Carrie Underwood: ACM entertainer of the year nomination “rewarding”
Carrie Underwood accepts her golden gramophone at Sunday’s Grammy Awards. (Associated Press photo)
A version of this story appears in Thursday’s The Oklahoman.
Carrie Underwood gets rare nomination
Checotah’s favorite daughter is keeping her place in the awards show spotlight.
For the first time in her career, Carrie Underwood will compete for the top prize, entertainer of the year, at the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, it was announced Wednesday.
“I am so humbled and blessed with the recognition of these nominations by my fellow artists and the country music community,” Underwood said in a statement. “My band, crew, and everyone on my team have worked so hard the past year with my first big tour, so the entertainer nomination is especially rewarding for all of us. I think I’m still in shock!”
Other nominees with Oklahoma ties include Toby Keith, Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire, Brooks & Dunn, Rascal Flatts and Trisha Yearwood.
The ceremony will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on April 5 on CBS. McEntire, who was raised in Chockie, will host the show for the 11th time.
Historically, women artists have rarely won or been nominated for entertainer of the year.; all five 2008 nominees were men, with Kenny Chesney winning the top award for the fourth straight year. The Dixie Chicks were the last women to win the honor in 2000.
If Underwood wins, she will be just the seventh female artist to earn the award. , putting her in league with stars such as Loretta Lynn, the 1975 winner, and McEntire, the 1994 honoree.
Underwood, who took home a Grammy Sunday, also is nominated for top female vocalist, a title she has won the past two years, and video of the year for her heartwrenching hit “Just a Dream.”
McEntire and duo Brooks & Dunn, which includes Tulsan Ronnie Dunn, are nominated for vocal event of the year for their hit “Cowgirls Don’t Cry.” The collaboration became McEntire’s 56th song to land in the Top 10 of the Billboard singles chart, setting a record for the most Top 10 hits of any female country artist. In addition, Brooks & Dunn is nominated for top vocal duo. ; if Dunn and Kix Brooks emerge victorious, it will be their 16th straight win in the category.
Lambert, who lives in Tishomingo, also earned two nominations: top female vocalist and single record of the year for her hit “Gunpowder & Lead.”
Norman resident Keith will vie for the title of top male vocalist. Rascal Flatts, which includes Joe Don Rooney of Picher, will compete for top vocal group. , a title the trio won for the sixth straight year in 2008.
Yearwood, who lives in Owasso, is nominated for vocal event of the year for “Another Try,” her duet with Josh Turner.
Brad Paisley received a leading six nominations, while former Trick Pony singer Heidi Newfield earned five nods.
For the first time, the academy will let fans pick the winners in its three newcomer categories: top new female vocalist, top new male vocalist and top new vocal duo or group. The winners in the categories will then compete in a new category, top new artist. Fan voting will open Friday at www.GACTV.com.
Fans also will select the winner of the entertainer of the year prize for the second year. Online voting will start soon at www.voteACM.com.
Country singers Julianne Hough, Kellie Pickler, LeAnn Rimes and Jessica Simpson announced the nominations Wednesday on CBS’ “The Early Show.”
-BAM
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What a wonderful victory it would be to have Carrie win
she is so GOOD!!!