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A move to New York didn’t give the Country Music Association Awards the boost in ratings they had hoped for.

Ratings for New York alone did increase — up 29 percent to 5.4, compared with 4.2 last year.

But, overall the CMAs reported 36 million viewers watched all or part of the three-hour awards show on CBS, down from 37 million last year and 40 million in 2003, reports FoxNews.com.

CBS said the average number of viewers this year was about 17.73 million.

“The biggest thing that made the difference from last year was the weather system in the middle of the country,” CMA Executive Director Ed Benson said.

“A string of tornadoes hit right at show time. Nashville was down 22 percent. Cincinnati was down 13 percent. There was no increase in Louisville, Ky., and Indianapolis, where we thought we would have gained ground.”

Benson wouldn’t say what the show cost, but estimated that doing the show in New York would cost more than double what it would in Nashville.

The Awards have taken place in Nashville since 1967 and will return there next year for its 40th anniversary.

The CMAs moved to New York this year in hopes of bringing more media attention to the event.

“What the CMA did was bring the awards to the place where the press and the advertising community were rather than try to bring the press and the advertising community to Nashville,” said Ed Salamon, executive director of the trade group Country Radio Broadcasters.

FoxNews.com said Salamon hopes the move will continue to pay off through media exposure, concert bookings and product endorsements.

Country superstar Garth Brooks will perform his new single, “Good Ride Cowboy,” at the 39th annual Country Music Association awards.

Though he is officially retired, Brooks will perform as a tribute to late singer and rodeo champion Chris LeDoux.

“Chris embodies everything that?s great about country music,” Brooks said. “He lived with passion, integrity and a commitment to big dreams. It?s how he rodeoed and it was how he made his music. Chris wasn?t larger than life, he was life ? and that?s what the very best of country music is made of.”

Kenny Chesney’s performance of “Living in Fast Forward” will kick off the awards.

Chesney is the reigning Entertainer of the Year. “Living in Fast Forward” can be found on his new CD, The Road and the Radio, which will be in stores on Nov. 8.

The extensive list of performers also includes Dierks Bentley, Big & Rich, Bon Jovi with Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland, ceremony hosts Brooks & Dunn, Sara Evans, Faith Hill, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Julie Roberts, George Strait, Keith Urban, Gretchen Wilson and Lee Ann Womack.

For the first time ever the CMAs won’t be held in Nashville. Instead, the awards will air live from Madison Square Garden in New York City. The show will be broadcast on CBS on Nov. 15 at 8 p.m.

Nominees for the 39th CMA awards

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Kenny Chesney
Alan Jackson
Toby Keith
Brad Paisley
Keith Urban

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Sara Evans
Alison Krauss
Martina McBride
Gretchen Wilson
Lee Ann Womack

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Kenny Chesney
Alan Jackson
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Keith Urban

HORIZON AWARD
Dierks Bentley
Big & Rich
Miranda Lambert
Julie Roberts
Sugarland

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Alison Krauss + Union Station Featuring Jerry Douglas
Diamond Rio
Lonestar
Rascal Flatts
Sugarland

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Big & Rich
Brooks & Dunn
Montgomery Gentry
Van Zant
The Warren Brothers

SINGLE OF THE YEAR
?Alcohol?? Brad Paisley
?As Good As I Once Was? ? Toby Keith
?Baby Girl? ? Sugarland
?Bless the Broken Road? ? Rascal Flatts
?I May Hate Myself In The Morning? ? Lee Ann Womack

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Be Here ? Keith Urban
Feels Like Today ? Rascal Flatts
Live Like You Were Dying ? Tim McGraw
Somewhere Down In Texas ? George Strait
There?s More Where That Came From ? Lee Ann Womack

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
?Alcohol? ? Brad Paisley
?As Good As I Once Was? ? Toby Keith
?Days Go By? ? Keith Urban
?I May Hate Myself In The Morning? ? Lee Ann Womack
?When I Think About Cheatin?? ? Gretchen Wilson

SONG OF THE YEAR
?Alcohol?
Brad Paisley
?As Good As I Once Was?
Toby Keith/Scotty Emerick
?Bless The Broken Road?
Marcus Hummon/Bobby Boyd/Jeff Hanna
?I May Hate Myself In The Morning?
Odie Blackmon
?Redneck Woman?
Gretchen Wilson/John Rich
?Whiskey Lullaby?
Bill Anderson/Jon Randall

Nashville Star has started auditioning for its fourth season in cities across the United States.

Auditions began on Oct. 21 in Los Angeles and will run through December.

The USA Network’s Nashville Star is a country singing competition, much like American Idol.

“Nashville Star works because it showcases the best untapped musical talent on television,” said Jeff Wachtel, USA’s executive vice-president of original programming. “One thing we’ve learned over the past three seasons is that there’s an incredible pool of talented performers whose voices have yet to be heard.”

Many artists have turned into household names after winning the singing competition, including Canada’s George Canyon who was a runner-up on the show and walked away with more Canadian Country Music Awards at this years show than any other artist.

The Nashville Star winner receives a recording contract.

The fourth season is scheduled to premiere in March.

CASTING TOUR SCHEDULE:
October
21 – Los Angeles, CA
29 – Chicago, IL
29 – Morgantown, WV
29 – Phoenix, AZ
29 – Oklahoma City, OK

November
05 – Dallas, TX
05 – Lincoln, NE
05 – Raleigh, NC
05 – Tampa, FL
12 – Portland, OR
12 – Washington, DC
12 – Pittsburgh, PA
12 – Atlanta, GA
18 – Nashville, TN
21 – Indianapolis, IN
30 – Houston, TX

December
08 – Las Vegas, NV

Ready to get back to your down-home redneck roots?

The 2005 Canadian Country Music Awards (CCMAs) will air tonight with Canadian country star Paul Brandt acting as host.

“They’ve turned the [Calgary Pengrowth] Saddledome into a giant projection screen so the visual aspect will be very impressive,” says Brandt, who is taking on hosting duties for the sixth time. “The amount of music we’ll be able to play for the audience will be unmatched.”

Also impressive is the six stages erected at the Saddledome.

“It’s a lot more scattered and responsive and there’s a lot more room for me to completely screw up,” Brandt says. “There’s going to be a lot of energy because of the way it’s set up.”

Brandt is also slated to perform on tonight’s show. He’ll sing his new single “Alberta Bound” during a special tribute to Alberta’s centennial.

“All the things I love about Alberta just fell out — it took about 15 minutes to write,” says Brandt.

Dierks Bentley, George Canyon, Terri Clark, Doc Walker and Carolyn Dawn Johnson are also scheduled to perform.

Look for newcomers The Road Hammers to come out on top following the success of their debut disc and single “I’m A Road Hammer”. The group is nominated for best group, album, single, video and song of the year, and rising star.

The CCMAs air tonight at 8 p.m. on CBC in most time zones. It’s also being broadcast to audiences in the U.S. and Australia.

Officials say the CBC lockout will have no affect on the broadcast since it’s an independent production.

Complete list of nominees for the 2005 CCMAs:

KRAFT CHEEZ WHIZ FANS? CHOICE AWARD

Paul Brandt
George Canyon
Terri Clark
Carolyn Dawn Johnson
Jason McCoy

SINGLE OF THE YEAR

Convoy ? Paul Brandt
Die Of A Broken Heart ?Carolyn Dawn Johnson
I?m A Road Hammer ? The Road Hammers
My Name ? George Canyon
Sister Golden Hair ? The Poverty Plainsmen

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Hey, Do You Know Me ? Lisa Brokop
Lap Of Luxury ? The Poverty Plainsmen
One Good Friend ? George Canyon
The Road Hammers ? The Road Hammers
This Time Around ? Paul Brandt

SOCAN SONG OF THE YEAR

Dress Rehearsal (written by Carolyn Dawn Johnson / Troy Verges;
recorded by Carolyn Dawn Johnson)
Hey, Do You Know Me (written by Lisa Brokop / Kim McLean;
recorded by Lisa Brokop)
Home (written by Paul Brandt; recorded by Paul Brandt)
I?m A Road Hammer (written by Denny Carr / Jason McCoy;
recorded by The Road Hammers)
My Name (written by George Canyon / Gordie Sampson;
recorded by George Canyon)

CMT VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Convoy ? Paul Brandt
Girls Lie Too ? Terri Clark
I?m A Road Hammer ? The Road Hammers
John Roland Wood ? Aaron Pritchett
Roughest Neck Around ? Corb Lund Band

TOP SELLING ALBUM

(This is a non-voting category)
Be Here ? Keith Urban
Greatest Hits ? Shania Twain
Greatest Hits 2 ? Toby Keith
Here For The Party ? Gretchen Wilson
Live Like You Were Dying ? Tim McGraw

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Lisa Brokop
Terri Clark
Carolyn Dawn Johnson
Shania Twain
Amanda Wilkinson

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Paul Brandt
George Canyon
Jason McCoy
Aaron Pritchett
Deric Ruttan

GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR

Corb Lund Band
Doc Walker
Emerson Drive
The Poverty Plainsmen
The Road Hammers

ROOTS ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR

Corb Lund Band
The Cruzeros
Kathleen Edwards
The Good Brothers Ian Tyson

CHEVY TRUCKS RISING STAR AWARD

Gord Bamford
Lisa Hewitt
Johnny Reid
The Road Hammers
Amanda Wilkinson

Country music’s biggest stars will stage a special concert at the Grand Ole Opry House as the entertainment industry continues to raise funds for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

“Country Reaches Out: An Opry Benefit for the American Red Cross” will be broadcast live and commercial free on Sept. 27 at 9 p.m. EST on the Great American Country (GAC) network. Simulcasts can be seen on the DIY and Fine Living networks and heard on the Nashville radio station WSM, Sirius Satellite Radio and at www.opry.com.

Performers will urge viewers to make contributions to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which will help those caught in Hurricane Katrina’s wake throughout Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. Profits from the show’s ticket sales will also go to the Red Cross.

“Country music, in particular, is a powerful and unifying force that inspires individuals to action and initiates the process of healing in times of personal tragedy, or national crisis,” said Ed Hardy, president of Great American Country. “It is our hope that the national television audience tuning in for the simulcast of this special Opry event on GAC, DIY and Fine Living will be moved to action in support of hurricane relief.”

Some of the biggest talents in country will appear on the benefit show including Alan Jackson, Alison Krauss, Keith Urban, Craig Morgan, Julie Roberts and Billy Currington. Additional country artists are expected to sign on before the concert.

“Without fail, country music and its fans show compassion and support for those in need,” said Colin Reed, chairman and CEO of Gaylord Entertainment, the Opry’s parent company. “The Opry is the heart and home of country music, and the Opry family, its employees and artists alike, wants to do everything it can to make sure country’s heart is extended to our neighbors who have suffered such unspeakable losses this week.”

Additionally, the Grand Ole Opry and GAC are planning to host an online auction of country music memorabilia at opry.com and gactv.com. GAC is also producing a series of public service announcements featuring artists and network personalities pleading for donations to the hurricane relief effort.

The nominations for the Canadian Country Music Awards (CCMAs) were announced Wednesday, with Paul Brandt and the Road Hammers leading the way.

The Road Hammers, headed by singer Jason McCoy, recieved six nominations.

Their signature tune about truck drivers, I’m a Road Hammer, earned nominations for song of the year, single of the year and video of the year.

The group is also in the running for album of the year for its self-titled debut disc, as well as for group of the year honours and the rising-star award.

Brandt, who is hosting the Calgary show, was also given six nods. He is nominated for fans choice, album of the year and male artist of the year.

His cover version of the C.W. McCall hit Convoy earned nominations for single of the year and video of the year.
He also got a nod for song of the year for the single Home.
“Nashville Star” runner-up George Canyon is close behind with five nominations. Alberta singer-songwriter Caroyln Dawn Johnson was nominated in four categories.

Aaron Pritchett, Lisa Brokop and Terri Clark received three nods each.

This year’s awards are being handed out at the Pengrowth Saddledome during a CBC broadcast on September 12.

Country singer Mindy McCready was released from a Florida hospital Tuesday after an apparent suicide attempt.

Police said she was treated for taking a “large amount” of alcohol and two unidentified substances.

Her ex-boyfriend William McKnight, 39, was found on scene. He was charged with attempted murder in May after he ambushed McCready, 28, in her Green Hills home and choked her and beat her.

Police said McKnight was by McCready’s side on Friday when they responded to two calls. McKnight identified himself as her fianc? when they found the singer unconscious in the lobby of the Holiday Inn Harbourside Indian Rocks Beach.

“McKnight also explained he had been having some relationship problems with McCready and then told me she had written a four-page suicide note,” Deputy Clinton McKnight wrote in a report released yesterday.

The note wasn’t released.

The sheriff’s office says the last time they were in contact with McCready, she had returned to McKnight.

McCready has taken a downward turn since her smash hit “Guys Do It All The Time” was released. Last week, she was charged in Arizona with identity theft. In May, she was charged with driving with a suspended license and being under the influence. Last year, she pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining the painkiller OxyContin.