MARRIED WITH CHITLINS

Let's hope the rivalry between the duo stays on stage, as the wedded competitors are facing off in three categories: Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year (Hill for "Breathe" and McGraw for "A Place in the Sun") and Song of the Year (Hill for "Breathe" and McGraw for "Please Remember Me").

Hill is also nominated in the categories of Top Female Vocalist and Video ("Breathe"), while McGraw is up for Top Male Vocalist and Single ("Please Remember Me").

"If Tim ever wants to get a slice of this again, he’d best back up off the Entertainer of the Year category," Hill was overheard telling co-nominee Shania Twain.

The Dixie Chicks are competing for Album of the Year for "Fly," as well as Entertainer of the Year, Top Vocal Duo or Group, Single (for "Ready to Run"), and Video (for "Ready to Run").

Others nominated in the Entertainer of the Year include Sawyer Brown and Twain.

McGraw takes on Alan Jackson, Toby Keith, Collin Raye and George Strait in the top male vocalist category, while Hill challenges Martina McBride, Jo Dee Messina, Chely Wright and Twain for female vocalist.

The awards will be broadcast live from Los Angeles' Universal Amphitheater May 3 on CBS. In a related story, our own Mike Murphy sang a real sad song to his dog before passing out in his recliner.