George Strait, Randy Travis, Dolly Parton Top Major Category Honors
Nashville, Tenn. (August 31, 2011) –The ICM Faith, Family & Country Awards Top 5 finalists were announced today in 22 key categories advancing the presentation of the 17th Annual Inspirational Country Music Awards in award ceremonies to be held on Friday, October 28th at Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center.
The ICM Faith, Family & Country Top 5 ballot, as determined by first round membership voting by the members of the Inspirational Country Music Association, includes a stellar array of major names in a broad cross section of categories that include entertainer, new artist, song, songwriter, group, duo, musician, radio, radio station, film, television honors and more.
Major artist nominees on the Top 5 ballot for this year’s ICM Faith, Family & Country Awards include Carrie Underwood, Lady Antebellum, The Band Perry, Ronnie Dunn, The Roys, Josh Turner, Jeff Bates, Randy Travis, The Grascals, Ricky Skaggs, The Oak Ridge Boys, Point of Grace, Guy Penrod, The Isaacs, and George Strait. Film honors finalists include a competitive field highlighted by family rated major box office contenders including Country Strong, Secretariat, and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.
Top 5 finalists in all categories will now be presented to the membership in final round voting that will end on September 30th. Awards will be announced at the October 28th awards presentation.
The 2011 ICM Faith, Family & Country Awards continue as the highpoint finale of Inspirational Country Music Week, an event presented by the Inspirational Country Music Association. This year’s planned schedule will run October 24-28th in Nashville and as in past years is expected to draw a broad cross section of industry, music fans, broadcast media, and artists in a well-orchestrated showcase of music and seminar related activities.
Nashville’s Millennium Maxwell House Hotel will serve at the host location for ICM Faith, Family & Country Week with a planned Appreciation Luncheon during the week for media and participants set to be held at the historic Wildhorse Saloon. The awards will serve as the culmination of the week and are for the first time this year are being staged in the unique world-class setting of the opulent Schermerhorn Symphony Center in downtown Nashville.
Inspirational Country Music Association Executive Director Jason Higgins notes: “We feel this year’s presentation will bring the ICM Faith, Family & Country Awards to a new level of recognition within the industry, from the scripting of the show itself to the list of nominees, to the level of presenters, and special guests still to be announced. Working with our host charity, Tennessee Breast Cancer Coalition, promises to offer a very compelling element of humanitarian importance to the event.”
The following 2011 Top 5 ICM Faith, Family & Country Awards nominees are listed in alphabetical order within each category:
Entertainer
Chuck Day
Johnny Lee Cook
Ricky Skaggs
Steve Richard
Tommy Brandt
Male Vocalist
Chuck Day
Greg McDougal
Guy Penrod
Jeff Bates
Tommy Brandt
Female Vocalist
Kali Rose
Laura Dodd
Mary James
Nicole Hope
Sharon Parks
Vocal Duo
Amanda Fessant featuring Tommy Brandt
Branded
Bruce & Betsy Mullen
Joey+Rory
The Roys
Vocal Group or Band
Corey Brooks Band
Last Light Band
Point of Grace
Sunday Drive
The Springs
Mainstream Inspirational Country Song
Bleed Red – Ronnie Dunn
I Won’t Let Go – Rascal Flatts
If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away – Justin Moore
That’s Important to Me – Joey+Rory
The Breath You Take – George Strait
Mainstream Country Artist
Buddy Jewell
Carrie Underwood
Jeff Bates
Joey+Rory
Josh Turner
Inspirational Country Song
I Wonder What God’s Thinking – The Roys
I’ll Stand Up And Say So – Chuck Day
Loves Gotta Go Somewhere – Steve Richard
Someday Soon – Ricky Skaggs
That’s What Freedom Costs – Russ Murphy
Songwriter (tie in category)
Chuck Day
Greg McDougal
James Payne
Paul Staggs of Branded
Russ Murphy
Tommy Brandt
Legend/Pioneer Award (This award has already been determined from these Top 5)
Fox Brothers
Melanie Walker
Oak Ridge Boys
Randy Travis
Ricky Skaggs
Video
Hello World – Lady Antebellum: Capitol Nashville, Director-Roman White
I Am Strong – The Grascals w/Dolly Parton: BluGrascal Records , Director-David Corlew
If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away – Justin Moore: Valory Music Co., Director-Peter Zavadil
If I Die Young – The Band Perry: Republic Nashville, Director-David McClister
Mama’s Song – Carrie Underwood: Arista Nashville, Director-Shaun Silva
New Artist
Aubree Bullock
Chuck Hancock
Kali Rose
Lucas Hoge
Renee Spencer
Musician
Dennis Agajanian
Doyle Lawson
Greg McDougal
Jayc Harold
Ricky Skaggs
Comedian
Barry McGee
Chonda Pierce
Jeff Treece
Johnny Lee Cook
LuLu Roman
Radio Personality
J.R. Pitsenbarger
Leon Joplin
Mona Faith
Rich Miller
Scott Perkins
Radio Station
Inspirational Country Radio Network
KABF-Little Rock, AR
WCWV-Summersville, WV
WSM AM 650 – Nashville, TN
WTYS- Marianna, FL
Inspirational Bluegrass Artist
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Nathan Stanley
Ricky Skaggs
The Isaacs
The Roys
Youth In Music (tie in category)
Aubree Bullock
Hannah Faith
Matthew Wacaster
McDougal Kids
Renee Spencer
Voices of Glory
Music Evangelist
Corey Brooks
Greg McDougal
Johnny Lee Cook
Russ Murphy
Tommy Brandt
“Faith, Family & Country Movie”
Country Strong
Pure Country 2: The Gift
Secretariat
Soul Surfer
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Television Network
Daystar
Gospel Music Channel
Great American Country
TBN
TCT Networks
For further information and registration for the 2011 ICM Week in Nashville, resource:
www.ICM-awards.com
Facebook.com/FaithFamilyCountry