Vince Gill nominated for top CMA honors

By Brandy McDonnell

Published: August 31, 2007

Country music star Vince Gill has plenty of reasons to celebrate these days.

The Oklahoma native was named earlier this month to the Country Music Hall of Fame. He now is one of five Oklahomans who will compete for top honors at the 41st Annual Country Music Association Awards in November.

Gill, born in Norman and a graduate of Northwest Classen High School, is up for album of the year for “These Days.” Gill could earn two trophies in the category because he is both the album’s recording artist and one of its producers, along with John Hobbs and Justin Niebank.

“This comes on the heels of the news about the induction into the Hall Of Fame — I couldn’t be prouder about this. It’s been a pretty good while since I’ve been nominated for anything, so this is extra special,” Gill said Thursday evening in an e-mailed statement.

Also, Gill, who will enter the Country Music Hall of Fame in October, and guest vocalist Alison Krauss were nominated for musical event of the year for “The Reason Why.”

The CMA Awards will be broadcast on ABC live Nov. 7 from the Sommet Center in Nashville, Tenn. The nominees in the top categories were announced Thursday on “Good Morning America,” the nominees in the remaining categories were named on Country Music Television’s “CMT Insider.”

Checotah native Carrie Underwood leads the Sooner State nominees with three nods, including female vocalist of the year, which she won in 2006. The former “American Idol” was nominated for single of the year and music video of the year for “Before He Cheats.”

Songwriters Josh Kear and Chris Thompkins also were nominated for song of the year for “Before He Cheats.”

Country trio Rascal Flatts, which includes Joe Don Rooney of Picher, was the lone group nominated in the entertainer of the year category. The band also was nominated for vocal group of the year, a category it has swept the past four years.

Reba McEntire, who was born near McAlester, joins Underwood as a finalist for the female vocalist prize. McEntire and fellow nominee Martina McBride are tied for most wins in the female vocalist category.

McEntire also was nominated for musical event of the year for “Because of You,” her duet with former “American Idol” and pop star Kelly Clarkson.

With the two nods, the red-haired Okie now has 45 CMA Award nominations, the most of any female artist.

Venerable pair Brooks & Dunn, which includes Tulsan Ronnie Dunn, was nominated for vocal duo of the year.

Brad Paisley and George Strait lead the finalists with five nominations each. Krauss, McBride and Kenny Chesney each earned four nods.

Vocalist Sara Evans, who announced the nominees on “Good Morning America,” likened the CMA Awards to the Oscars or prom night.

“It’s a big night in country music. Everyone is watching,” said fellow announcer Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland, which earned its first vocal duo nomination.

Here is a complete list of the nominees:

Entertainer of the year: Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, George Strait, Keith Urban.

Female vocalist of the year: Alison Krauss, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood.

Male vocalist of the year: Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, George Strait, Josh Turner, Keith Urban.

Horizon Award: Jason Aldean, Rodney Atkins, Little Big Town, Kellie Pickler, Taylor Swift.

Vocal group of the year: Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, Dixie Chicks, Emerson Drive, Little Big Town, Rascal Flatts.

Vocal duo of the year: Big & Rich, Brooks & Dunn, Montgomery Gentry, Sugarland, The Wreckers.

Single of the year (Award goes to artist and producer): “Anyway,” Martina McBride, produced by Martina McBride, RCA Records; “Before He Cheats,” Carrie Underwood, produced by Mark Bright,19 Recordings Limited/Arista Records; “Lost In This Moment, ”Big & Rich, produced by Big Kenny and John Rich, Warner Bros. Nashville; “Ticks, ”Brad Paisley, produced by Frank Rogers and Chris DuBois, Arista Nashville; “Wrapped, ”George Strait, produced by Tony Brown and George Strait, MCA Nashville.

Album of the year (Award goes to artist and producer): “5th Gear,” Brad Paisley, produced by Frank Rogers and Chris DuBois, Arista Nashville; “It Just Comes Natural,” George Strait, produced by Tony Brown and George Strait, MCA Nashville; “Long Trip Alone,” Dierks Bentley, produced by Brett Beavers, Capitol Records Nashville; “Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing,” Keith Urban, produced by Dann Huff and Keith Urban, Capitol Records Nashville; “These Days,” Vince Gill, produced by Vince Gill, John Hobbs and Justin Niebank, MCA Nashville.

Song of the year (Award goes to songwriter and primary publisher): “Anyway,” Martina McBride/Brad Warren/Brett Warren, Delemmava Music/Bucky and Clyde Music; “Before He Cheats,” Josh Kear/Chris Tompkins, That Little House Music/Mighty Under Dog Music/Sony/ATV Cross Keys; “Give It Away,” Bill Anderson/Buddy Cannon/Jamey Johnson, Sony/ATV Tree/Mr. Bubba Music/Slow Run Music/EMI Blackwood; “Lost In This Moment, ”John Rich/Keith Anderson/Rodney Clawson, Rich Texan Music/Warner-Tamerlane/Writer’s Extreme/EMI April Music/Romeo Cowboy; “Stupid Boy,” Dave Berg/Deanna Bryant/Sarah Buxton, Song Planet/That Little House Music/Cal IV Songs/ BergBrain Music.

Musical event of the year (Award goes to each artist): Reba McEntire with Kelly Clarkson, “Because of You,” MCA Nashville; Tracy Lawrence featuring Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney, “Find Out Who Your Friends Are,” Rocky Comfort Records/CO5; Jimmy Buffett with George Strait and Alan Jackson, “Hey Good Lookin’” (Live), MCA Nashville; Alison Krauss and John Waite, “Missing You,” Rounder Records; Vince Gill with guest vocalist Alison Krauss, “The Reason Why,” MCA Nashville.

Music video of the year (Award goes to artist and director): “Anyway,” Martina McBride, directed by Robert Deaton and George J. Flanigen IV; “Before He Cheats, ”Carrie Underwood, directed by Roman White; “Moments,” Emerson Drive, directed by Steven Goldmann; “Online,” Brad Paisley, directed by Jason Alexander; “You Save Me, ”Kenny Chesney, directed by Shaun Silva.

Musician of the year: Eddie Bayers Jr., drums; Jerry Douglas, dobro; Dann Huff, guitar; Mac McAnally, guitar; Randy Scruggs, guitar.

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