Representatives of the Country Music Association announced Aug. 27, 2009, that finalists for this year’s CMA Awards will be broadcast live from New York City on ABC-TV’ on Wednesday, Sept. 9.
Country Stars Will Make CMA Announcement on Good Morning America Show
In addition to Lee Ann Womack, a past CMA Female Vocalist of the Year winner with 18 career CMA Awards nominations to her credit, country newcomer Darius Rucker—who has quickly accrued three No. 1 singles with his Learn To Live CD—will be on hand in the Good Morning America show's studios to help announce the final contenders for the 43rd Annual CMA Awards.
"I was so honored to perform at the 2008 CMA Awards show, and I feel privileged to be a part of this year's nominee announcement," Rucker said via an Aug. 27 statement released by the CMA. who first found widespread celebrity as a songwriter and frontman for the pop group Hootie & The Blowfish.
A two-time Grammy winner, Womack—in the same press statement, noted the annual CMA Award finalists announcement is one that most country fans anticipate annually.
"The excitement that comes with the announcements of the CMA Award nominations brings me such delight every year," Womack said. "I can remember watching the awards as a young Texas girl and dreaming of one day being a part of something that brings such honor to what I've always been so passionate about. It's a time to celebrate the artists, songwriters, musicians, producers and the industry in general."
Country Singer Chuck Wicks Helps Lee Ann Womack & Darius Rucker with CMA Awards News
This year’s nominations will be shared live during the news show’s 8:30 a.m. (ET) half-hour, according to CMA reps, who also have recruited country singer Chuck Wicks to share news about this year’s nominees live via Premiere Radio Networks from their Big Apple studios.
While on site with the CMA’s official radio partner, Wicks will announce the finalists who are up for the 2009 CMA Broadcast Personality and Radio Station of the Year in the contest’s four categories; namely, small, medium, large and major markets. The RCA Nashville artist also will share news of the finalists who are in contention for the CMA National Broadcast Personality of the Year
This year marks Wicks’ second go around at announcing said award nominees, and it’s a duty he’s honored to have, he said.
Via the CMA statement, "I am thrilled once again to be able to announce the Broadcast nominees," observed Wicks, whose biggest hit to date is the top-five Stealing Cinderella. "Country radio has been so supportive of me this year and I'm happy to be able to be back again and be a part of these special announcements."
2009 CMA Awards Set to Air Live Nov. 11 on ABC-TV with Country Star Co-Hosts
Each year, CMA Awards nominees and winners are determined by the 6,000-plus industry professional members of CMA, which was the first trade organization formed to promote an individual genre of music in 1958.
The Nov. 11, 2009, awards show, which will be broadcast live from Nashville's Sommet Center and carried on ABC-TV, will feature 2008 Male Vocalist of the Year Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, the reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year and 2008 CMA Female Vocalist of the Year, as event co-hosts.
Country Fans View Annuall Country Awards Show in Record Numbers
According to CMA officials, the 2008 awards broadcast from Nashville was held during November sweeps and ranked behind only the Academy Awards and Grammy Awards during the 2008-2009 season for awards shows among total viewers, with some 15.9 million tuned in.
Lisa L. Rollins - Texas native Lisa L. Rollins, Ph.D., is an award-winning feature writer, interviewer and journalism educator.
