ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT REPORTS FROM THE TIMES, NEWS SERVICES AND THE NATION’S PRESS.

COUNTRY MUSIC

Evans Flying High With Country Nominations

Sara Evans, 30, who became a country sensation this year with the success of her third album, “Born to Fly,” led the pack with seven nominations for the 35th annual Country Music Assn. awards, announced Tuesday in Nashville.

Evans will compete against more established stars Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Lee Ann Womack and Trisha Yearwood for best female vocalist. She also received nominations for best single, song, video and album for “Born to Fly.” Evans received dual nominations as co-producer of her album and title single.

Best entertainer nominees were Brooks & Dunn, Tim McGraw, the Dixie Chicks, Alan Jackson and George Strait.

Brooks & Dunn and McGraw each received four nominations. Also garnering major recognition was the “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” soundtrack from the Joel and Ethan Coen film, nominated for two of the most important awards--best album and song of the year for the cut “I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow.”

Best male vocalist nominations with McGraw were Jackson, Strait, Toby Keith and Brad Paisley; the young bluegrass-based trio Nickel Creek joined the veteran nominees Alabama, Diamond Rio, Dixie Chicks and Lonestar for best vocal group.

Winners will be announced Nov. 7 at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House, broadcast live on CBS and hosted by Vince Gill.

TELEVISION

Condit Causes Coupfor Cable Channels

The ongoing saga surrounding Rep. Gary Condit and missing intern Chandra Levy gave many of the cable news channels a boost in August, compared to a year ago, when the political conventions were dominating air time.

CNN was the most-watched cable network in August, according to Nielsen Media Research figures, with an average 333,000 viewers per 24-hour day, but the network was off 1% from a year ago. Fox News Channel jumped 102% to an average 311,000 viewers, and MSNBC was up 30% to 229,000 viewers on average.

The revamped CNN Headline News was up a more modest 11%, to 178,000 viewers on average.

‘Sopranos’ in Court for Anti-Defamation Suit

A hearing to dismiss the American Italian Defense Assn.’s anti-defamation lawsuit against HBO’s Emmy-winning series “The Sopranos” is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. today in Circuit Court of Cook County, Chicago. The hearing, open to the public, represents the latest installment in an ongoing battle between the producers of the show and AIDA, an advocacy group that has said the series about Mafia boss Tony Soprano and his family constitutes cultural defamation and violates two provisions of the Illinois constitution: the individual dignity clause and the right to remedy and justice clause.

In its lawsuit, AIDA said it does not seek to restrict the free speech rights of AOL Time Warner Entertainment, which owns HBO, or monetary damages, but only asks for a “declaratory judgment that ‘The Sopranos’ falls within the condemnation of the individual dignity clause.”

RADIO

Opera Program Planned for KMZT-FM

Los Angeles Opera and KMZT-FM (105.1) will team up to present “Opera Notes on Air,” a weekly program making its debut at 7 p.m. Sunday.

Hosted by Los Angeles Opera mezzo-soprano Suzanna Guzman and baritone Rodney Gilfry, both native Angelenos, the hourlong program will feature a blend of historical and recent opera recordings, interviews and commentary on the opera world.

KABC-AM Shuffles Lineup, Adds Hannity

Talk-radio station KABC-AM (790) is shuffling its on-air lineup and adding conservative Fox News Channel host Sean Hannity from noon to 3 p.m., immediately following Rush Limbaugh on rival KFI-AM (640).

Beginning Sept. 10, KABC will simulcast Hannity’s talk-radio show, which currently airs on sister station WABC in New York. To make room for Hannity, KABC, which has been struggling in the ratings, will reduce “The KABC Morning Show With Dave & Amy” by an hour, move Gloria Allred and Mark Taylor to play from 9 a.m. to noon, shift Al Rantel to 7-10 p.m. and Mr. KABC to 10 p.m.-1 a.m.

Larry Elder is the only host to stay unchanged, remaining in his current afternoon drive-time slot, 3-7 p.m.

THE ARTS

Getty Will Be Open Late Starting Sept. 8

Beginning Sept. 8, the Getty will remain open until 9 on Friday and Saturday nights.

The Getty plans to launch its new weekend hours at 7 p.m. Sept. 8 with “Unsigned Indies,” a free performance of live acoustic music featuring some of Los Angeles’ unsigned independent musicians. No reservations are required for the concert, which will be hosted by Nic Harcourt, music director and host of the daily “Morning Becomes Eclectic” music program on KCRW-FM (89.9).

Effective next week, the Getty will make some other changes to its operating schedule. New hours are Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; and Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. The Getty is closed Mondays and major holidays.

Admission remains free; parking is $5 per car. Advance parking reservations are still required during the week before 4 p.m., and for groups. Information: (310) 440-7300.