NELLY - NELLY AND MELLENCAMP SCORE CMT NODS

Rapper NELLY and rocker JOHN MELLENCAMP have each picked up a pair of nominations from the COUNTRY MUSIC TELEVISION (CMT) MUSIC AWARDS.

UNCLE KRACKER is also on the list of nominees, as are actors RICK SCHRODER and ADRIAN PASDAR. The latter two each earned nods as directors of country videos.

Cable channel CMT not only played Nelly's duet with TIM McGRAW, OVER AND OVER, but also the two clips for which Mellencamp is nominated, WHAT SAY YOU, with TRAVIS TRITT, and WALK TALL.

KENNY CHESNEY and McGraw top the nominations list with five each, followed by BIG + RICH, TOBY KEITH and GRETCHEN WILSON with four apiece. The most-nominated video is Wilson's REDNECK WOMAN, which landed four nods.

The preliminary nominees - which include eight in each category - are determined by a panel of American journalists and CMT staffers. The list will be pared down to four finalists per category by viewers who cast votes on website CMT.COM. Online voters also will choose the winners.

The final list will be announced on 16 March (05), and winners will be honoured at a two-hour live show in Nashville, Tennessee, on 11 April (05).