Chesney leads ACM noms
The still Miley Cyrus-free Academy of Country Music Awards unveiled its nominations this morning, with Kenny Chesney leading with 11 nods. Chesney is nominated in the "entertainer of the year" field, as well as album of the year.
Chesney's "Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates" is still on the U.S. pop charts after 23 weeks, having peaked and debuted at No. 3 when it was released. "Poets & Pirates" is up against albums from Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Rodney Atkins and Taylor Swift.
Paisley is also nominated in the entertainer of the year category, which lacks any of the solo country females. George Strait, Keith Urban and Rascal Flatts round out the entertainer of the year field.
Chesney already won entertainer of the year at 2007's CMA Awards, and he should be the favorite to win here, thanks to his brisk touring business. Lambert would be my pick for album of the year, but she won't win, and I expect the award to come down to Chesney or Paisley.
Other artists with multiple nominations include Rodney Atkins, with six, including top male vocalist, and Paisley, Big & Rich and Sugarland, who all received four apiece.
The ACM Awards are set for May 18, and will be carried live on CBS. Those with a hankering for even more country award news can look forward to Thursday, when the final nominations are announced for the CMT Music Awards.
The full nomination list is after the jump, courtesy of the ACM website.
Entertainer of the year
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
Rascal Flatts
George Strait
Keith Urban
Top male vocalist
Rodney Atkins
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Keith Urban
Top female vocalist
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
LeAnn Rimes
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
Top vocal group
Diamond Rio
Eagles
Emerson Drive
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts
Top vocal duo
Big & Rich
Brooks & Dunn
Halfway to Hazard
Montgomery Gentry
Sugarland
Top new male vocalist
Luke Bryan
Jack Ingram
Jake Owen
Top new female vocalist
Sarah Buxton
Kellie Pickler
Taylor Swift
Top new duo or vocal group
Carolina Rain
Lady Antebellum
The Wreckers
Album of the year [Award to artist(s)/producer(s)/record company]
"5th Gear," Brad Paisley (Arista Nashville)
Produced by Chris DuBois, Frank Rogers
"Crazy Ex-Girlfriend," Miranda Lambert (Columbia)
Produced by Frank Liddell, Mike Wrucke
"Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates," Kenny Chesney (BNA)
Produced by Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney
"If You're Going Through Hell," Rodney Atkins (Curb)
Produced by Rodney Atkins, Ted Hewitt
"Taylor Swift," Taylor Swift (Big Machine)
Produced by Scott Borchetta, Nathan Chapman
# 6 Produced by Robert Ellis Orrall
Single record of the year [Award to artist(s)/producer(s)/record company]
"Don't Blink," Kenny Chesney, Produced by Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney
BNA
"Famous in a Small Town," Miranda Lambert, Produced by Frank Liddell, Mike Wrucke
Columbia
"Lost in This Moment," Big & Rich, Produced by Big Kenny, John Rich Warner Bros/WRN
"Stay," Sugarland, Produced by Kristian Bush, Byron Gallimore, Jennifer Nettles
Mercury
"Watching Airplanes," Gary Allan, Produced by Gary Allan , Mark Wright
MCA Nashville
Song of the year [Award to composer(s)/publisher(s)/artist(s)]
"Don't Blink," Kenny Chesney
Writers: Casey Beathard, Chris Wallin
Publishers: Lavender Zoo Music (BMI), Mama's Dream Music (ASCAP), Sony/ATV Acuff Rose (BMI), WB Music Corp. (ASCAP)
"Lost in This Moment," Big & Rich
Writers: Keith Anderson, Rodney Clawson, John Rich
Publishers: EMI April Music, Inc. (ASCAP), Romeo Cowboy Music (ASCAP), WB Music Corp. (ASCAP), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI), Writer's Extreme Music (BMI)
"Moments," Emerson Drive
Writers: Dave Berg, Annie Tate, Sam Tate
Publishers: Gravitron (SESAC), WB Music Corp. (ASCAP)
"Watching You," Rodney Atkins
Writers: Rodney Atkins, Steve Dean, Brian White
Publishers: Bethar Music (BMI), Mike Curb Music (BMI), Multisongs (SESAC), Songs From the White House (SESAC)
"Stay," Sugarland
Writer: Jennifer Nettles
Publishers: Jennifer Nettles Publishing (ASCAP)
Video of the year
"Don't Blink," Kenny Chesney
Producer: Tacklebox Films
Director: Shaun Silva
"Lost in This Moment," Big & Rich
Producer: Big Kenny, Steve Lamar, Marc Oswald
Director: Deaton Flannigan
"Online," Brad Paisley
Producer: Frames per Second
Director: Jason Alexander
"Stay," Sugarland
Producer: Kristian Bush, Byron Gallimore, Jennifer Nettles
Director: Shaun Silva
"Watching You," Rodney Atkins
Producer: Broken Poet Production
Director: Eric Welch
Vocal event of the year
"Because of You," Reba McEntire duet with Kelly Clarkson
Produced by Tony Brown, Reba McEntire
MCA Nashville
"Find Out Who Your Friends Are," Tracy Lawrence with Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney
Produced by Julian King, Tracy Lawrence
Rocky Comfort/CO5
"Shiftwork," Kenny Chesney duet with George Strait
Produced by Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney
BNA
"Till We Ain't Strangers Anymore," Bon Jovi featuring LeAnn Rimes
Produced by Dann Huff
Mercury
"What You Give Away," Vince Gill with Sheryl Crow
Produced by Vince Gill, John Hobbs, Justin Niebank
MCA Nashville
Photo: Associated Press
Chesney has EARNED his
due respect, and he's respected
traditional Country Music:
He done Bill Anderson (May God Rest His Soul), proud.
Posted by: LoveZilla | March 04, 2008 at 06:34 PM
Mea Culpa, Mr. Anderson!
Guess, I should've written
" A lot of things different". God Bless you, Bill.
Posted by: LoveZilla | March 05, 2008 at 01:54 PM
A tone deaf singer leads the nominations HA HA...seriously why, when Country Music has Brad Paisley who is a real singer nominating Chesney for any VOCAL award?? just ridiculous...
Posted by: Keith | March 05, 2008 at 03:07 PM
Wow..harsh words for the multi-talented Chesney....
...Toby, is that you?
Posted by: LoveZilla | March 05, 2008 at 03:30 PM