George Strait and Brooks & Dunn are the top contenders at the 42nd annual Academy of Country Music Awards. Strait rolls into the May awards show with eight total nominations, including mentions for his work as a record producer. In addition to Brooks & Dunn's seven nominations, Dunn is up for vocal event of the year for "I Don't Want To," his collaboration with newcomer Ashley Monroe.

Kenny Chesney and Sugarland helped announce the nominations during a Monday morning (March 5) press conference at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in downtown Nashville. Also participating in the press conference was Hannah Storm of CBS' The Early Show, which telecast the announcements live.

Strait and Brooks & Dunn are in the running for the most coveted honor -- the entertainer of the year award. Other entertainer of the year nominees include Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw and Rascal Flatts.

Strait's other nominations include top male vocalist, and he received double nominations (as artist and producer) in the album of the year category for It Just Comes Natural and single of the year for "Give It Away." Strait's recording of "Give It Away" netted him another nomination in the song of the year category." Give It Away" was written by Bill Anderson, Buddy Cannon and Jamey Johnson. Strait, who has previously won 15 ACM awards, is also up for video of the year for "Seashores of Old Mexico."

Brooks & Dunn's other nominations are for top vocal duo, video of the year (for "Hillbilly Deluxe") and vocal event (for "Building Bridges" with Vince Gill and Sheryl Crow). Dunn and sidekick Kix Brooks also received additional nominations as the artists and co-producers of Hillbilly Deluxe, nominated for album of the year.

Other top nominees include Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood, Big & Rich, Vince Gill, Josh Turner and Gretchen Wilson.

This year's ACM Awards show takes place May 15 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The show will be telecast on CBS.

Here's a complete list of this year's ACM nominees:

Entertainer of the Year

Brooks & Dunn

Kenny Chesney

Tim McGraw

Rascal Flatts

George Strait

Top Male Vocalist

Kenny Chesney

Toby Keith

Brad Paisley

George Strait

Keith Urban

Top Female Vocalist

Sara Evans

Faith Hill

Miranda Lambert

Martina McBride

Carrie Underwood

Top Vocal Group

Diamond Rio

Emerson Drive

Little Big Town

Lonestar

Rascal Flatts

Top Vocal Duo

Big & Rich

Brooks & Dunn

Montgomery Gentry

Sugarland

The Wreckers

Top New Male Vocalist

Rodney Atkins

Craig Morgan

Chris Young

Top New Female Vocalist

Miranda Lambert

Kellie Pickler

Taylor Swift

Top New Duo or Vocal Group

Heartland

Little Big Town

The Wreckers

Album of the Year

Hillbilly Deluxe, Brooks & Dunn

Producers: Tony Brown, Ronnie Dunn, Kix Brooks, Mark Wright, Tom Shapiro

It Just Comes Natural, George Strait

Producers: Tony Brown, George Strait

Me and My Gang, Rascal Flatts

Producers: Dann Huff, Rascal Flatts

Some Hearts, Carrie Underwood

Producers: Mark Bright, Dann Huff

These Days, Vince Gill

Producers: Vince Gill, John Hobbs, Justin Niebank

Single Record of the Year

"Before He Cheats," Carrie Underwood

Producer: Mark Bright

"Give It Away," George Strait

Producers: Tony Brown, George Strait

"I Loved Her First," Heartland

Producer: Walt Aldridge

"What Hurts the Most," Rascal Flatts

Producers: Dann Huff, Rascal Flatts

"Would You Go With Me," Josh Turner

Producer: Frank Rogers

Song of the Year

"Amarillo Sky"

Artist: Jason Aldean

Writers: John Rich, Big Kenny, Rodney Clawson, Bart Pursley

"Before He Cheats"

Artist: Carrie Underwood

Writers: Chris Tompkins, Josh Kear

"Give It Away"

Artist: George Strait

Writers: Bill Anderson, Buddy Cannon, Jamey Johnson

"If You're Going Through Hell (Before the Devil Even Knows)"

Artist: Rodney Atkins

Writers: Sam and Annie Tate, Dave Berg

"Would You Go With Me"

Artist: Josh Turner

Writers: Shawn Camp, John Scott Sherrill

Video of Year

"8th of November," Big & Rich

Producer: Steve Lamar

Director: George Deaton, Robert Flanigan, Marc Oswald

"Amarillo Sky," Jason Aldean

Producer: Brittany Hailes

Director: Wes Edwards

"Before He Cheats," Carrie Underwood

Producer: Randy Brewer

Director: Roman White

"Hillbilly Deluxe," Brooks & Dunn

Producer: Mark Kalbfeld

Director: Michael Salomon

"Seashores of Old Mexico," George Strait

Producer: Shelli Jury

Director: Trey Fanjoy

Vocal Event

"Building Bridges," Brooks & Dunn with Vince Gill & Sheryl Crow

Producers: Tony Brown, Ronnie Dunn, Kix Brooks

"I Don't Want To," Ashley Monroe and Ronnie Dunn

Producers: Mark Wright

"Me and God," Josh Turner featuring Dr. Ralph Stanley and Marty Roe, Dana Williams and Gene Johnson of Diamond Rio

Producer: Frank Rogers

"Politically Uncorrect," Gretchen Wilson featuring Merle Haggard

Producers: Gretchen Wilson, John Rich and Mark Wright

"That's How They Do It In Dixie," Hank Williams Jr. with Gretchen Wilson, Big & Rich and Van Zant

Producer: Doug Johnson for Curb Productions