The excitement is building for “The 44th Annual CMA Awards” with today’s announcement that Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Reba, George Strait, Sugarland, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban have been added as performers for “Country Music’s Biggest Night(tm).” Previously announced performers include Dierks Bentley, Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton and the pairing of Zac Brown Band with Alan Jackson. “The 44th Annual CMA Awards,” hosted by Paisley and Underwood, airs live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10 (8:00-11:00 p.m. ET) on the ABC Television Network.
Paisley, the reigning Male Vocalist for three consecutive years (2007-2009), has three nominations this year, including Entertainer, Male Vocalist and Music Video of the Year for “Water,” which was directed by Jim Shea. Paisley has received a total of 13 CMA Awards. His first-ever collection of greatest hits, Hits Alive, will be in stores Nov. 2.
Rascal Flatts is nominated for Vocal Group of the Year, an award they won for six consecutive years (2003-2008). They have a career total of seven CMA Awards. The group will release its newest album, Nothing Like This, on Nov. 16.
Reba is a 2010 Female Vocalist of the Year nominee, an Award she won during four consecutive years (1984-1987). She is currently tied with Martina McBride for the most wins in that category. She has won a total of six CMA Awards, including Entertainer of the Year (1986). Her upcoming album, All the Women I Am, will be released Nov. 9.
Strait received two nominations, including Male Vocalist and Album of the Year for Twang, which Strait produced with Tony Brown. He has won more CMA Awards than any other artist in history, with a current total of 22 trophies, including two wins as Entertainer of the Year (1989, 1990). Strait was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2006.
Sugarland is nominated for Vocal Duo of the Year, an award they have won for the past three years (2007-2009). Their new album, The Incredible Machine, will be released on Oct. 19.
Underwood has won five CMA Awards and received two nominations this year, including Female Vocalist and Album of the Year for Play On, which was produced by Mark Bright, with one track co-produced by Bright and Max Martin. Underwood has won Female Vocalist three times (2006-2008). Should she win the Female Vocalist category again this year, she would tie McBride and McEntire as the top winners in the category with four wins each
Urban is nominated for both Entertainer and Male Vocalist of the Year. Urban won Entertainer in 2005 and Male Vocalist of the Year three times (2004, 2005, and 2006). His new album, Get Closer, will be in stores Nov. 16.
(source: ABC)
