Kenny Chesney, Jason Aldean Score Big With ACM Nominations

It was a big morning for Kenny Chesney and Jason Aldean as the nominations for the 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Award were announced.

Nominees were announced online via the first-ever ACM digital press conference this morning on the Academy’s Facebook and Twitter pages. Awards co-host Reba participated with a video message to kick things off and entertainment superstars Lionel Richie, who will be honored during a special taping of ACM Presents: Lionel Richie and Friends In Concert in April (to air at a later date on CBS), Beth Behrs (“2 Broke Girls”), Nancy O’Dell (“Entertainment Tonight”), Michael Ausiello ( TVLine.com) announced batches of nominations in video postings during the approximately 20-minute online event which culminated in music fans announcing the nominees for the Academy’s biggest prize, Entertainer of the Year, a privilege fans embraced for the first time ever by submitting videos naming their favorite artist. Fans from around the country announced Entertainer of the Year nominees Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton and Taylor Swift.

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Chesney — a four-time winner in the Entertainer category — leads all artists with nine nominations, the bulk of which came via his collaboration with Grace Potter, “You and Tequila.” Aldean tailed with six nods, including Entertainer of the Year and Album of the Year for “My Kinda Party.”

Also receiving multiple nominations were Lady Antebellum with five, Brad Paisley with four, Toby Keith, Taylor Swift, Grace Potter, and the Eli Young Band with three, while Dierks Bentley, Kelly Clarkson, Vince Gill, Miranda Lambert, Aaron Lewis, Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood and Chris Young each received two nominations each.

Blake Shelton and Reba McEntire will host the 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards live from MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 1 at 8:00 p.m. EST on CBS.

The nominees for the 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards are…

Entertainer of the Year

• Jason Aldean
• Kenny Chesney
• Brad Paisley
• Blake Shelton
• Taylor Swift

Male Vocalist of the year

• Jason Aldean
• Kenny Chesney
• Brad Paisley
• Blake Shelton
• Chris Young

Female Vocalist of the year

• Sara Evans
• Miranda Lambert
• Martina McBride
• Taylor Swift
• Carrie Underwood

Vocal Duo of the year

• Love and Theft
• Montgomery Gentry
• Steel Magnolia
• Sugarland
• Thompson Square

Vocal Group of the year

• The Band Perry
• Eli Young Band
• Lady Antebellum
• Rascal Flatts
• Zac Brown Band

Album of the year (Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company)

Chief – Eric Church (EMI-Nashville)
Produced by: Arturo Buenahora, Jr., Jay Joyce
Four The Record – Miranda Lambert (RCA)
Produced by: Chuck Ainlay, Frank Liddell, Glenn Worf
Hemingway’s Whiskey – Kenny Chesney (BNA)
Produced by: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney
My Kinda Party – Jason Aldean (Broken Bow Records)
Produced by: Michael Knox
Own The Night – Lady Antebellum (Capitol Records Nashville)
Produced by: Lady Antebellum, Paul Worley

Single Record of the Year (Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company)

Crazy Girl – Eli Young Band (Republic Nashville)
Produced by: Mike Wrucke
Don’t You Wanna Stay – Jason Aldean With Kelly Clarkson (Broken Bow Records)
Produced by: Michael Knox
Red Solo Cup – Toby Keith (Show Dog-Universal Music)
Produced by: Toby Keith
Tomorrow – Chris Young (RCA)
Produced by: James Stroud
You And Tequila – Kenny Chesney Featuring Grace Potter (BNA)
Produced by: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney

Song of the Year (Award to Composer(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s))

Crazy Girl – Eli Young Band
Composers: Lee Brice, Liz Rose
Publishers: Cake Taker Music (BMI), Mike Curb Music (BMI), Sony/ATV Tree Publishing (BMI), Sweet Hysteria Music (BMI)
Home – Dierks Bentley
Composers: Brett Beavers, Dierks Bentley, Dan Wilson
Publishers: Big White Tracks (ASCAP), Chestnut Barn Music (BMI), Chrysalis Music/BMG Rights (ASCAP), Chrysalis One Songs (BMI)
Just A Kiss – Lady Antebellum
Composers: Dallas Davidson, Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott
Publishers: Dwhaywood Music (BMI), EMI Blackwood Music, Inc. (BMI), EMI Foray Music (SESAC), Hillary Dawn Songs (SESAC), Radiobulletspublishing (BMI), String Stretcher Music (BMI) Warner-Tamberlane Publishing Corp. (BMI)
Threaten Me With HeavenVince Gill
Composers: Amy Grant, Vince Gill, Dillon O’Brian, Will Owsley
Publishers: Grant Girls Music (ASCAP), Vinny Mae Music (BMI), Willie-O Music (ASCAP)
You And Tequila – Kenny Chesney Featuring Grace Potter
Composers: Matraca Berg, Deana Carter
Publishers: Deanaling Music (ASCAP), Hannaberg Music (BMI), Songs of Universal Inc., (BMI), WB Music Corp. (ASCAP)

Songwriter of the Year *(Off Camera Award)

• Rhett Akins
• Dallas Davidson
• Ben Hayslip
• Luke Laird
• David Lee Murphy

Video of the Year (Award to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)) *(Off Camera Award)

Homeboy – Eric Church
Producer: Brandon Arolfo
Director: Peter Zavadil
Just A Kiss – Lady Antebellum
Producer: Don Lepore
Director: Shawn Silva
Mean – Taylor Swift
Producer: Oualid Mouaness
Director: Declan Whitebloom
Red Solo Cup – Toby Keith
Producer: Mark Kalbfeld
Director: Michael Salomon
Tattoos On This Town – Jason Aldean
Producer: John Burke
Director: Wes Edwards

Vocal Event of the Year (Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company) *(Off Camera Award)

Country Boy – Aaron Lewis Featuring George Jones & Charlie Daniels (R&J Records)
Produced by: Aaron Lewis, James Stroud
Don’t You Wanna Stay – Jason Aldean With Kelly Clarkson (Broken Bow Records)
Produced by: Michael Knox
Old Alabama – Brad Paisley Featuring Alabama (Arista Nashville)
Produced by: Frank Rogers
Remind Me – Brad Paisley Duet With Carrie Underwood (Arista Nashville)
Produced by: Frank Rogers
You And Tequila – Kenny Chesney Featuring Grace Potter (BNA)
Produced by: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney

(New Artist of the Year nominees to be announced on Jan. 30.)

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