Country’s Cream Alan Jackson, Alison Krauss Showered With Country Music Association Awards Nominations

On “Gone Country,” Alan Jackson knocks greed and posing in the country music business.

The move apparently didn’t cost him any industry friends.

Jackson leads the list of nominees for the 1995 Country Music Association Awards, to be broadcast live Oct. 4 by CBS.

“Gone Country,” nominated for single of the year, was one of six nods to Jackson, who also is up for the male vocalist award and entertainer of the year.

The nominations, selected annually by a group of industry insiders, were announced last week.

Bluegrass biggie and critics’ darling Alison Krauss scored nominations in five categories: female vocalist, single, album, vocal event and the Horizon Award for breakthrough artists.

Krauss’ big take may help stifle longtime criticism from observers who say CMA voters focus on commercial, not creative, achievements.

All-time CMA winner Vince Gill, host of the Oct. 4 broadcast, scored nominations in four categories, including Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year. He’s won both categories the last two years.

Hot Canadian breakout artist Shania Twain, whose sophomore album, “The Woman In Me,” is perched at No. 1 on the country chart, took three nominations.

Entertainer Of The Year: Brooks & Dunn, Garth Brooks, Vince Gill, Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire.

Male Vocalist Of The Year: John Berry, Vince Gill, Alan Jackson, John Michael Montgomery, George Strait.

Female Vocalist Of The Year: Mary Chapin Carpenter, Alison Krauss, Patty Loveless, Reba McEntire, Pam Tillis.

Album Of The Year: John Michael Montgomery, “John Michael Montgomery”; George Strait, “Lead On”; Alison Krauss, “Now That I’ve Found You”; Vince Gill, “When Love Finds You”; Alan Jackson, “Who I Am.”

Horizon Award (Breakthrough Artists): David Ball, John Berry, Faith Hill, Alison Krauss, Shania Twain.

Vocal Group Of The Year: BlackHawk, Diamond Rio, The Mavericks, Sawyer Brown, Shenandoah.

Vocal Duo Of The Year: Bellamy Brothers, Brooks & Dunn, Brother Phelps, Sweethearts of the Rodeo, John & Audrey Wiggins.

Single Of The Year: “Any Man of Mine,” Shania Twain; “Baby Likes to Rock It,” The Tractors; “Gone Country,” Alan Jackson; “The Keeper of the Stars,” Tracy Byrd; “When You Say Nothing at All,” Alison Krauss & Union Station.

Musician Of The Year: Eddie Bayers (drums), Paul Franklin (steel guitar), Brent Mason (guitar), Mark O’Connor (fiddle), Matt Rollings (keyboard).

Vocal Event Of The Year: Chet Atkins and Suzy Bogguss, “Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word”; George Jones with special guest Alan Jackson, “A Good Year for the Roses”; George Jones and Tammy Wynette, “One”; Shenandoah with Alison Krauss, “Somewhere in the Vicinity of the Heart”; Diamond Rio, Lee Roy Parnell, Steve Wariner, “Workin’ Man Blues.”

Song Of The Year (Songwriters): “Don’t Take the Girl,” Craig Martin/ Larry W. Johnson; “Gone Country,” Bob McDill; “How Can I Help You Say Good-bye,” Burton Banks Collins/Karen Taylor-Good; “Independence Day,” Gretchen Peters; “Thinkin’ Problem,” David Ball/Allen Shamblin/Stuart Ziff.

Music Video Of The Year: “Any Man of Mine,” Shania Twain; “Baby Likes to Rock It,” The Tractors; “I Don’t Even Know Your Name,” Alan Jackson; “The Red Strokes,” Garth Brooks; “When Love Finds You,” Vince Gill.