Where's Toby Keith?

When the CMA nominees were announced, there was a major star overlooked - Mr. Toby Keith.

Was it just me or was any else stunned at the fact that Toby Keith is up for NO Country Music Association Awards this year.

All the guy has done is headlined one of the hottest tours, produce several top ten hits, and is about to star in the major motion picture, Broken Bridges. If that's not the criteria for at least a nomination for Entertainer of the Year, I don't know what is.

It's been well publicized that Toby has had his run-ins with the people on Music Row, and many will argue that has directly lead to his lack of recognition by the academy.

Let's face it, Toby Keith left the Music Row scene to start his own independent record label (Showdog) and if his first album is any indication, it was a successful move. Besides releases his new album, Show Dog signed up and comer Lindsey Haun (whose sings the title song to the movie) to a record deal. So basically he's told the major record companies that he can do it himself, and convince others to follow him.

The table is set for tension when Toby comes to town, but that shouldn't stop him from being recognized as one of the leading entertainers in the country music industry not only for this past year, but for the past 14 years.