Cranking out news for the geeks, music buffs and gossip junkies, my way. -Greg

 Knowing I’m a big Kenny Chesney fan I’ve had quite a few people ask me, “What’s the name of the Kenny Chesney song with Dave Matthews?” I didn’t realize I guess how popular Dave Matthews is and he’s actually pretty good too. “I’m Alive” is a very good song and I think the both compliment each other very well for that song. I’ll be joining the rest in looking forward to the performance at the CMA’s. Who am I kidding, I was already looking forward to it! – Greg

Dave Matthews will perform with Kenny Chesney on the 43rd annual CMA Awards, event organizers announced Monday (Oct. 19). It marks Matthews’ first appearance on the show that will include several previously-announced performers, including Jason Aldean, Brooks & Dunn, Billy Currington, Vince Gill and Daughtry, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker, George Strait, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood and the Zac Brown Band. Chesney co-wrote “I’m Alive” with Dean Dillon and Mark Tamburino. The song was first recorded by Willie Nelson, but Chesney and Matthews recorded their version for Chesney’s Lucky Old Sun album. It also appears on Chesney’s Greatest Hits II and has already climbed to No. 8 on the Billboard country songs chart.

When Kenny Chesney says “Obviously, I want to win Entertainer. But looking at all of this, thinking about everything we’ve been, everything we’ve seen and done, in some ways I’ve already won because look at the memories we made. To me, that’s the best thing we can do: give the fans music and memories worth remembering.” He’s got plenty of reason to say it!  His music, shows, and style is what captures me and the millions of other fans, this combined gives everyone great memories and I can’t wait to make more! -Greg

When the CMA nominations were announced yesterday, Kenny walked away with nods for Entertainer, Male Vocalist and Vocal Event with good friend Mac McAnally for their multiple week #1 “Down The Road.” “It’s funny,” admitted the man who’s also won the CMA Album of the Year for When the Sun Goes Down, “but the more you do this, the more those nominations mean. You realize what it takes to receive an honor like this – especially from your peers who make it happen and know the work and commitment it takes. You’ve got to be humbled knowing what you do is recognized. For me, the last 8 years has been about how do we make it mean more, give people all the things I wanted from the artists I loved growing up… so that when they look back, this music, these nights are something they’re gonna be proud to remember their youth by.” “Obviously, I want to win Entertainer. But looking at all of this, thinking about everything we’ve been, everything we’ve seen and done, in some ways I’ve already won because look at the memories we made. To me, that’s the best thing we can do: give the fans music and memories worth remembering.”

Nominations Announced in New York and Nashville

September 9, 2009; Written by Calvin Gilbert

Brad Paisley

With six nominations, Brad Paisley emerged as the frontrunner when the nominees for the 43rd annual CMA Awards were announced Wednesday (Sept. 9) in New York and Nashville. Keith Urban, Jamey Johnson, George Strait, Taylor Swift and Zac Brown each received four nominations.

Darius Rucker and Lee Ann Womack announced the final nominees in five of the 12 categories during a telecast Good Morning America at the ABC News studios in New York’s Times Square. Randy Houser announced the candidates in the other categories at CMT’s studios in Nashville on Insider Special Edition: 2009 CMA Awards Nominations, hosted by CMT personalities Cody Alan and Alecia Davis.

Rucker, once primarily known as the lead vocalist for Hootie & the Blowfish, picked up his first CMA nominations as a solo country artist. He’s nominated in the new artist and male vocalist categories. Womack and Strait share a nomination for musical event of the year for “Everything but Quits,” a duet featured on her Call Me Crazy album.

In addition to nominations for entertainer of the year and male vocalist, Paisley received an album of the year nomination for American Saturday Night and single and song of the year nominations for “Then,” the single he co-wrote with Chris DuBois and Ashley Gorley. Paisley’s collaboration with Keith Urban on “Start a Band” netted a music video of the year nomination for them and director Jim Shea.

Urban’s other nominations include entertainer of the year, male vocalist and album of the year (for Defying Gravity). Urban could potentially win a second trophy in the album of the year category for co-producing the project with Dann Huff.

Strait also received nominations for entertainer of the year and male vocalist, along with music video of the year for “Troubadour,” directed by Trey Fanjoy. Strait and Womack won the CMA’s musical event honor in 2005 for their collaboration on “Good News, Bad News.”

Swift’s four nominations include her first for the coveted entertainer of the year prize. She is also nominated for female vocalist and music video of the year (the latter for “Love Story,” directed by Fanjoy.) Aside from an artist nomination in the album of the year field, Swift could receive a second trophy for co-producing Fearless with Nathan Chapman.

Johnson, a new artist nominee, is also up for single and song of the year for “In Color” and album of the year for That Lonesome Song. He won a CMA song of the year award in 2007 for his work with co-writers Bill Anderson and Buddy Cannon on Strait’s hit, “Give It Away.”

Brown received his first CMA nominations Wednesday. The Zac Brown Band is included in the new artist and vocal group categories. The band’s hit single, “Chicken Fried,” is nominated for single of the year, and Brown garnered an extra nomination for co-writing the song with Wyatt Durrette.

This year’s CMA Awards will be broadcast live Nov. 11 from Nashville’s Sommet Center. Paisley and Carrie Underwood will return for a second year to host the ABC telecast.