Eric Church, Chris Stapleton Lead 2016 Academy of Country Music Awards Nominations

Nominations were announced today for the 51st annual Academy of Country Music Awards, resulting in a list headed by two expected names – Chris Stapleton and Eric Church – but livened by a variety of new artists and several unexpected accolades.

Given Stapleton’s enormous presence toward the end of 2015 – a year that saw him rack up four Grammy nominations, including the prestigious all-genre Album of the Year category – it comes as very little surprise he leads the ACM list with five nominations: His first-ever nods for Male Vocalist of the Year, New Male Vocalist of the Year, Vocal Event of the Year for “Hangover Tonight” with Gary Allan, and he’s twice nominated as both artist and producer in the Album of the Year category for Traveller.

Tying Stapleton with five nods is Eric Church, who enters the Entertainer of the Year category for the first time. He also is up for Male Vocalist of the Year. Also, Church is nominated for Album of the Year, Video of the Year for “Mr. Misunderstood,” and Vocal Event of the Year for “Raise ‘Em Up” with Keith Urban.

The Entertainer of the Year category sees Church pitted against Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Garth Brooks. and sole female nominee Miranda Lambert.

Little Big Town leads group nominations with four, including their 10th nomination for Vocal Group of the Year. Additionally, the band’s Karen Fairchild received an individual nomination for Vocal Event of the Year for “Home Alone Tonight” with Luke Bryan.

Surprises on the list included the four nods earned by Chris Young, which includes his first-ever Album of the Year recognition. Newcomer Cam entered the ACMs world with a bang, also receiving four. First-time ACM Awards nominee Chris Janson earned three nominations, as did relative newbie Thomas Rhett, whose sophomore effort Tangled Up landed in the Album of the Year category.

Currently reigning ACM New Artist Sam Hunt, who is up for the all-genre New Artist award at this year’s Grammy Awards, was given nods in the Album and Single areas, but not in any of the artist categories.

A complete list of nominees can be found here. The 51st annual ACM Awards will air live from Las Vegas April 3 at 8 p.m. PT/ET on CBS.