Image details: 2007 ACM New Artists Party For A Cause served by picapp.com

The 43rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards will be broadcast on Sunday, May 18th from Las Vegas. Nominees were recently announced by Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley:

Entertainer of the Year
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
Rascal Flatts
George Strait
Keith Urban

Top Male Vocalist
Rodney Atkins
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Keith Urban

Top Female Vocalist
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
LeAnn Rimes
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

Top Vocal Group
Diamond Rio
Eagles
Emerson Drive
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts

Top Vocal Duo
Big & Rich
Brooks & Dunn
Halfway To Hazard
Montgomery Gentry
Sugarland

Top New Male Vocalist
Luke Bryan
Jack Ingram
Jake Owen

Top New Female Vocalist
Sarah Buxton
Kellie Pickler
Taylor Swift

Top New Duo or Vocal Group
Carolina Rain
Lady Antebellum
The Wreckers

Album of the Year
5th Gear - Brad Paisley
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend - Miranda Lambert
Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates - Kenny Chesney
If You’re Going Through Hell - Rodney Atkins
Taylor Swift - Taylor Swift

Single Record of the Year
Don’t Blink - Kenny Chesney
Famous In A Small Town - Miranda Lambert
Lost In This Moment - Big & Rich
Stay - Sugarland
Watching Airplanes - Gary Allan

Song of the Year
Don’t Blink - Kenny Chesney
Lost In This Moment - Big & Rich
Moments - Emerson Drive
Watching You - Rodney Atkins
Stay - Sugarland

Video of the Year
Don’t Blink - Kenny Chesney
Lost In This Moment - Big & Rich
Online - Brad Paisley
Stay - Sugarland
Watching You - Rodney Atkins

Vocal Event of the Year
Because Of You - Reba McEntire Duet With Kelly Clarkson
Find Out Who Your Friends Are - Tracy Lawrence With Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney
Shiftwork - Kenny Chesney Duet With George Strait
Till We Ain’t Strangers Anymore - Bon Jovi Featuring LeAnn Rimes
What You Give Away - Vince Gill With Sheryl Crow

Gary Allan’s current hit “Watching Airplanes” from his album “Living Hard.”

Gary Allan’s “Greatest Hits” album was certified gold by the RIAA for sales of 500,000 copies!

Released in March, the 15-song collection includes “Smoke Rings in the Dark,” “Man to Man,” “Tough Little Boys,” “Nothing on but the Radio” and “Best I Ever Had.” Allan’s most recent album, “Living Hard,” was released in October.

Gary Allan’s newest album, Living Hard, is available today! I was fortunate enough to be able to get a copy a few days ago and have been listening to it all weekend. Tracks on the album include:

1. Watching Airplanes
2. We Touched the Sun
3. She’s So California
4. Like It’s A Bad Thing
5. Learning How To Bend
6. As Long As You’re Looking Back
7. Wrecking Ball
8. Yesterday’s Rain
9. Trying To Matter
10. Half Of My Mistakes
11. Living Hard

My favorites so far are We Touched the Sun, Like It’s A Bad Thing, and As Long As You’re Looking Back. I’m in a ballad mood lately, though, so these are likely to change the next time I listen to it!

This is the first full album of Gary’s that I’ve listened to and I can’t figure out why I haven’t sooner. He’s country but not twangy, genuine without being cloying. She’s So California is very catchy and Gary’s voice has kind of a Bob Dylan edge to it in places (trust me, that’s a good thing!). We Touched the Sun is sentimental and thought-provoking and probably my favorite on the album. Like It’s A Bad Thing takes judgments and turns them on their head - “So what if I don’t do it like everybody else does?” Trying to Matter tells of the everyday struggles and triumphs we all have as we make our way in the world. Living Hard - you know Gary had a hand in writing this! I’m not sure what his touring life is really like but this song’ll definitely gave me an idea.

Of the album, Gary says:

“I think the fans are gonna feel that this record is different but the most important thing is that what I do is authentic. I’ve never pushed for a certain image. I’ve just always done my own thing. It’s a good listen, I think,” he says. “I’m excited for people to hear it. It’ll take you through a whole range of emotions, and I think it’s going to take you on a journey. That’s my goal.”

I’d say he accomplished it!

I’m still here! The official re-launch date is Monday October 1, so until then I’m gathering my resources and information. I wanted to do a quick update of October album release dates though so anyone interested will have time to check them out!

October 2
~ Merle Haggard - The Bluegrass Sessions
~ Faith Hill - The Hits
~ LeAnn Rimes - Family
~ Brooks & Dunn - Cowboy Town

October 9
~ Sara Evans - Greatest Hits
~ Van Zant - My Kind of Country

October 16
~ Toby Keith - A Classic Christmas

October 23
~ Carrie Underwood - Carnival Ride
~ Shooter Jennings - The Wolf
~ Gary Allan - Living Hard

October 30
~ Phil Vassar - Prayer of a Common Man
~ Josh Turner - Everything Is Fine
~ Billy Currington - TBD to be determined
~ The Eagles - Long Road Out of Eden