March 8, 2006

(NOTE TO EDITORS: Please note correct time for THE 41ST ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS is 8:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT)

NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED FOR "THE 41ST ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS," TO BE BROADCAST LIVE FROM LAS VEGAS MAY 23 ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK

Brad Paisley Leads with Six Nominations; Brooks & Dunn and Sugarland Receive Five Nominations Each; Rascal Flatts and Carrie Underwood Receive Four Nominations Each; Big & Rich, Dolly Parton and Lee Ann Womack Receive Three Nominations Each

Rascal Flatts and Carrie Underwood to Perform on This Year's Broadcast

Nominations for the 41ST ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS were announced by multi-platinum selling group Rascal Flatts, double-platinum recording artist Carrie Underwood, both nominated in four categories each, and CBS's "The Early Show" host Hannah Storm at a press conference at the Ford Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville. The winners in 13 categories will be broadcast live from Las Vegas' MGM Grand Tuesday, May 23 (8:00-11:00 PM, live ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network. Rascal Flatts and Carrie Underwood will also perform on this year's broadcast.

Brad Paisley leads with six nominations. Brooks & Dunn and Sugarland received five nominations each. Rascal Flatts and Carrie Underwood received four nominations each, followed by Big & Rich, Dolly Parton and Lee Ann Womack with three nominations each.

Brad Paisley received six nominations, including Top Male Vocalist of the Year and Album of the Year for Time Well Wasted. In addition, he was recognized for Single Record of the Year for "Alcohol," and Song of the Year, Video of the Year and Vocal Event of the Year for "When I Get Where I Am Going," a duet with Dolly Parton. Paisley already has three Academy of Country Music Awards.

Brooks & Dunn and Sugarland received five nominations each. Brooks & Dunn were nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Top Vocal Duo of the Year and Single Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Video of the Year for "Believe." They have previously been awarded 19 Academy of Country Music Awards, including the Academy's prestigious Triple Crown Award. First time nominee Sugarland received nominations for Album of the Year for Twice the Speed of Life, Top New Duo or Vocal Group of the Year and Top Vocal Group of the Year. Sugarland was also recognized in the Single Record of the Year and Song of the Year categories for "Baby Girl." Jennifer Nettles was also nominated for Vocal Event of the Year for "Who Says You Can't Go Home?" with Bon Jovi.

(More)

Vince Gill will be the recipient of the 5th Annual Academy of Country Music/Home Depot Humanitarian Award. This honor salutes an artist or group in the country music industry who is committed to serving others, has a generosity of spirit and a dedication to helping build the dreams of those in need. The recipient of The Home Depot Humanitarian Award will have a community playground built in a city of their choice through the efforts of The Home Depot and KaBOOM!, a non-profit organization that brings together volunteers to build much-needed playgrounds in one-day "barn-raising" construction events.

Members of the Academy of Country Music select the nominees and winners of the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS. Presenters and additional performers who will appear on the special will be announced at a later date.

Following is the list of final nominees in 13 categories voted by the membership. Winners in each of the following categories will be presented with an ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARD during the television broadcast:

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

        BROOKS & DUNN   
        KENNY CHESNEY
        TOBY KEITH
        RASCAL FLATTS
        KEITH URBAN

TOP MALE VOCALIST

        DIERKS BENTLEY
        KENNY CHESNEY
        BRAD PAISLEY
        GEORGE STRAIT
        KEITH URBAN

TOP FEMALE VOCALIST

        SARA EVANS
        MARTINA McBRIDE
        CARRIE UNDERWOOD
        GRETCHEN WILSON
        LEE ANN WOMACK

TOP VOCAL GROUP

ALABAMA

        LITTLE BIG TOWN
        LONESTAR
        RASCAL FLATTS
        SUGARLAND

TOP VOCAL DUO

        BIG & RICH
        BROOKS & DUNN
        MONTGOMERY GENTRY
        VAN ZANT

THE WARREN BROTHERS

(More)

TOP NEW MALE VOCALIST

        JASON ALDEAN
        BILLY CURRINGTON
        CRAIG MORGAN

TOP NEW FEMALE VOCALIST

        MIRANDA LAMBERT
        JULIE ROBERTS
        CARRIE UNDERWOOD

TOP NEW DUO OR GROUP

        BIG & RICH
        LITTLE BIG TOWN
        SUGARLAND

ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]

FEELS LIKE TODAY
RASCAL FLATTS
PRODUCERS: MARK BRIGHT, MARTY WILLIAMS, RASCAL FLATTS LYRIC STREET RECORDS

THERE'S MORE WHERE THAT CAME FROM
LEE ANN WOMACK
PRODUCERS: BYRON GALLIMORE, GREG DROMAN MCA NASHVILLE

TIME WELL WASTED
BRAD PAISLEY
PRODUCERS: CHRIS DuBOIS, FRANK ROGERS
ARISTA

TOUGH ALL OVER
GARY ALLAN
PRODUCERS: MARK WRIGHT, GARY ALLAN
MCA NASHVILLE

TWICE THE SPEED OF LIFE
SUGARLAND
PRODUCER: GARTH FUNDIS
MERCURY RECORDS

SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]

ALCOHOL
BRAD PAISLEY
PRODUCERS: CHRIS DuBOIS, FRANK ROGERS
ARISTA

BABY GIRL
SUGARLAND
PRODUCER: GARTH FUNDIS
MERCURY RECORDS
(More)
BELIEVE
BROOKS & DUNN
PRODUCERS: TONY BROWN, RONNIE DUNN, KIX BROOKS ARISTA

BEST I EVER HAD
GARY ALLAN
PRODUCERS: MARK WRIGHT, GARY ALLAN
MCA NASHVILLE

JESUS, TAKE THE WHEEL
CARRIE UNDERWOOD
PRODUCER: MARK BRIGHT
ARISTA

SONG OF THE YEAR [Award to Composer(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]

BABY GIRL

WRITERS: KRISTAIN BUSH (BMI), KRISTEN HALL (ASCAP), JENNIFER NETTLES (ASCAP), LISA SIMONTON (ASCAP), ROBERT HARTLEY (ASCAP), TROY BIESER (ASCAP) DIRKPIT MUSIC (BMI), GREATERGOOD SONGS (ASCAP), JENNIFER NETTLES PUBLISHING (ASCAP), TELEGRAMMUSIC (ASCAP), DRUMBUM MUSIC (ASCAP), TREMOLO BLUE (ASCAP), THE WORLD ASLEEP (ASCAP), SIMONTON MUSIC (ASCAP) SUGARLAND

BELIEVE
WRITERS: RONNIE DUNN (BMI), CRAIG WISEMAN (ASCAP) SONY / ATV TREE PUBLISHING CO. (BMI), SHOWBILLY MUSIC (BMI), BIG LOUD SHIRT INDUSTRIES (ASCAP) BROOKS & DUNN

JESUS, TAKE THE WHEEL
WRITERS: BRETT JAMES (ASCAP), HILLARY LINDSEY (ASCAP), GORDON SAMPSON (SOCAN) SONY / ATV CROSS KEYS PUBLISHING (ASCAP), ONALY MUSIC / RAYLENE MUSIC (ASCAP), NO SUCH MUSIC (SOCAN), PASSING STRANGER MUSIC (ASCAP), 1609 SONGS (ASCAP), MUSIC OF WINDSWEPT (ASCAP) CARRIE UNDERWOOD

SKIN (SARABETH)
WRITERS: DOUG JOHNSON (BMI), JOE HENRY (ASCAP) COOL HAND MUSIC 2004 (ASCAP), MIKE CURB MUSIC / SWEET RADICAL MUSIC (BMI) ADMIN BY MIKE CURB MUSIC C/O KAREN SCHAUBEN PUBLISHING ADMINISTRATION RASCAL FLATTS

WHEN I GET WHERE I'M GOING
WRITERS: RIVERS RUTHERFORD (ASCAP), GEORGE TEREN (BMI) UNIVERSAL MUSIC CORP. (ASCAP), MEMPHERSFIELD MUSIC (ASCAP), HOUSE OF FULL CIRCLE PUBLISHING (BMI) BRAD PAISLEY AND DOLLY PARTON

VIDEO OF THE YEAR [Award to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]

(More)
AS GOOD AS I ONCE WAS
PRODUCER: MARK KALBFELD
DIRECTOR: MICHAEL SOLOMAN
ARTIST: TOBY KEITH

BELIEVE
PRODUCER: STEVE LAMAR
DIRECTOR: DEATON FLANIGEN
ARTISTS: BROOKS & DUNN

I MAY HATE MYSELF IN THE MORNING
PRODUCER: IVY DANE
DIRECTOR: TREY FANJOY
ARTIST: LEE ANN WOMACK

KEROSENE
PRODUCER: HOLLY MILLAR
DIRECTOR: TREY FANJOY
ARTIST: MIRANDA LAMBERT

WHEN I GET WHERE I'M GOING
PRODUCERS: MARK KALBFELD, PETER TILDEN DIRECTOR: JIM SHEA
ARTISTS: BRAD PAISLEY AND DOLLY PARTON

VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]

I PLAY CHICKEN WITH THE TRAIN
COWBOY TROY AND BIG & RICH
PRODUCERS: JOHN RICH, BIG KENNY, PAUL WORLEY WARNER BROS. RECORDS / RAYBAW

LIKE WE NEVER LOVED AT ALL
FAITH HILL WITH TIM McGRAW
PRODUCERS: DANN HUFF, FAITH HILL
WARNER BROS. RECORDS

WHEN I GET WHERE I'M GOING
BRAD PAISLEY AND DOLLY PARTON
PRODUCERS: CHRIS DuBOIS, FRANK ROGERS
ARISTA

WHO SAYS YOU CAN'T GO HOME
JENNIFER NETTLES AND BON JOVI
PRODUCERS: JOHN SHANKS, JON BON JOVI, RICHIE SAMBORA, DANN HUFF THE ISLAND DEF JAM MUSIC GROUP

The Academy of Country Music was founded in 1964 with a mission to support, promote, and enhance the advancement of the country music industry worldwide. The Academy, which is comprised of more than 4,000 professional members and a newly established Associate Membership, is headquartered in Burbank, Calif.

(More)
The ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS is produced for television by dick clark productions.? The show is executive produced by Allen Shapiro and R.A. Clark, and produced by?Barry Adelman.? The executive in charge of production is Bob Bardo, and the executive in charge is Fran LaMaina.

RATING: To Be Announced

Photos will be available on www.cbspressexpress.com

• * *

CBS Press Contact:

Andrea Ballas 323-575-2858 andrea.ballas@tvc.cbs.com

CBS Photo Contacts:

        Rudi Simpson            323-575-2017            rudi.simpson@tvc.cbs.com
        Nancy Eichenbaum        212-975-7627            neichenbaum@cbs.com

BNC Contact (for The Academy of Country Music and for credentials):

Brooke Primero 310-854-4800 bprimero@bncpr.com

CBS Television...