Faith Hill and Brad Paisley picked up six nominations, followed closely by Lee Ann Womack and the Dixie Chicks with five, when finalists for the 34th annual Country Music Association Awards were announced by Womack and Lonestar Tuesday (August 2) in Nashville.

Hill, who did not win a CMA award last year, is up for Entertainer and Female Vocalist of the Year. "Breathe" is up for Single of the Year and Music Video of the Year and the album of the same name is up for Album of the Year. Hill and husband Tim McGraw share a nomination for Vocal Event of the Year, for their duet recording of "Let's Make Love." "Breathe" also is up for Song of the Year, an award that would go to the song's writers, Holly Lamar and Stephanie Bentley.

Paisley, whose first album, Who Needs Pictures, came out just over a year ago, earned nominations for Male Vocalist of the Year and Horizon Award. Who Needs Pictures is up for Album of the Year and "He Didn't Have to Be" is up for Single, Song and Video of the Year. Paisley wrote the song with Kelley Lovelace.

Womack will compete for Female Vocalist of the Year, and "I Hope You Dance," recorded with Sons of the Desert, is up for Single, Video and Vocal Event of the Year. The album, I Hope You Dance, will vie for Album of the Year. As writers of "I Hope You Dance," Mark D. Sanders and Tia Sellers share a nomination for Song of the Year.

The Dixie Chicks, in the middle of their first national tour, and winners of three CMA awards last year, also had five nominations. They qualified for Entertainer of the Year, Vocal Group of the Year, Album of the Year (for Fly), Music Video of the Year (for the controversial "Goodbye Earl") and Vocal Event of the Year, for their collaboration with Asleep at the Wheel on "Roly Poly." The popular group did not draw a nod for Single of the Year, where "Cowboy Take Me Away" and "Goodbye Earl" were in the running.

George Strait has nominations for Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year, and his duet with Alan Jackson, "Murder on Music Row," is up for Vocal Event of the Year. "Murder on Music Row" also is nominated for Song of the Year, an honor that would go to writers Larry Cordle and Larry Shell. Jackson's collection of covers, Under the Influence, is nominated for Album of the Year, and Jackson is up for Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year.

In addition to the nomination he shares with Hill, McGraw is up for Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year. Toby Keith's "How Do You Like Me Now" pulled nods for Single of the Year and Music Video of the Year. Trisha Yearwood is nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year.

The 34th Annual CMA Awards will be broadcast live by CBS-TV at 8 p.m. ET on Oct. 4 from the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. "The CMA Awards are country music's biggest night and it is the most anticipated event of the year in country music," said CMA Executive Director Ed Benson this morning.

Vince Gill will host. "He's quick on his feet," said Walter Miller, director and producer of the TV show for 30 years. This morning's announcements were made at the Stadium Club at Adelphia Coliseum, home of the Tennessee Titans. Paisley announced finalists for Station of the Year and Broadcast Personality of the Year in country radio.