ACM Nominees Announced

Brad Paisley and Heidi Newfield lead the list of nominees for the upcoming Academy of Country Music Awards.

The nominations were revealed Wednesday morning, Feb. 11, at a news conference in Nashville. Brad’s six nominations include Entertainer of the Year and Top Male Vocalist, which he has won the past two years. Heidi scored five nominations, including Top Female Vocalist. Kenny Chesney, George Strait and rising star Jamey Johnson each received four ACM nominations. 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, Feb. 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 voteacm.com, and this year fans will also be able to text their votes for Entertainer of the Year during the broadcast. The 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Sunday, April 5, at 8 p.m. ET on CBS-TV.

Here is a list of the ACM nominees. Nominations for Album of the Year will be announced in March.

Album of the Year and Top New Artist were made available on March 9, 2009. They have been included at the top of the following list. Read More

Album of the Year

• Back When I Knew It All Montgomery Gentry
• Carnival Ride Carrie Underwood
• Fearless Taylor Swift
• That Lonesome Song Jamey Johnson
• Troubadour George Strait

Top New Artist of the Year

• Jake Owen
• Julianne Hough
• Zac Brown Band

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
[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

Mercury

“Start A Band” Brad Paisley Duet With Keith Urban

Produced by: Frank Rogers

Arista Nashville

• published February 11, 2009