44th ACM Awards - LIVE - Sun., April 5 - on CBS

[drock89]

"The 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards will be broadcast live from Las Vegas Sun., April 5 8:00 PM ET on the CBS Television Network."

NOMINATIONS FOR THE ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS[/url]

NEWS[/u]
McEntire To Host 44th Annual ACM Awards; George Strait is 'Artist of the Decade LINK
Hough, Pickler, Rimes, & Simpson To Announce Nominees For 44th Annual ACMs on Feb. 11 LINK
Fans To Chose Nominees, Winner of ACM 'New Artist' Awards LINK
ACM Album of the Year Nominees Announced LINK
First Round of Performers Announced LINK


HOST[/u]
Reba McEntire

ARTIST OF THE DECADE[/u]
George Strait

ARTIST OF THE DECADE CONCERT[/u]
(Airs on CBS on Wed., May 27, at 8:00 pm EST)
Faith Hill, Toby Keith, Tim McGraw, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Brooks & Dunn, Jamie Foxx, Jack Ingram, Alan Jackson, Jamey Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Montgomery Gentry, John Rich, LeAnn Rimes, Blake Shelton, Martina McBride, Dierks Bentley and Lee Ann Womack

PERFOMERS[/u]
Brad Paisley
Carrie Underwood
George Strait
Heidi Newfield
Jamey Johnson
John Rich
Keith Urban
Kenny Chesney
Lady Antebellum
Lee Ann Womack
Miley Cyrus
Miranda Lambert
Rascal Flatts
Reba McEntire
Sugarland
Taylor Swift
Tim McGraw
Toby Keith
Trace Adkins

PRESENTERS[/u]
Jason Aldean
Dierks Bentley
Billy Ray Cyrus
Jamie Foxx
Jennifer Love Hewitt
Jack Ingram
Martina McBride
Matthew McConaughey
Marisa Miller
Kellie Pickler
Rascal Flatts
Darius Rucker
Blake Shelton


Official Site: 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards[/url]
The ACMs on CBS: www.cbs.com/specials/acma/

[drock89]

Reba hosts 44th ACM Awards, George is 'Artist Of The Decade'

Country Music's Party of the Year the 44th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS honoring country music's top talent and the industry's hottest emerging talent, will be broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Sunday, April 5th, 2009 at 8:00 PM live ET on the CBS Television Network. In addition, the Academy is announcing the ARTIST OF THE DECADE SPECIAL Honoring George Strait will be taped at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Monday, April 6th, 2009 to air at a later date on the CBS Television Network.

Music, film and television legend Reba McEntire will host the 44th Academy of Country Music Awards for the 11th time. She has won 11 Academy of Country Music Awards including the first-ever annual Academy of Country Music/The Home Depot Humanitarian Award for her outstanding philanthropic work. This is the second year the Academy of Country Music Awards will take place on a Sunday, the fourth year the show will be based at MGM Grand and the seventh year the show will be held in Las Vegas.

"King of Country" George Strait will receive the Academy's Artist of the Decade award in recognition of his record-breaking career which spans nearly 25 years. Only four other acts have been honored as Artist of the Decade in the Academy’s history, including Marty Robbins in 1969, Loretta Lynn in 1979, Alabama in 1988 and Garth Brooks in 1998. Strait has won 19 Academy of Country Music Awards including Entertainer of the Year in 1990. Strait holds the record for the most Number One hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, and currently has 55 number one singles to his credit. His current album, Troubadour is certified gold.

"We are thrilled that Reba is back to host and that George will be honored with this milestone award," said Bob Romeo, Executive Director of the Academy of Country Music. "The Academy and Dick Clark Productions are committed to bringing the best in country music entertainment to fans in their own homes in 2009 - both shows are not-to-be-missed events!"

"Nearly 12 million viewers tuned in to our show this year and we're driving ourselves to deliver an even bigger, better show to those viewers in 2009," said Orly Adelson, President of dick clark productions. "The Awards have become a concert event, treating music fans to amazing performances, unexpected combinations of artists and memorable moments. We expect both shows next year to deliver on those elements."

SOURCE: Country On-Demand

[drock89]

ACM lets fans pick 'New Artist' Awards for 44th Annual Awards

The Academy of Country Music and Great American Country (GAC) announced today that for the first time ever, the three newcomer categories for the Academy of Country Music Awards - Top New Female Vocalist, Top New Male Vocalist and Top New Vocal Duo or Group - will be opened up to interactive fan voting through GACTV.com.

The 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards will be broadcast live from Las Vegas Sun., April 5 8:00 PM ET on the CBS Television Network. Nominees for the Academy of Country Music Awards will be announced on Wed., Feb. 11, in Nashville.

Fan voting for these three categories will begin at GACTV.com on Fri., Feb. 13, and will close on Thurs., 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. Voting for the Top New Artist category will begin on March 16, and will close on April 5, with the winner being announced live during the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards.

"The Academy has been at the forefront of supporting new artists and introducing them to new audiences. This alliance felt like a natural fit and extension of that support," said Bob Romeo, executive director of the Academy of Country Music.

As part of this new partnership, GAC will air several stand-alone specials, including a show featuring all the nominees from each of the three categories, as well as a special on the winner.mThe first GAC special, hosted by reigning Top New Male Vocalist Jack Ingram, will feature the nine nominees, three from each newcomer category, and will premiere on Friday, Feb. 20. This special will re-air through March 5, when voting closes.

On March 10, GAC will tape a special hosted by Sara Evans, wherein the winner in each category will be named and presented with the award for Top New Female Vocalist, Top New Male Vocalist, and Top New Vocal Duo or Group. Each winning act will perform on this special, which will air March 19 with multiple re-airs scheduled.

"GAC is honored to be part of this fan-focused selection process particularly because so many of these top new artists get their first exposure to TV on GAC," said Sarah Trahern, senior vice president of programming for GAC. "Country Music fans everywhere will get the rare opportunity to show their support for the many talented new artists in our country format."

SOURCE: Country On-Demand

[stuffy]

Please quit with the fan voting that's what the CMT, AMA, and People's choice awards are for.

[what]

Feb 4, 2009 17:30:53 GMT -5 stuffy said:

Please quit with the fan voting that's what the CMT, AMA, and People's choice awards are for.

yeah, instead of like judging the merits of the artists work, it'll go down to whoever artist has the fans who can click the most and fastest on the net.

[avalyn]

Entertainer of the Year is still fan voted as well. I don't care for it at all. They'll do what they have to try and get more viewers I guess.

[joey2002]

i like how kenny was open and honest about his opinion of it last year, and they still didn't listen...

[kim8]

Oh for crying out loud! So, three main categories out of 12 are going to be fan-voted and announced before the awards? That is totally ridiculous. I look forward to these awards for their credibility but that is rapidly diminishing. The CMT awards is more than enough fan-voted awards. Ugh, this is really aggravating.

[elcamino]

I like Ashton. I hope she even gets a nomination though.

[hoosy]

I am with Kenny on this one. Fans shouldn't determine the ACMs.

[tsharky]

I don't like the fan voting for the ACMS either. I do hope Ashton Shephard wins BNA though.

[robrt30]

Feb 5, 2009 10:08:59 GMT -5 kim8 said:

Oh for crying out loud! So, three main categories out of 12 are going to be fan-voted and announced before the awards? That is totally ridiculous. I look forward to these awards for their credibility but that is rapidly diminishing. The CMT awards is more than enough fan-voted awards. Ugh, this is really aggravating.

Even worse, GAC's usual voting policy in any of their polls is you can vote once per day. CMT at least limits their awards to one vote per ID. Granted there are ways to get around that to vote multiple times. But if GAC sticks with their usual voting method, and I see no reason why they won't, then anyone can vote once per day. That's fine for the GAC Top 20, but I really don't think it's appropriate for a major awards show like the ACMs.

[joey2002]

Feb 5, 2009 12:34:20 GMT -5 hoosy said:

I am with Kenny on this one. Fans shouldn't determine the ACMs.

especially entertainer of the year

if they want a fan voted category, let them vote on video of the year which isn't even broadcaster on TV.....

kenny's wise advice

[43dudleyvillas]

I can only echo the objections to adding more fan voting to the ACMs, but this additional wrinkle in proceedings hadn't registered with me until now:

Fan voting for these three categories will begin at GACTV.com on Fri., Feb. 13, and will close on Thurs., 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. Voting for the Top New Artist category will begin on March 16, and will close on April 5, with the winner being announced live during the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards.

So on top of throwing this award to the fans, they're also going to artificially narrow this Top New Artist category to one female, one male, and one new group? To use a technical adjective, what a craptastic idea. Way to punish artists for being part of a deep field in one or more the categories.

As a consequence of this, more than one artist from the subset of James Otto, Jake Owen, Jimmy Wayne, Jason Michael Carroll, Chuck Wicks, Randy Houser, Luke Bryan, Bucky Covington and Phil Stacey will miss out on the Top New Artist category (wait, should I be including Jamey Johnson here?). Then from among Ashton Shepherd, Julianne Hough, Crystal Shawanda, Sarah Buxton and Kristy Lee Cook, only one will advance, and who is going to bet against Julianne Hough based on the experience her fans have with online voting? Ashton has virtually no chance in this scenario. Looking at group, I suppose Zac Brown Band is far and away the favorite, but thanks to this system, Eli Young Band, Carolina Rain and Joey & Rory have virtually no shot at showing up in the merged category.

I will note that according to last year's eligibility criteria, Darius Rucker, Jewel, Jessica Simpson and Heidi Newfield would not be qualify for consideration in the Top New Vocalist categories. All have previously released albums that scanned more than 500K, either as solo artists or as the lead singer of a group (I'm assuming Trick Pony's eponymous album scanned more than 500K...it was certified gold by the RIAA). That would disqualify them in the ACM's eyes. Unless, of course, the rule is going to be rewritten for 2009. Darius was arguably the top impacting new solo male artist in country music in 2008 (especially if Jamey Johnson isn't considered), while Heidi was arguably the top impacting new solo female artist in country music in 2008.

In any case, if the ACMs are going to do an overall Top New Artist category, I don't think there is any sense in artificially limiting who can make it in by gender or group size. I think it actually does harm by promoting competition between fanbases among acts of the same gender or group size.

And there's more absurdity. Over at Country Universe, Blake Boldt also makes an astute observation. The current ACM rule for Album of the Year eligibility includes a sales requirement of 300K and/or an average of 20K per week since release for any 2008 releases. That would narrow the field down to only ten albums and knock out releases from Jamey Johnson, Patty Loveless, Ashton Shepherd and Lee Ann Womack, which are among the year's most critically acclaimed in country music. As Blake points out, Johnson will miss out narrowly, as his album is on track to clear 300K in sales in the next few weeks. It would really behoove the ACMs to revise the sales threshold with the way sales have plummeted in the past few years.

Between all this, the fact that CBS has moved the awards show out of May sweeps (though back to its pre-2000 timeframe) and the ACMs' apparent inability to secure any of the genre's headliners and biggest names to announce the nominations (no disrespect to LeAnn, she is leagues ahead of the others in talent, acclaim and accomplishment), the ACMs aren't looking all that credible or relevant at the moment. Hopefully, the nominations and the show will be of higher quality than one might expect.

[Blake]

By any reading of the voting criteria, Johnson is eligible. His ACM win for Song of the Year ("Give It Away," 2006) does not disqualify him from receiving a "new artist" award from the academy.

In all honesty, having three separate categories is superfluous and leads to mediocre careers being recognized. Last year, a disbanded duo (Wreckers) was nominated; plus, a way-too-new group (Lady A---although this decision has proven wise) and a 15-year veteran (Jack Ingram) won. Previous winners include Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Kellie Coffey and Ricochet. This isn't a knock on their talent, but the credentials that they brought to the table at the time of their victories.

The Album criteria just adds to the notion that industry awards are now a sales competition. Also, there's a bit of a loophole in the explanation that is just maddening. It really boggles the mind how the academy could maintain a rule that eliminates one of the most well-received albums of the year, along with a host of many other fine candidates. Quick note: Zac Brown Band has only sold about 220k, I believe, but since they averaged 20k/wk for the eligibility period (the Nov. 18 release until Dec. 31), they could be considered, while Johnson is left out in the cold.

[elcamino]

I dissagee with your saying of The Wreckers in nomination. They toured well into half the time date. 2 cds and allmost platinum on SSLP. Granted they should have been switched with Hazard in the new to regular duo. Neither really a chance in winning though. There will be some disagreements with the winners. But everyone has strong parts about there act. I think it will be a more than good chance in a female taking the best new.

[EmersonDrive13Rocks]

Well it is stupid that they are having more fan voting after last years controversy. I'm not happy that they are going to have only a Top New Artist Award instead the 3 categories they had before.

[aeathin2]

I have been to nearly every major country singers concert in the last year, and it will be an absolute shame when Kenny beats Brad for Entertainer of the Year. I had fun at Kenny's concert (Keith was better), I had fun at Rascal, Alan Jackson. I had tons of fun at Toby's concert, enjoyed Montgomery Gentry, and Rodney Atkins. Ronnie and Kix still put on a good concert. I didn't see Sugarland or George Strait, but I've seen footage.

Brad Paisley puts on the absolute best show in country right now, and it is a shame that he hasn't gotten recognized for it. If you only pick one show to go to this summer, go see American Saturday Night with Brad and Dierks...they won't disappoint.

[avalyn]

44th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS NOMINEES

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
Miranda Lambert, Produced by Frank Liddell and Mike Wrucke
Columbia
In Color
Jamey Johnson, Produced by The Ken Hardley Playboys
Mercury
Johnny & June
Heidi Newfield, Produced by Tony Brown
Asylum-Curb
Waitin' On A Woman
Brad Paisley, Produced by Frank Rogers
Arista Nashville
You're Gonna Miss This
Trace Adkins, Produced by Frank Rogers
Capitol Nashville

Song of the Year [Award to Composer(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
I Saw God Today
George Strait
Composers: Rodney Clawson, Monty Criswell, Wade Kirby
Publishers: Big Red Toe Music (BMI), Blind Mule Music (BMI), Extremely Loud Music (BMI), Steel Wheels Music (BMI)
In Color
Jamey Johnson
Composers: Jamey Johnson, Lee Thomas Miller, James Otto
Publishers: Big Gassed Hitties (BMI), Eldorotto Music Publishing (BMI), EMI Blackwood Music, Inc., Lucky Thumb Music (BMI), New Song of Sea Gayle (BMI), Noah's Little Boat Music (BMI)
Johnny & June
Heidi Newfield
Composers: Deanna Bryant, Heidi Newfield, Stephony Smith
Publishers: Amylase Music (ASCAP), Big Hit Makers Music (BMI), Rainy Graham Publishing LLC (BMI), Souljet Music Tell Texas Tune III (ASCAP)
Waitin' On A Woman
Brad Paisley
Composers: Don Sampson, Wynn Varble
Publishers: EMI April Music, Inc. (ASCAP), Sea Gayle Music LLC (ASCAP), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI)
You're Gonna Miss This
Trace Adkins
Composers: Ashley Gorley and Lee Thomas Miller
Publishers: EMI Blackwood Music, Inc. (BMI), Music of Windswept (ASCAP), Noah's Little Boat Music (BMI), Song of Combustion (ASCAP), Songs of Sea Gayle (BMI)

Video of the Year [Award to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]
Johnny & 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
Producer: Mark Kalbfeld, Jim Shea
Director: Jim Shea, Peter Tilden

Vocal Event of the Year [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
Another Try - Josh Turner Featuring Trisha Yearwood
Produced by: Frank Rogers
MCA Nashville
Cowgirls Don't Cry - Brooks & Dunn Featuring Reba McEntire
Produced by: Kix Brooks, Tony Brown, Ronnie Dunn
Arista Nashville
Down The Road - Kenny Chesney With Mac McAnally
Produced by: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney
Blue Chair/BNA
Life In A Northern Town - Sugarland Featuring Little Big Town & Jake Owen
Produced by: Not listed
Mercury
Start A Band - Brad Paisley Duet With Keith Urban
Produced by: Frank Rogers
Arista Nashville

LeAnn Rimes is being recognized for humanitarian of the year.

Odd, I don't see Album of the Year on the list. What happened with that?

[Living Legend]

I can't believe Carrie Underwood finally got her Entertainer of the year nod....She deserves it!!!!

[carriefan0209]

:o

*Faints*

Carrie....

[hoosy]

Congrats to Carrie....well deserved! BRAVO!

[leilamaurizia]

Whoa, look at Heidi Newfield go! 5 nominations including Female Vocalist, Song, and Single.

No Martina for Female Vocalist? Not that I'm complaining, but when was the last time she wasn't nominated?

Very well-deserved nom for Carrie in Entertainer. When was the last time a solo female was nominated?

Recognition for Jamey Johnson and "In Color." Nice!

[lyrichord]

Feb 11, 2009 8:38:33 GMT -5 avalyn said:

Odd, I don't see Album of the Year on the list. What happened with that?

www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/nominations-announced-for-the-44th,712668.shtml

Nominees for Album of the Year will be announced in March.

Woo Carrie EOTY nominee!

[realityBITES]

Nominees for Album of the Year will be announced in March.

[hoosy]

To the brain trust.....who was the last female nominated for ETOY at the ACMs?

[avalyn]

Underwood is up for the ACM's biggest award, Entertainer of the Year, which rarely includes female nominees. In fact, there have only been seven female ACM Entertainer winners in the show's history -- most recently the Dixie Chicks in 2000. Underwood is up against Chesney, Urban, Strait and Paisley for the honor.

www.theboot.com/2009/02/11/brad-paisley-heidi-newfield-lead-acm-nominees/


Thanks Lyric and Reality. I didn't realize that. I kept looking over the list and thought I missed it somehow.

[leilamaurizia]

Here's the official press release:

Nominations Announced for the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music(R) Awards Country Music's Party of the Year(TM)

FANS WILL VOTE AGAIN FOR ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR; TOP NEW ARTIST CATEGORY FAN VOTED FOR FIRST TIME EVER

TELECAST TO AIR LIVE FROM MGM GRAND IN LAS VEGAS SUNDAY, APRIL 5th AT 8:00 PM LIVE ET/ DELAYED PT ON CBS TELEVISION NETWORK

Brad Paisley leads with 6 nominations; Heidi Newfield receives 5 nominations; Kenny Chesney, Jamey Johnson and George Strait each receive 4 nominations; Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban each receive 3 nominations; Trace Adkins, Brooks & Dunn, Little Big Town, James Otto, Jake Owen, Taylor Swift and Sugarland each receive 2 nominations

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Feb. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Nominations were announced today for the 44th 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 5 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.

Nominees were announced at a press conference this morning at the Country Music Hall of Fame(R) and Museum in Nashville. Country Super Stars Julianne Hough, Kellie Pickler, LeAnn Rimes and Jessica Simpson read the nominations live during CBS' The Early Show broadcast.

For the first time ever, the three newcomer categories for the Annual Academy of Country Music Awards -- Top New Female Vocalist, Top New Male Vocalist and Top New Vocal Duo or Group - will be opened up to interactive fan voting on GACTV.com, beginning Friday, February 13. The winners will then move on to compete in a new category, Top New Artist. For the second year, fans will also select the winner of the Academy's most prestigious honor, Entertainer of the Year. Online voting will be available at www.voteACM.com, and this year fans will also be able to text their votes for Entertainer of the Year during the broadcast. The winners of each category will be announced live during the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards.

This morning Brad Paisley led with six nominations, including Entertainer of the Year and Top Male Vocalist. In addition, Paisley was nominated for Single Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Video of the Year for "Waitin' on a Woman," and Vocal Event of the Year for "Start a Band" with Keith Urban. Paisley is the reigning Top Male Vocalist.

Heidi Newfield is nominated for five awards, including Top Female Vocalist. She is also nominated for Single Record of the Year and is nominated as an artist and composer for Song of the Year for "Johnny & June," for which she is also nominated for Video of the Year.

Kenny Chesney is nominated for four awards, including Entertainer of the Year, Top Male Vocalist and as an artist and producer for Vocal Event of the Year for "Down the Road" with Mac McAnally. If Chesney wins Entertainer of the Year, it will be his fifth consecutive win, which will tie Alabama for the most consecutive wins in this category.

Jamey Johnson received four nominations, including Top New Male Vocalist, Single Record of the Year and as an artist and composer for Song of the Year for "In Color." This is the first time Johnson has been nominated as an artist. He previously won an Academy of Country Music Award in 2006 for Song of the Year for "Give It Away," which was recorded by George Strait.

George Strait received four nominations, including Entertainer of the Year, Top Male Vocalist and Song of the Year for "I Saw God Today." He is also nominated for Video of the Year for "Troubadour." If Strait wins Entertainer of the Year, it will be his second win in that category, previously winning the award in 1989. Strait has also been named the Academy of Country Music's Artist of the Decade and will be honored in a television special to air later in the year on CBS.

Carrie Underwood is nominated for three awards, including Entertainer of Year. If Underwood wins Entertainer of the Year, she will be only the 7th female to take the award; previous winners include Loretta Lynn in 1975, Reba McEntire in 1994 and most recently the Dixie Chicks in 2000. Underwood is also nominated for Top Female Vocalist, and her video "Just a Dream" is nominated for Video of the Year. If she wins Top Female Vocalist, it will be the third consecutive year she has won the category.

Keith Urban received three nominations, including Entertainer of the Year, Top Male Vocalist and Vocal Event of the Year for his duet with Brad Paisley for "Start a Band." Urban is a five-time ACM award winner, including Top Male Vocalist in 2004 and 2005, Album of the Year in 2004 and Top New Male Artist in 2000. If he wins Entertainer of the Year, he will be eligible for the Triple Crown Award, the Academy's recognition of those who have taken Top New Artist, Top Artist and Entertainer of the Year awards.

Trace Adkins, Brooks & Dunn, Little Big Town, James Otto, Jake Owen, Taylor Swift and Sugarland are each nominated for two awards. Adkins is nominated for Single Record of the Year and Song of the Year for "You're Gonna Miss This." Brooks & Dunn are nominated for Top Vocal Duo and Vocal Event of the Year. If they win Top Vocal Duo, it will be their 16th straight win in the category. Little Big Town received two nominations for Top Vocal Group and Vocal Event of the Year. James Otto -- a first-time nominee -- is nominated for Top New Male Vocalist and as a producer for Song of the Year for "In Color." Jake Owen is nominated for Top New Male Vocalist and Vocal Event of the Year, and was previously nominated for Top New Male Vocalist in 2007. Swift is nominated in two categories including Top Female Vocalist, and her video "Love Story" is nominated for Video of the Year. She won Top New Female Vocalist last year. Sugarland is nominated for Top Vocal Duo and Vocal Event of the Year. Last year they won Single Record of the Year for "Stay."

Members of the Academy of Country Music 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 top three nominees in newcomer categories, Top New Female Vocalist, Top New Male Vocalist and Top New Vocal Duo or Group. Presenters and performers who will appear at the ceremony will be announced at a later date. As previously announced, Reba McEntire will return for an unprecedented 11th time to host this year's show.

[jptexas]

Carrie, EOTY, wow, she finally got her due. The nominees are all great and it'll be an uphill climb to win this. But, just to have her name next to all the greats is an honor. I wonder how much emphasis will be place on the fan voting as far as percentages? If it's a small number, Kenny will take it again. If it was 50/50, Carrie could have a shot at this, but we all know better. Still, she got the first part of that climb done, she got her name on the list. Good for her.

[leilamaurizia]

I'm glad to see Joey&Rory and Ashton Shepherd in there too.

I wonder what the reasoning behind the delay in announcing the AOTY noms is. I mean, why? I guess so they can have something else to announce when they show the results of the fan-voting for the new artist categories.