NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED TODAY FOR "THE 40TH ANNUAL CMA AWARDS," AIRING LIVE, NOVEMBER 6 ON ABC

Brooks & Dunn and Brad Paisley Lead Nominees with Six Nominations Each

Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban and Newcomer Carrie Underwood Receive Four Nominations

Rascal Flatts and Dolly Parton Score Three Nominations Each

Nominees in select categories for The 40th annual CMA Awards were announced today live on "Good Morning America" in their New York studio by singer Jennifer Nettles of the double platinum-selling group, Sugarland, and five-time CMA Award winner Brad Paisley. The 12 awards will be presented during "The 40th annual CMA Awards" telecast on MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6 (8:00-11:00 p.m., ET), airing for the first time on the ABC Television Network. Country Music's biggest night will be broadcast live from the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, and will be hosted for the third year by Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn of super duo Brooks & Dunn.

Nominations for the CMA Awards are in 12 categories -- Entertainer of the Year, Single of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Vocal Group of the Year, Vocal Duo of the Year, Musical Event of the Year, Musician of the Year, Music Video of the Year and the Horizon Award -- which is given to the artist with the most significant creative and career growth.

"Today is one of the most exciting days of the year, not just for Country Music but for ABC, as we plan our inaugural broadcast of the CMA Awards," said Andrea Wong, executive vice president, Alternative Series, Specials and Late-Night, ABC Entertainment. "We congratulate the incredible lineup of nominees whose talent reflects all the best and brightest in all of music today, and we look forward to celebrating with them and our partners in Country Music this November."

"Country Music is thriving on the talent and creativity of an outstanding group of artists, and they are well represented with our nominees," said CMA Chief Operating Officer Tammy Genovese. "These talented performers, musicians, songwriters, producers and directors demonstrate the artistic depth and creativity driving the growth of our format this year. It is an exciting time for Country Music, and the 2006 CMA Awards will definitely reflect that in November."

The list of nominees, many of whom will attend the ceremonies either as presenters or as performers, follows:

Entertainer of the Year: Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban

Single of the Year (award goes to artist and producer): "Believe" (Brooks & Dunn), "Better Life" (Keith Urban), "Jesus Take the Wheel" (Carrie Underwood), "Summertime" (Kenny Chesney), "When I Get Where I'm Going" (Brad Paisley, featuring Dolly Parton)

Album of the Year (award goes to artist and producer): "Hillbilly Deluxe" (Brooks & Dunn), "Me and My Gang" (Rascal Flatts), "Precious Memories" (Alan Jackson), "The Road and the Radio" (Kenny Chesney), "Time Well Wasted" ( Brad Paisley)

Song of the Year (award goes to the songwriter and primary publisher): "8th of November" (Big Kenny/John Rich), "Believe" (Craig Wiseman/Ronnie Dunn), "Jesus Take the Wheel" (Hillary Lindsey/Brett James/Gordie Sampson), "Tonight I Wanna Cry"(Keith Urban/Monty Powell), "When I Get Where I'm Going" (Rivers Rutherford/George Teren)

Female Vocalist of the Year: Sara Evans, Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Carrie Underwood, Gretchen Wilson

Male Vocalist of the Year: Dierks Bentley, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban

Vocal Group of the Year: Alison Krauss + Union Station, featuring Jerry Douglas; Little Big Town, Lonestar, Rascal Flatts, Sugarland

Vocal Duo of the Year: Big & Rich, Brooks & Dunn, Montgomery Gentry, Van Zant, The Wreckers

Musical Event of the Year: "Building Bridges" (Brooks & Dunn, with guest vocals by Sheryl Crow and Vince Gill), "Like We Never Loved at All" (Faith Hill featuring Tim McGraw), "Politically Uncorrect" (Gretchen Wilson, featuring Merle Haggard), "When I Get Where I'm Going" (Brad Paisley, featuring Dolly Parton). "Who Says You Can't Go Home" (Bon Jovi duet with Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland)

Musician of the ar: Eddie Bayers (Drums), Jerry Douglas (Dobro), Paul Franklin (Steel Guitar), Dann Huff (Guitar), Brent Mason (Guitar/Electric Guitar), Randy Scruggs (Guitar)

Music Video of the Year (award goes to artist and director): "8th of November" (Big & Rich), "Believe" (Brooks & Dunn), "Jesus Take the Wheel" (Carrie Underwood), "Kerosene" (Miranda Lambert), "When I Get Where I'm Going" (Brad Paisley, featuring Dolly Parton)

Horizon Award: Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Sugarland, Josh Turner, Carrie Underwood

Brad Paisley didn't simply deliver the good news, he was one of the major stories of the day with six nominations for the 2006 CMA Awards, including Entertainer, Male Vocalist, Album for "Time Well Wasted," and Single, Musical Event and Music Video of the Year for "When I Get Where I'm Going" (featuring Dolly Parton). Having won five CMA Awards since he won the Horizon Award in 2000, Paisley tied for the most nominations with CMA Awards hosts Brooks & Dunn (Ronnie Dunn has a total of seven nominations, six with Brooks & Dunn and one individual as songwriter). Paisley's six nominations bring his career total to thirty-three, moving him ahead of music legends Chet Atkins, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Conway Twitty in the nominations count.

The CMA Awards nominees and winners are determined by the 6,000 industry professional members of CMA, which was the first trade organization formed to promote an individual genre of music in 1958. The first CMA Awards Banquet and Show was held in 1967. The following year the CMA Awards were broadcast for the first time, making it the longest running, annual music awards program on network television.

Winners of The 40th Annual CMA Awards will be determined in the third and final round of voting by eligible voting members of the Country Music Association. CMA Awards balloting is officiated by the international accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

"The 40th Annual CMA Awards" is a production of the Country Music Association. Walter C. Miller is the executive producer and Robert Deaton is the consulting producer.