"Redneck Woman" Bags CMA Nods

In a development surprising only to the person who's unfamiliar with country music, songs extolling the virtues of beer, Wal-Mart and rednecks received a big "Hell, yeah!" as nominations were announced Monday for the 38th annual Country Music Association Awards.

Newcomer Gretchen Wilson, whose "Hell, yeah!"-hollering hit song, "Redneck Woman," manages to pander to all three constituent groups in just two verses and a chorus, pulled in five first-class nominations.

The 31-year-old former bartender will vie for Single of the Year, Song of the Year and Video of the Year with "Redneck Woman," which she cowrote. Wilson's also up for Album of the Year for her debut CD, Here for the Party. Her fifth CMA nomination was for the Horizon Award, presented to the year's breakout artist.

Her fistful of nominations tied Wilson with veterans Kenny Chesney and Alison Krauss, who also scored five each.

Only hat-acts Alan Jackson, with a field-best seven nominations, and Toby Keith, with six, felt more love from CMA voters.

Jackson, 2003's Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year, will look to defend his titles in those categories. He'll also compete for Single of the Year, Song of the Year and Video of the Year honors for the sentimental, but suds-eschewing "Remember When."

Jackson's clip for the suds-praising "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere," duet with Jimmy Buffett, earned him a second nod in the video category.

His seventh nomination is for Musical Event of the Year, honoring his collaboration with Buffett and friends (Clint Black, Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith and George Strait) on "Hey Good Lookin'."

Keith's self-explanatory "I Love This Bar" earned him half of his six nominations, including two for Single of the Year, where he could be honored as both performer and producer. Keith also drew double nominations for producing and performing Album of the Year hopeful, Shock'n Y'All.

Chesney's key nominations include ones for Entertainer of the Year and Musical Event of the Year, where he's up for the "Hey Good Lookin'" get-together, as well as a duet with rocking hip-hopster Uncle Kracker on the "cold-drink chillin'" hit, "When the Sun Goes Down."

Bluegrass favorite Krauss bellied up to the bar with "Whiskey Lullaby," a he-drank-himself-to-death-and-then-she-drank-herself-to-death duet with country boy Brad Paisley that's nominated for Single, Video and Musical Event of the Year. Krauss is also up for her third straight Female Vocalist of the Year award.

Barring a return of the temperance movement, the awards will be handed out Nov. 9 in a three-hour CBS telecast.

Other key nominees are: Reba McEntire, looking to extend her lead as the all-time Female Vocalist of the Year winner (she's already won four times); and 2003 Grammy queen Norah Jones, looking to add a CMA to her mantle for her Musical Event of the Year-nominated duet with Dolly Parton ("Creepin' In").

Meanwhile, singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson was tapped for the Country Music Hall of Fame, joining his already enshrined outlaw-country cohorts Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash.

For the first time in 12 years, Vince Gill will not host the show--he bowed out in January. In his place, Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn, the boot-scootin' Brooks & Dunn boogiers to be featured at this week's Republican National Convention, have been tapped as hosts.

The duo will share emcee duties with a "variety of special guests," the CMA announced. Only Shania Twain's participation was confirmed Monday.

Here's a complete look at nominations for the 38th annual Country Music Association Awards:

Entertainer of the Year: Brooks & Dunn
Kenny Chesney
Alan Jackson
Toby Keith
Tim McGraw

Single of the Year: "I Love This Bar," Toby Keith
"Live Like You Were Dying," Tim McGraw
"Redneck Woman," Gretchen Wilson
"Remember When," Alan Jackson
"Whiskey Lullaby," Brad Paisley featuring Alison Krauss

Male Vocalist: Kenny Chesney
Alan Jackson
Toby Keith
George Strait
Keith Urban

Female Vocalist: Terri Clark
Sara Evans
Alison Krauss
Martina McBride
Reba McEntire

Album of the Year: Here for the Party, Gretchen Wilson
Mud on the Tires, Brad Paisley
Red Dirt Road, Brooks & Dunn
Shock'n Y'All, Toby Keith
When the Sun Goes Down, Kenny Chesney

Vocal Group: Alabama
Diamond Rio
Lonestar
Rascal Flatts
Trick Pony

Vocal Duo: Big & Rich
Blue County
Brooks & Dunn
Montgomery Gentry
The Warren Brothers

Horizon Award: Dierks Bentley
Big & Rich
Julie Roberts
Josh Turner
Gretchen Wilson

Musician of the Year: Matt Chamberlain
Kenny Greenberg
Dann Huff
Larry Paxton
Brent Rowan

Musical Event: Norah Jones and Dolly Parton, "Creepin' In"
Jimmy Buffett with Clint Black, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith and George Strait, "Hey Good Lookin'"
James Taylor and Alison Krauss, "How's The World Treating You"
Kenny Chesney and Uncle Kracker, "When The Sun Goes Down"
Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss, "Whiskey Lullaby"

Song of the Year (awarded to the songwriter and music publisher): "Live Like You Were Dying"
"Long Black Train"
"Redneck Woman"
"Remember When"
"Whiskey Lullaby"

Music Video: "I Love This Bar," Toby Keith
"It's Five O'Clock Somewhere," Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett
"Redneck Woman," Gretchen Wilson
"Remember When," Alan Jackson
"Whiskey Lullaby," Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss