3/4/2008 Stephen L. Betts The nominations for the 43rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards were announced this morning (3/4/08) at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Ford Theater. Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood read the nominations live during The Early Show broadcast on CBS. Rodney Atkins and Miranda Lambert, the Academy’s reining Top New Male Vocalist and Top New Female Vocalist, respectively, performed during the press conference. For the first time in Academy of Country Music history, fans will choose the winner of the Academy’s highest honor, Entertainer of the Year. Fan voting begins May 5. More details on how to participate will be announced at a later date. Kenny Chesney leads the pack with 11 nominations, including Entertainer of the Year and Top Male Vocalist. He’s also nominated as an artist and producer for Album of the Year for Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates, Single Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Video of the Year for “Don’t Blink.” If Kenny takes home the Entertainer of the Year trophy, it’ll be his fourth consecutive in that category. Rodney Atkins scored six nominations, including Top Male Vocalist. He’s also nominated for Song of the Year and Video of the Year for “Watching You” and Album of the Year for If You’re Going Through Hell. Other multiple nominees include Brad Paisley, with nods in four categories, including Entertainer of the Year, Top Male Vocalist, Album of the Year for 5th Gear, and Video of the Year for “Online.” He took home Top Male Vocalist honors last year. Big & Rich received four mentions including Top Vocal Duo and, for “Lost in this Moment,” nominations in the Single Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Video of the Year categories. John Rich is nominated for a producer and writer award, and Big Kenny is nominated for two producing awards. Sugarland scored nominations for four awards including Top Vocal Duo, and for the song “Stay,” Single Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Video of the Year. Jennifer Nettles also received two nominations for writing and producing, and Kristian Bush received one for producing. Miranda Lambert and Taylor Swift received three nominations each. Both received nominations this year for Top Female Vocalist. Miranda was also nominated for her album Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and for Single Record of the Year for “Famous in a Small Town.” Taylor was also nominated this year for Top New Female Vocalist and her album Taylor Swift was nominated for Album of the Year. Winners will receive their awards during the star-studded event to be broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 18, 2008 at 8:00 p.m. (live ET/delayed PT) on CBS-TV. NOMINEES FOR THE 43RD ANNUAL ACAMADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR Kenny Chesney Brad Paisley Rascal Flatts George Strait Keith Urban |
TOP VOCAL GROUP Diamond Rio Eagles Emerson Drive Little Big Town Rascal Flatts |
TOP MALE VOCALIST Rodney Atkins Kenny Chesney Brad Paisley George Strait Keith Urban |
TOP FEMALE VOCALIST Miranda Lambert Martina McBride LeAnn Rimes Taylor Swift Carrie Underwood |
TOP NEW MALE VOCALIST Luke Bryan Jack Ingram Jake Owen |
TOP NEW FEMALE VOCALIST Sarah Buxton Kellie Pickler Taylor Swift |
TOP VOCAL DUO Big & Rich Brooks & Dunn Halfway To Hazard Montgomery Gentry Sugarland |
TOP NEW DUO OR VOCAL GROUP Carolina Rain Lady Antebellum The Wreckers |
ALBUM OF THE YEAR (Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company)
Album |
Artist |
Label |
Producer |
5th Gear |
Brad Paisley |
Arista Nashville |
Frank Rogers |
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend |
Miranda Lambert |
Columbia |
Frank Liddell, Mike Wrucke |
Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates |
Kenny Chesney |
BNA |
Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney |
If You’re Going Through Hell |
Rodney Atkins |
Curb |
Rodney Atkins, Ted Hewitt |
Taylor Swift |
Taylor Swift |
Big Machine |
Scott Borchetta, Nathan Chapman, # 6 Produced by Robert Ellis Orrall |
SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR (Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company)
Single |
Artist |
Label |
Producer |
“Don’t Blink” |
Kenny Chesney |
BNA |
Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney |
“Famous In A Small Town” |
Miranda Lambert |
Columbia |
Frank Liddell, Mike Wrucke |
“Lost In This Moment” |
Big & Rich |
Warner Bros/WRN |
Big Kenny, John Rich |
“Stay” |
Sugarland |
Mercury |
Kristian Bush, Byron Gallimore, Jennifer Nettles |
“Watching Airplanes” |
Gary Allan |
MCA Nashville |
Gary Allan , Mark Wright |
SONG OF THE YEAR (Awarded to Composer(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s))
Song |
Artist |
Songwriter |
Publisher |
“Don’t Blink” |
Kenny Chesney |
Casey Beathard, Chris Wallin |
Lavender Zoo Music (BMI) Mama’s Dream Music (ASCAP) Sony/ATV Acuff Rose (BMI) WB Music Corp. (ASCAP) |
“Lost In This Moment” |
Big & Rich |
Keith Anderson, Rodney Clawson, John Rich |
EMI April Music, Inc. (ASCAP) Romeo Cowboy Music (ASCAP) Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI) Writer’s Extreme Music (BMI) |
“Moments” |
Emerson Drive |
Dave Berg, Annie Tate, Sam Tate |
Gravitron (SESAC) WB Music Corp. (ASCAP) |
“Watching You” |
Rodney Atkins |
Rodney Atkins, Steve Dean, Brian White |
Bethar Music (BMI) Mike Curb Music (BMI) Multisongs (SESAC) Songs From The White House (SESAC) |
“Stay” |
Sugarland |
Jennifer Nettles |
Jennifer Nettles Publishing (ASCAP) |
VIDEO OF THE YEAR (Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s))
Video |
Artist |
Producer |
Director |
“Don’t Blink” |
Kenny Chesney |
Tacklebox Films |
Shaun Silva |
“Lost In This Moment” |
Big & Rich |
Big Kenny, Steve Lamar, Marc Oswald |
Robert Deaton and George Flanigen |
“Online” |
Brad Paisley |
Frames Per Second |
Jason Alexander |
“Stay” |
Sugarland |
Kristian Bush, Byron Gallimore, Jennifer Nettles |
Shaun Silva |
“Watching You” |
Rodney Atkins |
Broken Poet Production |
Eric Welch |
VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR (Awarded to Artists/Producer(s)/Label)
Vocal Event |
Artists |
Producer |
Label |
“Because Of You” |
Reba McEntire Duet With Kelly Clarkson |
Tony Brown, Reba McEntire |
MCA Nashville |
“Find Out Who Your Friends Are” |
Tracy Lawrence With Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney |
Julian King, Tracy Lawrence |
Rocky Comfort/CO5 |
“Shiftwork” |
Kenny Chesney Duet With George Strait |
Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney |
BNA |
“Till We Ain’t Strangers Anymore” |
Bon Jovi Featuring LeAnn Rimes |
Dann Huff |
Mercury |
“What You Give Away” |
Vince Gill With Sheryl Crow |
Vince Gill, John Hobbs, Justin Niebank |
MCA Nashville |