Country Music Awards Nominees Named

This year's Country Music Awards nominees have been named, and it looks as through Brad Paisley, Keith Urban and Kenny Chesney are going to be in a three-way rce to see who can take home top honors. One group not vying for top honors are the controversial Dixie Chicks, who were snubbed once again, receiving no nominations at all.

Brad Paisley led the country music field with six nominations, which include Best Album, Best Male Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year. Brooks & Dunn also scored six nominations, also getting a nod for Best Album and Entertainer of the Year, not to mention Best Vocal Duo. After Paisley and Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney and Keith Urban, who won Entertainer of the Year last year, both locked down four nominations. Following that up, Rascal Flatts and Dolly Parton both nabbed three CMA Award nominations.

Carrie Underwood, whose rise to fame culminated in her winning Season 4 of American Idol, landed four nominations of her own, one of which is Female Vocalist of the Year. That category may prove to be one of the toughest, as Sara Evans, Faith Hill, Martina McBride and Gretchen Wilson have all grabbed a nomination for Female Vocalist of the Year. Carrie Underwood and Sara Evans are the only two not to have won Female Vocalist of the Year, as Gretchen Wilson won last year, Martina McBride took the three years before that, and Faith Hill nabbed the honor in 2000.

Alan Jackson snuck in with a single nomination for Album of the Year for his disc, Precious Memories. Also sneaking in with a nomination was the unexpected rock band Bon Jovi, whose duet with Jennifer Nettles on "Who Says You Can't Go Home" earned a nod for Musical Event of the Year. However, Toby Keith and the Dixie Chicks were both snubbed. The Dixie Chicks have encountered strong resisitance in the country music community since lead singer Natalie Maines said the Chicks were embarrassed to be from the same state (Texas) as President George W. Bush. Despite going Platinum incredibly quickly, Take The Long Way won't be up for Best Album. The Dixie Chicks have already landed 10 CMA Awards during their career.

The most sought after award, CMA Entertainer of the Year, will feature Brad Paisley, Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts and new husband to Nicole Kidman, Keith Urban. Keith Urban took the award last year, while Kenny Chesney took the 2004 Entertainer of the Year Award. Brooks & Dunn earned the title in 1996, while Brad Paisley and Rascal Flatts have yet to win the award. Kenny Chesney took home Entertainer of the Year from the Academy of Country Music Awards earlier this year.

Urban, who married Nicole Kidman in late June this year, is also looking to continue his streak winning Male Vocalist of the Year. Keith Urban has won the award since 2003. Single of the Year hopefuls include Keith Urban ("Better Life"), Carrie Underwood ("Jesus Take the Wheel"), Dolly Parton ("When I Get Where I'm Going"), Kenny Chesney ("Summertime") and Brooks & Dunn ("Believe").

The CMA Awards will return to Nashville after being held in New York City for the first time last year. The 40th Annual CMA Awards will be held on November 6, and will be broadcast on ABC.

[Additional Sources: Reuters, Wikipedia]