ACM Honors Announced

My congratulations go out to ALL the award winners, but please notice "GUITARIST OF THE YEAR – J.T. Corenflos" in the list of musicians.  J.T. does all the recording work for me in Nashville.  He's a great guy to work with and easily, one of the most talented and creative musicians I've ever had the pleasure of working with.

Congratulations JT!  CM

The Academy of Country Music’s ACM Honors winners will be feted at an event held on Sept. 10 in Nashville. This year’s honorees are:

Keith Whitley and The Judds, recipients of the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award. This award honors individuals who are pioneers in the country music genre. Past recipients of the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award include Alabama, Garth Brooks, Johnny Cash, Charlie Daniels, Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, George Jones, Brenda Lee, Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson, The Oak Ridge Boys, Dolly Parton, Charley Pride, Jerry Reed, Tex Ritter, Marty Robbins, Kenny Rogers, Billy Sherrill, Ricky Skaggs, Mel Tillis, Randy Travis, Conway Twitty, Porter Wagoner, Hank Williams, Hank Williams Jr., Bob Wills and Dwight Yoakam, among others.

Jason Aldean, recipient of the Crystal Milestone Award. This award is given to an artist or industry leader to commemorate a specific, remarkable achievement.Past recipients of the Crystal Milestone Award include Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney, Gayle Holcomb, Jennifer Nettles and Taylor Swift.

Blake Shelton has been chosen to receive the Gene Weed Special Achievement Award, which acknowledges unprecedented, unique and outstanding individual achievement in country music. Past recipients of the Gene Weed Special Achievement Award include Garth Brooks, George Burns, Jeff Foxworthy, Willie Nelson and George Strait.

Lady Antebellum has been chosen to receive the Jim Reeves International Award, which is presented to an artist for outstanding contributions to the acceptance of country music throughout the world. Past recipients of the Jim Reeves International Award include Garth Brooks, Dick Clark, Roy Clark, Merv Griffin, Alan Jackson, Charlie Nagatani, Buck Owens, Dolly Parton, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban, among others.

Tommy Wiggins has been chosen as the recipient of the Mae Boren Axton Award, which is given in recognition of years of dedication and service by an outstanding individual to the Academy of Country Music. Past recipients of the Mae Boren Axton Award include John Dorris, Rod Essig, Gayle Holcomb, Jack Lameier, Marge Meoli, Ray Pilzak, Gaynelle Pitts, Gene Weed and David Young.

Guy Clark and Hank Williams have been selected to receive the Poet’s Award, which honors songwriters for outstanding musical and/or lyrical contributions throughout their careers in the field of country music. Previous recipients of the Poet’s Award include Bill Anderson, Bobby Braddock, Hank Cochran, Merle Haggard, Tom T. Hall, Harlan Howard, Roger Miller, Fred Rose, Don Schlitz and Cindy Walker.

Additional ACM Honors awards include:

INDUSTRY AWARDS:

CASINO OF THE YEAR – Red Rock Casino & Resort – Las Vegas
NIGHTCLUB OF THE YEAR – Joe’s Bar – Chicago
VENUE OF THE YEAR – Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, Tenn.
DON ROMEO TALENT BUYER OF THE YEAR – Jerry Hufford – Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace
PROMOTER OF THE YEAR – Ed Warm – Joe’s Bar

MBI (MUSICIAN, BANDLEADER, INSTRUMENTALIST) AWARDS:

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR – Jay Joyce
AUDIO ENGINEER OF THE YEAR – Chuck Ainlay
BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Jimmie Lee Sloas
PERCUSSIONIST/DRUMMER OF THE YEAR – Matt Chamberlain
FIDDLE PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Aubrey Haynie
GUITARIST OF THE YEAR – J.T. Corenflos
PIANO/KEYBOARDS PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Michael Rojas
SPECIALTY INSTRUMENT(S) PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Ilya Toshinsky
STEEL GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Mike Johnson

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR AWARD:

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR – Dallas Davidson

45th Annual CMA Award Winners

Entertainer of the Year Jason Aldean Brad Paisley Blake Shelton Taylor Swift Keith Urban

Female Vocalist of the Year Sara Evans Miranda Lambert Martina McBride Carrie Underwood Taylor Swift

Male Vocalist of the Year Jason Aldean Kenny Chesney Brad Paisley Blake Shelton Keith Urban

New Artist of the Year The Band Perry Luke Bryan Eric Church Thompson Square Chris Young

Music Video of the Year “Honey Bee” Blake Shelton, Directed by Trey Fanjoy “If I Die Young” The Band Perry, Directed by David McClister “Mean” Taylor Swift, Directed by Declan Whitebloom “Old Alabama” Brad Paisley featuring Alabama, Directed by Jim Shea “You and Tequila” Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter, Directed by Shaun Silva

Musical Event of the Year “As She’s Walking Away” Zac Brown Band featuring Alan Jackson, Southern Ground Artists/Atlantic Records “Coal Miner’s Daughter” Loretta Lynn, Sheryl Crow, and Miranda Lambert, Columbia Records Nashville “Don’t You Wanna Stay” Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson, Broken Bow Records “Old Alabama” Brad Paisley featuring Alabama, Arista Nashville “You and Tequila” Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter, BNA Records

Vocal Group of the Year The Band Perry Lady Antebellum Little Big Town Rascal Flatts Zac Brown Band

Album of the Year (Award to Artist and Producer(s)) All About Tonight, Blake Shelton, Produced by Scott Hendricks, Warner Bros. Nashville My Kinda Party, Jason Aldean, Produced by Michael Knox, Broken Bow Records Speak Now, Taylor Swift, Produced by Nathan Chapman and Taylor Swift, Big Machine Records This Is Country Music, Brad Paisley, Produced by Frank Rogers, Arista Nashville You Get What You Give, Zac Brown Band, Produced by Keith Stegall and Zac Brown, Southern Ground Artists/Atlantic Records

Vocal Duo of the Year Civil Wars Montgomery Gentry Steel Magnolia Sugarland Thompson Square

Song of the Year “Colder Weather,” Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette, Levi Lowrey, and Coy Bowles “Dirt Road Anthem,” Brantley Gilbert and Colt Ford “If I Die Young,” Kimberly Perry “Mean,” Taylor Swift “You and Tequila,” Matraca Berg and Deana Carter

Single of the Year (Award goes to Artist and Producer(s)) “A Little Bit Stronger” Sara Evans, Produced by Tony Brown, RCA Nashville “Colder Weather” Zac Brown Band, Produced by Keith Stegall and Zac Brown, Southern Ground Artists/Atlantic Records “Don’t You Wanna Stay” Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson, Produced by Michael Knox, Broken Bow Records “Honey Bee” Blake Shelton, Produced by Scott Hendricks, Warner Bros. Nashville “If I Die Young” The Band Perry, Produced by Paul Worley, Republic Nashville

Musician of the Year Sam Bush – Mandolin Jerry Douglas – Dobro Paul Franklin – Steel Guitar Dann Huff – Guitar Mac McAnally – Guitar

Congratulations to the 2011 CMT Award Nominees

The final nominees in each of the 2011 CMT MUSIC AWARDS categories include: VIDEO OF THE YEAR Best video of the year; awarded to the artist (male, female, group/duo or collaboration) and the video director. Final nominees announced during live telecast, with final voting held online at CMT.com during the show.

• Jason Aldean– “My Kinda Party”
• Kenny Chesney– “The Boys Of Fall”
• Lady Antebellum– “Hello World”
• Miranda Lambert– “The House That Built Me”
• Rascal Flatts– “Why Wait”
• Sugarland– “Stuck Like Glue”
• Taylor Swift– “Mine”
• The Band Perry– “If I Die Young”
• Carrie Underwood– “Undo It”
• Zac Brown Band– “Colder Weather”

MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR Best video by a male artist; awarded to the artist

• Jason Aldean– “My Kinda Party”
• Kenny Chesney– “The Boys Of Fall”
• Toby Keith– “Bullets In The Gun”
• Blake Shelton– “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking”
• Keith Urban– “Without You”

FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR Best video by a female artist; awarded to the artist

• Sara Evans– “A Little Bit Stronger”
• Miranda Lambert– “The House That Built Me”
• Reba – “Turn On The Radio”
• Taylor Swift– “Mine”
• Carrie Underwood– “Undo It”

GROUP VIDEO OF THE YEAR Best video by a group; awarded to the artists

• Lady Antebellum– “Hello World”
• Little Big Town– “Little White Church”
• Rascal Flatts– “Why Wait”
• The Band Perry– “If I Die Young”
• Zac Brown Band– “Colder Weather”

DUO VIDEO OF THE YEAR Best video by a duo; awarded to the artists

• Steel Magnolia– “Last Night Again”
• Sugarland– “Stuck Like Glue”
• The Civil Wars– “Barton Hollow”
• The JaneDear Girls– “Wildflower”
• Thompson Square– “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not”

USAWEEKEND BREAKTHROUGH VIDEO OF THE YEAR Best video from an artist’s major breakthrough album; awarded to the artist (male, female, or group/duo)

• Lee Brice– “Love Like Crazy”
• Aaron Lewis – “Country Boy”
• Jerrod Niemann– “Lover, Lover”
• The Band Perry– “If I Die Young”
• Thompson Square– “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not”

COLLABORATIVE VIDEO OF THE YEAR Best video that featured a special collaborative appearance by artists; awarded to the artists (individual, group or duo)

• Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson– “Don’t You Wanna Stay”
• Justin Bieberfeat. Rascal Flatts – “That Should Be Me”
• Kid Rock feat. Sheryl Crow– “Collide”
• Aaron Lewis feat. George Jones and Charlie Daniels– “Country Boy”
• Loretta Lynn, Miranda Lambert and Sheryl Crow– “Coal Miner’s Daughter”

CMT PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR Musical performance on a television show, series or variety special on CMT; awarded to the artist (individual, group or duo)

• Martina McBride and Train– “A Broken Wing” from CMT CROSSROADS: TRAIN AND MARTINA MCBRIDE
• Reba– “If I Were A Boy” from UNPLUGGED: REBA
• Darius Rucker and Adele– “Need You Now” from 2010 CMT ARTISTS OF THE YEAR
• Keith Urban and John Mayer– “Sweet Thing” from CMT CROSSROADS: JOHN MAYER AND KEITH URBAN
• Zac Brown Band and Jimmy Buffett– “Margaritaville” from CMT CROSSROADS: JIMMY BUFFETT AND ZAC BROWN BAND

BEST WEB VIDEO OF THE YEAR (New for 2011) Best video created primarily for internet streaming; awarded to the artist (individual, group or duo)

• Jason Aldean–“My Kinda Party” (Live From The CMT Webcast)
• Luke Bryan–“It’s A Shore Thing”
• Lady Antebellum–“Stars Tonight”
• Blake Shelton–“Kiss My Country Ass”
• Taylor Swift–“Mine” (Live from the Speak Now Album Release Party)

VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR Best video director of the year; awarded to the director for his or her body of work from the past year

• Deaton Flanigen (award eligible videos include: Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow’s “Collide” and the JaneDear Girl’s “Wildflower”)
• Trey Fanjoy (award eligible videos include: Miranda Lambert’s “The House That Built Me” and Blake Shelton’s “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking”)
• Chris Hicky (award eligible videos include: Carrie Underwood’s “Undo It” and Keith Urban’s “Without You”)
• David McClister (award eligible videos include: The Band Perry’s “If I Die Young” and LeAnn Rimes’ “Swingin’”)
• Roman White (award eligible videos include: Lady Antebellum’s “Hello World” and Kellie Pickler’s “Makin’ Me Fall In Love Again”)