CMA Award Preparations

Next Wednesday the 12th, the CMA Awards will air on ABC. This week, hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood are putting the finishing touches on the script. Brad is hoping to add some of his spontaneous humor to the show. Check out the widget from ABC to see videos, photos, news, and more.

Reviewing a couple of the nomination categories:

Song of the Year
"Good Time"
Songwriter: Alan Jackson
Publishers: EMI-April Music, Tri-Angels Music

"I Saw God Today"
Songwriters: Rodney Clawson, Monty Criswell and Wade Kirby
Publishers: Big Red Toe, Extremely Loud Music, Steel Wheels Music, Blind Mule Music

"Letter to Me"
Songwriter: Brad Paisley
Publishers: EMI-April Music, New Sea Gayle Music

"Stay"
Songwriter: Jennifer Nettles
Publisher: Jennifer Nettles Publishing

"You're Gonna Miss This"
Songwriters: Ashley Gorley and Lee Thomas Miller
Publishers: EMI Blackwood Music, New Songs of Sea Gayle, Noah's Little Boat Music, Songs of Combustion Music

Single of the Year
"Don't Blink"
Kenny Chesney
Producers: Buddy Cannon and Kenny Chesney /BNA Records

"Gunpowder & Lead"
Miranda Lambert
Producers: Frank Liddell and Mike Wrucke /Columbia Records

"I Saw God Today"
George Strait
Producers: Tony Brown and George Strait /MCA Nashville

"Stay"
Sugarland
Producers: Byron Gallimore, Kristian Bush and Jennifer Nettles /Mercury Nashville

"You're Gonna Miss This"
Trace Adkins
Producer: Frank Rogers /Capitol Records Nashville

News From Around The Country
Brooks and Dunn had such a successful run of Australian tour dates earlier in the year, that they will be going back in 2009. Dierks Bentley will join the duo on the tour down under. And making good use of the hiatus of Big & Rich, John Rich has not only been working in the world of reality TV and producing records, he has recorded his own solo project. John insists that Big & Rich is not breaking up, he is only recording personal songs that he knows the duo would never do together. The solo album should be out in early 2009. Finally, a few dates to keep your DVR busy:

November 7
-Brad Paisley on The Late Show with David Letterman. The appearance was to have been earlier in the week, but got rescheduled until Friday.
-Taylor Swift and Def Leppard on CMT Crossroads.








November 11
-Taylor Swift on the Ellen Degeneres Show. Ellen throws Taylor a Fearless release party, complete with appearances by Justin Timberlake and Patrick Dempsey, the star of her favorite TV show, Grey’s Anatomy.


November 12
-CMA Awards on ABC

November 21
-Blake Shelton on the Today Show. Performance follows November 18th release of Startin’ Fires CD.

November 27
-Trace Adkins, Darius Rucker and Miley Cyrus will be part of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

December 9
-Jamey Johnson on The Late Show with David Letterman