Spiritual songs shine as nominees

Don't forget the humorous songs, like 'Honky Tonk Badonkadonk.'
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Country Music Television bills its annual awards show as an anything-goes kind of affair, where only a few years ago Kid Rock sipped from a whiskey bottle and actress Pamela Anderson brought a man onto the stage clad in underwear and cowboy boots.
But if the nominations announced Wednesday are any indication, this year's CMT Music Awards will have a somber side, too. Three songs with spiritual themes received multiple nominations.
Carrie Underwood's "Jesus Take the Wheel" is nominated for female video of the year, breakthrough video and inspiring video; Brooks & amp; Dunn's "Believe" is up for video of the year, group/duo video and inspiring video; and Brad Paisley's duet with Dolly Parton, "When I Get Where I'm Going," is nominated for collaborative video, inspiring video and best director.
Brooks & amp; Dunn will perform their gospel-tinged hit during the fan-voted awards show, which airs live April 10 on CMT, which is a part of MTV Networks.
"How can you not have a poignant moment in your show with someone like Brooks & amp; Dunn performing 'Believe?"' said Chris Parr, vice president of music and talent at CMT. "I think there will be a reflective moment."
Much diversity
But Parr also noted the diversity of this year's nominations, which includes Trace Adkins' lighthearted "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk," Paisley's humorous "Alcohol" and Gretchen Wilson's rowdy "All Jacked Up."
Faith Hill's duet with husband Tim McGraw, "Like We Never Loved At All," received nominations for video of the year, collaborative video and best director. Hill also was nominated for female video for "Mississippi Girl."
Other artists receiving multiple nominations were Adkins, Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney and Toby Keith, as well as newcomers Miranda Lambert and Sugarland.
Urban's "Better Life" is up for video of the year and male video, while his "Making Memories of Us" is nominated for hottest video.
Chesney's "Who You'd Be Today" is nominated for video of the year, male video and best director -- same for Keith's "As Good As I Once Was."
Adkins' "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk" is up for video of the year, male video and hottest video. Adkins said he laughed out loud the first time he heard the song, whose video features a parade of models in skimpy outfits.
"It was a no-brainer for me, I knew right away that I wanted to cut it," he said. "I played it for my 4-year-old, and she liked it, too, which is always a good sign."
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