Contact: Kim Dettwiller, 615-321-4073

NASHVILLE, Aug. 20 /Christian Newswire/ -- Christian Country Music Association is proud to announce the Top 10 category nominees for the 13th Annual Inspirational Country Music Award Show (ICM Awards) which will be held at the historic Acuff Theater, Sunday, November 4th, 2006, at 6 PM CST. The member-voted ICM Awards Show is the keynote event of Inspirational Country Week, slated for October 31st through November 4th in Nashville, TN.

Last year's show included a star-studded list of performers and presenters such as: Country legend and Blue Hat recording artist, Charlie Daniels, multi-platinum country group, Lonestar, Alabama's, Randy Owen, Jimmy Wayne, Blue County, Trent Tomlinson, The Fox Brothers, Tommy Brandt, Chunky Nelms, Gayla Earlene, Last Light Band, Mike Manuel, Melanie Walker, Dennis Agajanian, The Peasall Sisters, Mercury Recording Artist, Julie Roberts, Lance Smith, host of CMT TOP TWENTY COUNTDOWN, Katie Cook, host of CMT INSIDER, Brian Littrell, Del Way, Chalee Tennison, Rachel Proctor, Rich McCready, Clint Miller, Mary James, Nannette Vaughan,.

Tickets for the award show are $45.00 and are on sale now through TicketMaster charge-by-phone at 615/255-9600 or at www.ticketmaster.com.  For more information, please visit www.icmawards.com.

The following Top 10 nominees are listed in alphabetical order within each category:

Entertainer of the Year
Brad Cotter, CrossCountry The Band, Del Way, Dennis Agajanian, Fox Brothers, Gayla Earlene, Justin Todd Herrod, Last Light Band, Mike Hammock, Tommy Brandt

Male Vocalist of the Year
Chunky Nelms, Donovan Chapman, Jerry Utley, John Sines Jr., Lance Christopher, Mike Hammock, Mike Manuel, Rich McCready, Mike Rimmey, Tommy Brandt

Female Vocalist of the Year
Gayla Earlene, Lesa Hudson, Mary James, Melanie Walker, Miko Marks, Natalie Grant, Rebecca Linda Smith, Sandra Dee, Sharene Spielman, Sonya Isaacs

Vocal Duo of the Year
Branded, The Clarks, Chester Smith & Merle Haggard, The Hargroves, Jeff & Sheri Easter, Kenny & Donna Morris, Randy & Heidi Gunn, Twice Robin, David & Dottie, Y Bridge

Vocal Group of the Year
Booth Brothers, Clint Miller Band, CrossCountry The Band, Fox Brothers, Heritage Road, Isaacs, Last Light Band, Mere Image, New Jerusalem, Wacaster Family

Inspirational Country Music Album of the Year
Back In The Country Again, Mike Manuel; Believe Songs of Faith, Various Artists; Big Sky, Isaacs; Calvary's The Reason Why, Del Way; Hook Line & Sinker, Tommy Brandt; Precious Memories, Alan Jackson; Songs Of Inspiration, Alabama; Old Time Way, Melanie Walker; Work Of A Carpenter, Greg McDougal; Three Wooden Crosses, Various Artists

Song of the Year
Alyssa Lies, Jason Michael Carroll; Back In The Country Again, Mike Manuel; Don't Forget To Remember Me, Carrie Underwood; Hangin' On For Life, Tommy Brandt; I Get To, Blue County; I'll Wait For You, Joe Nichols; If Your Going Through Hell, Rodney Atkins; Mama's Hall of Fame, James Payne; Mountains, Lonestar; One Wing In The Fire, Trent Tomlinson

Songwriter of the Year
David Patillo, Del Way, Dr. Robert Frank Smith, Greg McDougal, Harley Allen, Josh Turner, Mike Manuel, Russ Murphy, Tommy Brandt, Trent Tomlinson

Mainstream Country Artist of the Year
Alan Jackson, Blue County, Charlie Daniels, Joe Nichols, Josh Turner, Martina McBride, Oak Ridge Boys, Randy Owen, Randy Travis, Trent Tomlinson

New Artist of the Year
Amanda Fessant, Daniel James, Deborah Hightower, Greg McDougal, Jonathan Sherrill, Mike Tetrick, Lesa Hudson, Russ Murphy, Sharene Spielman, Wacaster Family

Musician of the Year
Calina Boggs, Casey Morton, Charlie Daniels, Dennis Agajanian, Jerry Utley, Gene Crain, Justin Todd Herod, Lawrence Bishop, Robin Bullock, Rory Hoffman

Comedy Act of the Year
Barry McGee, Bessie & Bulah, Chonda Pierce, David Cook, David Ferrell, Dennis Swanberg, Frankie Punkintown, Jeff Treece Band, LuLu Roman, Roy Fox & The Fox Brothers, Tim Hawkins

Radio Personality of the Year
Fred Bacher, Red Ellis, John Ritter, Leon Joplin, Rich Miller, Robby Lynn, Rodney Allen, Scott Perkins, Wayne Nault, Kevin Tyree

Radio Station of the Year
KABF, Little Rock, AR / KCLW, Hamilton, TX / KIJN, Farwell, TX / KULE, Ephrata, WA KQTY, Borger TX / WCWV, Summerville, W. VA / WDEH, Sweetwater, TN WJBD, Salem, IL / WRMV, Madison Heights, VA / WXML, Upper Sanduski, OH

Video of the Year
A Different World, Bucky Covington; Amarillo Sky, Jason Aldean;
Anyway, Martina McBride; God Don’t Make Mistakes, Jamie O'Neal;
I'll Wait For You, Joe Nichols; Long As I Got You, Fox Brothers
Moments, Emerson Drive; Mountains, Lonestar; Stand, Rascal Flatts; Watching You, Rodney Atkins

Inspirational Country Bluegrass
Carpenter's Tools, Chigger Hill Boys & Terri, Doyle Lawson & Quick Silver, Haddix Family, Heather Berry, Isaacs, Kenny & Amanda Smith Band, Lawrence Bishop Band, New Jerusalem, Rhonda Vincent

Youth In Music Award
Amber Morgan, Calina Boggs, Candy Boggs, Carrie Sneed, Jasmun Basilone, Lacy Larsen, Mackenzie Morgan, Matthew Wacaster, Peasall Sisters

Living Legend Award
Brenda Lee, Charlie Daniels, Del Way, Dennis Agajanian, Gayla Earlene, James Payne, Lynn Fox, Melanie Walker, Mike Manuel, Porter Wagoner

Music Evangelist of the Year
Bill Mullis, Clint Miller, Corey Brooks, Del Way, James Payne, Joyce Wagster, Lawrence Bishop, Leo Johnston of CrossCountry, Mike Tetrick, Mike Vaughn, Tom Lanza

Television Network
CBN; Daystar; Faith TV; Gospel Music Channel; Gospel Music Television; Inspirational Network; Lesea Broadcasting; Total Living Network; TBN; TCT Network