALL, Toby Keith, DreamWorks Records Nashville

Produced by Toby Keith/James Stroud

WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN, Kenny Chesney, BNA Records Produced by Buddy Cannon/Kenny Chesney

MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR

Matt Chamberlain

Kenny Greenberg
Dann Huff
Larry Paxton
Brent Rowan

MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR

Norah Jones duet with Dolly Parton

"Creepin' In," Blue Note Records

Jimmy Buffett with Clint Black, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith & George Strait "Hey Good Lookin'," RCA Records

James Taylor and Alison Krauss
"How's The World Treating You," Universal South

Kenny Chesney duet with Uncle Kracker
"When The Sun Goes Down," BNA Records

Brad Paisley featuring Alison Krauss
"Whiskey Lullaby," Arista Nashville

SONG OF THE YEAR
(Award to songwriter and primary publisher) "Live Like You Were Dying"/Tim Nichols/Craig Wiseman Warner-Tamerlane/Big Loud Shirt

"Long Black Train"/Josh Turner
Sony/ATV Tunes/Drivers Ed Music

"Redneck Woman"/Gretchen Wilson/John Rich Sony/ATV/Cross Keys/Hoosiermama Music/WB Music/Warner-Tamerlane

"Remember When"/Alan Jackson
EMI April Music/Tri-Angels Music

"Whiskey Lullaby"/Bill Anderson/Jon Randall Mr. Bubba Music/Reyn Song/Sony/ATV Tree/Wha Ya Say

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR

"I Love This Bar," Toby Keith

Directed by Michael Salomon

"It's Five O'Clock Somewhere," Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett Directed by Trey Fanjoy

"Redneck Woman," Gretchen Wilson
Directed by David Hogan

"Remember When," Alan Jackson
Directed by Trey Fanjoy

"Whiskey Lullaby," Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss Directed by Rick Schroder

THE 38TH ANNUAL CMA AWARDS is a production of the Country Music Association. Walter C. Miller is the producer. Paul Miller will direct the special from a script by David Wild.

RATING: To Be Announced

Press Contacts: CBS:

                        Beth Stoller-Feldman            212/975-3183 bstoller-feldman@cbs.com
                        Susan J. Marks          323/575-2118 susan.marks@tvc.cbs.com

                        Country Music Association:
                        Wendy Pearl                     615/244-2840
                        Scott Stem                      615/244-2840