JASON ALDEAN, THE BAND PERRY, BRAD PAISLEY, BLAKE SHELTON, TAYLOR SWIFT, AND ZAC BROWN BAND TOP THE LIST OF FINAL NOMINEES FOR "THE 45th ANNUAL CMA AWARDS"


Hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, 2011 CMA Awards will be Broadcast Live From the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville Wednesday, Nov. 9 on the ABC Television Network
Topping the list of final nominees are four artists with five nominations each for "The 45th Annual CMA Awards" including Jason Aldean, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, and Taylor Swift. Right on their heels are The Band Perry and Zac Brown Band, who each received four nominations as a group while individual members Kimberly Perry (of The Band Perry), Coy Bowles and Zac Brown (of Zac Brown Band) each earned a solo nod as a songwriter.
 
"'Country Music's Biggest Night(tm)' is shaping up to be a tight race with an outstanding group of new and established nominees topping the list," said Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer. "With no clear frontrunner there will be a heightened level of excitement and anticipation for the CMA Awards in November."
"The 45th Annual CMA Awards" will be hosted for the fourth time by Paisley and Carrie Underwood and broadcast live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Wednesday, Nov. 9 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network.
 
The CMA Awards finalists will be featured on "CMT Insider Special Edition: 2011 CMA Awards Nominations," featuring in-depth coverage of all the nominations, artist interviews, and more. The 30-minute special will premiere Wednesday, Sept. 7 (11:30 AM/ET). The special will re-air on Saturday, Sept. 10 (1:30 PM/ET) and again on Sunday, Sept. 11 (11:00 AM/ET) on CMT.

Tickets for "The 45th Annual CMA Awards" go on sale to the public Saturday, Sept. 24 (10:00 AM/CT). Tickets can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com <http://www.ticketmaster.com/> or Ticketmaster outlets; by calling (800) 745-3000; or at the Bridgestone Arena Box Office, located at 501 Broadway (corner of Fifth Avenue and Broadway, Nashville). Ticket prices for the CMA Awards start at $110 for Upper Level seating. Ticket prices include tax, but exclude applicable service fees. Purchase tickets early for the best available seats. In 2009 and 2010, the CMA Awards sold out in advance.
 
"The 45th 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.
 
THE FINAL NOMINEES for "The 45th Annual CMA Awards" (by ballot category order):
 
Entertainer of the Year
Jason Aldean
Brad Paisley
Blake Shelton
Taylor Swift
Keith Urban
 
Single of the Year
(Award goes to Artist and Producer(s))
"A Little Bit Stronger"
Sara Evans
Produced by Tony Brown
RCA Nashville
 
"Colder Weather"
Zac Brown Band
Produced by Keith Stegall and Zac Brown
Southern Ground Artists/Atlantic Records
 
"Don't You Wanna Stay"
Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson
Produced by Michael Knox
Broken Bow Records
 
"Honey Bee"
Blake Shelton
Produced by Scott Hendricks
Warner Bros. Nashville
 
"If I Die Young"
The Band Perry
Produced by Paul Worley
Republic Nashville
 
Album of the Year
(Award goes to Artist and Producer(s))
All About Tonight
Blake Shelton
Produced by Scott Hendricks
Warner Bros. Nashville
 
My Kinda Party
Jason Aldean
Produced by Michael Knox
Broken Bow Records
 
Speak Now
Taylor Swift
Produced by Nathan Chapman and Taylor Swift
Big Machine Records
 
This Is Country Music
Brad Paisley
Produced by Frank Rogers
Arista Nashville
 
You Get What You Give
Zac Brown Band
Produced by Keith Stegall and Zac Brown
Southern Ground Artists/Atlantic Records
 

Song of the Year
(Award goes to Songwriter(s))
"Colder Weather"
Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette, Levi Lowrey, and Coy Bowles
 
"Dirt Road Anthem"
Brantley Gilbert and Colt Ford
 
"If I Die Young"
Kimberly Perry
 
"Mean"
Taylor Swift
 
"You and Tequila"
Matraca Berg and Deana Carter
 
Female Vocalist of the Year
Sara Evans
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
 
Male Vocalist of the Year
Jason Aldean
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
Blake Shelton
Keith Urban
 
Vocal Group of the Year
The Band Perry
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts
Zac Brown Band
 
Vocal Duo of the Year
The Civil Wars
Montgomery Gentry
Steel Magnolia
Sugarland
Thompson Square
 
Musical Event of the Year
(Award goes to each Artist)
"As She's Walking Away"
Zac Brown Band featuring Alan Jackson
Southern Ground Artists/Atlantic Records
 
"Coal Miner's Daughter"
Loretta Lynn, Sheryl Crow, and Miranda Lambert
Columbia Records Nashville
 
"Don't You Wanna Stay"
Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson
Broken Bow Records
 
"Old Alabama"
Brad Paisley featuring Alabama
Arista Nashville
 
"You and Tequila"
Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter
BNA Records
 
Musician of the Year
Sam Bush - Mandolin
Jerry Douglas - Dobro
Paul Franklin - Steel Guitar
Dann Huff - Guitar
Mac McAnally - Guitar
 
Music Video of the Year
(Award goes to Artist and Director)
"Honey Bee"
Blake Shelton
Directed by Trey Fanjoy
 
"If I Die Young"
The Band Perry
Directed by David McClister
 
"Mean"
Taylor Swift
Directed by Declan Whitebloom
 
"Old Alabama"
Brad Paisley featuring Alabama
Directed by Jim Shea
 
"You and Tequila"
Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter
Directed by Shaun Silva
 

New Artist of the Year
The Band Perry
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Thompson Square
Chris Young
 
Premiere Radio Networks is the official radio packager of the CMA Awards. Chevrolet(tm) is a Proud Partner of the CMA Awards and Official Ride of Country Music. CMA is a Proud Supporter of DRIVE4COPD.
 
 
RELEASES
 
GEORGE STRAIT has released his 39th studio album. HERE FOR A GOOD TIME is available NOW, and features the hit song of the same name.
 
New from SCOTTY McCREERY and LAUREN ALAINA
The American Idol alums have been busy. Scotty McCreery's album, CLEAR AS DAY, will be released 10/4. CLICK HERE <http://click.umusic-mail.com/?qs=8e8f5a74bb66ca6c54e806d5c1926ec4abbf4e5f4a07409a57ade901e6a80379>  to preorder the album, featuring "I Love You This Big <http://click.umusic-mail.com/?qs=8e8f5a74bb66ca6ce7cea42f2d7e53155ca0a1126d1af03361acdbf73e0fd550> " and the brand new single "The Trouble With Girls <http://click.umusic-mail.com/?qs=8e8f5a74bb66ca6cd8ee25532bffb0a62c553a725c183ab775ed9f5a7dcec299> ."
WILDFLOWER, Lauren Alaina's album, will be available 10/11. It features the track "Like My Mother Does <http://click.umusic-mail.com/?qs=8e8f5a74bb66ca6c62f4c39e1bb51e321fee84b08d3044a892ba7fb753207be8> ." To preorder the album,
 
 
VINCE  GILL with New Single, Album, and Sting
Country Music Hall of Famer, Vince Gill will release his latest album, GUITAR SLINGER, on 10/24. CLICK HERE <http://click.umusic-mail.com/?qs=8e8f5a74bb66ca6c509f3dc3ca295526ee63b4291976e27b2d88f472329aedbf>  to download the first single, "Threaten Me With Heaven." In November, CMT will premiere the newest episode of Crossroads, featuring Vince and Sting performing together.
 
 
JEFF DUNHAM TO RELEASE STAND-UP DVD, "CONTROLLED CHAOS," ON 9/27
Following the Broadcast Premiere on Comedy Central on 9/25 at 9/8 c
Fourth Comedy Special Sure to Add More to His Astounding 7 Million Plus Total
If there's one thing that's by now inevitable, it's that any DVD released by Jeff Dunham will surely and rapidly sell. The world's leading standup comedy concert attraction has already sold more than seven million copies of his four previous titles over the last five years, during which time his career has rocketed to new levels of success. The DVD and Blu-Ray of "Controlled Chaos" hits stores on September 27 and will make an unprecedented global release in nearly a dozen territories with domestic distribution company Paramount Home Entertainment and international distribution company PIAS.
 
Sales in the millions will no doubt follow. The title already hit #2 on Amazon's comedy DVD sales charts as soon as pre-orders were announced in July more than two months before the title is available. The DVD and Blu-Ray feature almost twice as much as material as will be seen when "Controlled Chaos" premieres in North America on Comedy Central on the evening of September 25. Since his last special, "A Very Special Christmas Special," was the highest-rated show ever on the cable channel, a new ratings record is likely in the offing.
 
Many fans that enjoy the 90 minute special on TV will also purchase copies for all the extras, including exclusive special features and bloopers. Plus, as Dunham notes of his avid following, "People pass around the DVDs or give them to each other as gifts."
 
Added sales oomph comes from the fact that "Controlled Chaos" features an all new Dunham stage show and debuts some new characters to his suitcase posse of comedic sidekicks. "I'm more proud of this special than I have been of any other because I literally started from scratch on this one," he says.
 
Joining his troupe are the not-as-equally skeletal son of his famed Achmed the Dead Terrorist, Achmed Junior. Plus his wild and wooly purple character Peanut has decided to emulate Dunham by getting his own character dummy: a mini-version of Dunham known as Little Jeff.
 
From the moment the special opens with the "Achmedmobile" - a hot rod with a giant Achmed head mounted atop its engine - a whole new level of laughs is offered by Dunham this time. And the DVD is sure to keep bringing his fans out to his arena-packing shows that have made Dunham the top live comedy box office attraction in North America for the last three years and the world for two year in a row. "If people like it then they usually want to come to see the live thing too, because there's nothing like the live experience," notes Dunham.
 
Since average DVD sales for standup comedy specials are 25,000, Dunham's seven million plus sales to date are already phenomenal. Now "Controlled Chaos" stands to take the comedian named "America's favorite" by Slate to even further stratospheric levels of success. Fans can get advance glimpses of the hilarity that will ensue on his dedicated preview web page (www.jeffdunham.com/controlledchaos) and his popular Facebook page, where he has amassed over 6 million fans.
 
Further information on Jeff Dunham is at: www.jeffdunham.com.
 
Jeff Dunham tour dates:
 
7/20 & 21        Hampton Beach, NH    Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
7/22                Hyannis, MA              Cape Cod Melody Tent
7/23                Newport, RI                Newport Yachting Center
7/24                Cohasset, MA              South Shore Music Circus
8/4                  Orillia, ON                  Casino Rama
8/5                  Windsor, ON               The Colosseum at Caesar's Windsor
8/6                  Atlantic City, NJ          Trump Taj Mahal
8/7                  Bangor, ME                Bangor Waterfront
8/8                  Madison, WI               Wisconsin State Fair
8/12                Springfield, IL            Illinois State Fair
8/25                Santa Ynez, CA            Chumash Casino
8/26 & 27        Pala, CA                       Palomar Starlight Theatre
9/23                Oxford, OH                John D. Millet Hall
9/24                Hammond, IN             The Venue at Horseshoe Casino
 
"Controlled Chaos" tour (all new show)