The Florence, AL Times Daily caught up with Mac McAnally following his CMA win on Wednesday night for Musician of the Year (pictured at right accepting the award. photo by John Russell/CMA) :

Mac McAnally still has a hard time believing that he’s the Country Music Association’s Musician of the Year.

A fixture in the Shoals music scene since the early 1970s, McAnally was gracious in victory, but first and foremost, complimentary of the other nominees, including Jerry Douglas, who McAnally called the best dobro player in the world, steel guitarist Paul Franklin and guitarists Brent Mason and Dann Huff.

“Those are all guys I get the honor of sitting and playing with,” McAnally said. “It meant a lot to be thought of in that context. It’s certainly an honor, not something I would ever expect.”

McAnally has been nominated for the award in 2007 and 2008, mostly, he said, for his work with George Strait and Jimmy Buffett.

“Buffett keeps me busy more than anything,” McAnally said. “We’re good song writing buddies.”

He said Buffett gives people the impression of an artist kicked back on the beach in flip flops, but he’s really thinking of things to do every day.

But the work is always fun, McAnally adds.

Read the rest of the article here.

Coral Reefer Band member Mac McAnally won his first CMA Award on Wednesday night for Musician of the Year.

The award was announced prior to the live airing of the CMA Awards on ABC at 7 pm CT on Wednesday night. Other nominees in the category were Jerry Douglas, Paul Franklin, Dann Huff, and Brent Mason. Mac was also nominated last year for Musician of the Year but did not win.

McAnally is currently on the country music charts with Kenny Chesney for their collaboration on Mac’s song “Down The Road”.

Congrats to Mac!

Veteran Coral Reefer Band member Mac McAnally has been nominated by the Country Music Association for Musician of the Year. Here are the other nominees in the category:

• Jerry Douglas (guitar)
• Paul Franklin (steel guitar)
• Dann Huff (guitar)
• Brent Mason (guitar)

McAnally was also nominated in 2007 for Musician of the Year, but did not win.

Be sure to watch the CMA Awards on Wednesday, November 12th on ABC!

Good luck to Mac!