More music awards! Brad Paisley leads ACM nominations

Less than 48 hours after the conclusion of the Grammy Awards, the Academy of Country Music unveiled the nominations for its award show today. Leading the pack is Brad Paisley, who scored six nods, including entertainer of the year. The ACM Awards ceremony will be broadcast live for the East Coast on April 5 on CBS.

Paisley is also nominated for top male vocalist, and two of his nods stem from the single "Waitin' on a Woman," which was re-recorded for his 2007 album "5th Gear." He won twice at this year's Grammys -- best male country vocal performance for "Letter to Me" and best country instrumental performance for "Cluster Pluck."

In the entertainer of the year field, Paisley will vie for the trophy with last year's winner Kenny Chesney, as well as George Strait, Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood.

Underwood accomplished a rare feat by scoring an entertainer of the year nomination. If she wins, according to the ACM, she'll be only the seventh female to take the top honors. Not since the Dixie Chicks won in 2000 has a woman taken home entertainer of the year.

Underwood is also the first woman since 2000 to even get nominated for entertainer of the year, when, in addition to the Chicks, Faith Hill was nominated.

Elsewhere, former Trick Pony vocalist Heidi Newfield scored scored five nods. She'll compete for top female vocalist with Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert, Underwood and Lee Ann Womack. Newfield released her solo debut, "What Am I Waiting For," last August.

George Strait and Jamey Johnson received four nominations apiece. Johnson is nominated for the first time as an artist (he won in 2006 for writing Strait's "Give It Away"), and is up for top new male vocalist, as well as single record of the year and song of the year for his hit "In Color."

Chesney has won the top prize four years running. Last year, there was a mini-controversy  when Chesney took issue with the fact that the ACMs opened up voting on entertainer of the year to fans. After the awards he was quoted as saying, "They took it from what the award really represents into a sweepstakes to see who can push people's buttons the hardest on the Internet."

His complaints didn't inspire any change. The entertainer of the year award will again be open for online voting, and fans will be able to text in their votes via phone during the broadcast.

Additionally, the three awards for new artists -- top new female vocalist, top new male vocalist and top new vocal duo -- will also be open for online voting. And here's where you need to pay attention: For the new-artist categories, fan voting begins here Feb. 13, and continues through March 3. The winners in each category will be announced March 9, and then compete in a new category, top new artist. A list of artist nominations can be found after the jump.

- Todd Martens

Photo: Brad Paisley at the Grammy Awards. Credit: Bryan Chan / Los Angeles Times

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

For complete nominations, visit the ACM website.

Comments

[Bild Wissenschaftler]

Brad Paisley's "Online," including the video with George Costanza, is the greatest Internet-themed song ever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GcVnhNjWV0

[Hot Music]

Sweet! Way to go Brad!