The 42nd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards

The 42nd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards

NOMINEES & WINNERS / Winners are bold and red

Entertainer of the Year

» Brooks & Dunn

» Kenny Chesney

» Tim McGraw

» Rascal Flatts

» George Strait

Top Male Vocalist

» Kenny Chesney

» Toby Keith

» Brad Paisley

» George Strait

» Keith Urban

Top Female Vocalist

» Sara Evans

» Faith Hill

» Miranda Lambert

» Martina McBride

» Carrie Undewood

Top Vocal Group

» Diamond Rio

» Emerson Drive

» Little Big Town

» Lonestar

» Rascal Flatts

Top Vocal Duo

» Big & Rich

» Brooks & Dunn

» Montgomery Gentry

» Sugarland

» The Wreckers

Top New Male Vocalist

» Rodney Atkins

» Craig Morgan

» Chris Young

Top New Female Vocalist

» Miranda Lambert

» Kellie Pickler

» Taylor Swift

Top New Duo or Vocal Group

» Heartland

» Little Big Town

» The Wreckers

Album of the Year

» Hillbilly Deluxe

Brooks & Dunn

Producers: Tony Brown, Ronnie Dunn, Kix Brooks, Mark Wright and Tom Shapiro

Record Label: Arista Nashville

» It Just Comes Natural

George Strait

Producers: Tony Brown, George Strait

Record Label: MCA Nashville

» Me and My Gang

Rascal Flatts

Producers: Dann Huff, Rascal Flatts

Record Label: Lyric Street Records

» Some Hearts

Carrie Underwood

Producers: Mark Bright, Dann Huff

Record Label: 19 Recordings Limited/Arista Records

» These Days

Vince Gill

Producers: Vince Gill John Hobbs and Justin Niebank

Record Label: MCA Nashville

Single Record of the Year

» "Before He Cheats"

Artist: Carrie Underwood

Producer: Mark Bright

Record Label: Arista Records

» "Give It Away"

Artist: George Strait

Producer: Tony Brown, George Strait

Record Label: MCA Nashville

» "I Loved Her First"

Artist: Heartland

Producer: Walt Aldridge

Record Label: Lofton Creek Records

» "What Hurts the Most"

Artists: Rascal Flatts

Producers: Dann Huff, Rascal Flatts

Record Label: Lyric Street Records

» "Would You Go with Me"

Artist: Josh Turner

Producer: Frank Rogers

Record Label: MCA Nashville

Song of the Year

» "Amarillo Sky"

Artist: Jason Aldean

Songwriters: John Rich, Big Kenny, Rodney Clawson and Bart Pursley

Publishers: Rich Texan Music (ASCAP), Bound for Sound Music (ASCAP), WB Music Corp. (ASCAP), Big Love Music

(BMI), Grinnin' Girl Music (BMI) and Bar Two Beat One Music (ASCAP)

» "Before He Cheats"

Artist: Carrie Underwood

Songwriters: Chris Tompkins, Josh Kear

Publishers: That Little House Music (ASCAP), Mighty Underdog Music/Sony/ATV Cross Keys Publishing (ASCAP)

» "Give It Away"

Artist: George Strait

Songwriters: Bill Anderson, Buddy Cannon and Jamey Johnson

Publishers: Sony/ATV Tree Publishing/ Mr. Bubba Music, Inc. (BMI), Run Slow Music (ASCAP) and EMI

Blackwood Music Inc. (BMI)

» "If You're Going Through Hell (Before the Devil Even Knows)"

Artist: Rodney Atkins

Songwriters: Sam Tate, Annie Tate and Dave Berg

Publishers: Gravitron Music (SESAC), Whaddyadef Music (ASCAP), Cal IV Songs (ASCAP) and Bergbrain Music (ASCAP)

» "Would You Go With Me"

Artist: Josh Turner

Songwriters: Shawn Camp, John Scott Sherrill

Publishers: Sony/ ATV Songs (BMI) All Mighty Dog (BMI) Travelin' Arkansawyer Music (BMI) and City Wolf Music (BMI)

Video of the Year

» "8th of November"

Big & Rich

Producer: Steve Lamar

Director: George Flanigen, Robert Deaton, Marc Oswald

» "Amarillo Sky"

Jason Aldean

Producer: Brittany Hailes

Director: Wes Edwards

» "Before He Cheats"

Carrie Underwood

Producer: Randy Brewer

Director: Roman White

» "Hillbilly Deluxe"

Brooks & Dunn

Producer: Mark Kalbfeld

Director: Michael Salomon

» "The Seashores of Old Mexico"

George Strait

Producer: Shelli Jury

Director: Trey Fanjoy

Vocal Event of the Year

» "Building Bridges"

Artists: Brooks & Dunn and Vince Gill and Sheryl Crow

Producers: Tony Brown, Ronnie Dunn and Kix Brooks

Record Label: Arista Nashville

» "I Don't Want To"

Artists: Ashley Monroe and Ronnie Dunn

Producer: Mark Wright

Record Label: Columbia Nashville

» "Me and God"

Artists: Josh Turner and Dr. Ralph Stanley and Marty Roe and Dana Williams and Gene Johnson

Producer: Frank Rogers

Record Label: MCA Nashville

» "Politically Uncorrect"

Artists: Gretchen Wilson featuring Merle Haggard

Producers: Gretchen Wilson, John Rich and Mark Wright

Record Label: Columbia Nashville

» "That's How They Do It in Dixie"

Artists: Hank Williams Jr. and Gretchen Wilson and Big & Rich and Van Zant

Producer: Doug Johnson

Record Label: Curb Records

Producer of the Year

» Richard Bennett

» Mark Bright

» Dann Huff

» Keith Stegall

» Mark Wright

Audio Engineer of the Year

» Jeff Balding

» Neal Cappelino

» Tony Castle

» Jason Lehning

» Steve Marcantonio

Top Bass Player of the Year

» Mike Brignardello

» Kevin Grant

» Larry Paxton

» Alison Prestwood

» Glenn Worf

Top Percussionist/Drummer of the Year

» Eddie Bayers

» Chad Cromwell

» Chris McHugh

» Greg Morrow

» Lonnie Wilson

Top Fiddle Player of the Year

» Stuart Duncan

» Glen Duncan

» Larry Franklin

» Aubrey Haynie

» Joe Spivey

Top Guitar of the Year

» Tom Bukovac

» J.T. Corenflos

» Kenny Greenberg

» Brent Mason

» John Willis

Top Piano/Keyboards Player of the Year

» Tony Harrell

» John Hobbs

» John Jarvis

» Gordon Mote

» Steve Nathan

Specialty Instrument(s)

» Richard Bennett

» Stuart Duncan

» Rob Ickes

» Kristen Wilkinson

» John Willis

Top Steel Guitar Player of the Year

» Dan Dugmore

» Buddy Emmons

» Michael Johnson

» Russ Pahl

» Scotty Sanders

Radio Station of the Year -- Major Market

» KEEY -- Minneapolis

» KSON -- San Diego

» WQYK -- St. Petersburg, Fla.

» WSIX -- Nashville, Tenn.

» WXTU -- Philadelphia

Radio Station of the Year -- Medium Market

» KIIM -- Tuscon, Ariz.

» KUAD -- Fort Collins, Colo.

» KUZZ -- Bakersfield, Calif.

» KXKT -- Omaha, Neb.

» WIVK -- Knoxville, Tenn.

Radio Station of the Year -- Small Market

» WFRY -- Watertown, N.Y.

» WJCL -- Savannah, Ga.

» WPAP -- Panama City, Fla.

» WTCR -- Huntington, W.Va.

» WYZB -- Fort Walton, Fla.

On-Air Personality of the Year -- National

» Kix Brooks -- American Country Countdown (ABC Radio Network)

» Bill Cody -- Classic Country Weekend (Jones Radio Network)

» Bob Kingsley -- Bob Kingsley's Country top 40 (Jones Radio Networks)

» Lia Knight -- (Jones Radio Network)

» Danny Wright -- All Night (Jones Radio Network)

On-Air Personality of the Year -- Major Market

» Cornbread With Pat James -- WIL, St. Louis

» Edwards and Lee -- WYCD Detroit

» Tim Hattrick With Willy D. Loon -- KNIX Phoenix

» Jim, Deb and Kevin -- WFMS Indianapolis

» Randy & Dave -- WQYK St. Petersburg, Fla.

On-Air Personality of the Year -- Medium Market

» Ron Bee, Becky Palmer -- WBBS Syracuse, N.Y.

» Broadway -- WBCT Grand Rapids, Mich.

» Dawson, Kristina and Levi (The Get Up Gang) -- KRST Albuquerque, N.M.

» Brian Gary With Todd Harding --KUAD Fort Collins, Colo.

» Charlie James With Pam Wilder -- WCOS Columbia, S.C.

On-Air Personality of the Year -- Small Market

» Paul Dupuis and J.R. Mitchell (The Breakfast Flakes) -- WQCB Bangor, Maine

» Gator and The Styckman -- WGSQ Cookeville, Tenn.

» Barry Kent and Bobbie Ashley and Frank Rush (The Waking Crew) -- WTHI Terre Haute, Ind.

» Mike Lawrence and Dana Carole -- KHKX Midland, Texas

» McFly and the Ride Home with Marty McFly and Stewart James -- WGSQ, Cookeville, Tenn.

Venue of the Year

» Grand Ole Opry House -- Nashville, Tenn.

» Harrah's North Kansas City -- Kansas City, Mo.

» John Ascuaga's Nugget Casino Resort -- Sparks, Nev.

» Meadowbrook Musical Arts Center -- Gilford, N.H.

» Turning Stone Casino -- Verona, N.Y.

Nightclub of the Year

» Buck Owens' Crystal Palace -- Bakersfield, Calif.

» Floores' Country Store -- San Antonio, Texas

» Grizzly Rose -- Denver, Colo.

» Joe's -- Chicago

» Pepsi Roadhouse -- Bugettstown, Pa.

» Joe's Bar -- Chicago

Don Romeo Talent Buyer of the Year

» Brad Combs -- Meridian Entertainment

» R.J. Kaltenbach -- Klein's Attractions

» Bill Magann -- Variety Attractions

» Gary Osier -- Gary Osier Presents

» Terrye Seigel -- Terrye Seigel Productions

Promoter of the Year

» Ben Farrell -- Varnell Enterprises

» Brad Garrett -- Police Productions

» Brian Martin -- Brian Martin Producitons

» Ron Sakamoto -- Gold and Gold Productions

» Mike Smardak -- Outback Concerts of Tenn., Inc.

NOMINEE SPOTLIGHTS

LITTLE BIG TOWN - Karen Fairchild

Are you guys all ready for the ACM's next week?

"We sure are... We're very excited about singing on the show. That's been what we've been working on. Just rehearsing and getting ready for our portion of "A Little More You." We're singing "A Little More You" - the new single and you usually have to edit it down for a TV show like that so we've been working on all that and getting it ready. Yeah, we're very excited."

What are you looking forward to the most at the awards?

"All of the performances, probably. You know, getting ours over with successfully. (laughs) And then, we're looking forward to seeing other friends of ours singing on the show. We're out with Martina McBride right now and Rodney Atkins. They're both singing on the show. Our buddies Sugarland are going to be there. We're good friends with them and always love hearing them - and seeing what they're going to do live. So, we're just looking forward to hanging out with everybody and hearing all the good music."

How does it feel to be nominated for Top New Vocal Duo or Group and Top Vocal Group this year?

"That's an amazing honor. Our very first nomination was an ACM a year ago. It's special to be nominated again. Especially, not only just the new group but it's such a surprise to be in the group category with Rascal Flatts and bands like that that have had so much success. So, it feels fantastic and we're very grateful."

CRAIG MORGAN

What goals have you accomplished and what do you still hope to accomplish with your music career?

"I'm nominated for the Best New Male Vocalist for the ACMs. I'd love to get that award. I tell you if I don't, I'm not going to be sorely disappointed I won't be as excited as I would if I did (laughs) but I hope to get that award and have other awards follow because that's rewarding for not only me but everyone that's involved in my career."

With the ACM Awards coming up, what are you looking forward to the most and how does it feel to be nominated again for New Male Vocalist?

"It's an extreme honor to be nominated. I'm very humbled by the fact that people consider me one of the best new male vocalists. That's a huge honor and I'm humbled by that. I'm looking forward to probably the Motorcycle ride and hanging out and spending some time with my wife. She's coming out to the Award show. We'll have a couple days together that we don't normally get."

»» The nominee spotlight questions above with Karen Fairchild (Little Big Town) and Craig Morgan are © by Country Music Online. They may not be reprinted or used without the written consent from us. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. »»