Nominations Announced for '2005 CMT Music Awards'
With seven acts receiving multiple nominations, there was no clear leader when the final nominees for the 2005 CMT Music Awards were unveiled Wednesday (March 16) in Nashville.
Female video of the year nominee Terri Clark announced the nominations during a press conference at the Gaylord Entertainment Center, the site of the April 11 awards show to be telecast live on CMT. The final nominees were determined by CMT viewers voting online at CMT.com.
The announcement reflects the final nominations in all categories except video of the year. Although the video of the year nominees' list has been trimmed to eight titles, the four finalists will be announced during the awards show. During the live telecast, fans will determine the winner of the big prize by online voting at CMT.com.
Newcomers Big & Rich and Gretchen Wilson are among the artists nabbing the greatest number of nominations. Other top nominees include Toby Keith, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw, Keith Urban and Kenny Chesney.
The nominees include at least two intriguing names -- Rick Schroder and Nelly.
Schroder, an actor perhaps best known for his TV role in NYPD Blue, is nominated for video director of the year for his work with Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss in their "Whiskey Lullaby" video. "Whiskey Lullaby" is one of the eight clips that could make its way to the four finalists for video of the year.
Nelly and McGraw are nominated for collaborative video of the year for "Over and Over," a track from the pop-rap artist's Suit album.
Comedian Jeff Foxworthy is set to host the awards show telecast that will include performances by Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire, Chesney, Keith, Paisley, Big & Rich, Urban, Wilson and others. Country music icon Loretta Lynn is expected to attend the show to accept CMT's Johnny Cash Visionary Award.
The 2005 CMT Music Awards, country music's only fan-voted awards show, is the only major country awards show taking place in Nashville this year. Tickets are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 615-255-9600 and online at CMT.com and ticketmaster.com.
