Nominations were announced today for the 47th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, a star-studded event produced for television by dick clark productions broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 1, 2012 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.
Kenny Chesney leads with nine nominations, including Entertainer of the Year, a category he has won four times since 2004. He is nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year, a category he has been nominated in nine times previously. He is twice nominated for Album of the Year for Hemingway’s Whiskey, as both artist and producer, and also earned double nominations for Single Record of the Year and Vocal Event of the Year as both artist and producer for “You And Tequila” with Grace Potter. Chesney is also nominated for Song of the Year for “You And Tequila” with Grace Potter.
Jason Aldean is nominated for six awards, including his second consecutive nods for Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year. He is nominated for Album of the Year for My Kinda Party, and has nominations for Single Record of the Year and Vocal Event of the Year for “Don’t You Wanna Stay,” featuring Kelly Clarkson. He is nominated for Video of the Year for “Tattoos On This Town.”
Lady Antebellum leads group nominations with five nods, including Vocal Group of the Year, which they have won for two consecutive years. They are also nominated for Album of the Year as artists and producers for Own The Night, and for Song of the Year and Video of the Year for “Just A Kiss.”
Reigning Male Vocalist of the Year, Brad Paisley, is nominated for four awards, including his fifth consecutive nomination for Entertainer of the Year and eighth nomination for Male Vocalist of the Year, which he has won five times consecutively between 2006-2010. He received two nominations in the Vocal Event of the Year category for “Old Alabama” with Alabama and “Remind Me” with Carrie Underwood.
Toby Keith received three nominations for “Red Solo Cup,” including Video of the Year, which he last won in 2003 for “Beer For My Horses.” He also received a double nomination as artist and producer for Single Record of the Year for “Red Solo Cup.” Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill is also nominated for Nightclub of the Year in Minneapolis, MN (a nod that is not among Keith’s total nominations count, because it is awarded to the venue itself not it’s owners).
Reigning Entertainer of the Year, Taylor Swift, leads solo female nominees with three nominations, including her third consecutive nod for Entertainer of the Year. If Swift wins Entertainer of the Year, this will be her second consecutive win in that category. Swift is nominated for the fifth time for Female Vocalist of the Year, and for the third time for Video of the Year for “Mean.”
First-time ACM nominee, Grace Potter, received three nominations for “You And Tequila” with Kenny Chesney, in the Single Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Vocal Event of the Year categories.
Eli Young Band has three nominations including Vocal Group of the Year, as well as Single Record of the Year and Song of the Year for “Crazy Girl.”
Dierks Bentley, Kelly Clarkson, Vince Gill, Miranda Lambert, Aaron Lewis, Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood and Chris Young all received two nominations each.
The Academy of Country Music’s professional membership select the nominees and winners of the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, and select the final top five nominees of the Entertainer of the Year category and the eight semi-finalists in the New Artist of the Year category. Presenters and performers who will appear at the ceremony will be announced at a later date.
Fan voting for New Artist of the Year began at VoteACM.com and GACtv.com/ACM on January 16, 2012 and will close on Monday, January 30, 2012 at 12noon ET/9:00AM PT, after which nominees in that category will be announced separately. Fan voting for New Artist of the Year and Entertainer of the Year begins on March 19, 2012 at 12noon ET/9:00AM PT at VoteACM.com. Fan voting for New Artist of the Year will close at 5 p.m. PT on April 1, 2012 (before the LIVE show starts) and fan voting for Entertainer of the Year will close during the third hour of the LIVE broadcast.
Nominees were announced online via the first-ever ACM digital press conference this morning on the Academy’s Facebook and Twitter pages. Awards co-host Reba participated with a video message to kick things off and entertainment superstars Lionel Richie, who will be honored during a special taping of ACM Presents: Lionel Richie and Friends In Concert in April (to air at a later date on CBS), Beth Behrs (2 Broke Girls), Nancy O’Dell (Entertainment Tonight), Michael Ausiello (TVLine.com) announced batches of nominations in video postings during the approximately 20 minute online event which culminated in music fans announcing the nominees for the Academy’s biggest prize, Entertainer of the Year, a privilege fans embraced for the first time ever by submitting videos naming their favorite artist. Fans from around the country announced Entertainer of the Year nominees Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton and Taylor Swift.
As previously announced, Blake Shelton will join forces with country music star Reba to host the 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards for the second consecutive year.
For the fifth year, fans will select the winner of the Academy’s most prestigious honor, Entertainer of the Year, and for the fourth year, the New Artist of the Year category will also be opened up to fan voting. Nominees for New Artist of the Year were not announced in the press conference today because fan voting for those semi-finalists will close on January 30 (see page 2 below). The winners of Entertainer of the Year and New Artist of the Year will be announced live during the 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards.
Following is the list of final nominees. Winners in each of the following categories, except where noted, will be presented with an ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARD during the live television broadcast:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Jason Aldean
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
Blake Shelton
Taylor Swift
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Jason Aldean
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
Blake Shelton
Chris Young
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Sara Evans
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Love and Theft
Montgomery Gentry
Steel Magnolia
Sugarland
Thompson Square
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
The Band Perry
Eli Young Band
Lady Antebellum
Rascal Flatts
Zac Brown Band
ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
Chief – Eric Church (EMI-Nashville)
Produced by: Arturo Buenahora, Jr., Jay Joyce
Four The Record – Miranda Lambert (RCA)
Produced by: Chuck Ainlay, Frank Liddell, Glenn Worf
Hemingway’s Whiskey – Kenny Chesney (BNA)
Produced by: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney
My Kinda Party – Jason Aldean (Broken Bow Records)
Produced by: Michael Knox
Own The Night – Lady Antebellum (Capitol Records Nashville)
Produced by: Lady Antebellum, Paul Worley
SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
Crazy Girl – Eli Young Band (Republic Nashville)
Produced by: Mike Wrucke
Don’t You Wanna Stay – Jason Aldean With Kelly Clarkson (Broken Bow Records)
Produced by: Michael Knox
Red Solo Cup – Toby Keith (Show Dog-Universal Music)
Produced by: Toby Keith
Tomorrow – Chris Young (RCA)
Produced by: James Stroud
You And Tequila – Kenny Chesney Featuring Grace Potter (BNA)
Produced by: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney
SONG OF THE YEAR [Award to Composer(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
Crazy Girl – Eli Young Band
Composers: Lee Brice, Liz Rose
Publishers: Cake Taker Music (BMI), Mike Curb Music (BMI), Sony/ATV Tree Publishing (BMI), Sweet Hysteria Music (BMI)
Home – Dierks Bentley
Composers: Brett Beavers, Dierks Bentley, Dan Wilson
Publishers: Big White Tracks (ASCAP), Chestnut Barn Music (BMI), Chrysalis Music/BMG Rights (ASCAP), Chrysalis One Songs (BMI)
Just A Kiss – Lady Antebellum
Composers: Dallas Davidson, Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott
Publishers: Dwhaywood Music (BMI), EMI Blackwood Music, Inc. (BMI), EMI Foray Music (SESAC), Hillary Dawn Songs (SESAC), Radiobulletspublishing (BMI), String Stretcher Music (BMI), Warner-Tamberlane Publishing Corp. (BMI)
Threaten Me With Heaven – Vince Gill
Composers: Amy Grant, Vince Gill, Dillon O’Brian, Will Owsley
Publishers: Grant Girls Music (ASCAP), Vinny Mae Music (BMI), Willie-O Music (ASCAP)
You And Tequila – Kenny Chesney Featuring Grace Potter
Composers: Matraca Berg, Deana Carter
Publishers: Deanaling Music (ASCAP), Hannaberg Music (BMI), Songs of Universal Inc. (BMI), WB Music Corp. (ASCAP)
VIDEO OF THE YEAR [Award to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)] *(Off Camera Award)
Homeboy – Eric Church
Producer: Brandon Arolfo
Director: Peter Zavadil
Just A Kiss – Lady Antebellum
Producer: Don Lepore
Director: Shawn Silva
Mean – Taylor Swift
Producer: Oualid Mouaness
Director: Declan Whitebloom
Red Solo Cup – Toby Keith
Producer: Mark Kalbfeld
Director: Michael Salomon
Tattoos On This Town – Jason Aldean
Producer: John Burke
Director: Wes Edwards
VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company] *(Off Camera Award)
Country Boy – Aaron Lewis Featuring George Jones & Charlie Daniels (R&J Records)
Produced by: Aaron Lewis, James Stroud
Don’t You Wanna Stay – Jason Aldean With Kelly Clarkson (Broken Bow Records)
Produced by: Michael Knox
Old Alabama – Brad Paisley Featuring Alabama (Arista Nashville)
Produced by: Frank Rogers
Remind Me – Brad Paisley Duet With Carrie Underwood (Arista Nashville)
Produced by: Frank Rogers
You And Tequila – Kenny Chesney Featuring Grace Potter (BNA)
Produced by: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney
OFF CAMERA AWARDS – The following off-camera awards will be presented during the annual ACM Honors event held in Nashville this fall.
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Rhett Akins
Dallas Davidson
Ben Hayslip
Luke Laird
David Lee Murphy
INDUSTRY AWARDS:
CASINO OF THE YEAR
Agua Caliente Casino ‐ Rancho Mirage, CA
IP Casino ‐ Biloxi, MS
Island Resort Casino ‐ Harris, MI
Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino ‐ Las Vegas, NV
WinStar World Casino ‐ Thackerville, OK
NIGHTCLUB OF THE YEAR
Billy Bob’s Texas ‐ Ft. Worth, TX
Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace ‐ Bakersfield, CA
Grizzly Rose ‐ Denver, CO
Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill ‐ Minneapolis, MN
Wormy Dog ‐ Oklahoma City, OK
VENUE OF THE YEAR
BOK Center ‐ Tulsa, OK
Bridgestone Arena ‐ Nashville, TN
First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre ‐ Chicago, IL
Jiffy Lube Live ‐ Bristow, VA
Sprint Center ‐ Kansas City, MO
DON ROMEO TALENT BUYER OF THE YEAR
Ethan Hirsch ‐ Wilson Events
Jimmy Jay ‐ Jayson Promotions, Inc.
R.J. Kaltenbach ‐ Klein’s Attractions
Gary Osier ‐ Gary Osier Presents
Huston Powell ‐ C3 Presents
PROMOTER OF THE YEAR
Ben Ferrell ‐ Varnell Enterprises, Inc.
Brad Garrett ‐ Police Productions
Brian O’Connell ‐ Live Nation
Glenn Smith ‐ Glenn & Linda Present
Ed Warm ‐ Joe’s Bar
MUSICIAN/BANDLEADER/INSTRUMENTALIST (MBI) AWARDS:
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Mark Bright
Buddy Cannon
Nathan Chapman
Jay Joyce
Frank Liddell
AUDIO ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
Jeff Balding
Derek Bason
John Kelton
Mills Logan
Justin Niebank
BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Mike Brignardello
Kevin "Swine" Grantt
Mark Hill
Michael Rhodes
Jimmy Lee Sloas
PERCUSSIONIST/DRUMMER OF THE YEAR
Matt Chamberlain
Chad Cromwell
Shannon Forrest
Chris McHugh
Greg Morrow
FIDDLE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Glen Duncan
Stuart Duncan
Larry Franklin
Joe Spivey
Jonathan Yudkin
GUITARIST OF THE YEAR
J.T. Corenflos
Kenny Greenberg
Jay Joyce
Brent Mason
Adam Shoenfeld
PIANO/KEYBOARD PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Tony Harrell
John Hobbs
John Jarvis
Charlie Judge
Michael Rojas
SPECIALTY INSTRUMENT(S) PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Eric Darken
Aubrey Haynie
Ilya Toshinsky
John Willis
Jonathan Yudkin
STEEL GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Paul Franklin
Mike Johnson
Greg Leisz
Russ Pahl
Scotty Sanders
RADIO AWARDS – The following radio awards will be presented during the annual Radio Winners event held the day prior to the ACM Awards telecast, on March 31st in Las Vegas.
ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – NATIONAL
Cody Alan CMT Radio Live with Cody Alan
Kix Brooks American Country Countdown with Kix Brooks
Crook and Chase Crook and Chase Countdown
Lon Helton CMT Country Countdown USA
Lia The Lia Show
ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – MAJOR MARKET
Kelly Ford & Rider KYGO-FM Denver, CO
Cledus T. Judd, Dave McKay, Veronica WQYK-FM St. Petersburg, FL
Lisa Dent and Ramblin’ Ray WUSN-FM Chicago, IL
Trish Biondo WUSN-FM Chicago, IL
Edwards & Lee (Chuck Edwards & Linda Lee) WYCD-FM Detroit, MI
ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – LARGE MARKET
Randy Carroll & Jamie Martin KAJA-FM San Antonio, TX
Dave O’Brien WLHK-FM Indianapolis, IN
Mike, Marty and Janie WQDR-FM Raleigh, NC
Bill Cody WSM-AM Nashville, TN
Big Dave and Chelsie WUBE-FM Cincinnati, OH
ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – MEDIUM MARKET
Steve & Geoff in the Morning KUZZ AM/FM Bakersfield, CA
Cash and Carey (Natalie Cash and Jim Carey) KWEN-FM Tulsa, OK
Tom & Becky WBBS-FM Syracuse, NY
Roger, Tom & Melissa WPCV-FM Lakeland, FL
Scott Wynn & Sue Wilson (Wynn and Wilson in the Morning) WQMX-FM Akron, OH
ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – SMALL MARKET
Scotty & Carissa in the Morning KCLR-FM Columbia, MO
Bill Barrett, Tim Fox and Tracy Berry KKNU-FM Eugene, OR
Philip Gibbons WGSQ-FM Cookeville, TN
Bearman and Ken in the Morning WUSY-FM Chattanooga, TN
Brent Lane WYCT-FM Pensacola, FL
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR – MAJOR MARKET
KUPL-FM Portland, OR
KYGO-FM Denver, CO
WQYK-FM St. Petersburg, FL
WXTU-FM Philadelphia, PA
WYCD-FM Detroit, MI
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR – LARGE MARKET
KAJA-FM San Antonio, TX
WLHK-FM Indianapolis, IN
WQDR-FM Raleigh, NC
WUBE-FM Cincinnati, OH
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR – MEDIUM MARKET
KATM-FM Stockton, CA
KUZZ-AM/FM Bakersfield, CA
WBBS-FM Syracuse, NY
WYRK-FM Buffalo, NY
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR – SMALL MARKET
KCLR-FM Columbia, MO
KUAD-FM Windsor, CO
WUSY-FM Chattanooga, TN
WXFL-FM Florence, AL
