Brad Paisley, Heidi Newfield Top List of ACM Nominees
Brad Paisley continued to prove his superstar status by claiming six nominations to lead the field of nominees for the 44th annual Academy of Country Music Awards. More surprising, perhaps, is that former Trick Pony vocalist Heidi Newfield came in second on the ACM tally with five nominations.
The nominees were announced Wednesday morning (Feb. 11) during the CBS news program, The Early Show. Julianne Hough, Kellie Pickler, LeAnn Rimes and Jessica Simpson revealed the nominations during a press conference at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in downtown Nashville.
Kenny Chesney, Jamey Johnson and George Strait each received four nominations while Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban got three each. Trace Adkins, Brooks & Dunn, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, James Otto, Jake Owen, Taylor Swift and Sugarland each received two nominations.
Paisley, who won two Grammys during Sunday night's (Feb. 8) ceremony in Los Angeles, is nominated for the ACM's entertainer of the year in a category that also includes Chesney, Strait, Urban and Underwood. The ACM's reigning male vocalist, Paisley is nominated for top male vocalist alongside Toby Keith, Chesney, Strait and Urban. His "Waitin' on a Woman" is nominated for single record of the year, song of the year and video of the year. Additionally, Paisley and Urban are up for vocal event of the year for their collaboration on "Start a Band."
Newfield, who released her first solo album last year, is nominated for top female vocalist in a field with Lee Ann Womack, Lambert, Swift and Underwood. Her recording of "Johnny and June" netted nominations for single record of the year and video of the year. Her other two nominations are as artist and composer of "Johnny and June," which is nominated for song of the year.
In addition to his entertainer of the year and male vocalist nods, Chesney received two nominations as artist and producer for "Down the Road," his recording with singer-songwriter Mac McAnally. The track is up for vocal event of the year.
Johnson made a strong showing as a new artist, receiving a nomination for top new male vocalist. His recording of "In Color" resulted in a single of the year nomination. His other two nominations are in the song of the year category as artist and writer of "In Color." Johnson won an ACM song of the year award in 2006 for co-writing Strait's "Give It Away."
Strait supplements his entertainer of the year and top male vocalist nominations with a video of the year mention for "Troubadour." He is also up for song of the year as an artist for "I Saw God Today," his hit written by Rodney Clawson, Monty Criswell and Wade Kirby.
This year, the ACM's three newcomer categories will be opened up to interactive fan voting on GACTV.com, beginning Friday (Feb. 13). The winners will then compete as top new artist, a new category. The entertainer of the year award will be determined by fan voting at voteACM.com, and fans will also be able to text their vote in the category during the ACM broadcast.
The ACM Awards show is scheduled for April 5 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. It will be broadcast live on CBS.
Nominees for the ACM's album of the year will be announced in March, but here's a complete list of the nominations announced Wednesday:
Entertainer of the Year
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Keith Urban
Carrie Underwood
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
"Gunpowder & Lead"
Miranda Lambert
Producers: Frank Liddell and Mike Wrucke
"In Color"
Jamey Johnson
Producers: The Ken Hardley Playboys
"Johnny and June"
Heidi Newfield
Producer: Tony Brown
"Waitin' on a Woman"
Brad Paisley
Producer: Frank Rogers
"You're Gonna Miss This"
Trace Adkins
Producer: Frank Rogers
Song of the Year
"I Saw God Today"
George Strait
Writers: Rodney Clawson, Monty Criswell, Wade Kirby
"In Color"
Jamey Johnson
Writers: Jamey Johnson, Lee Thomas Miller, James Otto
"Johnny and June"
Heidi Newfield
Writers: Deanna Bryant, Heidi Newfield, Stephony Smith
"Waitin' on a Woman"
Brad Paisley
Writers: Don Sampson, Wynn Varble
"You're Gonna Miss This"
Trace Adkins
Writers: Ashley Gorley, Lee Thomas Miller
Video of the Year
"Johnny and June"
Heidi Newfield
Producer: Karen Martin
Director: Eric Welch
"Just a Dream"
Carrie Underwood
Producer: Randy Brewer
Director: Roman White
"Love Story"
Taylor Swift
Producer: Trent Hardville
Director: Trey Fanjoy
"Troubadour"
George Strait
Producer: Dominic Cancilla
Director: Trey Fanjoy
"Waitin' on a Woman"
Brad Paisley
Producers: Mark Kalbfeld, Jim Shea
Directors: Jim Shea, Peter Tilden
Vocal Event of the Year
"Another Try"
Josh Turner Featuring Trisha Yearwood
Producer: Frank Rogers
"Cowgirls Don't Cry"
Brooks & Dunn Featuring Reba McEntire
Producers: Kix Brooks, Tony Brown, Ronnie Dunn
"Down the Road"
Kenny Chesney With Mac McAnally
Producers: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney
"Life in a Northern Town"
Sugarland Featuring Little Big Town and Jake Owen
Producers: Sugarland, Byron Gallimore
"Start a Band"
Brad Paisley Duet With Keith Urban
Producer: Frank Rogers
