Kenny Chesney Leads ACM Award Noms

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.

Kenny Chesney leads with 11 nominations!

Here are the nominees:

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

(more)

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
# 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

(more)

• 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

(more)

• 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