ABC's 'Good Morning America' and CMT to Air CMA Awards Nominations Live From New York City and Nashville Wednesday, Aug. 30

ABC's 'Good Morning America' and CMT to Air CMA Awards Nominations Live From New York City and Nashville Wednesday, Aug. 30

Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland and Five-Time CMA Award Winner Brad Paisley To Announce CMA Award Finalists on 'Good Morning America' in New York City

CMT Personalities Katie Cook and Lance Smith with Rising Country Stars Jason Aldean and Little Big Town Will Complete the Announcements On a Special Edition of 'CMT Insider' in Nashville

CMA Broadcast Awards Finalists Announced by Aldean and Little Big Town Nominee Announcements Carried to Country Radio by Premiere Radio Networks

'The 40th Annual CMA Awards' Airs Live Nov. 6 on the ABC Television Network

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The announcement of the final nominees for the 2006 CMA Awards will be carried live Monday, Aug. 30, on network and cable television from New York City during "Good Morning America" on the ABC Television Network, and from the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville on a special edition of CMT's "CMT Insider."

"The 40th Annual CMA Awards" will be hosted for the third year by Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn of super duo Brooks & Dunn and broadcast live from the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville Monday, Nov. 6 (8:00-11:00 PM ET/delayed PT) on ABC.

"Having both 'Good Morning America' and 'CMT Insider' broadcast our CMA Awards final nominees live brings a new level of excitement to these highly- anticipated announcements," said CMA Chief Operating Officer Tammy Genovese. "These unique broadcasts will allow fans across the nation to experience the same excitement our artists and industry feel as the names are announced. It also demonstrates the enthusiasm of our new network partner ABC, and the continued and valued support of CMT."

"CMT is thrilled to join ABC and the CMA in what is always one of the most exciting days of the year for Country Music," said Brian Philips, Executive Vice President and General Manager, CMT. "'CMT Insider' is the premiere source for Country Music news and entertainment and this live telecast continues our commitment to deliver unparalleled coverage of all the major industry events."

For the first time, the final nominees in select categories will be announced live on national television during "Good Morning America" with Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland and five-time CMA Awards winner Brad Paisley from the "Good Morning America" studios located in the heart of New York City's Times Square Wednesday, Aug. 30 during the 8:30 AM/ET half-hour of the morning news program.

"I am thrilled to be asked to read the 2006 CMA Award nominations," Nettles said. "This is a big year for the Awards as they celebrate their 40th Anniversary and bring the show back to Nashville from New York. Plus, I always love my visits on 'Good Morning America,' it is just the wake-up call that can be a little unruly."

On the heels of their double-Platinum debut album, Sugarland gets ready to release their highly-anticipated second album on Nov. 7. If it is any indication of the excitement building for the new record, the first single, "Want To" has tied as the fifth-highest, debuting single ever on the Billboard Country charts. With all the awards and accolades, media exposure, and record sales, Sugarland is well on their way to becoming Country's newest superstars.

Paisley's fourth Arista Nashville album, Time Well Wasted, was released on Aug. 16, 2005, and sold 192,747 units in its first week, setting a new career- high for Paisley and debuting at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart and No. 2 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart. The Platinum-certified disc held the No. 1 slot for two weeks and became the fourth of Paisley's back-to- back Platinum+ albums, with his total sales now topping seven million. Paisley's "Time Well Wasted" tour was listed as the No. 3 Country tour in Billboard's Top 25 chart for the first half of 2006 and the tour will continue through the fall. Paisley's latest hit "The World" held the No. 1 spot on Billboard's Country Singles chart for three consecutive weeks bringing his total No. 1's to six.

Broadcasting live from Nashville, CMT's Katie Cook and Lance Smith will present exclusive coverage of the remaining 2006 CMA Awards nominee announcements in a special half-hour edition of "CMT Insider," premiering Wednesday, Aug. 30 (10:00 AM/ET; 9:00 AM/CT) on CMT. The special will re-air on CMT immediately following the live broadcast at 10:30 AM/ET; and again at 4:00 and 11:00 PM/ET; and Thursday, Aug. 31 at 1:30, 6:30, and 11:30 PM/ET.

Following the announcements on "Good Morning America," CMT will go live with two of the hottest acts in Country Music today, Jason Aldean and Little Big Town, as they reveal the remaining CMA nominees and Country Music Hall of Fame inductees. Following the nominations, Cook and Smith will interview nominees and take a look back at 40 years of CMA Awards telecasts.

"We're so honored to have been asked to announce the finalists for this year's CMA Awards with Jason Alden and announcing them live on CMT makes it that much more special," said Little Big Town's Kimberly Roads. "We had such a great time in New York last year, but it will be even more exciting to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Awards back home in Nashville. And it's the first time the Awards will take place at the Gaylord Entertainment Center. Every year we look forward to the amazing performances in the show."

"The CMA Awards are known as 'Country Music's Biggest Night,' but this year is the 40th Anniversary of 'Country Music's Biggest Night,' so you can bet that the show will be bigger and better than ever," said Aldean. "I am so happy that they asked me to be here to help kick things off with Little Big Town, and I am looking forward to congratulating all of the nominees in person when the show is back in Nashville in November."

One of the format's rising stars, Aldean's self-titled debut on Broken Bow Records earned Gold certification in record time and has been praised by music critics and fans alike. The lead track, "Hicktown," was a Top 10 single and No. 1 video -- firmly planting Aldean on the Country Music map. The follow-up ballad, "Why," recently earned Aldean his first No. 1 hit song and a second No. 1 video on CMT. His newest release, "Amarillo Sky" is currently racing up the charts. The Georgia-native has spent the first half of 2006 on the road with Rascal Flatts and co-headlining his own tour with Miranda Lambert. He will join Trace Adkins on the CMT Tour this fall.

It's been an incredible nine months for Little Big Town, beginning last October with the release of their now Gold-certified Equity Music Group CD, The Road to Here. The album's first single "Boondocks" went Top 10 at Country radio and their new single, "Bring It On Home," is currently Top 10 and climbing. The videos for both singles have hit No. 1 on CMT's "Top 20 Countdown." In addition to an extended tour with John Mellencamp, the band has recently played dates with some of the format's biggest stars including Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, and Keith Urban. Later this year, the band will contribute a new song to the Disney DVD release of "The Fox & The Hound 2."

In addition to the nominee announcements, Aldean and Little Big Town will announce the finalists for the 2006 CMA Broadcast Personality and Radio Station of the Year in four categories (small, medium, large and major markets) as well as the finalists for the CMA National Broadcast Personality of the Year.

The audio announcement of the CMA Awards nominees and Broadcast Awards finalists will be available via StarGuide from CMA's official radio partner Premiere Radio Networks. Premiere has provided outstanding radio coverage of the CMA Awards nominations for more than a decade.

As part of their comprehensive 2006 CMA Awards radio package, Premiere Radio Networks will offer coverage of the nominee announcements, a preview special, Red Carpet features, and a live feed of the Awards gala. Any Country radio station interested in receiving the radio package, including the nominations feed, may contact Premiere Affiliate Relations at (818) 377-5300.

Additional announcements, including unveiling the 2006 inductees for the Country Music Hall of Fame, will be made at the Gaylord Entertainment Center with Genovese and other guests starting at 9:00 AM/CT. The venue will open at 8:00 AM/CT for invited media and members of the music industry to watch the televised announcements on "Good Morning America."

"The CMA Awards are 'Country Music's Biggest Night' and this is certainly going to be Country Music's biggest morning," Genovese said. "I can't imagine a more exciting way to launch the CMA Awards season, our new relationship with ABC, and the excitement building up to 'The 40th Annual CMA Awards.'"

The 2005 CMA Awards, held Nov. 15 for the first time in New York City at Madison Square Garden, won the night in viewers and key demographics, according to final national Nielsen ratings. The CMA Awards were first in households (11.1/17), viewers (17.73m), adults 18-49 (5.4/13), and adults 25- 54 (6.7/15). The Awards were Tuesday's No. 1 program in households, viewers and adults 25-54. According to Nielsen, the CMA Awards was the No. 10 program of the week. Research estimates that more than 36 million viewers watched all or part of the ceremony. The 2005 broadcast ranked behind only the Academy Awards and the Golden Globes during the 2005-06 television season for award shows among total viewers, making the CMA Awards the top-rated music awards program of the television season.

The CMA Awards nominees and winners are determined by the 6,000 industry professional members of CMA, which was the first trade organization formed to promote an individual genre of music in 1958. The first "CMA Awards Banquet and Show" was held in 1967. The following year, the CMA Awards were broadcast on NBC television for the first time -- making it the longest running, annual music awards program on network television. The show aired on NBC through 1971 and on the CBS Television Network from 1972 through 2005.

"The 40th Annual CMA Awards" is a production of the Country Music Association. Walter C. Miller is the Executive Producer; Robert Deaton is the Consulting Producer. Premiere Radio Networks is the official radio packager of the CMA Awards, including a stereo-radio simulcast of the gala event. American Airlines is the official airline of the 2006 CMA Awards. Chevy, an American Revolution, is the official ride of the 2006 CMA Awards.

ABC News' "Good Morning America" is anchored by Diane Sawyer and Robin Roberts. The two-hour morning news program airs live Mondays through Fridays from 7:00-9:00 AM/ET on the ABC Television Network. Jim Murphy is the Senior Executive Producer and Ben Sherwood is the Executive Producer of ABC News' "Good Morning America."

CMT's John Feld serves as Executive Producer of "CMT Insider." CMT, America's No. 1 Country Music network, carries original programming, specials and live concerts and events, as well as a mix of videos by established Country Music artists and new cutting-edge acts, including world premiere exclusive videos. Founded March 8, 1983, CMT, owned and operated by MTV Networks, reaches 83 million households in the United States. Go to www.CMT.com.

Source: Country Music Association

CONTACT: Press Contacts: Wendy Pearl or Scott Stem of CMA,
+1-615-244-2840; or Nicole Pope of CMT, +1-615-335-8406

Web site: http://www.cmaworld.com/
http://www.cmt.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: For information, visit www.CMApress.com for CMA Awards history, photos, press releases and logos. On-line media credentialing for the CMA Awards begins Aug. 30. This is a protected site for the media only with restrictions on use.

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