Kenny Chesney leads the pack of 2008 CMA Awards nominees with seven nods. The country superstar is up for Entertainer, Male Vocalist, Single, Album and Video of the Year, along with two nods in the Musical Event category. Chesney has taken home the night's biggest award, Entertainer of the Year, for the past two years in a row.Sugarland and George Strait follow Chesney with six nominations each. Sugarland is nominated for Entertainer of the Year for the first time, also marking the first time in seven years that a female is nominated in this category.
There were several surprises in this morning's announcements, including a few snubs. For the second year in a row, Faith Hill's name was not called in the CMA nominations, nor was hubby Tim McGraw, Garth Brooks or Sara Evans.
Other surprises include Taylor Swift's first nod in the Female Vocalist category. Trace Adkins is celebrating his first CMA nomination in ten years, as he is included in the Single and Video of the Year lists for 'You're Gonna Miss This.' And perhaps the toughest category to predict will be the Best New Artist award (formerly dubbed the Horizon Award), as the nominees in that category include Jason Aldean, Rodney Atkins, Lady Antebellum, James Otto and Kellie Pickler.
2008 CMA Award Nominations
Entertainer of the Year
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Sugarland
Keith Urban
Male Vocalist of the Year
Kenny Chesney
Alan Jackson
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Keith Urban
Female Vocalist of the Year
Alison Krauss
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
Vocal Group of the Year
Eagles
Emerson Drive
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts
Vocal Duo of the Year
Big & Rich
Brooks and Dunn
Montgomery Gentry
Sugarland
The Wreckers
New Artist of the Year
Jason Aldean
Rodney Atkins
Lady Antebellum
James Otto
Kellie Pickler
Album of the Year
'Carnival Ride' - Carrie Underwood
'Cowboy Town' - Brooks and Dunn
'Good Time' - Alan Jackson
'Just Who I Am: Poets and Pirates' - Kenny Chesney
'Troubadour' - George Strait
Single of the Year (award goes to artist and producer)
'Don't Blink' - Kenny Chesney
'Gunpowder and Lead' - Miranda Lambert
'I Saw God Today' - George Strait
'Stay' - Sugarland
'You're Gonna Miss This' - Trace Adkins
Song of the Year (award goes to songwriter)
'Good Time' - Alan Jackson
'I Saw God Today' - George Strait, written by Rodney Clawson, Monty Criswell and Wade Kirby
'Letter to Me' - Brad Paisley
'Stay' - Sugarland, written by Jennifer Nettles
'You're Gonna Miss This' - Trace Adkins, written by Lee Thomas Miller and Ashley Gorley
Musical Event of the Year
'Another Try' - Josh Turner featuring Trisha Yearwood
'Every Other Weekend' - Reba McEntire and Kenny Chesney
'Gone, Gone, Gone' - Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
'Life in a Northern Town' - Sugarland, featuring Little Big Town and Jake Owen
'Shiftwork' - Kenny Chesney and George Strait
Music Video of the Year
'Don't Blink' - Kenny Chesney, directed by Shaun Silva
'Good Time' - Alan Jackson, directed by Trey Fanjoy
'Stay' - Sugarland, directed by Shaun Silva
'Waitin' on a Woman' - Brad Paisley, directed by Jim Shea
'You're Gonna Miss This' - Trace Adkins, directed by Peter Zavadil
Musician of the Year
Jerry Douglas
Paul Franklin
Dann Huff
Brent Mason
Mac McAnally
Reader Comments(1 of 7)
tweetchic63at 9-10-2008
Mirand lambert sucks, she should not be here, as for faith hill, tim mcgraw, sara evans, they haven't had much of anything out,so they shouldn't be in it
miranda's mommyat 9-10-2008
It's Miranda Lambert... and she doesn't suck. It's about time Kenny Chesney is winning, he's paid his dues as well... But yes the same old people are always winning and it's ALWAYS seemingly predictable. I only watch to see what they sing... So many people have been passed over for so long...it's sad
turkat 9-10-2008
faith hill is not country.she crossed over a long time ago.john rich had to write her "mississippi girl" to make people think she'd come back.she has some splainin to do and a wholesome country to make to be a player again.
ocm
Samanthaat 9-10-2008
Miranda Lambert is awesome and talented and its sooooooo annoying that people keep on saying that Faith Hill is pop. She is not!!!. She does not even sound close to Rhianna, Miley Cyrus or Katy Perry. Ugh!!!
joeat 9-11-2008
Let me take a stab at something, you must be a Taylor Swift fan. So that means you think she is better than Miranda Lambert. well you must be tone death,because she can't carry a tune.
Juliannaat 9-10-2008
This will be a very predictable show. Kenny for Entertainer, Brad for Male Vocalist, Carrie for Female Vocalist, Sugarland for Vocal Duo and Rascal Flatts for Vocal Group. Same old, same old. I'll only watch for the Horizon Award announcement!
Pattyat 9-10-2008
I agree and disagree. Keith for Entertainer; Keith for Male Vocalist; I think Taylor Swift has a chance for Female Vocalist, although I think her vocals aren't so great - she is a talented songwriter for such a young girl, but Carrie Underwood clearly sings way better than Taylor; I agree Sugarland for Duo (and rightly so) and Flatts for Group (but I'd love to see LBT for Group). Best part of the show is the musical performances anyway, and to see if my Keith wins his categories. I think this year Keith gets Entertainer because he toured all year long -- first shows with The Wreckers opening for him, then he Co-Headlined with Carrie Underwood, and then he joined Kenny Chesney for the stadium shows. Okay, obviously I'm a huge Keith fan and a little biased . . . -- it's all just good fun.
haashukkaat 9-10-2008
Don't think there is a horizon award on this show.
mtns4me117at 9-10-2008
The show has been pretty predictable. I would love to see Little Big Town win vocal group. I saw them at a local festival and they were unbelievably great! They sounded amazing and really connected with the crowd. They even signed autographs while singing on stage! Keith also puts on a great show. Taylor may not have the best voice, but she knows how to treat her fans! She signed autographs all day at the CMA Fest. We will have to see this year. I agree with the post that Faith and Tim didn't have a lot of new stuff out there, so I'm not surprised they weren't nominated. Pointing that out is just a way to sensationalize and get people to read an article....just my thoughts.
sg23mcgrawat 9-10-2008
I think it's a bunch of crap. Tim McGraw is amazing and I'm sick and tired of Kenny always winning, I have nothing against him I just think he isn't that great.
aabmhat 9-10-2008
Tim McGraw and Faith Hill won everything for many years, you have to give new people coming into their singing career their dues also. Kenny works very hard and tours all year every year. So may the best person win.
BBBrianDBBTat 9-11-2008
im a big fan of tim`s but when i see or hear kenny i think of jimmy buffet and alan jackson.
snrncowifeat 9-10-2008
I agree it's the same people who win. I'd like Taylor Swift to take Female though. And the Horizan to be James Otto gotta say I like that boys songs..
bmg379at 9-10-2008
I worked with Tim when he was opening for Little Texas thru when he and Faith fell in love and Tim didn't care then if he got a nomination,he and his band were outside the kissup nashville circle and look what it got them,who needs another crappy statue when you have all the record sales they have combined.they are the real deal
xbreakawayx07at 9-10-2008
Yes I agree that the same old people keep on winning. No offense, I love every single artist but it's getting same old, same old every year.I love Kenny Chesney, he is such a talented artist, but he has way to many nominations. Tim Mcgraw has been working hard also. I will still watch the show for the performances.