Lil Wayne and Kid Rock perform at the 2008 CMAs in Nashville on Wednesday
Photo: Doug Pensinger/ Getty Images

The best rapper alive never got around to rapping Wednesday night in Nashville.

As he did at the VMAs in September, Lil Wayne joined Kid Rock onstage for a performance of the remix of Rock's "All Summer Long" at the Country Music Association Awards. But this time there was no verse from Weezy — in fact, he barely made a sound at all. He just acted as part of the band, bringing out his guitar and strumming the strings inaudibly alongside Kid Rock's guitarist.

Not having the New Orleans Fireman rhyme was a curious move, considering that Weezy's people put out a press release late Wednesday afternoon trumpeting the fact that Wayne was the first hip-hop act ever to perform on the CMAs.

A source close to the situation told MTV News on Thursday that Wayne didn't rap in order to keep things fresh — that the duo did not want to copy what they had done at the VMAs and figured Weezy playing guitar was a fly new take on their collaboration.

Watching on TV, you didn't even see Wayne until somewhere around the song's two-minute mark, when Kid came over and gave him five. Both performers wore Tennessee Titans jerseys: Kid with the number two on his, but instead of Rob Biranos' name on the back, Rock had his own name; Wayne sported a #28 Chris Johnson Jersey.

Big CMT winners included Kenny Chesney (who took home his fourth Entertainer of the Year award, tying Garth Brooks for the most wins in the category), George Strait (Single and Album of the Year, making him the biggest award-winner in CMA history) and Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland (the group won Vocal Duo of the Year, and Nettles won Song of the Year for Sugarland's "Stay").

The show was hosted by Carrie Underwood (who won Female Vocalist of the Year for the third consecutive time) and Brad Paisley. Taylor Swift performed her hit "Love Story" (and borrowed Miley Cyrus' boyfriend for the performance), and Shania Twain made her first major public appearance after a long absence.

• Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift, Kid Rock, More At 2008 Country Music Awards

• Lil Wayne
• Kid Rock
• Sugarland
• Garth Brooks
• Carrie Underwood

Photo: Brian Tipton

James Otto and Lady Antebellum's Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood all shared similar excitement Wednesday morning (Sept. 10) after a special live edition of CMT Insider at Nashville's Sommet Center. In addition to announcing part of this year's CMA award nominations, they also shared their first CMA award nominations.

Otto and Lady Antebellum were both nominated in the new artist category alongside Kellie Pickler, Jason Aldean and Rodney Atkins. Lady Antebellum also picked up a nomination for vocal group of the year, a field that includes the Eagles, Emerson Drive, Little Big Town and five-time winners Rascal Flatts.

All three members of Lady Antebellum were clearly excited over their very first CMA nominations.

"When we had looked at the categories, that was one that we were just hoping so much we could get in," Kelley told CMT Insider just moments after the new artist category was announced. "I think of us to have everybody's stamp of approval on us, it just feels so amazing, and there's just great talent in there."

Scott agreed, noting, "There's just so many people, so many new artists, that have come out in the past year to two years that, I mean, it's almost like a new ... kind of freshmen class. So it's exciting to feel like we're a part of that."

"The way they did it," Kelley explained, "they each gave us a card to call out the nominees for different categories, and right before we went on stage, they gave us the last card -- I guess so while we were back there, nobody would peek at it. It happened to be one that ourselves as well as James Otto was in -- so I guess they didn't want us looking."

"And they definitely gave it to Charles on purpose," Scott laughed. "They didn't give it to me for a reason because I'd have been like, 'Ahhhh! Oh, my gosh!'"

"She wouldn't have gotten past our name," Kelley joked. "It was genuine shock. It was. It was very exciting."

The trio didn't expect to be in the vocal group category.

"The Eagles, they were my first concert ever -- when I was 10," said Haywood. "So to actually be in a category with them, that's pretty amazing. Yeah, the three of us were flipping out."

Otto has been in the music business for several years, so he knew better than to take a nomination for granted.

"Man, I'm sweating now actually thinking about just how crazy it is," Otto told CMT Insider. "It's amazing, man. This is a lifetime of work coming together. ... You know, there's a lot of people that have been in that category that have a lot more hits than I do and people that really deserve the award, so it feels amazing, man. And yes, nerve-racking for sure."

"I've been in Nashville for 11 years," he added. "This is not my first record deal, but the thing is, this is the first opportunity I've really gotten that was 100 percent about trying to make this happen for me, and I'm just really honored that people look at me as a new artist. I feel like a new artist. I feel like this is my first real shot at this, and I'm just very excited man, very excited."

"I honestly didn't let myself think about being nominated for this. This was something that I saw -- too many big names in the category -- people that are established and already are large stars. So I didn't really allow myself to think about the fact that we might actually make the short list like this."

Kenny Chesney received seven nominations -- more than anyone this year. With entertainer of the year and male vocalist nominations, he is also up for album, single and video of the year, along with two vocal event nominations for his work with George Strait and Reba McEntire.

"You never know how these things are going to go," Chesney said in a written statement. "We work so hard on this music, the tours, the videos. It's so much the focus of what I do, how I live. It's always a thrill to see that people are not just noticing but recognize what we're all trying to do."

Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush received five nominations, including their first-ever entertainer of the year nod. Nominated for vocal duo of the year, their hit, "Stay," is up for single, song and video of the year, and they are in the musical event category for their recording of "Life in a Northern Town" with Little Big Town and Jake Owen. Additionally, Nettles received a sixth nomination -- for song of the year -- for writing "Stay."

"I almost spilt my tea this morning as I was watching and the nominations kept being added," Nettles said in a written statement. "Being in the entertainer of the year category is such an honor. We've been lucky enough to be out on the road with Kenny Chesney for a couple of tours over the last two years. Looks like rock by osmosis really does work."

Bush added, "I just finished watching the nomination announcements on TV from my sofa at home, and it is simultaneously humbling and encouraging to be in such amazing company as we are in all of the categories. It is one thing to play shows every week of the year and imagine ourselves striving to become entertainers of the year and another thing all together to have the voting members of the CMA believe that it is possible. Simply awesome."

Strait also received five CMA nominations, including entertainer of the year and male vocalist. His latest album, Troubadour, is nominated for album of the year, and "I Saw God Today" is on the list for single of the year. Strait's fifth nomination this year is in the musical event category for his collaboration with Chesney on "Shiftwork."

"I'm sitting down here in South Texas, bracing for Hurricane Ike," Strait said in a press release. "This really brightens my day. I look forward to a great celebration of our great music. Thanks to all involved!"

Trace Adkins picked up two CMA nominations -- his first in 10 years -- for his hit single, "You're Gonna Miss This." Nominated for single and music video of the year, it also resulted in a song of the year nomination for songwriters Lee Thomas Miller and Ashley Gorley.

"'You're Gonna Miss This' has been such a special gift for me this year, so I'm really thrilled that the CMA and the industry recognized the strength of that song," Adkins said. "Not only was it one of the biggest hits of my career, when we performed it on the season finale of The Celebrity Apprentice, it helped raise a lot of money for my charity, the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network. So yeah, I'm really proud of this song."

Carrie Underwood is the recipient of two nominations, too. Her mention in the female vocalist division is complemented by an album of the year nomination for her second project, Carnival Ride.

"This is awesome!" Underwood said. "As an artist, you always hope the music you record will touch people's lives. There is nothing more rewarding than to be recognized by your peers and to know your fans are enjoying the same ride."

Taylor Swift was ecstatic when Rascal Flatts read her name among the female vocalist nominations during a segment of Good Morning America broadcast from New York's Times Square.

"This was definitely a day worth getting up really early for," she said. "Hearing my name called in the female vocalist category was a dream come true."

CMT Insider's writer/producer Terry Bumgarner contributed to this story.

View photos from the CMA award nominee announcements in New York and Nashville.

• Taylor Swift
• Carrie Underwood
• Trace Adkins
• Jake Owen
• Sugarland

In the battle between booty-shaking and reckless driving, the edge still goes to rising star Carrie Underwood. For the fifth week in a row, "Jesus, Take the Wheel" clutches the No. 1 spot on Billboard's country airplay chart, as Trace Adkins' "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk" apparently loses its shot at the top spot, falling from No. 2 to No. 3.

Both songs had a decrease in spins last week, which means that Brad Paisley's "When I Get Where I'm Going" -- No. 2 with a bullet -- is potentially poised to reach the summit next week.

Or maybe not. After 29 weeks on the chart, Josh Turner's "Your Man" continues its steady climb, now at No. 4 with a bullet. He's just ahead of Faith Hill's "Like We Never Loved at All" at No. 5, Keith Urban's "Tonight I Wanna Cry" at No. 6 and Sugarland's "Just Might (Make Me Believe)" at No. 7. Rounding out the Top 10 are Tim McGraw's "My Old Friend" at No. 8, Kenny Chesney's "Living in Fast Forward" at No. 9 and Billy Currington's "Must Be Doin' Somethin' Right" at No. 10.

George Strait claims the week's highest debut with "The Seashores of Old Mexico," a cover of a Merle Haggard song, splashing in at No. 48. Other new singles include Neal McCoy's "The Last of a Dying Breed" at No. 52, Martina McBride's cover of Johnny Cash's "I Still Miss Someone" at No. 53, Underwood's "Before He Cheats" at No. 59 and new artist Eric Church's "How 'Bout You" at No. 60.

Underwood returns to No. 1 on the country albums chart, trading places with Turner. The Legend of Johnny Cash lives on at No. 3, followed by the latest albums from Adkins, Rascal Flatts, Urban, Chesney and Sugarland. Walk the Line settles in at No. 9, followed by Miranda Lambert's Kerosene, at No. 10

New albums hitting the chart include Jamey Johnson's The Dollar at No. 20 and Alabama's three-disc boxed set, Livin' Lovin' Rockin' Rollin': The 25th Anniversary Collection, at No. 28. Kenny Rogers also makes several appearances on the chart: 21 Number Ones at No. 11, Golden Legends: Kenny Rogers at No. 57 and 42 Ultimate Hits at No. 75.

• Carrie Underwood
• Trace Adkins
• Brad Paisley
• Josh Turner
• Faith Hill

John Legend at the 48th annual Grammy Awards nominations
Photo: Peter Kramer/Getty Images

What do Paula Cole, Marvin Hamlisch, Debby Boone, Starland Vocal Band, Jody Watley and Shelby Lynne have in common?

Each was a proud recipient of the Best New Artist Grammy who went on to ...

Well, you get the point.

It's because of these names and many more (Arrested Development, Milli Vanilli, A Taste of Honey, etc.) that, over the years, the award became known more as a curse than an honor.

(Click here for the complete 2006 Grammy nominees list.)

Recently, however, with the success of winners such as Christina Aguilera, Alicia Keys and Norah Jones, Best New Artist means something again — and don't forget the Beatles won it in 1965.

So at Wednesday's ceremony, you can bet your copy of From Under the Cork Tree that all five nominees would like nothing more than to snag that golden gramophone. In fact, in a year jam-packed with new artists (the Vibe Awards gave out two in their "Next" category and neither of them, Keyshia Cole nor Young Jeezy, earned Best New Artist Grammy nods), Ciara, Fall Out Boy, Keane, John Legend and Sugarland have been aggressively campaigning all year, intentionally or not.

Here's how each nominee made it this far:

Ciara

The First Lady of Crunk & B has had us shaking our goodies since debuting last fall, but her coming-out party was undoubtedly the BET Awards, where her dance-tastic performance of "Oh" with Ludacris was followed minutes later by an enduring acceptance speech for Best Collaboration for "One, Two Step" with Missy Elliott. (It was also her first public appearance with her boo, Bow Wow.) That trophy set off a hot streak that has since included two Soul Train Awards (Best R&B Soul/ Rap New Artist and Female Entertainer of the Year), two Teen Choice Awards (Choice R&B Hip-Hop Track and Choice Make-Out Song), two MTV Video Music Awards (Best Hip-Hop Video and Best Dance Video) and one Vibe Award (Coolest Collabo). Along the way, she's also won the support of Elliott, featured her on "Lose Control"; Gwen Stefani, who took her on tour; and Michael Jackson, who invited her to sing on his as-yet-unreleased Hurricane Katrina relief single.

Fall Out Boy

To best comprehend the appeal of the Chicago punk outfit, look no further than some of the headlines they inspired in 2005: "Fall Out Boy Demand R. Kelly Finish 'Trapped In The Closet' Series," "Bored With Sleeping In Pools Of Money, Fall Out Boy Plot Secret Tour" and "Fall Out Boy's Sound Has Changed, But The Weirdly Long Song Titles Remain." FOB brought some much-needed humor to music in 2005, and it's paid off. Their strangely hilarious videos for "Sugar, We're Goin Down" and "Dance, Dance" were "TRL" staples, and the former earned them the MTV2 Award at the VMAs. Of course, the jokes wouldn't stick if the music didn't, but let's hope they take the podium for the show's sake. "I'd like to thank the Academy for nominating us for our music rather than how our bus smells," bassist Pete Wentz recently said of the nomination, sharing a sneak of what could come.

Keane

While the hipster press continually labeled other British exports "the next Coldplay," Keane quietly earned the title, taking the Breakthrough Act award at the 2005 Brit Awards, as well as Best British Album for Hopes and Fears, the country's second-best-selling LP of 2004. In America, though, it's been less about awards and sales and more about memorable performances, including a breakthrough "Saturday Night Live" appearance and a high-profile run as openers for their heroes, U2. The highlight, however, was at Coachella, where their tranquil singles like "Somewhere Only We Know" and "Bend and Break" filled the massive grounds, much like the headliner that night: Coldplay.

	The 48th Annual Grammy Awards Nominees

John Legend

Legend was just starting to become a familiar face a year ago, when he performed with mentor Kanye West at the Grammys and honored Brian Wilson at the MusiCares Person of the Year dinner a few nights earlier. But like Ciara, the BET Awards solidified him as, er, a legend-in-the-making. Along with winning Best New Artist there, the crooner treated his peers to a stunning rendition of "Ordinary People" capped only by his encore, a duet with Stevie Wonder of "My Cherie Amour. "I've never won an award before, and so this was it for me," a sincere Legend said backstage. He should be used to it by the end of the Grammys, where he's tied with West and Mariah Carey with a leading eight nominations.

Sugarland

The country trio became a duo last month when Kristen Hall left to concentrate on songwriting, a shocking departure considering how high Sugarland have been flying over the past year. Along with shipping more than 2 million copies of their debut, Twice the Speed of Life, the ATL natives scored two #2 country singles and managed to cross over to a rock audience through singer Jennifer Nettles' appearance on the Bon Jovi single "Who Says You Can't Go Home." Their successful 2005 culminated at the American Music Awards, where the group performed (without Hall) and upset the Killers and Jesse McCartney by winning Favorite New Artist. Of course, the Spice Girls and Hootie & the Blowfish won the same award in years past ...

The show's over, but there's still plenty of Grammy goodness right here on MTVNews.com. Check out photos of the hottest green-carpet and onstage moments, find out what went down at the celeb-packed parties, and share your thoughts on the performers, winners and losers.

Plus watch videos of all the nominees on MTV.com and check out exclusive video footage from the big night on Overdrive.

• Ciara
• Fall Out Boy
• Keane
• John Legend
• Sugarland

Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift, Kid Rock, More At 2008 Country Music Awards

• Miley Cyrus
• Taylor Swift
• Carrie Underwood
• Keith Urban
• Julianne Hough

2007 American Music Awards

• Miley Cyrus
• Carrie Underwood
• Rascal Flatts
• Sugarland