NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED FOR THE 43rd ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC® AWARDS

NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED FOR THE 43rd ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC® AWARDS
Submitted By Enjoli Duval
Mar 5, 2008

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY FANS WILL VOTE FOR ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR!

TELECAST TO AIR LIVE FROM MGM GRAND IN LAS VEGAS

SUNDAY, MAY 18TH AT 8:00 PM LIVE ET/ DELAYED PT ON CBS TELEVISION NETWORK

Kenny Chesney leads with 12 nominations;
Rodney Atkins receives 6 nominations;
Brad Paisley receives 4 individual nominations;
Big & Rich and Sugarland receive 4 nominations as a duo;
Miranda Lambert and Taylor Swift each receive 3 nominations

NASHVILLE, TN (March 4, 2008) – Nominations have been announced for the 43rd ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS. Winners will receive their awards during the star-studded event to be broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 18, 2008 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.

The nominees were announced at a press conference held today at the Ford Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum in Nashville. Participating in the press conference were multi-platinum recording artists Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, the Academy’s current Top Male Vocalist and Top Female Vocalist. Paisley and Underwood read nominations live during a CBS’ The Early Show broadcast, which also included live performances by Rodney Atkins and Miranda Lambert, the Academy’s reining Top New Male Vocalist and Top New Female Vocalist, respectively.

It was also announced that for the first time in Academy of Country Music history, fans will choose the winner of the Academy’s highest honor, Entertainer of the Year. Fan voting begins May 5 and more details on how to participate will be announced at a later date.

This morning Kenny Chesney led with twelve nominations, including Entertainer of the Year and Top Male Vocalist. In addition, Chesney was nominated as an artist and producer for Album of the Year for Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates, Single Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Video of the Year for “Don’t Blink.” If Kenny Chesney wins Entertainer of the Year, it will be his fourth consecutive win.

Rodney Atkins is nominated for six awards including Top Male Vocalist. He is also nominated for Song of the Year and Video of the Year for “Watching You” and Album of the Year for If You’re Going Through Hell. He won Top New Male Vocalist last year.

Brad Paisley is nominated in four categories, including Entertainer of the Year, Top Male Vocalist, Album of the Year for 5th Gear and Video of the Year for “Online.” Last year, Paisley won Top Male Vocalist.

Big & Rich received four nominations including Top Vocal Duo and, for the song "Lost in this Moment," Single Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Video of the Year. John Rich is nominated for a producer and writer award, and Big Kenny is nominated for two producing awards.

Sugarland was also nominated for four awards including Top Vocal Duo, and for the song “Stay,” Single Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Video of the Year. Jennifer Nettles also received two nominations for writing and producing, and Kristian Bush received one for producing.

Miranda Lambert and Taylor Swift received three nominations each. Both received nominations this year for Top Female Vocalist. Lambert was also nominated for her album Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and for Single Record of the Year for "Famous in a Small Town." She was last year's Top New Female Vocalist. Swift was also nominated this year for Top New Female Vocalist and her album Taylor Swift was nominated for Album of the Year.

Members of the Academy of Country Music select the nominees and winners of the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, including selection of the final top five nominees of the Entertainer of the Year category. This year, for the first time ever, fans will have the opportunity to select the winner from the Entertainer of the Year nominees (more information to be released at a later date). Presenters and performers who will appear on the special will be announced.

Following is the list of final nominees in the 13 categories voted on by the membership. Winners in each of the following categories will be presented with an ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARD during the television broadcast:

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 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

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
[Award to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]

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: Robert Deaton and George Flanigen
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
[Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]

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
Mecury
What You Give Away –Vince Gill With Sheryl Crow
Produced by Vince Gill, John Hobbs, Justin Niebank
MCA Nashville

PLEASE NOTE: Nominees in the technical or off-camera categories will be announced later in March. You may check back at www.acmcountry.com for more information.

About the Academy of Country Music

Founded in 1964, the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC is an artist and industry-driven organization, that provides the financial resources to ensure the on-going philanthropic work of its Charitable Fund. The Academy of Country Music Charitable Fund promotes and supports music education and humanitarian programs that transform the human spirit. Through its charitable donations, the ACMCF works towards promoting Learning Through Music and Healing Through Music. The Academy is comprised of more than 4,500 professional members and more than 40,000 associate members and is headquartered in Encino, Calif.

About the Academy of Country Music Awards

The 43rd Academy of Country Music Awards is dedicated to honoring and showcasing the biggest names and emerging talent in the country music industry. The show is produced for television by Dick Clark Productions and will be broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Sunday, May 18, 2008 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network. The show is executive produced by R.A. Clark, and produced by Barry Adelman. The executive in charge of production is Bob Bardo.

For more information on the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC and the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, please visit www.acmcountry.com. For more information on the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC CHARITABLE FUND, please visit www.acmcf.org.