Keith Urban, Toby Keith Lead BMI’s CMA Nominees

Posted in News on September 7, 2005

Country superstars Keith Urban and Toby Keith lead the list of BMI songwriters and artists nominated for the 39th Annual Country Music Association Awards. The announcement was made September 7 from New York City, this year's host city for the ceremony being held November 15 at Madison Square Garden. This is the first time in CMA history that the awards show is being held outside of its traditional home in Nashville.

Keith Urban	Toby Keith	Byron Gallimore

With four nominations a piece, both Urban and Keith are up for Entertainer of the Year, marking the fourth year in a row Keith has been nominated in that category. They will also compete for Video of the Year. Urban hopes to repeat his Male Vocalist of the Year win from last year and score an Album of the Year award with Be Here.

Sugarland	Rascal Flatts

Toby Keith's other nods include Single and Song of the Year for his hit "As Good As I Once Was." The song, from his latest album Honkytonk University also earned a nomination for co-writer Scotty Emerick and producer James Stroud.

Big & Rich	Alison Krauss

Both Urban and Keith are eligible for additional trophies as co-producers on their respective nominations.

Producer Byron Gallimore, newcomers Sugarland and reigning Vocal Group of the Year Rascal Flatts followed with three nominations each, while country duo Big & Rich, bluegrass singer Alison Krauss and dobro master Jerry Douglas made it onto the double nominees list. Krauss and her band Union Station (of which Douglas is a member), nominated for Vocal Group of the Year, have also just picked up an impressive 14 IBMA Awards nominations.

Jerry Douglas	Brooks & Dunn	Julie Roberts

Twelve-time CMA Vocal Duo of the Year Brooks & Dunn, who return to host "country music's biggest night," will try once again to retain their crown. BMI Icon Bill Anderson picked up another songwriter nod for the Alison Krauss hit "Whiskey Lullaby" (named 2004's Musical Event), and country legend Willie Nelson took home his 44th CMA nomination for the Lee Ann Womack duet, "I'll Never Be Free."

Tim McGraw	Diamond Rio

Other BMI CMA nominees include Julie Roberts, Marcus Hummon, Jeff Hanna, Tim McGraw, Randy Scruggs, Jimmy Buffett and Diamond Rio.

Alabama	Glen Campbell

A highlight of the live show will be the induction of BMI country greats Alabama and Glen Campbell into the Country Music Hall of Fame. The prestigious award is the highest honor in country music and recognizes those who have made outstanding contributions to the genre throughout their careers. Campbell will be inducted in the "Career Achieved National Prominence Between World War II and 1975" category and Alabama will be the first artist inducted in the new "Career Achieved National Prominence Between 1975 and the Present" category created earlier this year. Their inductions will increase the Hall of Fame membership to 95.

Miranda Lambert	Sara Evans	Martina McBride

BMI's 2005 CMA Nominees:

4 Nominations
Toby Keith
Keith Urban

3 Nominations
Byron Gallimore
Rascal Flatts
Sugarland

2 Nominations
Big & Rich
Jerry Douglas
Sara Evans
Alison Krauss
Martina McBride

Single Nomination
Bill Anderson
Brooks & Dunn
Bobby Boyd
Tony Brown
Jimmy Buffett
Diamond Rio
Scotty Emerick
Jeff Hanna
Marcus Hummon
Miranda Lambert
Lonestar
Brent Mason
Tim McGraw
Montgomery Gentry
Willie Nelson
Jon Randall
Julie Roberts
Randy Scruggs
Darran Smith
James Stroud
Shania Twain
Union Station
The Warren Brothers

SOURCENews TAGS Bluegrass Country R&B / Hip-Hop Alabama Bill Anderson Artists Big & Rich Brooks & Dunn Jimmy Buffett Jerry Douglas Sara Evans Montgomery Gentry Marcus Hummon Toby Keith Alison Krauss Miranda Lambert Lonestar Martina McBride Tim McGraw Willie Nelson Rascal Flatts Julie Roberts Sugarland Shania Twain Keith Urban