Early Monday news: your CMA Awards preview

Bucky Covington shares a wave and a bright smile on the red carpet at the CMT Music Awards in Nashville in May. Bucky's debut CD is in stores now, and his music video is available for online viewing at CMT.com and Yahoo Music. You can buy Bucky's album at Amazon, Best Buy , iTunes, WalMart Music and Target, hear the full version of his singles at CMT and GAC, or enjoy samples of songs from the CD at Bucky's official MySpace. A copy of Bucky Covington can be ordered at his official site or via his official fan club. (Photo by Matt Huesmann /CMT)

Even though the Raisin' the Bar tour is on a mini-hiatus, excitement's in the air--the 41st annual CMA Awards are just a couple of days away, and Bucky Covington's first-ever appearance on that stage is definitely the event of the week 'round these parts. (Well, besides that "Bucky and Rocky's big birthday" thing, but we'll get to that sweet news in a later post.) What can we expect from the CMAs, and where do we go to keep right on top of what's happening?

The first stop for TV information is the official ABC CMA Awards site, naturally. The site features a big yellow countdown clock (just in case you'd forgotten how little time there is to buy the popcorn and snacks) and a lot of news, including daily video updates hosted by Luke Bryan and Ashley Eicher. The red-carpet arrivals will be streamed live on abc.com, beginning at 5 p.m. ET. ABC's Good Morning America will also present a free, open-to-the-public performance by Big & Rich on Wednesday morning; Nashville folks can get up early, go to the Chevy Stage at the Sommet Center plaza (corner of Broadway and Fifth Avenue) and join the fun!

More TV coverage: CMT will be on the scene again this year, and you'll find their CMA Awards sub-site right over here. Katie Cook and Lance Smith will host the 2007 CMA Red Carpet Presented by Chevy, which starts at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday, and repeats Thursday night at 7. (If you're looking for Bucky at his red-carpet sharpest, this is probably the one to watch very closely...)

GAC's CMA Awards preview section includes a photo gallery, host picks, an exclusive video interview with Keith Urban, and a fun fan poll. Bucky's friends Carrie Underwood and Kellie Pickler seem to be big GAC fan favorites...was there ever any doubt?

And while you're listening to the radio during your morning and afternoon drive, keep an ear out for live remotes from Nashville--starting this morning and straight on through Wednesday, many country stations will be sharing the CMA Awards excitement from the heart of Music City. Tune in, request "It's Good to be Us" (y'all knew that was coming, didn't you?) and enjoy! Some areas will be treated to a live simulcast from the awards on Wednesday night, as well--check your local country station's schedule for details.

In Nashville for the week? Lucky you--you have lots of CMA Awards events to choose from. The official CMA site has all the details on "Nashville Celebrates Country", a half-week-long CMA-palooza. Bucky's fans might enjoy a chance to digitally join him on that beautiful Chevy Country Music Calendar page during the Chevy Music Tour at Sommet Center Plaza, from 12 noon to 6 p.m. CT today and tomorrow. Concert options include the Music on the Horizon show tonight at 7:30 p.m. CT, happening at City Hall, 405 12th Avenue South (directions here; tickets are $10 at Ticketmaster.com.) Jennifer Hanson, co-writer of Bucky's debut hit "A Different World', is one of the featured performers.

And on Tuesday, the free Chevy Music Tour Concert takes place at 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Sommet Center Plaza in downtown Nashville. Get there early to enjoy performances by Emerson Drive, Phil Vassar and a surprise guest. (No, we don't know who it is, either; yes, we're dying of curiosity too! We'd sure be there if we could...)

The big event itself is open to the public, as well--if you have flexible plans, you might be able to snag one of the remaining tickets for the awards ceremony at the Sommet Center on Wednesday night. You can check for seats at Ticketmaster, by phone at (615) 255-9600; or stop in at the Sommet Center box office, 501 Broadway (corner of Fifth Avenue and Broadway in Nashville). It'd be fun to see Bucky step up to that podium live--if you go, please come back and tell us all about it!

Finally, what would a gala event be without an after-party? Unfortunately, the 2007 Post CMA Awards Party is a private affair for nominees, performers, presenters and Diamond and Platinum level ticket holders only, but Wire Image and Getty Pictures are very likely to be on the scene for all the day's and night's happenings. (If you've got a very lush budget and flexible travel plans, Stub Hub might be able to help you enjoy that VIP party in person--click here for details.)

Those of us who'll be enjoying our own private post-CMA parties at home can still take a bit of the night with us to keep, compliments of the CMA Awards store. The t-shirts and coffee mugs are cute, but I think that the 2007 program book might be the item I find hardest to resist. It'll be the first time Bucky Covington's name appears in a CMA Awards program--but with all the beautiful music he's making lately, something tells me that we'll be clearing shelf space for a lot of CMA program books in the years to come...

Monday news post next--come on back!