Brad Paisley photo courtesy of SonyBMG Nashville.
Carrie Underwood photo by Andrew Eccles, courtesy of Sony BMG Nashville.
October 2, 2008 — The reigning CMA Male and Female Vocalists of the Year, Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, will unite to host "The 42nd Annual CMA Awards.". This is the first time that either artist will have hosted "Country Music's Biggest NightTM." "The 42nd Annual CMA Awards" airs live from the Sommet Center in Nashville, Wednesday, Nov. 12 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on ABC.
"We are excited to have our reigning Male and Female Vocalist host the CMA Awards this year," said Tammy Genovese, CMA Chief Executive Officer. "In addition to their musical talent, Brad's quick wit and Carrie's gracefulness will serve them well in this role. CMA is happy to offer both of them their first opportunity to host a nationally televised network awards show. "
In addition to their hosting duties, Brad and Carrie will also perform on "The CMA Awards." Previously announced performers include Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, George Strait, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, and Keith Urban, with more performers to be announced soon.
"I'm thrilled to have this opportunity to host the Awards show," says Brad. "We're going to have a good time - start to finish."
"I am so excited to host a show I grew up watching, and am so thrilled to spend this night with the fans and Brad," says Carrie. "It's going to be a party!"
Both Carrie and Brad dreamed of one day performing on the awards show and winning an award, but they never imagined they’d ever host the show.
"It just seems like one of those things that’s out of reach," says Carrie. "Reba hosted. You know, it’s like little girls that are [like] me when I was young are watching me be Reba!"
"Yeah, that’s a big deal to me, too," added Brad. "I didn’t think about it. I would’ve thought about it more recently, whenever Vince [Gill] said that he was stepping down, that’s when it crossed my mind a little bit, whether I would like a shot at that. For a while I thought, ‘No. He was so good at this.’ And?and now here we are. I can’t believe we’re doing this."
Carrie toured with Brad in 2006, and the two became fast friends. The artists, who are both members of the Grand Ole Opry, reunited last year to record the duet "Oh Love" for Brad's most recent album, 5th Gear.
Brad received four nominations in 2008, including Entertainer; Male Vocalist, which he won last year; Song for his self-written "Letter to Me;" and Music Video of the Year for "Waitin' on a Woman" (featuring Andy Griffith), directed by Jim Shea and Peter Tilden. Brad has won nine CMA Awards since his first nominations in 2000, including Horizon (2000); Male Vocalist (2007); and Album of the Year for Time Well Wasted (2006). He also won Musical Event twice, first in 2004 with Alison Krauss for "Whiskey Lullaby," and second in 2006 for "When I Get Where I'm Going" with Dolly Parton; Vocal Event in 2001 for "Too Country" with Bill Anderson, George Jones and Buck Owens; and Music Video of the Year three times, first in 2002 for "I'm Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin' Song);" second in 2004 for "Whiskey Lullaby" (again with Krauss), and third in 2007 for "Online."
Billboard named Brad one of the five hot headliners (of any genre) to watch in 2007. That same year, Pollstar ranked his "Bonfires and Amplifiers" tour as the No. 2 Country tour in total attendance. This year's successful "Hershey's Presents the Paisley Party" tour has already been extended into the first few months of 2009. The West Virginia native recently celebrated total sales of 10 million albums thus far in his career. He also recently achieved his eighth consecutive (and twelfth overall) No. 1 single with "Waitin' on a Woman." His new album, the guitar-driven, mostly instrumental Play, will be in stores Nov. 4, featuring the current single "Start a Band," a duet with Keith Urban.
Carrie received two CMA nominations in 2008, including Female Vocalist and Album of the Year for her second album, Carnival Ride, produced by Mark Bright and featuring four songs co-written by the artist. This was her first nomination in the Album category. She has received nine career nominations since her first in 2006, and has won a total of four CMA Awards. In addition to her two wins as Female Vocalist (2006 and 2007), Carrie also received the Horizon Award in 2006 and Single of the Year for "Before He Cheats" in 2007.
After winning "American Idol" in 2005, Carrie became one of the most popular recording artists in the nation. Her debut album, Some Hearts, is the biggest selling "American Idol" debut project to date, having sold more than seven million albums in the United States. With the release of her current album Carnival Ride, she has now sold more than 10 million albums in less than three years. She was the best-selling female country artist for three consecutive years (2005, 2006 and 2007) and has had seven consecutive No. 1 Country singles. Carrie is currently headlining her "Carnival Ride" tour, scheduled to hit 51 cities this fall.
Tickets for the 2008 CMA Awards are on sale now and can be purchased by logging on to www.ticketmaster.com; calling (615) 255-9600; or in person at the Sommet Center box office, 501 Broadway (corner of Fifth Avenue and Broadway, in Nashville).
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