» Place Your Vets: That tonight's 43rd Annual CMA Awards show takes place on Veterans Day isn't lost on the broader country community, and it's certainly not lost on Air Force Master Sgt. Bubba Beason, who we told you earlier this month (CAT 11/4) was voted "America's Hero" in the Chevy Salutes American Heroes contest. He was presented a 2010 Chevy Equinox on ABC-TV's Good Morning America yesterday (11/10) and took to the Premiere Radio remotes today (11/11). Stationed at Allentown, PA's McGuire Air Force Base, Beason received support from WXTU/Philadelphia, which urged listeners to support him in the online vote for the honor. He's pictured here visiting WXTU's Andie and Kris at the remote.

» The Song Show: "I am very honored, but I'm really uncomfortable with everybody saying something praiseworthy," 2009 BMI Icon Kris Kristofferson said on the red carpet of last night's (11/10) 57th Annual BMI Awards. "I told Willie this is going to be hard on me and he said, 'That's why I'm going to like it so much.'" Kristofferson was moved to tears during the evening's highlight, the Willie Nelson, Vince Gill and Patty Griffin four-song tribute "Why Me," "Me And Bobby McGee," "Help Me Make It Through The Night" and Nelson's favorite, "Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)." "There's not a better songwriter alive," Willie Nelson said of his friend in front of the invitation-only audience. "Everything he writes is a standard and we all have to live with it." BMI President/CEO Del Bryant, Writer-Publisher Relations VP Jody Williams and Writer-Publisher Relations Assistant VP Clay Bradley hosted the event, which honored the year's Top 50 BMI Country Songs, Songwriter Bobby Pinson ("All I Want To Do," "Already Gone," "She Never Cried In Front Of Me"), Song "Love Story" by Taylor Swift (who took home the award last year for "Teardrops On My Guitar"), Country Publisher Sony/ATV and the surprise President's Award to Brooks & Dunn in honor of their 20-year career.

» There Jordan: Former Clear Channel/Norfolk Market Mgr. Reggie Jordan is now VP/GM of New Northwest Broadcasting/Yakima, WA, which includes Country KXDD. He replaces Greg Dourian, who exited earlier this year. Reach him here.

» CO5's Durkot Moves On: CO5/Nashville Sr. Dir./Country Promotion Karen Durkot will join New York-based Ryko Group as Dir./Promotion Monday (11/16). Durkot previously worked in promotion at V2 Records, Geffen and Elektra before shifting to work Country for CO5 two years ago. An announcement is expected in the next few days regarding the open position at CO5.

» Pushing The Envelope: Mercury's Sugarland are among the first round of performers announced for the television special Grammy Nominations Concert Live!! — Countdown To Music's Biggest Night. They join the Black Eyed Peas, Maxwell and host LL Cool J to announce the nominees for the Jan. 31 52nd Annual Grammy Awards. The CBS-TV special airs Dec. 2 at 9pm ET.

» Country Aircheck Today Top 5: Here are the Top 5 songs for Nov. 10:

1. LADY ANTEBELLUM/Need You Now (Capitol) 2321 points
2. CARRIE UNDERWOOD/Cowboy Casanova (19/Arista) 2295 points
3. LUKE BRYAN/Do I (Capitol) 1877 points
4. ZAC BROWN BAND/Toes (Atlantic/Home Grown/Bigger Picture) 1839 points
5. REBA/Consider Me Gone (Starstruck/Valory) 1770 points

All daily airplay data is from Mediabase 24/7.

» Country Aircheck Today Top 5 Downloads: Here are Play MPE's Top 5 for Nov. 10:

1. MONTGOMERY GENTRY/Oughta Be More Songs About That (Columbia)
2. KEITH URBAN/Til Summer Comes Around (Capitol)
3. CLAY WALKER/She Won't Be Lonely Long (Curb)
4. BRAD PAISLEY/American Saturday Night (Arista)
5. CARTER'S CHORD/Santa Baby (Show Dog)

Icon See You: BMI Country Award recipients flaunt their trophies last night (11/10). Pictured (l-r) are BMI Pres./CEO Del Bryant, Icon honoree Kris Kristofferson, Song of the Year winner Taylor Swift, Songwriter of the Year winner Bobby Pinson and BMI VP/Writer-Publisher Relations Jody Williams.

A Little More Country: Mercury's Easton Corbin performed an acoustic set for radio pros and winners at the label's downtown Nashville offices this afternoon (11/11). Pictured (l-r) are Mercury's Sally Green, Virginia Atkins Dial Global's Hank Aaron, WESC/Greenville, SC's John Landrum, UMG's Katie Dean, WKHX/Atlanta's Mark Richards, Mercury's Allen Mitchell, Corbin, WGNE/Jacksonville's Michelle Chase, Mercury's Bruce Shindler, KSCS/Dallas' Chris Huff and WUSN/Chicago's Marci Braun.

Preachin' To The Choir: Show Dog's Trailer Choir visit with WGH-FM/Norfolk OM/PD John Shomby and APD/MD Mark McKay at the Premiere Radio remotes. Pictured (l-r) are TC's Crystal Hoyt, McKay, Shomby and TC's Butter and Big Vinny.

House Call: Treehouse's Blaine Larsen (c) spent some time with WKIS/Miami morning teamers (for now) Matt Walker (l) and Scott Simon at the Premiere remotes. As we told you last week (CAT 11/6), Simon is leaving the station at the end of the month.