He didn't even know the CMA nominations were being announced Wednesday because he was literally unplugged from the world. "The funny part of the story is I've been on vacation the last week and I lost my phone in the Gulf of Mexico when I was swimming," Church said in a recorded statement. "And I had no clue that even the CMA nominations were today and just laying on an airplane and really unplugged from the world." When Church landed Wednesday morning, he was whisked to his management office in Nashville, Tenn., where he learned the news that not only had he received the first major CMA nominations of his career, but that he'd also broken through in the prestigious album, male vocalist and song of the year categories.

Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton followed Eric Church with four nominations apiece. Taylor Swift, Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney, Dierks Bentley and Little Big Town have three apiece.

The head-scratcher out of the CMA Nominations is the news that Kelly Clarkson is up for a Female Vocalist Of The Year Award. She has made appearances on the country charts and country radio, but has never "come out" as a country artist. Kelly has two country duets, with Jason Aldean on "Don't You Wanna Stay" and with Reba on "Because Of You." She also did a country mix of her single, Mr. Know It All, the first single from her latest album. And, then there is the appearance as a mentor for Team Blake on last seasons' "The Voice." Oh, and she has been singing Tammy Wynette's "Stand By Your Man" at her concerts lately.

The 46th Annual CMA Awards will be handed out November 1st and broadcast on ABC, hosted again this year by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood.

After more than 13 years together, Little Big Town finally received their first number one song. "Pontoon" tops the country charts this week.  It has become the anthem for summer 2012. Little Big Town's Phillip Sweet says it is a great way to introduce fans to the group's new CD, Tornado, which will be released Tuesday September 11th. The fun-loving song that has already sold a million copies.  It has started Twitter trends and even a fashion craze, as fans and fellow celebrities are sporting T-shirts emblazoned with a phrase from the song, "Mmm....motorboatin'."

 

Toby Keith has a passion for football.  He played the game, he is a fan of the game, and now he is a highschool football coach.  Toby's son, Stelen, is a sophmore on the varsity team.  Toby has been coaching his son since the 2nd grade, he says. "I got to stay with him through seventh and eight [grades] and then the ninth grade freshman team at the high school said you ain’t going to quit us now are ya so now he’s moved up to varsity as a 10th grader and they said if you got time in the fall well take ya so I’m honored to get to go do it and I get to see my son practice everyday”