CMT announces CMA Award winners poll results

America cast its vote in the third annual CMT poll to predict winners of the “The 42nd Annual CMA Awards,” with Kenny Chesney and Carrie Underwood emerging as the night’s big winners. When asked who they thought would win, respondents picked Chesney as the favorite for Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year, while Underwood was chosen as Female Vocalist of the Year, and her album Carnival Ride was selected for Album of the Year. George Strait topped the list for Song of the Year for his single “I Saw God Today.”

“Kenny, Carrie and George all had career-defining hits in the last year, so it’s no surprise that they are predicted to sweep the major CMA categories again,” said Jay Frank, senior vice president of music strategy, CMT. “Their continued popularity with fans and industry alike is a testament to the strength and diversity they all bring to country music.”

In 2007, CMT poll respondents accurately predicted CMA Awards winners in the Entertainer (Chesney), Female (Underwood) and Album of the Year (Strait) categories. All three names topped the list again this year.

CMT commissioned the poll using a random sample of 1,096 country music fans 18 and older, and asked who they personally thought would win CMA’s Entertainer, Album, Song, Female and Male Vocalist of the year. Complete CMT poll results are as follows:

1) Entertainer of the Year – Kenny Chesney
2) Album of the Year – Carrie Underwood’s Carnival Ride
3) Song of the Year – George Strait’s “I Saw God Today”
4) Female Vocalist of the Year – Carrie Underwood
5) Male Vocalist of the Year – Kenny Chesney

CMT goes live with its annual, exclusive coverage of the “CMA Awards” when the CMA AWARDS 2008 RED CARPET SHOW premieres Wednesday, November 12 at 7:00-8:00 p.m., ET/PT. CMT hosts Lance Smith and Katie Cook team up to bring the audience unparalleled coverage from the red carpet. The red carpet show will also stream live at CMT.com.

In addition, fans can log on to CMT.com for the latest CMA news, the complete list of this year’s nominees, an in-depth archive featuring 41 years of CMA Awards winners, highlights, photos and video galleries. Fans can stream music videos from current and past nominated artists, or view more than 30 photo galleries featuring the most memorable fashion moments over the years with such artists as Shania Twain, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, George Strait, Kenny Chesney, Dolly Parton and more. CMT.com also partnered exclusively with Sugarland in an online game that allows fans to dress the reigning CMA Duo of the Year for the big awards night.