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The 2011 CMA Awards

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Carrie and Brad have some fun with Miss Piggy.

The 2011 CMA Awards aired Wednesday night LIVE on ABC from the Country Music capital of the world. The CMA Awards are a long-lasting tradition to honor and celebrate the men and women who enhance the lives of millions of global fans. These artists yield the songs that become the soundtracks to our lives and the anthems we pass along, swearing our musical taste is superior to those of subsequent generations. With catching harmonies, heart pounding bass lines, electrifying drum solos, and synergistic musical accompaniments, upholding the value and virtue of Country Music is always the common goal.

“The 45th Annual CMA Awards” was a showcase of musical talent and countless industry feats. From the exhilarating pyrotechnics of Miranda Lambert’s “Baggage Claim” to the breathtaking acrobatics of Sara Evans’ “A Little Bit Stronger,” the performances further demonstrated the power of Country Music and the propensity of its stars go above and beyond in support of the genre…and each other.

Little Big Town pose with music icon Lionel Richie on the Macy's Walk of Stars Red Carpet.

Sure there were actual families among the night’s lineup including sibling trio The Band Perry (who earned Single of the Year for “If I Die Young” and New Artist of the Year, plus Song of the Year for writer Kimberly Perry), and a slew of industry marriages like Tim McGraw and performer Faith Hill, reigning Male/Female Vocalist victors Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert, and the couples of Thompson Square, Steel Magnolia, and Karen Fairchild and Jimi Westbrook of Little Big Town. But performances like Jimmy Webb, Vince Gill, Keith Urban, and Brad Paisley’s touching tribute to Country Music icon Glen Campbell, who silently mouthed the words from the crowd, left fans and artists alike with a true understanding of the indelible camaraderie permeating the Country community. Backstage, that sense of southern hospitality even superseded genre distinctions as Vocal Group of the Year Lady Antebellum raved about rocker Grace Potter and her undeniable talent as she performed “You and Tequila” with four-time Entertainer of the Year Kenny Chesney. Chesney himself echoed this reverence and explained, “’You and Tequila’ is such a tortured soul song about being addicted to a person who is not very good for you…The chemistry [between him and Potter] was evident from the moment we walked into the studio.”

Jason Aldean accepts Album of the Year honors for MY KINDA PARTY.

It’s this sense of amity that allows four-time hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood to poke fun at fellow industry members, even inciting Hank Williams Jr. to join them on stage after Paisley lampooned  controversies surrounding the Country legend. Barbie Doll effigies of Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, a surprise guest appearance Little Jimmy Dickens as a less-than-accurate depiction of sensation Justin Bieber, and some recent social commentary by comedic actor Eric Stonestreet further illustrate Carrie’s claim that Brad is “the single biggest and most shameless wiseacre on either side of the Mason-Dixon line.” With Awards doled out, entertainment appetites satiated, and an impossibly stronger appreciation for Country Music, we congratulate and thank the nominees, performers, presenters, volunteers, technicians, media members, fans, and viewers for supporting Country Music’s Biggest Night!

Did you know…

The 45th CMA Awards were the first time that…

  • Jason Aldean claimed a CMA Awards? In fact he earned two: Album of the Year (My Kinda Party) and Musical Event of the Year (“Don’t You Wanna Stay” with Kelly Clarkson)
  • The Band Perry received 3 Awards for New Artist, Single, and Song of the Year
  • Kenny Chesney and Grace Potter win Music Video of the Year for “You and Tequila”
  • Faith Hill has performed on the CMA Awards stage in 5 years
  • Miss Piggy attended as a presenter

The 45th CMA Awards were the second time that…

  • Taylor Swift won Entertainer of the Year (she joins Barbara Mandrell as the only female artists in CMA history to be names EOTY twice)
  • Miranda Lambert won Female Vocalist of the Year
  • Blake Shelton won Male Vocalist of the Year
  • Lionel Richie performed (first time was with Alabama in 1986)

The 45th CMA Awards were the third time that…

  • Lady Antebellum has scored consecutive wins for Vocal Group of the Year

The 45th CMA Awards were the fourth time that…

  • Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood were hosts
  • Mac McAnally has taken home consecutive wins for Musician of the Year

The 45th CMA Awards were the fifth time that…

  • Sugarland has won Vocal Duo of the year

The 45th CMA Awards were the forty-fifth time that…

  • CMA has hosted Country Music’s Biggest Night as the pinnacle of achievement in the Country Music industry

CMA Awards Artist Spotlight: CHRIS YOUNG

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Chris Young hits the Black Carpet at the 2010 CMA Awards in Nashville.

Like a handful of the other 2011 CMA Awards nominees (Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Steel Magnolia, Kelly Clarkson) Chris Young made his start on television. In 2006, he won the fourth season of the popular Country competition series, Nashville Star (USA), earning Young a deal with RCA Records in Nashville. While it’s easy to group him with so many budding artists who have broken out from reality TV, the past five years have set Chris Young apart as one of Country’s shining new talents. Young joins The Band Perry, Luke Bryan, Eric Church and Thompson Square as a New Artist of the Year nominee – his second consecutive nomination in the category.

More about Chris Young

Growing up in Murfreesboro, Tenn. just 35 miles from the Country Music capital of the world, it seemed destined for Chris Young to wind up in Music City.  So it came as no surprise to friends and family when Young was declared the winner of Nashville Star in May 2006 and released his self-titled debut album shortly after. The album peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and produced the Top-50 singles, “Drinkin’ Me Lonely” and “You’re Gonna Love Me.”

Chris Young’s sophomore album, The Man I Want to Be, was the start of many “firsts” for the Country newcomer.  It became Young’s first Gold-certified release and generated his first No. 1 single with “Gettin’ You Home (The Black Dress Song),” which also earned Young his first GRAMMY nomination in 2010.  The album also produced the hit singles “The Man I Want to Be” and “Voices” which both claimed the top spot on the Country Songs chart.

On July 12, 2011 Young released his third studio album on RCA Nashville, titled Neon. It sold over 70,000 units in its first week, peaking at No. 2 on the Country Albums chart and No. 4 on the Top 200 all-genre chart. The album showcased Young’s clear talent as a songwriter, co-writing seven of the 10 tracks, including the No. 1 hit “Tomorrow” and the current single, “You.” Young has opened for Country superstars like Alan Jackson, Rascal Flatts and Blake Shelton, as well as opening dates for fellow CMA Awards nominee, Jason Aldean, in October.

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CMA Awards Artist Spotlight: KEITH URBAN

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Keith Urban performs "Put You In A Song" at the 44th Annual CMA Awards in 2010.

New Zealand-born Australian Keith Urban is no stranger to receiving prestigious honors from some of the most prominent music institutions, but that didn’t lessen his excitement upon hearing “The 45th Annual CMA Awards” nominations last week. With five well-deserved CMA Award wins already under his belt — including the Country Music industry’s top prize, CMA Entertainer of the Year, in 2005 – Urban received two nods in 2011: Male Vocalist of the Year and, once more, Entertainer of the Year. The ever grateful musician tweeted:

“@KeithUrban: Crazy cool CMA noms this morning!!!! It blows my mind how sweet they are when we get them. I’m euphoric and moved!!! Thank you. Thank you.”

He shares the honors with fellow industry titans Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton and Taylor Swift.

More about Keith Urban

Urban has continually developed his unique brand of Country-rock since he began guitar lessons at just six years old. Before moving to Nashville in 1992, Urban helped to revolutionize Country Music in Australia, scoring several number one hits which revealed his novel blend of Country and rock-and-roll inspired sounds. Urban’s early aspirations to emulate Country idols like Glen Campbell, Dolly Parton, Don Williams, and Jimmy Webb paired with an intense admiration for British rocker Mark Knopfler of the Dire Straits helps shed some light on what makes him stand out from so many other talented musicians. Underpinning Urban’s Country twang lays an inextricable passion for rock-and-roll. Urban’s ability to successfully fuse these two musical genres has led to numerous accolades including Grammys, CMA Awards, People’s Choice Awards, and Australia’s prestigious Aria Award to name a few. To date, Urban has amassed nearly a dozen No. 1 singles in the US.

Urban’s climb to the top has not come without its trials and tribulations. However, Urban has not allowed a highly publicized private life interfere with his creative ambition and passion for music. Not even the destruction of his prized personal guitar collection in the May 2010 middle Tennessee flood could deter him from recording his sixth studio album Get Closer. Released in November 2010, Get Closer has since yielded three hit singles “Put You in a Song,” “Without You,” and “Long Hot Summer.” The album debuted at No. 2 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chat. Get Closer is a testament to Urban’s own life as he continues to openly explore his own experiences with love and relationships. Urban challenged himself and boldly confronted his strengths and weaknesses in this album.

“I loved making this record. I felt a tremendous sense of balance in my life, as a husband and a father and a musician who gets to go and try to capture all that and harness it and create something.”

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CMA Awards Artist Spotlight: MIRANDA LAMBERT

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Miranda Lambert's Revolution wins Album of the Year in 2010.

Miranda Lambert will return to defend her reigning Female Vocalist of the Year title at “The 45th Annual CMA Awards” (Wednesday, Nov. 9, at 8|7c on ABC) alongside fellow nominees Sara Evans, Martina McBride, Taylor Swift, and Carrie Underwood. A collaboration with Sheryl Crow and Loretta Lynn on Lynn’s “Coal Miner’s Daughter” also netted Lambert a 2011 nomination for Musical Event of the Year. Lambert’s husband, Country star Blake Shelton, is one of this year’s top nominees with an impressive five nominations. The power couple took to Twitter to share each other’s excitement and to acknowledge their own honors:

“@blakeshelton:  Wow!!! Five CMA nominations?!!!!! No way… So this is what it’s like to be Miranda Lambert….”

“@Miranda_Lambert: Yay!!!! Noms Female and collaboration with 2 of my heroes!!!! Thanks CMA. And congrats to my hubby for dominating!!!!:)”

More about Miranda Lambert

Miranda Lambert performs "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" at the 2006 CMA Awards.

Miranda Lambert has never been one to sit back and wait for things to happen. The Lindale, Texas, native has always had unstoppable determination and admirable initiative when it comes to her career. Her big break came when she was 21 years old and took third place in the television talent competition “Nashville Star.” Soon after, Lambert hit the studio to record her 2005 Platinum debut album Kerosene. Kerosene put her in a league of seven exceptional artists who debuted at No.1 on a freshmen album. Two years later, Lambert continued her winning streak with the release of her second album Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, which also debuted at No.1 on the Country chart and produced her first top 10 hit, “Gunpowder and Lead,” in July 2008.

Any doubts about the infallibility of Country’s newest bad girl were shattered with her third platinum album Revolution which was released in 2009 to universal acclaim from the industry’s mainstream critics. The album features five singles including “White Liar” which became Lambert’s first No. 1 hit, the follow-up No. 1 “The House That Build Me” which also earned her a Grammy for Best Female Country Vocal Performance, and “Heart Like Mine.” The unequivocal success of the album earned Lambert nine CMA Awards nominations in 2010, earning her a record for the most nominations in a single year by a female artist.

Lambert’s May 2011 marriage to Blake Shelton has hardly curbed this artist’s ambitions. Shortly before the wedding, Lambert revealed a new project: a promising musical collaboration with singer/songwriters Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley. The Pistol Annies’ introductory album Hell On Heels debuted at No.1 on Billboard’s Country Albums chart and sold more than 44,000 units its first week. On top of all that, Lambert’s fourth album Four The Record releases November 1. The first single from the album, “Baggage Claim” features Josh Kelley on background vocals and legendary Steve Winwood on the B-3 organ. With similar collaborations throughout the album’s 14 tracks, Four The Record guarantees to thrill Lambert fans.

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CMA Awards Artist Spotlight: STEEL MAGNOLIA

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The Country coeds of Steel Magnolia received their second nomination for Vocal Duo of the Year for “The 45th Annual CMA Awards.” The newly-engaged couple took to Twitter to show their gratitude in the playful banter that fans have come to know and love:

“@steelmagnolia11: We are nominated for a CMA! Boom ! Get ta tweeting sweet Meggie …”

“@steelmagnolia11: Yay! We’re up for a CMA! Woohoo! Xo Meg”

Meghan Linsey and Joshua Scott Jones of Steel Magnolia got their start by winning CMT-TV’s talent competition series “Can You Duet?” in 2009. As an increasingly popular channel into the music industry, television competitions have produced a handful of this year’s venerable nominees, including Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson from”American Idol,” and Miranda Lambert and Chris Young from “Nashville Star.” Even top nominee Blake Shelton sits on the coaches panel for NBC-TV’s “The Voice.”

More About Steel Magnolia

Steel Magnolia’s history reads almost like a fairytale. New Orleans native Meghan Linsey set her sights on a singing career early in life and enrolled at Belmont University in Nashville to pursue her dreams. Taking advantage of Nashville’s music hubs, Linsey began work at a downtown karaoke bar where she eventually met fellow visionary and future fiancé Joshua Scott Jones of Charleston, IL. True to the fairytale plot, the two almost instantaneously developed a rare chemistry both on and off the stage.

In 2009, the duo won over a panel of judges with their striking rendition of Hank Williams’ “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” and found their new home at Big Machine Records, a label which also plays host to CMA nominees Taylor Swift and Rascal Flatts. Wasting no time, the duo debuted their first single “Keep on Lovin’ You,” watched it climb the Billboard country charts, and eventually land at No.4. It holds the record as the highest charting debut single by a coed duo in Billboard history and garnered over 1 Million digital downloads after landing a feature in the major motion picture Valentine’s Day. Two additional singles, ”Just by Being You (Halo and Wings)” and “Last Night Again,” earned the duo even more fans at Country radio.

After touring alongside Brad Paisley on his “H2O Tour” in 2010, Linsey and Jones returned to Nashville to launch their self-titled debut album in early 2011. Steel Magnolia reached No.7 on the Billboard 200 and No.3 on Billboard’s Country Albums chart. With the August 2011 release of their fourth single, “Bulletproof,” an opening slot on Reba‘s upcoming “All The Women I Am” tour launching in October, and a July 2012 wedding to plan, Steel Magnolia seems ready to take on the world… and then some.

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Aldean, Paisley, Shelton, Swift & Urban to Rock the CMA Awards Stage!

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(from CMA Corporate Communications Dept.)

The Five Nominees for CMA Entertainer of the Year Are the First Artists Announced as Performers on “Country Music’s Biggest Night”

NASHVILLE – The star-packed lineup for “The 45th Annual CMA Awards” launches with today’s announcement that all five nominees for Entertainer of the Year, Jason Aldean, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, Taylor Swift, and Keith Urban, are the first group of performers confirmed for “Country Music’s Biggest Night(TM).” With five nominations each this year, Aldean, Paisley, Shelton, and Swift are also the top CMA-nominated artists.

“The 45th Annual CMA Awards,” hosted by Paisley and Carrie Underwood, airs live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Wednesday, Nov. 9 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network.

Aldean received first-time nominations in five categories in 2011 including Entertainer; Male Vocalist; Album for My Kinda Party; and Single and Musical Event of the Year for “Don’t You Wanna Stay” with Kelly Clarkson.

CMA’s reigning Entertainer of the Year, Paisley received five nominations in 2011 for Entertainer; Male Vocalist; Album for This is Country Music; and Musical Event and Music Video of the Year for “Old Alabama,” featuring Alabama. Paisley remains in the No. 3 spot for the most career nominations in CMA Awards history. He has been nominated every year since 2000 and has amassed an incredible 57 career nominations to date. Only George Strait (81) and Alan Jackson (80) have more. Paisley has won 14 CMA Awards to date, including three consecutive Male Vocalist awards (2007-2009) and Album of the Year (in 2006 for Time Well Wasted). He is No. 5 for the most career wins in CMA Awards history, behind only George Strait (22), Brooks & Dunn (19), Vince Gill (18), and Alan Jackson (16).

CMA’s current Male Vocalist of the Year, Shelton also received five nominations this year including Entertainer; Male Vocalist; Album for All About Tonight; and Single, and Music Video of the Year for “Honey Bee.” These are Shelton’s first nominations in the Entertainer and Album categories. Shelton has won two CMA Awards thus far in his career. In addition to Male Vocalist, he also won Musical Event of the Year in 2010 for his performance of “Hillbilly Bone” with Trace Adkins.

Swift also received five nominations including Entertainer; Female Vocalist; Album for Speak Now; Music Video for “Mean”; and Song of the Year for writing “Mean.” Swift received five nominations, but can receive an additional trophy as co-producer of her album. Swift won the Horizon Award in 2007 and two years later was named Entertainer of the Year (2009).

Urban received two nominations this year including Entertainer and Male Vocalist. He won Entertainer in 2005 and was named Male Vocalist for three consecutive years (2004-2006). Urban is currently touring North America in support of his album, Get Closer.

Tickets for “The 45th Annual CMA Awards” go on sale to the public this Saturday, Sept. 24 (10:00 AM/CT). Tickets can be purchased at 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.

CMA Awards Artist Spotlight: TAYLOR SWIFT

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In 2007, Taylor called winning the Horizon Award the "highlight of my senior year!"

Accolades and industry honors are nothing new to international superstar Taylor Swift. Since releasing her debut single, “Tim McGraw” in 2006, Swift has set the world on fire with songs that relate to people of all ages, plus charm and stage presence to rival musicians with decades more experience. It’s no surprise that the 2009 CMA Entertainer of the Year finds herself among the top nominees for “The 45th Annual CMA Awards” airing Wednesday, Nov. 9 (8|7c on ABC). With five nominations (Entertainer; Female Vocalist; Album for Speak Now; and Music Video and Song of the Year for “Mean,” which Swift wrote), Swift ties Jason Aldean, Brad Paisley and Blake Shelton for most nods in 2011.

More about Taylor Swift

The saying goes that the “sky is the limit.” But that not be lofty enough to describe Taylor Swift’s meteoric rise. With more than 13 Million albums and 25 Million song downloads sold worldwide, plus dozens of awards under her belt, Swift is a savvy star who has connected with audiences the world over by wearing her lyrical heart on her sleeve, holding nothing back in her songs or performances, and remaining accessible to her legions of fans. Her most recent album, Speak Now, debuted in Oct. 2010, and sold more than 1 Million copies its first week. The album marks Swift’s most personal yet, with the songstress penning all 14 tracks herself.

Instead of visiting with media on the Red Carpet in 2009, Taylor spent a couple hours greeting fans before winning Entertainer of the Year later that night.

In a few short years, Swift has earned eight No. 1 singles, including crossover hits “Love Story” and “You Belong With Me,” the latter of which earned Swift an MTV Video Music Award. Both songs appear on Swift’s 2008 CD Fearless, which in addition to winning the 2009 CMA Album of the Year also earned Swift GRAMMY Awards for Best Country Album and the all-genre Album of the Year. Swift’s most recent chart-topper, “Mean,” finds the singer taking on critics and delivering a message of empowerment to listeners along the way. Climbing the Country singles charts at present is the fourth single from Speak Now, “Sparks Fly” – a title that perfectly illustrates Swift’s wide-reaching appeal.

Swift is currently rounding the globe as part of her “2011 Speak Now World Tour.”  Selling out shows in Asia, Australia and North America, the tour ranks tenth in Pollstar’s “Top 50 Worldwide Tour (Mid-Year)” list, having brought in more than $40 Million to date.

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CMA Awards Artist Spotlight: JASON ALDEAN

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Tuesday, Sept. 6, marks but one day in a year of career highs for Broken Bow recording artist Jason Aldean. It’s the day when the superstar heard his name read in five categories for “The 45th Annual CMA Awards.”

Jason invited Kelly Clarkson to the CMA Awards stage in 2010 to debut their crossover hit "Don't You Wanna Stay."

With five nods in 2011, Aldean shares honors as top nominee with three fellow artists, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton and Taylor Swift. Aldean is nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year for his smash My Kinda Party, Single and Musical Event of the Year for his Kelly Clarkson-duet “Don’t You Wanna Stay,” and the Country Music industry’s top prize – CMA’s Entertainer of the Year. Each nomination represents Aldean’s first appearance in each respective category. Aldean  has been previously nominated for the Horizon Award in 2007 and in 2008 when the category changed names to New Artist of the Year. In addition to Aldean’s nominations, his No. 1 hit “Dirt Road Anthem” earned a Song of the Year nomination for songwriters Brantley Gilbert and Colt Ford.

More about Jason Aldean

On August 30th at the Nashville BMI headquarters, friends, colleagues, and industry members surrounded Jason Aldean to celebrate his most recent of seven number one hits, “Dirt Road Anthem.” It has been a landmark year for Jason Aldean whose fourth album My Kinda Party is the undisputed top-selling Country album for the first eight months of 2011.

The native Georgian has demonstrated a lifelong passion for music, playing his first gig at the young age of 14. Years later, in 1998, he signed a songwriting contract with Warner-Chapell Publishing and moved to Nashville. In his early years, Aldean struggled with several failed recording contracts and seriously considered leaving his Nashville music career behind. Then, producer Michael Knox implored him to sign with an independent label, Broken Bow Records. Together the pair has produced a unique blend of sounds and genres that has taken the music industry by storm. Recent collaborations with Colt Ford, Brantley Gilbert, and rapper Ludacris on “Dirt Road Anthem” as well as his harmonic duet with Kelly Clarkson in “Don’t You Wanna Stay” illustrate the vast musical talent that has shuttled Aldean into success.

Fans of ACC football will hear Aldean this season as his No. 1 single “My Kinda Party” has been selected to precede all ACC football telecasts this season – on 71 TV affiliates across 27 states – a distinction that sees Aldean joining the ranks of former featured musicians Chris Brown and Brooks & Dunn.

Jason made an impressive CMA Awards debut with "Johnny Cash" in 2007.

Aldean’s ability to integrate a variety of musical sounds into the Country genre has proven his naysayers wrong and promises to thrill fans in his future endeavors. Selling over 5 million albums to date and selling out many of his 2011 tour dates months in advance, Aldean has certainly come a long way, and he recognizes and appreciates his career growth.  On July 26, Aldean reached out to his fans on Twitter to thank them for their continued support…so far, hinting at a long and exciting future career:

“@JasonAldean: 6 years ago today, my first album was released. Thank you guys for an amazing ride so far.”

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CMA Awards Artist Spotlight: BLAKE SHELTON

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Blake claims his first CMA Male Vocalist of the Year trophy in 2010.

Five nominations for “The 45th CMA Awards” (Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 8|7c on ABC) is par for the course for megastar Blake Shelton who is riding a wave of success…and ringing the virtues of Country Music along the way. The reigning CMA Male Vocalist of the Year is nominated for the honor again in 2011, while also securing nods for Album of the Year (All About Tonight), Single and Music Video (both for “Honey Bee”), and his first-ever nomination for Entertainer of the Year, where he’s acknowledged along with fellow top nominees Jason Aldean, Brad Paisley and Taylor Swift, plus Keith Urban.

More about Blake Shelton

No one can argue that 2011 has been a golden year for Blake Shelton. Not only did he release one of the year’s most highly anticipated Country albums (Red River Blue) and serve up some good old southern charm as a coach on NBC’s hit show “The Voice,” but he also wed his longtime companion, the radiant reigning CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Miranda Lambert.

A consistent Country force with hits including “Austin,” “The Baby,” “Some Beach” and “Home,” Shelton earned some long overdue exposure in 2011 with the success of “The Voice” and the arrival of his sixth full-length studio album. Released July 12, Red River Blue sold more than 116,000 units its first week, placing it at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums and Top Country Albums charts.  The record accelerated out of the gate on the strength of fan and radio response to first single “Honey Bee,” his ninth No. 1 and newly-CMA nominated. The album’s second single, “God Gave Me You,” is a powerful tribute to one’s better half. The poignant hit is already Top 15 and climbing.

As a coach on “The Voice” alongside Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green and Adam Levine, Shelton won the hearts of contestants and viewers alike with his warm charisma and playful personality. His team succeeded throughout the inaugural season, and his protegee Dia Frampton placed 2nd in the competition. Proving himself as a loyal and compassionate mentor, a visibly-moved Shelton proclaimed Frampton as “family” to him after watching her duet performance of “The House That Built Me” with new-wife Lambert, whom he wed in a ceremony in May in Texas.

Blake and Trace perform "Hillbilly Bone" at the 2011 CMA Music Festival in Nashville.

Shelton performed at the 2011 CMA Music Festival in June, where he brought the sold-0ut stadium crowd to its feet by welcoming Trace Adkins for the duo’s 2010 Musical Event of the Year “Hillbilly Bone” and by offering a medley of cover tunes that included Wild Cherry‘s “Play That Funky Music,” the J. Geils Band‘s“Centerfold” and Bobby Brown‘s “My Prerogative.” Shelton’s currently touring throughout the U.S. through October, and he is signed to a second season of “The Voice,” set to premiere in January 2012.

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CMA Awards Artist Spotlight: BRAD PAISLEY

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Brad joins Carrie Underwood for their first turn hosting the CMA Awards in 2008.

In addition to returning as co-host of “The 45th Annual CMA Awards” alongside Carrie Underwood in 2011, CMA’s reigning Entertainer of the Year Brad Paisley is up for five Awards on Wednesday, Nov. 9! With his five nominations this year (for Entertainer; Male Vocalist; Album for This is Country Music; Musical Event and Music Video for “Old Alabama”), Paisley has amassed an incredible 57 career nominations to date. Only two artists have earned more in their careers (George Strait with 81, and Alan Jackson with 80). Paisley joins a pack of artists with five nods apiece in 2011, including Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, and Taylor Swift.

More about Brad Paisley

Brad Paisley’s laundry list of well-deserved awards illustrate a male vocalist and entertainer who has produced some of the most highly-revered albums, videos, and musical pairings of the past 11 years. A consummate musician, Paisley delivered his first public performance at age 10 and began to write his own songs at age 12. Studying at Nashville’s Belmont University, Paisley’s natural talent, hard work, and ideal placement within the Country Music capital poised him for success. Among Paisley’s list of successes are:

  • 12 million: Albums sold worldwide
  • 20: No. 1 Country singles to date
  • 14: CMA Awards
  • 4: Years as CMA Awards host (2008-2011)
  • 3: Grammy Awards
  • Many additional industry honors

In 2000, Brad captured the Horizon Award, the first of 14 CMA Awards he's received through 2010, when he was named Entertainer of the Year.

With his ninth studio album, 2011′s This is Country Music, Paisley continued his tradition of excellence, as evidenced by the album’s impressive sales debut (152,000 copies first week) which placed it atop the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart. The album marks Paisley’s sixth consecutive album to debut as a national best-seller, and it also racked up rave reviews from some of the industry’s toughest critics who recognized Paisley’s instinctual ability to masterfully communicate the heart and soul of the Country format. Paisley co-wrote 12 of the album’s 15 tracks and collaborated with stars including Alabama, Clint Eastwood, Sheryl Crow, Carrie Underwood, and Blake Shelton to capture a variety of musical tones that push the boundaries of Country Music. The album’s first three singles (the title track, “Old Alabama” and “Remind Me”) have already ascended to No. 1.

Paisley toured internationally in 2011, featuring fellow musicians along the way including Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton, Jerrod Niemann, and the JaneDear girls. In late August, Paisley wrapped up a two-week, eight-show European tour during which he performed for more than 40,000 fans. Sold out shows and unscheduled surprise guests on tour (e.g. Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones joined Paisley in London and performed “Let The Good Times Roll”) have combined with the favorable response and support for the album to make 2011 a tremendous success for Paisley.

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