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Aug. 10, 2004
CBS NEWS' "THE EARLY SHOW" AND CMT TO AIR CMA AWARDS NOMINATIONS LIVE FROM NEW YORK AND NASHVILLE MONDAY, AUG. 30
CBS News Anchor Hannah Storm Will Join Country Icon Kris Kristofferson in New York
CMT Personality Katie Cook and Hot Country Newcomers Big
& Rich and Gretchen Wilson Will Make Announcements on "CMT Insider:
CMA Special Edition" in Nashville
"The 38th Annual CMA Awards" to be Broadcast Nov. 9 on the CBS Television Network
NASHVILLE – For the first time in the history of the CMA Awards, the
announcement of the final nominees for the 2004 CMA Awards will be
carried live Monday, Aug. 30, on network and cable television from New
York during "The Early Show" on the CBS Television Network and on "CMT
Insider: CMA Special Edition" on CMT from Nashville. "The 38th Annual
CMA Awards" will be broadcast live from the Grand Ole Opry House in
Nashville, Tuesday, Nov. 9 (8:00-11:00 PM; live ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network.
"Having both ‘The Early Show’ and CMT broadcast our CMA Awards final
nominees live is both an exciting addition to our traditional press
conference and a further development of our on-going relationship with
CBS and Viacom – a partnership that we appreciate and value," said CMA
Executive Director Ed Benson. "These broadcasts will
allow fans across the nation to experience the same excitement our
artists and industry feel as the names are announced. It also
demonstrates the support that CBS and the whole Viacom family continues
to give to CMA and Country Music."
"The CMA Awards continue to generate more excitement every year, and
we are very happy to be announcing the nominees live on our broadcast
for the second year in a row," said Michael Bass,
Senior Executive Producer of CBS News’ "The Early Show." "Our
partnership with the Country Music Association has been a tremendous
success and we look forward to continuing the relationship."
The final nominees of select categories will be announced live on national
television during "The Early Show" with anchor Hannah Storm
and Country Music icon Kris Kristofferson
from the CBS studios in New York at 8:30 AM/EDT (7:30 AM/CDT). In 2003,
"The Early Show" carried the nominee announcements for the first time
with Martina McBride and Rascal Flatts joining Storm from the stage at
the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville.
"Last year’s CMA Awards were seen by a record 40 million people,
which is a testament to Country Music’s nationwide appeal," said Storm.
"I am delighted to be announcing this year’s nominees with legendary
musician Kris Kristofferson live from the heart of New York City."
"I was honored to be part of the Johnny Cash tribute at last year’s
CMA Awards and look forward to announcing this year’s nominees,"
Kristofferson said.
CMT will pre-empt its regular programming to carry "CMT Insider: CMA Special
Edition" at 8:30 AM/EDT (7:30 AM/CDT) with host
Katie Cook and two of the hottest acts in Country Music
today Big & Rich and Gretchen Wilson.
The special live edition of "CMT Insider" will reveal the final
nominees in all 12 CMA Award categories including "The Early Show"
announcements. CMT will re-air the 30-minute special at 9:00 AM/EDT
(8:00 AM/CDT) and later that evening at 6:30 PM/EDT (5:30 PM/CDT) and
11:00 PM/EDT (10:00 PM/CDT).
"CMT is excited to team with CBS to kick off CMA Awards season.
Country Music is crackling with new energy. Gretchen Wilson and Big
& Rich are leading a fresh new movement in our music," remarked
Brian Philips, Senior Vice President/General Manager, CMT.
"We all anticipate one of the most thrilling CMA Awards shows ever."
"I’ve watched the CMA Awards since I was a little kid, and to be a
part of announcing this year’s nominees is a real thrill for me," said
Wilson. "And to be there with my buddies Big & Rich makes it even
more special."
"It’s awesome to be a part of breaking new ground with the CMA as
they air the Award nominations live on CMT," said Big & Rich (Big
Kenny and John Rich). "We are honored that they asked us to help share
the great news with the Country fans and people all over the world."
Following the announcements at CMT, Big & Rich and Gretchen
Wilson will join Benson in the Ford Theater at the Country Music Hall
of Fame® and Museum for additional announcements, including the final
nominees for the 2004 CMA Broadcast Awards, starting at 8:15 AM/CDT.
The theater will be open at 7:00 AM/CDT for invited media and members
of the industry to watch the televised announcements on CBS and CMT.
"The final nominees represent the best and brightest songwriters,
composers, producers, musicians and artists in the format during the
past year," said Kyle Young, Director of the Country
Music Hall of Fame and Museum. "The announcement of the final nominees
for the CMA Awards is highly anticipated by everyone in the industry
and we are pleased to play host at the Country Music Hall of Fame."
"The CMA Awards are ‘Country Music’s Biggest Night’ and this is
certainly going to be Country Music’s biggest morning," Benson said. "I
can’t imagine a more exciting way to launch the CMA Awards season."
In 2003, 40 million viewers tuned in during "The 37th Annual CMA
Awards." The three-hour broadcast during November sweeps captured the
No. 3 spot in the Top 10 Nielsen shows for the week – the highest
ranking for the CMA Awards in 11 years – making it the best Wednesday
in households and viewers for CBS since the GRAMMYS in February of
2001.
The industry professional members of the Country Music Association
vote to determine CMA Awards nominees and winners. The CMA Awards are
produced by Walter C. Miller, directed by Paul Miller and scripted by
David Wild. MJI Programming, a division of Premiere Radio Networks, is
the official radio packager of the CMA Awards, which includes Red
Carpet coverage and a stereo-radio simulcast of the gala event.
"The Early Show" is broadcast weekdays (7:00-9:00 AM ET/PT) on the
CBS Television Network. Michael Bass is the senior executive
producer.
CMT, America’s No. 1 Country Music network, carries original
programming, specials and live concerts and events, as well as a mix of
music videos by established Country Music artists and new cutting-edge
acts. Founded in March 1983, CMT is owned and operated by MTV Networks
and reaches more than 75.4 million households in the United States.
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