1. USA TODAY · WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2007 · 5D
Music
Dixie Chicks Alison Krauss & Union Station Kenny Chesney
Vince Gill’s ‘These Days’
Big & Rich
It’s the old vs. the new at 2007 CMAs
Will the usual suspects add to their trophy collections O Lost in This Moment, Big & Rich and Kenny Chesney
O Ticks, Brad Paisley O Hey Good Lookin’, Jimmy Buffett
at tonight’s Country Music Association Awards (ABC, O Wrapped, George Strait with George Strait and Alan
8 p.m. ET/PT), or is it time for a changing of the guard? Should/will win: Cheats. One of Jackson
USA TODAY country critic Brian Mansfield presents the year’s biggest country records, O Missing You, Alison Krauss
it also crossed over to pop. and John Waite
the ballot and predicts the winners. O The Reason Why, Vince Gill
Album and Alison Krauss
Entertainer O Little Big Town O 5th Gear, Brad Paisley Should/will win: Reba and Kelly.
O Kenny Chesney O Kellie Pickler O It Just Comes Natural, George Who would have guessed that
O Brad Paisley O Taylor Swift Strait pairing these two would turn out
O Rascal Flatts Should/will win: Swift. This O Long Trip Alone, Dierks Bentley so well? Clearly, they relish singing
O George Strait 17-year-old platinum-selling O Love, Pain & the whole crazy together, with thrilling results.
O Keith Urban blonde is on the fast track. thing, Keith Urban
Should win: Rascal Flatts. They O These Days, Vince Gill Video Carrie Underwood
pulled in a million concertgoers in Group Should/will win: These Days. This O Anyway, Martina McBride
the past year. Plus, they’re selling O Alison Krauss & Union Station four-disc masterwork propelled O Before He Cheats, Carrie
more CDs than anyone in country. featuring Jerry Douglas Gill into the Country Hall of Fame Underwood
Will win: Chesney. He’s the only O Dixie Chicks this year. How does it not win? O Moments, Emerson Drive
Taylor country act filling stadiums. O Emerson Drive O Online, Brad Paisley.
Swift O Little Big Town Song (goes to songwriters) O You Save Me, Kenny Chesney
Female vocalist O Rascal Flatts O Anyway (recorded by Martina Should/will win: Online. Directed
O Alison Krauss Should/will win: Rascal Flatts. No- McBride) by Jason Alexander and featuring
O Miranda Lambert body else in this category O Before He Cheats (Carrie TV icons William Shatner and
O Martina McBride can match their numbers, Underwood) Maureen McCormack, this fast-
O Reba McEntire on the road or in the racks. O Give It Away (George Strait) paced, funny video should give
O Carrie Underwood O Lost in This Moment (Big & Rich) Paisley his third win here.
Should/will win: Underwood. Duo O Stupid Boy (Keith Urban)
The CMA’s reigning female O Big & Rich Should win: Cheats. This psycho- Musician
vocalist will win again. O Brooks & Dunn girlfriend song captures a down- O Eddie Bayers (drums)
O Montgomery Gentry ward spiral that’s less about cheat- O Jerry Douglas (dobro)
Male vocalist O Sugarland ing than jealous paranoia. The bril- O Dann Huff (guitar)
O Kenny Chesney O The Wreckers liant and commercial piece reveals O Mac McAnally (guitar)
O Brad Paisley Should/will win: Sugarland. darker layers with each listen. O Randy Scruggs (guitar) Sugarland
O George Strait Brooks & Dunn have won this Will win: Anyway. Whether it’s Should win: Bayers. He has been
O Josh Turner category in 14 of 15 years, but the Grammys, the Oscars or the the bedrock of Nashville sessions
O Keith Urban Kristen Hall’s exit from Sugarland CMAs, voters love this kind of since the mid-’70s. It’s time to give
Should/will win: Paisley. Massive makes that trio a duo, and the inspirational message. the drummer some.
hits Ticks and Online should finally toughest competitor in years. Will win: McAnally. Huff, Douglas
propel him to top-tier status. Musical event and Scruggs have swapped this
Single O Because of You, Reba McEntire award, in that order, since 2001.
Horizon Award (emerging artist) O Anyway, Martina McBride and Kelly Clarkson Look for voters to break the cycle
O Jason Aldean O Before He Cheats, Carrie O Find Out Who Your Friends Are, with a name more familiar for his
O Rodney Atkins Underwood Tracy Lawrence with Tim McGraw songwriting and producing.
Reba McEntire and Kelly Clarkson Brad Paisley Keith
Urban
Jason
Aldean
Dixie Chicks by Gus Ruelas, AP; Krauss & Union Station, Paisley by Eileen Blass, USA TODAY; Chesney by Jason DeCrow, AP; Underwood pool photo by David J. Phillip; Sugarland, Aldean, McEntire and Clarkson, Big & Rich by Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY; Urban by Dave Sherbenco, AP; Swift by Mark Humphrey, AP
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