The First Round CMA Awards Nominees

"The 44th Annual CMA Awards" will be broadcast live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Wednesday, Nov. 10 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network. "Country Music's Biggest Night�" will be hosted for the third time by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood.

"We are continuing a promising trend we saw last year with several artists receiving their first CMA Awards nomination or making a debut in a new category," said Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer. "The infusion of fresh faces is great for the format and speaks to the strength and future of Country Music."

The announcement of the final nominees in seven of the 12 CMA Awards categories was made by Justin Moore and Chris Young from the stage of the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville in recognition of the Grand Ole Opry's 85th Anniversary. The Grand Ole Opry House has been undergoing major renovations following devastating floods in May and is scheduled to reopen Sept. 28.

The finalists in the remaining five categories will be announced tomorrow morning on ABC News' "Good Morning America." Premiere Radio Networks, CMA's official radio partner, will make the full slate of announcements available to radio stations including the announcement of the CMA Broadcast Awards finalists made today by Steel Magnolia.

New Artist of the Year
Luke Bryan
Easton Corbin
Jerrod Niemann
Chris Young
Zac Brown Band

Vocal Group of the Year
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts
The Band Perry
Zac Brown Band

Vocal Duo of the Year
Brooks & Dunn
Joey + Rory
Montgomery Gentry
Steel Magnolia
Sugarland

Single of the Year
Award goes to artist and producer(s)
"A Little More Country Than That," by Easton Corbin
Produced by Carson Chamberlain
Mercury Nashville

"Hillbilly Bone," by Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins
Produced by Scott Hendricks
Reprise Records

"Need You Now," by Lady Antebellum
Produced by Paul Worley and Lady Antebellum
Capitol Records Nashville

"The House That Built Me," Miranda Lambert
Produced by Frank Liddell and Mike Wrucke
Columbia Nashville

"White Liar," by Miranda Lambert
Produced by Frank Liddell and Mike Wrucke
Columbia Nashville

Song of the Year
Award goes to songwriter(s)
"A Little More Country Than That"
Rory Lee Feek, Don Poythress, and Wynn Varble

"Need You Now"
Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott, and Josh Kear

"The House That Built Me"
Tom Douglas and Allen Shamblin

"Toes"
Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette, John Driskell Hopkins, and Shawn Mullins

"White Liar"
Miranda Lambert and Natalie Hemby

Music Video of the Year
Award goes to artist and director

"Hillbilly Bone," by Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins
Directed by Roman White

"Need You Now," by Lady Antebellum
Directed by David McClister

"The House That Built Me," by Miranda Lambert
Directed by Trey Fanjoy

"Water," by Brad Paisley
Directed by Jim Shea