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2 Kentucky duos nominated for top country music award

HERALD-LEADER STAFF REPORT

Two out of five ain't bad, right?

Nominations for Academy of Country Music Awards were announced Tuesday, and two of the five nominees for top vocal duo are from Kentucky.

Halfway to Hazard and Montgomery Gentry were nominated along with Big & Rich, Sugarland and Brooks & Dunn.

Kenny Chesney received a leading 11 nominations, including entertainer of the year and top male vocalist. Rodney Atkins followed with six nominations, including top male vocalist. Brad Paisley, Big & Rich and Sugarland each received four.

Montgomery Gentry, the venerable duo of Troy Gentry and Eddie Montgomery that got its start in Lexington, is no stranger to the country music awards circuit.

But that's big company for Halfway to Hazard, the duo of David Tolliver of Hindman and Chad Warrix of Jackson, which formed in 2004.

Just to be named with those groups is an honor, said Tolliver, 33, who attended the University of Kentucky and now lives in Nashville

He and Warrix, also 33, have known each other since they were children in Eastern Kentucky but didn't begin playing together until 2004.

"It was magic," Tolliver said of his musical rapport with Warrix.

Obviously he is not the only one who thinks so. Country superstar Tim McGraw produced Halfway to Hazard's self-titled debut album and brought the duo on his tour last year with his wife, Faith Hill.

Halfway to Hazard will go back on the road with McGraw and Jason Aldean this summer, Tolliver said. The closest the tour will come to Lexington will be a stop at Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati on May 21.

Halfway to Hazard also is scheduled to play a Kentucky Derby party, but which one is still up in the air.

"We love Kentucky," said Tolliver. "We're proud to be from where we're from."

The ACM awards show will be in Las Vegas on May 18 and carried live on CBS at 8 p.m.