Here are the nominees:
Entertainer of the Year

Lady Antebellum

Miranda Lambert

Brad Paisley

Keith Urban

Zac Brown Band

Album of the Year

Need You Know, Lady Antebellum

Play On, Carrie Underwood

Revolution, Miranda Lambert

Twang, George Strait

Up On the Ridge, Dierks Bentley

Musical Event of the Year

“Bad Angel,” Dierks Bentley feat. Miranda Lambert and Jamey Johnson

“Can’t You See,” Zac Brown Band feat. Kid Rock

“Hillbilly Bone,” Blake Shelton feat. Trace Adkins

“I’m Alive,” Kenny Chesney with Dave Matthews

“Till the End,” Alan Jackson with Lee Ann Womack

Female Vocalist of the Year

Miranda Lambert

Martina McBride

Reba McEntire

Taylor Swift

Carrie Underwood

Male Vocalist of the Year

Brad Paisley

Blake Shelton

George Strait

Keith Urban

Dierks Bentley

New Artist

Luke Bryan

Easton Corbin

Jerrod Niemann

Chris Young

Zac Brown Band

Vocal Group

Lady Antebellum

Little Big Town

Rascal Flatts

The Band Perry

Zac Brown Band

Vocal Duo

Brooks & Dunn

Joey + Rory

Montgomery Gentry

Steel Magnolia

Sugarland

Single of the Year

“A Little More Country Than That,” Easton Corbin

“Hillbilly Bone,” Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins

“Need You Now,” Lady Antebellum

“The House That Built Me,” Miranda Lambert

“White Liar,” Miranda Lambert

Song of the Year

“A Little More Country Than That,” Easton Corbin; Songwriters: Rory Lee Feek, Don Poythress and Wynn Varble

“Need You Now,” Lady Antebellum; Songwriters: Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott and Josh Kear

“The House That Built Me,” Miranda Lambert; Songwriters: Tom Douglas and Allen Shamblin

“Toes,” Zac Brown Band; Songwriters: Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette, John Driskell Hopkins and Shawn Mullins

“White Liar,” Miranda Lambert; Songwriters: Miranda Lambert and Natalie Hemby

Music Video

“Hillbilly Bone,” Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins

“Need You Now,” Lady Antebellum

“The House That Built Me,” Miranda Lambert

“Water,” Brad Paisley

“White Liar,” Miranda Lambert

Musician

Paul Frankin, steel guitar

Dann Huff, guitar

Brent Mason, guitar

Mac McAnally, guitar

Randy Scruggs, guitar

Walt Disney was a Republican who testified against Communists and promoted the benefits of free enterprise.

Surprisingly, Walt Disney’s parents Elias and Flora had been radical leftists who voted for Socialist Party presidential candidates Eugene V. Debs and Norman Thomas.

Walt told a story about his early political development to Maurice Rapf, a writer on Song of the South. According to Rapf, when Walt was a boy in Kansas City, Mo., a gang of kids whose fathers worked for local Democratic politicians pulled down his pants and coated his scrotum with hot tar — because Walt’s father was a socialist. (Sources:  Neal Gabler’s  Walt Disney and Maurice Rapf’s Back Lot.)

In 1912 union leader Eugene V. Debs ran for President as the Socialist Party candidate. Debs was likely to take votes away from Democrat Woodrow Wilson, who was in a tight race against Progressive Theodore Roosevelt.  So perhaps it was in 1912, when Walt Disney was only ten, that sons of the Kansas City Democratic political machine attacked him.  (It may have happened four years later, although the 1916 Socialist Party candidate, Allan Benson, was less of a threat to Wilson)

Whether the violent gang saw the Socialist Party as anti-American or, more likely, as taking votes away from their fathers’ candidate, Walt reacted not by joining with his father’s party but by rebelling against the entire Left, and, he said, becoming a “dyed-in-the wool Republican.”

Despite this comment, Walt Disney was not politically consistent or active before the 1940s. Disney artist/writer Joe Grant called Walt “apolitical” in the early years:  “He was an extreme liberal at one time” viewing socialism as “about everybody pulling together.” (Source:  Pat Williams’ How to Be Like Walt)

Walt actually voted for Democrat Franklin Roosevelt in 1936, while his brother Roy canceled him out by voting for Republican Alf Landon.

However, turning against FDR, Walt supported 1940 Republican candidate Wendell Willkie, who initially campaigned against the New Deal (before waffling). Walt’s policy of silence about politics prevented him from publicly endorsing Willkie.

In 1941, some of Disney’s employees went on strike, urged on by Communist Party member and union head Herbert Sorrell.  This event had a major impact on Disney’s politics thereafter.

In 1944, Walt said, “as an independent voter I owe allegiance to no political party.” But for the first time, he did endorse a Presidential nominee:  Thomas Dewey, a Republican. Disney donated heavily to the GOP in 1944 and gave a pro-Dewey speech. He also joined the Motion Picture Alliance, an anti-Communist and anti-Fascist group in Hollywood that led to the HUAC hearings. In 1947 Walt testified at the hearings.

Walt’s 1944 activity marked the start of his consistent support of Republicans for the rest of his life. In 1953 Disney produced a television ad for Dwight Eisenhower’s campaign. In 1966, Disney supported Ronald Reagan’s run for Governor of California.

And Disney showed his support for Senator Barry Goldwater’s 1964 Presidential campaign even while being honored by his opponent, President Johnson.

Animation historian Michael Barrier writes that when Walt learned Johnson would award him the Medal of Freedom, his daughter Diane was dismayed. Barrier quotes Diane Disney Miller:  “It was during the Goldwater campaign, and we were all united in enthusiastic support of the senator. I felt that it was all a ploy….a powerful photo op [for LBJ].”

Barrier writes, “there’s no question that Walt wore at least one Goldwater campaign button when he accepted the Medal of Freedom from President Johnson.”

ON THE KEVIN McCULLOUGH SHOW:
1. THE HEADLINE ITEM: The Federal government, on a website that you and I pay for with our tax dollars, and the Obama administration are actively promoting and working with (in the cause of granting rights to Illegal aliens) a bonafide socialist who said these things right here to a class of high school kids. These are the associations our current government seeks out. President Obama even cut a video greeting for Dolores Huerta’s birthday party this year when he was unable to attend. Disagree with me here: 866.348.7884.

2. THE PRACTICAL DILEMMA: It is not possible for these kinds of kids to exist anymore is it? Of all the AMAZING things we’ve championed some tweens name for over the years. Where has this guy been? Also… Lindsay Lohan is now blaming Brittany Spears for being the fruity mess she is. Just to show you how old I am, I had to turn to the Lovely Bride and ask, “you mean Britt and Lindsey aren’t close the same age?” I know… so sad. 866.348.7884

3. THE EARLY MORNING GOD THOUGHT:
“If we believe in Jesus, it is not what we gain but what He pours through us that really counts. God’s purpose is not simply to make us beautiful, plump grapes, but to make us grapes so that He may squeeze the sweetness out of us.”
Fan the “Thought” on facebook: The Early Morning God Thought on Facebook.

In his match against Ljubicic, Harrison displayed wisdom and control. He kept his opponent away from the net at just the right points, and he never let up on his serve or attack.

Ryan’s Facebook update now reads: “What a match today. Biggest win of my career by far and so pumped to do it at the US Open. Got doubles and mixed doubles tomorrow so back at the hotel resting and then a little sushi later for dinner.”

It was definitely the match of the day, just like I had predicted. The crowd was a little stunned to see this “kid” win the first set. By the time the fourth set began, the crowd had doubled in size and Court 11 was the place to be. He may have entered the Open as a 220th-ranked qualifier, but I am still of the opinion that Ryan Harrison is the future of American tennis.

On Thursday, Ryan has a mixed doubles match with partner Melanie Oudin, and a men’s doubles match with partner Robert Kendrick. Here’s hoping he has a couple of relaxed wins with both of those as he focuses on Round Two.

As of Tuesday, Conan O’Brien has officially proven he’s the master of self-promotion: the name of CoCo’s new show on TBS, beginning 11/8, is nothing other than “Conan.” In the words of Jay Leno’s one-time broadcast nemesis, who bailed out of NBC after the channel screwed him over, the show shall go down “simple and pure like the man himself.”

But, ten dollars says it goes down like Mexican water and gets canceled in short order.

Read more at the New York Daily News.

ON THE KEVIN McCULLOUGH SHOW:
1. THE HEADLINE ITEM: Grade the big guy on his speech announcing that combat operations were over in Iraq. Bonus: Obama’s stimulus bill will end up costing more than all eight years of combat in Iraq – combined. Everybody wins right? Disagree with me here: 866.348.7884.

2. THE PRACTICAL DILEMMA: Nope Sharia law wouldn’t change a thing. Especially if peaceful non-trouble-making Somali Muslims are already suing American companies for things like wanting to get paid for… praying. Nope… people that think the Satanic practices of Islam would have no impact on our culture are just biased and prejudiced and unfair… though truthful. 866.348.7884

3. THE EARLY MORNING GOD THOUGHT:
“The preaching of the gospel awakens an intense resentment because it is designed to reveal my unholiness, but it also awakens an intense yearning and desire within me.”
Fan the “Thought” on facebook: The Early Morning God Thought on Facebook.

The special features performances by Jason Aldean, Billy Currington, Alan Jackson, Kid Rock, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Justin Moore, Brad Paisley, Kellie Pickler, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, Taylor Swift, Josh Turner, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, and Zac Brown Band. The show was filmed last June in front of a sold-out audience during the CMA Music Festival in Nashville, Tennessee.

This year, CMA Music Festival served as the Grand Re-Opening of Nashville, after the city and surrounding areas experienced a devastating flood in May. The flood, the recovery efforts, and the coming together of the Nashville community to help its fellow citizens will be spotlighted in the television special. CMA is donating 50 percent of this year’s net proceeds from the Festival to the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee for flood relief. As always, the other 50 percent of net proceeds will be donated to the Nashville Alliance for Public Education through CMA’s Keep the Music Playing program to purchase instruments and supplies for music education in Metro Nashville Public Schools.

The annual CMA Music Festival is unlike any other, with four days filled with more than one hundred hours of live music, 30 hours of autograph signings by Country Music’s biggest names and up and comers, hundreds of artists and celebrities, and a party list of thousands of avid fans. This year an average of 65,000 fans from every state and 26 foreign countries attended each day of CMA Music Festival, its biggest turnout yet.
There is a lot of great music, of course, but there are also a few unexpected moments: Dierks Bentley takes viewers into his late night fan club party; Jason Aldean gives an exclusive look at his “huddle” with the band to get pumped up before performing at LP Field; Gloriana shows off their “bus mascot” given to them by Taylor Swift; and noted practical joker Blake Shelton makes a special “request” of Kellie Pickler to watch his dogs and his mother while he heads out to perform.

This special just happens to coincide with the announcement of the 2010 CMA nominations. The final five categories will be announced Wednesday by Miranda Lambert and Dierks Bentley on ABC’s Good Morning America. The awards ceremony is November 10 and will be hosted for the third year in a row by Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley.

The nominations in the seven categories announced Tuesday:

Single of the Year (Award goes to Artist and Producer(s))
A Little More Country Than That – Easton Corbin – Produced by Carson Chamberlain
Hillbilly Bone – Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins – Produced by Scott Hendricks
Need You Now – Lady Antebellum – Produced by Paul Worley and Lady Antebellum
The House That Built Me – Miranda Lambert – Produced by Frank Liddell and Mike Wrucke
White Liar – Miranda Lambert – Produced by Frank Liddell and Mike Wrucke

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

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

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

Music Video of the Year (Award goes to Artist and Director)
Hillbilly Bone – Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins – Directed by Roman White
Need You Now – Lady Antebellum – Directed by David McClister
The House That Built Me – Miranda Lambert – Directed by Trey Fanjoy
Water – Brad Paisley – Directed by Jim Shea
White Liar – Miranda Lambert – Directed by Chris Hicky

Musician of the Year
Paul Franklin – Steel Guitar
Dann Huff – Guitar
Brent Mason – Guitar
Mac McAnally – Guitar
Randy Scruggs – Guitar

And in case you didn’t know who I am voting for in every category possible, here’s a little hint: He’s a “little more country than that.”

If he is playing in the US Open to win, this is the way to do it. He was always a guy that played hard and, well… frankly, and played hard. No one knew how to have fun off the court as much as Mardy. But now he’s having as much fun on the court, and it’s great to see. As Jimmy Connors put it, “Better late than never.”

Fish, currently ranked number 21, is definitely on a path to a better ranking. He has always worked hard, but now he is working just as hard without getting tired.

His game is fairly comprehensive; classic serve-and-volley, baseline big hitters, and a big serve. He puts plenty of spin on the ball, and he plays best when he is in a tense, defensive game.

When the temperature stayed above 95 degrees, his opponent, Jan Hajek (of the Czech Republic) called for a trainer midway through the fifth set. But Mardy Fish was more alive than ever. After falling behind two sets to one, he turned up the volume and closed the match, 6-0, 3-6, 4-6, 6-0, 6-1.

His years of experience paid of mentally and his commitment to fitness paid off physically. But let’s not entirely credit his new success on the court with his new fitness. It is also the result of a guy who loves the game just sticking to it, through thick or thin. Mardy Fish has always been a player who had a good time on the court, and that is still true today. Winning may not be everything, but winning had given Mardy Fish a confidence that makes him today’s Parcbench US Open Player of the Day.

Ahem…

The new dude in Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi’s life, 24-year old Iraq veteran Jeff Miranda, was so sure she was going to sing wedding tunes after two weeks of their being together that he proposed to her on (seen here) the September cover of Steppin’ Out magazine.

But, as HollyScoop.com reported Tuesday, the only tune he’s hearing is . . . wah wah wahh wahh:

Unfortunately for Jeff, her answer is no! Her publicist (yes, she has one) has shot down the marriage rumors. “Rumors of Nicole’s romantic status have been greatly exaggerated. She is single with no immediate plans to change that,” the publicist said in a statement.

Snooks also took to her Twitter, writing, “Just want to set the record straight. I’m single and I’m not going to get married!”

Props on the ballsy move, but it didn’t work out. Sorry, brah, give Snooks a (long) while to be sure you won’t use her and leave her.