NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED FOR "THE 40TH ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS," TO BE BROADCAST LIVE FROM LAS VEGAS MAY 17 ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK

Tim McGraw Leads with Six Nominations; Kenny Chesney, Alison Krauss and Gretchen Wilson Receive Five Nominations Each; Toby Keith, Brad Paisley and Keith Urban Receive Four Nominations Each; Big & Rich, Rascal Flatts and Lee Ann Womack Receive Three Nominations Each

Nominations for the 40TH ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS were announced by country music superstar and twice consecutive/current Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year Toby Keith today at a press conference at the Renaissance Hotel in Nashville. The winners in 11 categories will be broadcast live from Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Tuesday, May 17 (8:00-11:00 PM, live ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network.

Tim McGraw leads with six nominations. Kenny Chesney, Alison Krauss and Gretchen Wilson all received five nominations each. Toby Keith, Brad Paisley and Keith Urban received four nominations each. Big & Rich, Rascal Flatts and Lee Ann Womack each received three nominations.

Diamond Rio, Neal McCoy and Brad Paisley have been nominated for the fourth annual Academy of Country Music/Home Depot Humanitarian Award. Known as the first fan-voted award in the Academy's history, this honor salutes an artist or group in the country music industry who is committed to serving others, has a generosity of spirit and a dedication to helping build the dreams of those in need. The recipient of the award will have a community playground built in a city of their choice through the efforts of The Home Depot and KaBOOM!, a non-profit organization that brings together volunteers to build much-needed playgrounds in one-day "barn raising" construction events.

Members of the Academy of Country Music select the nominees and winners of the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS. Presenters and performers who will appear on the special will be announced at a later date.

Following is the list of final nominees in 11 categories voted by the membership. Winners in each of the following categories will be presented with an ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARD during the television broadcast:

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

BROOKS & DUNN
KENNY CHESNEY
TOBY KEITH
TIM McGRAW
KEITH URBAN

TOP MALE VOCALIST

KENNY CHESNEY
ALAN JACKSON
TOBY KEITH
TIM McGRAW
KEITH URBAN

TOP FEMALE VOCALIST

TERRI CLARK
SARA EVANS
MARTINA McBRIDE
GRETCHEN WILSON
LEE ANN WOMACK

TOP NEW ARTIST

BIG & RICH
JOSH GRACIN
JULIE ROBERTS
JOSH TURNER
GRETCHEN WILSON

TOP VOCAL GROUP

ALISON KRAUSS & UNION STATION
DIAMOND RIO
LONESTAR
RASCAL FLATTS
THE NOTORIOUS CHERRY BOMBS

TOP VOCAL DUO

BIG & RICH
BLUE COUNTY
BROOKS & DUNN
MONTGOMERY GENTRY
THE WARREN BROTHERS

SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR (Award to Artist(s)/ Producer(s)/ Record Company)

BLESS THE BROKEN ROAD
RASCAL FLATTS
PRODUCERS: MARK BRIGHT, MARTY WILLIAMS, RASCAL FLATTS
LYRIC STREET RECORDS

DAYS GO BY
KEITH URBAN
PRODUCERS: DANN HUFF & KEITH URBAN
CAPITOL RECORDS NASHVILLE

I MAY HATE MYSELF IN THE MORNING
LEE ANN WOMACK
PRODUCER: BYRON GALLIMORE
MCA NASHVILLE

LIVE LIKE YOU WERE DYING
TIM McGRAW
PRODUCERS: TIM McGRAW, BYRON GALLIMORE, DARRAN SMITH CURB RECORDS

REDNECK WOMAN
GRETCHEN WILSON
PRODUCERS: MARK WRIGHT & JOE SCAIFE
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER: JOHN RICH
EPIC

WHISKEY LULLABY
BRAD PAISLEY (FEATURING ALISON KRAUSS)
PRODUCER: FRANK ROGERS
ARISTA NASHVILLE

SONG OF THE YEAR (Award to Composer(s)/ Publisher(s)/ Artist(s)

AMERICAN SOLDIER
WRITERS: TOBY KEITH & CHUCK CANNON
TOKECO TUNES (BMI); WACISSA RIVER MUSIC, INC. (BMI) (ADMINISTERED BY BPJ ADMINISTRATION) TOBY KEITH

BLESS THE BROKEN ROAD
WRITERS: MARCUS HUMMON, BOBBY BOYD, JEFF HANNA
CAREERS-BMG MUSIC PUBLISHING, INC. (BMI) / FLOYD'S DREAM MUSIC (BMI) ALL RIGHTS FOR THE U.S. ON BEHALF OF FLOYD'S DREAM MUSIC ADMIN. BY CAREERS-BMG MUSIC PUBLISHING, JEFF DIGGS MUSIC (BMI) JEFF DIGGS MUSIC ADMIN. BY BUG MUSIC RASCAL FLATTS

I MAY HATE MYSELF IN THE MORNING
WRITER: ODIE BLACKMON
CAL IV SONGS, ADMIN BY CAL IV ENTERTAINMENT, LLC (ASCAP)
LEE ANN WOMACK

LIVE LIKE YOU WERE DYING
WRITERS: CRAIG WISEMAN & TIM NICHOLS
BIG LOUD SHIRT (ASCAP) ICG/WARNER (BMI)
TIM MCGRAW

WHISKEY LULLABY
WRITERS: BILL ANDERSON & JON RANDALL
SONY/ATV TREE PUBLISHING CO/MR. BUBBA MUSIC, INC. ADMIN BY SONY ATV MUSIC PUB (BMI)/ REYNSONGPUB CORP. AMIN BY WRENSONG WHA YA SAY MUSIC ADMIN BY WRENSONG (BMI)
BRAD PAISLEY (FEATURING ALISON KRAUSS)

ALBUM OF THE YEAR (Award to Producer(s)/ Artist(s)/ Record Company)

BE HERE
KEITH URBAN
PRODUCERS: dANN HUFF & KEITH URBAN
CAPITOL RECORDS NASHVILLE

HERE FOR THE PARTY
GRETCHEN WILSON
PRODUCERS: MARK WRIGHT & JOE SCAIFE
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER: JOHN RICH
EPIC

LIVE LIKE YOU WERE DYING
TIM McGRAW
PRODUCERS: TIM McGRAW, BYRON GALLIMOR, DARRAN SMITH
CURB RECORDS

RESTLESS
SARA EVANS
PRODUCERS: SARA EVANS & PAUL WORLEY
THE RCA RECORDS LABEL

WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN
KENNY CHESNEY
PRODUCERS: BUDDY CANNON & KENNY CHESNEY
BNA RECORDS

VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR (Award to Artists/ Producer(s)/Record Company)

CREEPIN' IN
NORAH JONES AND DOLLY PARTON
PRODUCED BY: ARIF MARDIN AND NORAH JONES
BLUE NOTE/ CAPITOL RECORDS NASHVILLE

HEY GOOD LOOKIN'
JIMMY BUFFET WITH CLINT BLACK, KENNY CHESNEY, ALAN JACKSON, TOBY KEITH AND GEORGE STRAIT
PRODUCED BY: MICHAEL UTLEY & MAC MCANALLY
THE RCA RECORDS LABEL NASHVILLE

PARTY FOR TWO
SHANIA TWAIN WITH BILLY CURRINGTON
PRODUCED BY: ROBERT "MUTT" LANGE
MERCURY RECORDS

WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN
KENNY CHESNEY (DUET WITH UNCLE KRACKER)
PRODUCED BY: BUDDY CANNON & KENNY CHESNEY BNA RECORDS

WHISKEY LULLABY
BRAD PAISLEY (FEATURING ALISON KRAUSS)
PRODUCED BY: FRANK ROGERS
ARISTA NASHVILLE

VIDEO OF THE YEAR (Award to Producer(s)/ Director(s)/ Artist(s))

GIRLS LIE TOO
PRODUCER: ROBIN RUCKER
DIRECTOR: SHAUN SILVA
ARTIST: TERRI CLARK

LIVE LIKE YOU WERE DYING
PRODUCER: SHERMAN HALSEY
DIRECTOR: SHERMAN HALSEY
ARTIST: TIM McGRAW

REDNECK WOMAN
PRODUCER: ANASTASIA SPENCER
DIRECTOR: DAVID HOGAN
ARTIST: GRETCHEN WILSON

SAVE A HORSE (RIDE A COWBOY)
PRODUCER: Robert DEATON, GEORGE FLANIGEN, MARC OSWALD, STEVE LAMAR
DIRECTOR: DAVID HOGAN
ARTIST: BIG & RICH

WHISKEY LULLABY
PRODUCER: DON LEPORE
DIRECTOR: RICK SCHRODER
BRAD PAISLEY (FEATURING ALISON KRAUSS)

Fast Facts About the 40TH ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS Nominees:

� Toby Keith is the reigning Top Male Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year. If he wins Entertainer of the Year this year, it will be the third year in a row.

� Tim McGraw is the 2005 leading nominee with six nominations. He is also nominated in two of these categories as producer.

� In 1965, Merle Haggard won Top New Male. The following year, he won Top Male. Later in his career, he won Entertainer of the Year, achieving the Academy's triple crown. This year, both Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney are up for achieving this milestone should either win Entertainer of the Year.

� Brooks & Dunn is nominated for Top Vocal Duo. They have won this title 11 times in the past. If they win this year, it would be their fifth consecutive win in this category.

� Gretchen Wilson, a first-time nominee, has received five nominations.

� Big & Rich, also first time nominees, are up for three awards. John Rich has also received two additional nominations as associate producer of "Redneck Woman" (nominated for Single Record of the Year) and "Here For The Party" (nominated for Album of the Year).

� If Martina McBride wins Top Female Vocalist, it will be her fourth straight win in that category.

� Alison Krauss is nominated for five awards this year, four for her duet with Brad Paisley and one with Union Station for Top Vocal Group.

� Kenny Chesney is nominated twice in the Vocal Event of the Year category for "When the Sun Goes Down," and "Hey Good Lookin'."

� First time nominees also include Norah Jones (nominated for Vocal Event of the Year as artist for her duet with Dolly Parton as well as producer), Josh Gracin, Julie Roberts, and Uncle Kracker.

� If Rascal Flatts win Top Vocal Group, it will be their third consecutive win.

The Academy of Country Music was founded in 1964 with a mission to support, promote and enhance the advancement of the country music industry worldwide. The Academy is best known for presenting its annual ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, which honor excellence among the industry's brightest stars. The Academy, which is comprised of more than 3,800 professional members and a newly established Associate Membership, is headquartered in Burbank, Calif.

The 40TH ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS is produced by dick clark productions. Dick Clark and R.A. Clark are the executive producers; Barry Adelman is the producer. The executive in charge of production is Bob Bardo; the executive in charge is Fran LaMaina.