Best Country Song
(A Songwriter(s) Award. For Song Eligibility Guidelines see Category #3. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.)
- "Before He Cheats"
Josh Kear & Chris Tompkins, songwriters (Carrie Underwood)
Track from: Some Hearts
[19 Recordings/Arista Nashville; Publishers: That Little House Music, Mighty Underdog Music/Sony/ATV Cross Keys Publishing]
- "Give It Away"
Bill Anderson, Buddy Cannon & Jamey Johnson, songwriters (George Strait)
Track from: It Just Comes Natural
[MCA Nashville; Publishers: Sony/ATV Tree Publishing/Mr. Bubba Music, Run Slow Music, EMI Blackwood Music]
- "I Need You"
Tony Lane & David Lee, songwriters (Tim McGraw & Faith Hill)
Track from: Let It Go
[Curb Records; Publishers: Careers-BMG Music Publishing/Nervous Worm Music/Famous Music/Ed And Lucille Songs]
- "If You're Reading This"
Tim McGraw, Brad Warren & Brett Warren, songwriters (Tim McGraw)
Track from: Let It Go
[Curb Records; Publishers: Bucky And Clyde Music, Stylesonic Music]
- "Long Trip Alone"
Brett Beavers, Dierks Bentley & Steve Bogard, songwriters (Dierks Bentley)
Track from: Long Trip Alone
[Capitol Records Nashville; Publishers: Ensign Music/Rancho Papa Music/Home With The Armadillo Music, Big White Tracks]
Best Country Album
(Vocal or Instrumental.)
- Long Trip Alone
Dierks Bentley
[Capitol Records Nashville]
- These Days
Vince Gill
[MCA Nashville]
- Let It Go
Tim McGraw
[Curb Records]
- 5th Gear
Brad Paisley
[Arista Nashville]
- It Just Comes Natural
George Strait
[MCA Nashville]
Best Long Form Music Video
(For video album packages consisting of more than one song or track. Award to the Artist and to the Video Director/Producer of at least 51% of the total playing time.)
- Live & Loud At The Fillmore read review
Dierks Bentley
Russell Thomas, video director; James Whetherly, video producer
[Capitol Records Nashville]
- Trapped In The Closet Chapters 13-22
R. Kelly
R. Kelly, Victor Mignatti & Jim Swaffield, video directors; Ann Carli, video producer
[Jive/Zomba]
- The Confessions Tour
Madonna
Jonas Akerlund, video director; Sara Martin & David May, video producers
[Warner Bros.]
- 10 Days Out - Blues From The Backroads
Kenny Wayne Shepherd & Various Artists
Noble Jones, video director; Kenny Wayne Shepherd, video producer
[Reprise]
- Liberacion - The Songs Of The New Cuban Underground
Various Artists
Reuben Fields, video director; Dean Bates, video producer
[Petrol/EMI]