Nominations Announced for the 40TH ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS

Nominations Announced for the 40TH ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS

Telecast to Air Live From Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas Tuesday, May 17th at 8:00 PM ET/PT on CBS

Tim McGraw Leads With Six Nominations; Kenny Chesney, Alison Krauss and Gretchen Wilson Receive Five Nominations Each; Toby Keith, Brad Paisley and Keith Urban Receive Four Nominations Each; Big & Rich, Rascal Flatts and Lee Ann Womack Receive Three Nominations

NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Nominations have been announced for the 40th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS. Winners will receive their awards during a star-studded event to be broadcast LIVE from the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. The ceremony, which honors country music's top talent as well as the industry's hottest emerging talent, will be broadcast on Tuesday, May 17th, 2005 at 8:00 PM ET/PT on CBS Television Network.

This morning Tim McGraw led with six nominations. He is also nominated in two of these categories as Producer. Kenny Chesney, Alison Krauss and Gretchen Wilson, a first time nominee, all received five nominations each. Krauss is nominated for five awards this year, four for her duet with Brad Paisley and one with Union Station for Top Vocal Group. Chesney is also nominated in two categories for producer.

Toby Keith, Brad Paisley and Keith Urban received four nominations each. Toby Keith is recognized as co-writer for "American Soldier" and Keith Urban is recognized in two of these categories as Producer. Big & Rich, also first time nominees, Rascal Flatts and Lee Ann Womack are up for three awards. John Rich has received two additional nominations as associate producer of "Redneck Woman" (nominated for Single Record of the Year) and "Here For The Party" (nominated for Album of the Year). Rascal Flatts also received a producer nomination in the Single Record of the Year category.

The nominees were announced at a press conference held today at the Renaissance Hotel in Nashville. Participating in the press conference was country music superstar and twice consecutive/current Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year, TOBY KEITH.

DIAMOND RIO, NEAL McCOY and BRAD PAISLEY were nominated for the 4th annual Academy of Country Music / Home Depot Humanitarian Award. Known as the first "Fan-Voted" award in the Academy's history, this honor salutes an artist or group in the country music industry who is committed to serving others, has a generosity of spirit and a dedication to helping build the dreams of those in need. The recipient of The Home Depot Humanitarian Award will have a community playground built in a city of their choice through the efforts of The Home Depot and KaBOOM!, a non-profit organization that brings together volunteers to build a much-needed playground in one-day "barn-raising" construction events.

Members of the Academy of Country Music select the nominees and winners of the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS. Presenters and performers who will appear on the special will be announced at a later date.

Following is the list of final nominees in the 11 categories voted on by the membership. Winners in each of the following categories will be presented with an ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARD during the television broadcast:

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR BROOKS & DUNN KENNY CHESNEY TOBY KEITH TIM McGRAW KEITH URBAN

TOP MALE VOCALIST KENNY CHESNEY ALAN JACKSON TOBY KEITH TIM McGRAW KEITH URBAN

TOP FEMALE VOCALIST TERRI CLARK SARA EVANS MARTINA McBRIDE GRETCHEN WILSON LEE ANN WOMACK

TOP NEW ARTIST BIG & RICH JOSH GRACIN JULIE ROBERTS JOSH TURNER GRETCHEN WILSON

TOP VOCAL GROUP ALISON KRAUSS & UNION STATION DIAMOND RIO LONESTAR RASCAL FLATTS THE NOTORIOUS CHERRY BOMBS

TOP VOCAL DUO BIG & RICH BLUE COUNTY BROOKS & DUNN MONTGOMERY GENTRY THE WARREN BROTHERS

SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company] BLESS THE BROKEN ROAD RASCAL FLATTS PRODUCERS: MARK BRIGHT, MARTY WILLIAMS, RASCAL FLATTS LYRIC STREET RECORDS

DAYS GO BY KEITH URBAN PRODUCERS: DANN HUFF & KEITH URBAN CAPITOL RECORDS NASHVILLE

I MAY HATE MYSELF IN THE MORNING LEE ANN WOMACK PRODUCER: BYRON GALLIMORE MCA NASHVILLE

LIVE LIKE YOU WERE DYING TIM MCGRAW PRODUCERS: TIM McGRAW, BYRON GALLIMORE, DARRAN SMITH CURB RECORDS

REDNECK WOMAN GRETCHEN WILSON PRODUCERS: MARK WRIGHT & JOE SCAIFE ASSOCIATE PRODUCER: JOHN RICH EPIC

WHISKEY LULLABY BRAD PAISLEY (FEATURING ALISON KRAUSS) PRODUCER: FRANK ROGERS ARISTA NASHVILLE

SONG OF THE YEAR [Award to Composer(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)] AMERICAN SOLDIER WRITERS: TOBY KEITH & CHUCK CANNON TOKECO TUNES (BMI); WACISSA RIVER MUSIC, INC. (BMI) (ADMINISTERED BY BPJ ADMINISTRATION) TOBY KEITH

BLESS THE BROKEN ROAD WRITERS: MARCUS HUMMON, BOBBY BOYD, JEFF HANNA CAREERS-BMG MUSIC PUBLISHING, INC. (BMI) / FLOYD'S DREAM MUSIC (BMI) ALL RIGHTS FOR THE U.S. ON BEHALF OF FLOYD'S DREAM MUSIC ADMIN. BY CAREERS-BMG MUSIC PUBLISHING, JEFF DIGGS MUSIC (BMI) JEFF DIGGS MUSIC ADMIN. Y BUG MUSIC RASCAL FLATTS

I MAY HATE MYSELF IN THE MORNING WRITER: ODIE BLACKMON CAL IV SONGS, ADMIN BY CAL IV ENTERTAINMENT, LLC (ASCAP) LEE ANN WOMACK

LIVE LIKE YOU WERE DYING WRITERS: CRAIG WISEMAN & TIM NICHOLS BIG LOUD SHIRT (ASCAP) ICG/WARNER (BMI) TIM MCGRAW

WHISKEY LULLABY WRITERS: BILL ANDERSON & JON RANDALL SONY/ATV TREE PUBLISHING CO/MR. BUBBA MUSIC, INC. ADMIN BY SONY ATV MUSIC PUB (BMI)/ REYNSONGPUB CORP. AMIN BY WRENSONG WHA YA SAY MUSIC ADMIN BY WRENSONG (BMI) BRAD PAISLEY (FEATURING ALISON KRAUSS)

ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company] BE HERE KEITH URBAN PRODUCERS: DANN HUFF & KEITH URBAN CAPITOL RECORDS NASHVILLE

HERE FOR THE PARTY GRETCHEN WILSON PRODUCERS: MARK WRIGHT & JOE SCAIFE ASSOCIATE PRODUCER: JOHN RICH EPIC

LIVE LIKE YOU WERE DYING TIM MCGRAW PRODUCERS: TIM McGRAW, BYRON GALLIMOR, DARRAN SMITH CURB RECORDS

RESTLESS SARA EVANS PRODUCERS: SARA EVANS & PAUL WORLEY THE RCA RECORDS LABEL

WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN KENNY CHESNEY PRODUCERS: BUDDY CANNON & KENNY CHESNEY BNA RECORDS

VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company] CREEPIN' IN NORAH JONES AND DOLLY PARTON PRODUCED BY: ARIF MARDIN AND NORAH JONES BLUE NOTE/ CAPITOL RECORDS NASHVILLE

HEY GOOD LOOKIN' JIMMY BUFFET WITH CLINT BLACK, KENNY CHESNEY, ALAN JACKSON, TOBY KEITH AND GEORGE STRAIT PRODUCED BY: MICHAEL UTLEY & MAC MCANALLY THE RCA RECORDS LABEL NASHVILLE

PARTY FOR TWO SHANIA TWAIN WITH BILLY CURRINGTON PRODUCED BY: ROBERT "MUTT" LANGE MERCURY RECORDS

WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN KENNY CHESNEY (DUET WITH UNCLE KRACKER) PRODUCED BY: BUDDY CANNON & KENNY CHESNEY BNA RECORDS

WHISKEY LULLABY BRAD PAISLEY (FEATURING ALISON KRAUSS) PRODUCED BY: FRANK ROGERS ARISTA NASHVILLE

VIDEO OF THE YEAR [Award to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)] GIRLS LIE TOO PRODUCER: ROBIN RUCKER DIRECTOR: SHAUN SILVA ARTIST: TERRI CLARK

LIVE LIKE YOU WERE DYING PRODUCER: SHERMAN HALSEY DIRECTOR: SHERMAN HALSEY ARTIST: TIM McGRAW

REDNECK WOMAN PRODUCER: ANASTASIA SPENCER DIRECTOR: DAVID HOGAN ARTIST: GRETCHEN WILSON

SAVE A HORSE (RIDE A COWBOY) PRODUCER: ROBERT DEATON, GEORGE FLANIGEN, MARC OSWALD, STEVE LAMAR DIRECTOR: DAVID HOGAN ARTIST: BIG & RICH

WHISKEY LULLABY PRODUCER: DON LEPORE DIRECTOR: RICK SCHRODER BRAD PAISLEY( FEATURING ALISON KRAUSS)

The Academy of Country Music was founded in 1964 with a mission to support, promote and enhance the advancement of the country music industry worldwide. The Academy is best known for presenting its annual ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, which are televised live on CBS and honor excellence among the industry's brightest stars. The Academy, which is comprised of 3,800+ professional members and a newly established Associate Membership, is headquartered in Burbank, CA. For more information on the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS and the Academy of Country Music, please visit www.acmcountry.com.

THE ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS

The ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS is produced for television by dick clark productions. The show is executive produced by Dick Clark and R.A. Clark, and produced by Barry Adelman. The executive in charge of production is Bob Bardo, and the executive in charge is Fran LaMaina.

Southwest Airlines is the official airline of the Academy of Country Music Awards.

The ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS will be broadcast LIVE on CBS Tuesday, May 17th, 2005 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.

FAST FACTS

2005 ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS NOMINEES

* Toby Keith is the reigning Top Male Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year. If he wins Entertainer of the Year this year, it will be the third year in a row.

* Tim McGraw is the 2005 leading nominee with 6 nominations. He is also nominated in two of these categories as Producer.

* Both Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney are up for Entertainer of the Year. If either wins, they will then be honored with the Merle Haggard Award, which recognizes the academy's triple-crown winners of Entertainer of the Year, Top New Male and Top Male.

* Brooks & Dunn is up for Top Vocal Duo. They have won this title 11 times in the past and if they win this would be their 5th consecutive win in this category.

* Gretchen Wilson, a first time nominee, has received 5 nominations.

* Big & Rich, also first time nominees, are up for 3 awards. John Rich has also received two additional nominations as associate producer of "Redneck Woman" (nominated for Single Record of the Year) and "Here For The Party" (nominated for Album of the Year).

* If Martina McBride wins Top Female Vocalist, it will be her 4th straight win in that category.

* Alison Krauss is nominated for 5 awards this year, 4 for her duet with Brad Paisley and one with Union Station for Top Vocal Group.

* Kenny Chesney is nominated twice in the Vocal Event of the Year category for "When the Sun Goes Down," and "Hey Good Lookin'."

* First time nominees also include Norah Jones (up for Vocal Event of the Year as artist for her duet with Dolly Parton as well as producer), Josh Gracin, Julie Roberts, Uncle Kracker and Union Station.

* If Rascal Flatts wins the Top Vocal Group category it will be their third straight win in that category.

Source: Academy of Country Music

CONTACT: Brooke Primero of BNC, +1-310-854-4800, for the Academy of Country Music

Web site: http://www.acmcountry.com/

------- Profile: Ent