Reigning ACM Top New Female Gets 2nd Consecutive Female Nod
Also Receives Special Billboard Award Onstage at the Ryman

Nashville (03/01/00) - She wowed 'em from the stage of the Ryman Auditorium Tuesday night, where she headlined the Warner Music Group's official Country Radio Seminar kick-off event. Now Jo Dee Messina picks up an even bigger milestone: her second consecutive Top Female Vocalist nomination from the Los Angeles-based Academy of Country Music.

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"I'm thrilled to be included in this category," Messina said when reached at her hotel late this evening. "I'm such a fan of all the other women artists. It truly is an honor."

Messina, who won the ACM's Top New Female Vocalist Award last year and is also the reigning Country Music Association's Horizon Award winner, is having quite a new century. Halfway through her SRO Ryman performance, Billboard's Wade Jessen strode onstage and interrupted Messina's set. He wasn't doing his very best Soy-Bomb, but had instead come to present her with a plaque for being Billboard's Most Played Country Female of 1999.

"I am so blessed by the fans and the people in radio," a tearful Messina told the assembled crowd of fans and radio VIPs. "Without them, none of this would have happened…and I want to thank them for everything."

Messina, who's whirlwind schedule swept her right out of town, is back on the road as the Judds' special guest on their Power To Change Tour. The vocal dynamo is also getting ready to return to her hometown for the Kahlua Boston Music Awards - where last year she beat perennial local faves Aerosmith, Paula Cole, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Rob Zombie for the prestigious Artist of the Year Award.

The flame-tressed vocalist is also in the final stages of completing her third Curb record, slated for an early summer release. With I'm Alright still in the Top 10 two years after release - and placing two songs in Billboard's Year End Top 10 for two straight years ("Bye, Bye" #2 and "I'm Alright" #4 in 1998, "Lesson In Leavin'" #3 and "Stand Beside Me" #7 for 1999), Jo Dee Messina is more than alright -- she's real extra special okay!