Brad Paisley led the field this morning with six nominations for the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, which will air April 5 on CBS and once again be hosted by Reba McEntire. Paisley is pitted against Kenny Chesney, George Strait, Keith Urban, and Carrie Underwood for the top prize, Entertainer of the Year. Though I’m backing Urban in the fan-voted category (voteACM.com), it’s worth noting that Underwood would be only the 7th woman to take the title — and the first since the Dixie Chicks in 2000. This year, fans will also weigh in on the three newcomer categories (female, male, vocal duo or group) by voting on GACTV.com. The winners will then move on to a new category, Top New Artist. George Strait, who received three nominations, was also named Artist of the Decade, and will be honored in a CBS special airing later this year.
See the full list of nominees after the jump. (Note: Album of the Year contenders will be announced in March.)
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Carrie Underwood
Keith Urban
TOP MALE VOCALIST
Kenny Chesney
Toby Keith
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Keith Urban
TOP FEMALE VOCALIST
Miranda Lambert
Heidi Newfield
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
Lee Ann Womack
TOP VOCAL GROUP
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts
Randy Rogers Band
The Lost Trailers
TOP VOCAL DUO
Big & Rich
Brooks & Dunn
Joey & Rory
Montgomery Gentry
Sugarland
TOP NEW MALE VOCALIST**
Jamey Johnson
James Otto
Jake Owen
TOP NEW FEMALE VOCALIST**
Sarah Buxton
Julianne Hough
Ashton Shepherd
TOP NEW VOCAL DUO OR GROUP**
Eli Young Band
The Lost Trailers
Zac Brown Band
SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
"Gunpowder & Lead" by Miranda Lambert
"In Color" by Jamey Johnson
"Johnny & June" by Heidi Newfield
"Waitin’ On A Woman" by Brad Paisley
"You’re Gonna Miss This" by Trace Adkins
SONG OF THE YEAR [Award to Composer(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
"I Saw God Today" by George Strait
"In Color" by Jamey Johnson
"Johnny & June" by Heidi Newfield
"Waitin’ On A Woman" by Brad Paisley
"You’re Gonna Miss This" by Trace Adkins
VIDEO OF THE YEAR [Award to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]
"Johnny & June" by Heidi Newfield
"Just A Dream" by Carrie Underwood
"Love Story" by Taylor Swift
"Troubadour" by George Strait
"Waitin’ On A Woman" by Brad Paisley
VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
"Another Try": Josh Turner featuring Trisha Yearwood
"Cowgirls Don’t Cry": Brooks & Dunn featuring Reba McEntire
"Down The Road": Kenny Chesney with Mac McAnally
"Life In A Northern Town": Sugarland featuring Little Big Town & Jake Owen
"Start A Band": Brad Paisley duet with Keith Urban
** Fan voting for Top New Male Vocalist, Top New Female Vocalist and Top New Vocal Duo
or Group will begin at GACTV.com on Friday, Feb. 13, and will close on Thursday, March 5.
The winner in each of the three categories will be announced March 9, and will move on to compete in a brand new Academy of Country Music Awards category, Top New Artist.
Finally. I am glad Carrie is getting recognized in the Entertainer of the Year category. Whether she will win over the guys; I don’t know. But it’s nice change. I am rooting for her. She’s come a LONG way since American Idol. Congrats to all the nominees; but I am so happy for Carrie.
I was raised watching all of the country music awards. I have had to stop recently due to the over-exposure of Carrie Underwood. Now this. Guess I won’t be watching.
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Kenny Chesney
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I really really really can’t stand him!! he does NOT sing people! HE can NOT carry a tune!!!!!!
Leann Rimes is going to be honored for her humanitarian work at the ACMs too. Congratulations to her.
Congrats to Carrie Underwood for getting nominated for Entertainer Of The Year. There’s no one who puts a better concert on than Keith Urban but EOTY is about everything so I’m torn who to vote for. Brad deserves it too.
Johnny & June isn’t bad but it doesn’t deserve all those nominations. James Otto’s Just Got Started Lovin You was way better and more deserving.
I am glad to finally have a woman nominated for Entertainer of the Year. I don’t think Carrie Underwood will win, but at least she got a nomination. Also, I don’t understand how the song Johnny & June got so many nominations??!! I can’t stand that song. I don’t really like Heidi Newfield either. I think there are other songs more deserving of the noms and other female singers more deserving. But that is just my opinion and others may disagree with me. But I still CAN’T STAND THE SONG JOHNNY & JUNE!!!!!!!!
About time Carrie got a EOTY nomination!
Make The Lost Trailers the ACM Best New artist of 2009.
Vote HERE! http://www.gactv.com/gac/pac_ctnt/text/0,,GAC_26058_84999,0.html
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