5th Gear Brad Paisley Produced by Frank Rogers and Chris DuBois Arista Nashville

It Just Comes Natural George Strait Produced by Tony Brown and George Strait MCA Nashville

Long Trip Alone Dierks Bentley Produced by Brett Beavers Capitol Records Nashville

Love, Pain & the whole crazy thing Keith Urban Produced by Dann Huff and Keith Urban Capitol Records Nashville

These Days Vince Gill Produced by Vince Gill, John Hobbs and Justin Niebank MCA Nashville

Which nominee for Album of the Year just received his 17th nomination in the category?

Answer: George Strait’s 2007 CMA Award nomination for It Just Comes Natural marks his 17th nomination in the Album of the Year category. First nominated in 1984 for his album, Right or Wrong, Strait’s 17 nominations in the category have yielded five wins for the Texan. Strait won in 1985 for Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind, and his 1996 and 1997 wins for Blue Clear Sky and Carrying Your Love With Me were twice as sweet: he took home trophies as both artist and producer.

Which nominee for Album of the Year helped raise $100,000 for Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital while riding motorcycles with his friends?

Answer: Dierks Bentley hosted his second annual “Miles and Music for Kids” fundraiser on September 30, 2007. He led a caravan of about 1500 motorcyclists down the beautiful Natchez Trace Parkway to the Loveless Café, where he and several musical friends led a concert. Jason Aldean, Little Big Town, Shooter Jennings, and Keith Anderson were among the attendees and performers. Dierks’ motorcycle ride raised more than $100,000 to benefit the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital.

This nominee for Album of the Year is currently second only to Brooks and Dunn for accumulating the most CMA Awards in history. Who is it?

Answer: Vince Gill is only one trophy away from tying Brooks and Dunn as the artist with the most CMA Award wins. Vince is no stranger to the CMA Awards as he hosted the show for a record 12 consecutive years. He has also received 51 nominations and 18 awards over the span of his career. Gill, who will be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame later this month, is also nominated for Musical Event of the Year for his duet with Alison Krauss on “The Reason Why” from his four-disc set, These Days.

Which nominee for Album of the Year is preparing to release his very first greatest hits compilation later this year?

Answer: Keith Urban is set to release his very first greatest hits collection on November 20th. The Capitol Nashville release will feature Urban’s most memorable hits from his solo career spanning from “Where the Blacktop Ends” to his recent hit, “I Told You So.” The reigning CMA Male Vocalist of the Year will also spend the remainder of the year on the road in support of his CMA nominated album, Love, Pain & the whole crazy thing.

Three of the Album of the Year artists have won the CMA Horizon Award. Which nominees can claim this title?

Answer: Dierks Bentley, Brad Paisley, and Keith Urban are all recipients of the CMA Horizon Award. Paisley won his Horizon Award in 2000 while Urban took the award the following year. Bentley received his Horizon Award in 2005. George Strait was nominated for the Horizon Award in 1983, but the trophy went home with the legendary John Anderson.

Which Album of the Year nominee performed an unannounced show for military personnel and their families during his summer tour this year?

Answer: Brad Paisley took a quick detour from his Bonfires and Amplifiers tour on August 6, 2007 to provide entertainment for an audience of 35,000 military personnel and their families stationed at Fort Campbell, KY. Tourmates Taylor Swift and Kellie Pickler also performed in order to show appreciation for the ongoing efforts of the military personnel and their supportive families.