Sony Music Nashville Lands Eight Grammy Nominations

Sony Music Nashville Lands Eight Grammy Nominations

Gretchen Wilson Most-Nominated Female Country Artist

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Dec. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Music Nashville received eight Grammy nominations spread among Redneck Woman Gretchen Wilson, singer/songwriter Rodney Crowell and supergroup the Dixie Chicks. Wilson holds the distinction this year of having the most nominations for a female country artist (4) and is tied with Brad Paisley for the most nominations in the country music categories.

"Grammy voters have a unique way of finding the great records," said John Grady, President of Sony Music Nashville. "I am extremely proud of these artists and their music, and I hope more people listen because of it. By the way, I like to do more than get nominated ... I think they deserve to win!"

Wilson made her first trip to the Grammy Awards earlier this year and took home "Best Country Female Vocal Performance" for her anthemic "Redneck Woman" single. She was crowned "Female Vocalist of the Year" by Country Music Association voters at last month's award ceremonies in New York City. Her stark performance of "I Don't Feel Like Loving You Today" with just a string section and acoustic guitar was a highlight of the show. In less than two years, she has also won trophies from Billboard, the American Music Awards, the Academy of Country Music, CMT and more.

She will embark on her first headline tour - The Redneck Revolution Tour - with Van Zant and Blaine Larsen January 18, 2006 in Dallas. There are 33 dates on the books now with more to be added.

In addition to being a Grammy recipient, writing, recording and producing albums for himself and others and having his songs recorded by the likes of Bob Seger, Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, Waylon Jennings and others, Rodney Crowell has recently enjoyed a career re-invention of sorts. His trilogy of introspective and socially-conscious albums The Houston Kid, Fate's Right Hand and his latest The Outsider have been lauded by critics and landed on numerous year-end Top 10 lists. The Associated Press opined about Outsider, " ... Crowell follows in the footsteps of icons like Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan who made great music while also commenting on current events."

While the Dixie Chicks have been busy putting the finishing touches on their latest album for Open Wide/Monument/Columbia Records, they performed "I Hope" on the multi-network telethon "Shelter From The Storm: A Concert For The Gulf Coast." Co-written by the Dixie Chicks and contemporary blues master Keb' Mo', an exclusive download of the song was recorded the night before the telethon. The Chicks and SONY BMG Music Entertainment are donating all proceeds from the sale of "I Hope" to Habitat For Humanity and the American Federation of Musicians Gulf Coast Relief Fund, in support of the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.

The 48th Annual Grammy Awards will take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 8, 2006 and will air live on the CBS Television Network.

Sony Nashville Nominees:

Gretchen Wilson:
Best Female Country Vocal Performance ("All Jacked Up")
Best Country Collaboration with Vocals ("Politically Uncorrect" with
Merle Haggard)
Best Country Song ("All Jacked Up")
Best Country Album (All Jacked Up)

Rodney Crowell:
Best Contemporary Folk Album (The Outsider)
Best Country Collaboration with Vocals ("Shelter From the Storm" with
Emmylou Harris)

Dixie Chicks:
Best Country Performance by Duo or Group ("I Hope")
Best Country Song ("I Hope")

www.sonynashville.com
www.gretchenwilson.com
www.rodneycrowell.com
www.dixiechicks.com

Source: Sony Music Nashville

CONTACT: Craig Campbell of Sony Music Media, +1-615-858-1314, or
craig.campbell@sonybmg.com

Web site: http://www.sonynashville.com/
http://www.gretchenwilson.com/
http://www.rodneycrowell.com/
http://www.dixiechicks.com/

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