The ACM Awards air on April 18th…here are the full list of nominations….
Entertainer of the Year:
- Kenny Chesney
- Toby Keith
- Zac Brown Band
- Carrie Underwood
- Brad Paisley
- Keith Urban
- Taylor Swift
- George Strait
Top Male Vocalist of the Year
- Kenny Chesney
- Brad Paisley
- Keith Urban
- George Strait
- Darius Rucker
Top Female Vocalist of the Year
- Miranda Lambert
- Taylor Swift
- Carrie Underwood
- Reba McEntire
- Lee Ann Womack
Top Vocal Duo of the Year
- Brooks & Dunn
- Joey & Rory
- Montgomery Gentry
- Steel Magnolia
- Sugarland
Top Vocal Group of the Year
- Lady Antebellum
- Rascal Flatts
- Zac Brown Band
- Little Big Town
- Randy Rogers Band
Top New Solo Vocalist of the Year
- Luke Bryan
- Jamey Johnson
- Chris Young
Top New Vocal Duo of the Year
- Bomshel
- Joey & Rory
- Steel Magnolia
Top New Vocal Group of the Year
- Eli Young Band
- The Lost Trailers
- Gloriana
Album of the Year
- American Saturday Night-Brad Paisley
- Lady Antebellum-Lady Antebellum
- Play On-Carrie Underwood
- The Foundation-Zac Brown Band
- Revolution-Miranda Lambert
Single Record of the Year
- Need You Now-Lady Antebellum
- Red Light-David Nail
- People Are Crazy-Billy Currington
- Toes-Zac Brown Band
- White Liar-Miranda Lambert
Song of the Year
- “You Belong with Me”-Taylor Swift
- “White Liar”- Miranda Lambert
- “People Are Crazy”-Billy Currington
- “Cowboy Casanova”-Carrie Underwood
- “Need You Now”-Lady Antebellum
Video of the Year
- “Need You Now”-Lady Antebellum
- “Boots On”-Randy Houser
- “Welcome to the Future”-Brad Paisley
- “You Belong with Me”-Taylor Swift
- “White Liar”-Miranda Lambert
Vocal Event of the Year
- “Hillbilly Bone”-Blake Shelton & Trace Adkins
- “Seeing Stars”-Jack Ingram & Patty Griffin
- “I Told You So”-Carrie Underwood & Randy Travis
- “I’m Alive”-Kenny Chesney & Dave Matthews
- “Honkey Tonk Stomp” -Brooks & Dunn and Billy Gibbons
So….any surprises? How about ZBB being nominated for EOTY?? or…Lady Antebellum’s freshman album being nominated for AOTY?? Where is Keith Urban’s Defying Gravity? I know Country Girl was hoping for a Rascall Flatts nomination in EOTY….hmmm…we shall see….Surprise abscences….Martina McBride and Dierks Bentley.
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Well, the reason the Debut album of Lady A was nominated was the success of it over the last year. That and they couldn’t nominate Need You Now since it just came out. It’ll be interesting to see how it goes with all categories. Everyone seems so sure about entertainer but it’s not 100% fan voted, a good chunk of the percent is industry voted still. All in all when it comes down to it, not everyone is going to be happy. They are going to wish so and so was nominated for this or that instead of another artist. It’s a wonderful thing to be a fan of genre that has so many amazing acts. I think that at least.
I’m shocked that Defying Gravity isn’t nominated for Album of the Year.. and I really don’t think it’s right that Lady A’s new album JUST came out and it’s already nominated..
I’m SO hoping Keith gets Entertainer of the Year this year.. he deserves it SO much.
And Zac Brown Band for ETOY? Did they even headline a tour yet? And I didn’t think Carrie toured at all last year…
Still disagree with Carrie as EOTY. Great voice but she is as boring as ever when she performs
Taylor, the new Lady A album isn’t nominated! It’s the one that was released before that. The nominated one was released back in 2008!
I know I just realized that! Hahaha read it totally wrong! But still.. SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEFYING GRAVITY!!!!
All in all..a little shocked….Love ZBB but was shocked when they got the nomination for EOTY.
Surprised to see the Lady A debut in there but they had some great sales week last year with that album..
No Martina…shocked…no Jason Aldean…very shocked.
Excited to see David Nail in a cat. love him!
I’m seeing a lot of tension between the more pop-oriented newer acts and the older acts that are more traditional in their approach to country music. The Tennessean’s report the other day — that country’s hardcore base is shrinking — may be a reaction to the country genre getting away from its roots.
Where is Dierks Bentley? Ignored yet again? He is completely underappreciated. Looking at the lists it is evident that your name is more important than your music.
I am absolutely DISGUSTED with the Nominations this year!!!!!! Seriously…. when did the ACM Nominating Committee decide to make this a Popularity Contest?!!!!!! Entertainer of the Year USED to be a Prestigious Award based a Formula. Now it’s become a FARCE!!!!!! The legends that have won this award over the years won it BECAUSE of hard work and determination!!!!!!!!! Now, ANYONE can be nominated!!!!!! And to make it fan voted is ABSURD!!!!!!!!! The CMT Awards are for the fans to vote…. LEAVE THE REAL AWARDS TO THE PROFESSIONALS IN THE COUNTRY MUSIC INDUSTRY!!!!!!
SO happy for Lady A and Miranda and Blake!
I still can’t believe Jason Aldean didn’t get a nomination after the amazing year he had. And Rascal Flatts getting snubbed for Entertainer again? Y-eah. Something isn’t right with that but whatever, little miss swifty will get it more than likely.
I was disappointed that Jason Aldean wasn’t nominated for “Big Green Tractor”. It was a big hit last year. I am happy that Carrie Underwood has been nominated in 5 different catagories. I hope that Taylor Swift doesn’t get any awards this year. I’m really getting tired of her teenie songs and her voice.
Where to start! Glad to see Randy Rogers Band, Miranda Lambert and the oh-so-deserving Jamey Johnson in the noms. Not surprised with the rest of them. Country music needs a change. Out with the Carrie Underwoods and Taylor Swifts please. Why no Dierks Bentley??? He’s being shunned AGAIN!!! Time for “real country music” like Dierks, Eric Church, Josh Thompson, Easton Corbin, Randy Houser,… someone PLEASE bring country back! So happy for Miranda to finally get a shot up there on stage. She’s long overdue and Revolution in my opinion was the most outstanding album last year! Looking forward to hearing more new tunes from her!
I’m sick to death of the so-called pop-country title. Why can’t country be a variety of styles? It is, but then you get a label put on you if you are not “traditional”. I think some of the more traditional artists of the past would be happy to see the changes and evolution of country music. It has more fans than ever. As a great country music artist recenting stated, “Country is a state of mind or where you are from, not how twangy you sing a song.” I agree 100%. I didn’t grow up on a farm or wearing a cowboy hat, but that doesn’t make me not country. I’m from rural Wisconsin. Same goes for the artists. Country music is about real people, telling real stories with their music. Even if they don’t fit in the “traditional” country mold that people try to put them in. Country music moves people, and inspires them. That’s what it does for me. I’m a HUGE Rascal Flatts fan. They get put under this label all the time. As do lots of other artists. But they get jacked at these awards constantly. They have some of the the best music out there and to not get a song or album nomination is a tragedy. They put on the best shows! I have seen Kenny Chesney in concert. He won EOTY 4 times. I personally won’t ever go see him again. It was one of the most boring shows I’ve been to. Rascal Flatts has sold out numerous venues every single year. They are always among the top grossing country artist tours every year. They have 6 multi-platinum albums. There is something I don’t get apparently. No dig to the Zac Brown Band, but I don’t get that nom at all. They don’t even headline a tour. They’ve had one album. ??? What am I missing here? I’m a little over Taylor Swift, so I hope Carrie wins female vocalist. Her vocals are way above what Taylor can do. Taylor is a good songwriter. Would like to hear her move on from teeny songs though. I personally will be voting for Keith Urban for EOTY. But I would love for the Academy to fill us in as to how they pick the nominees. They won’t I’m sure, since I would guess it’s based on who your record label is and who you know on the Academy board.
Very shocked to see that Defying Gravity was not nominated. IMO, Brad’s album was verging on boring and has not sold as good as DG, but I forget the Nashville industry loves Brad and worship Chesney. Don’t understand Carrie getting entertainer nod, but I love her. Hope she gets vocalist or even Miranda would be alright with me. Anybody but Swift. I’m not looking forward to this award show like I use too. Don’t care for the fan voting. It’s all about popularity and not talent.
WOW! So many FANTASTIC people missing from the nominations this year….. To name just a few… Dierks Bentley, Jason Aldean, Martina McBride… Most you you already know I am furious about Rascal Flatts being snubbed again for EOTY. With 8 nominees I can tell you that there are quite a few of those I would remove and replace with more deserving acts. I agree with Kristi’s statement: When did the ACM Nominating Committee decide to make this a Popularity Contest?!!!!!! Lady Antbellum’s debut album being nominated? REALLY??? That doesn’t make a ton of sense to me. The all actual FORMULA for awards should make a comeback because based on the nominations that were announced this morning it sounds more like a rat race.
Really disgusted that Dierks Bentley was ignored. Come on ACMs a #1 CD at the same time as a #1 single, plus two more off the CD a #1 & #2 hit. It’s really sad.
In the words of Chelsea Handler: WHAT…a joke. I have something to say about every single category, so I’ll just save my breath and leave it at this: what the hell is the Academy smoking?!
Ok well honestly i’m disgusted by the nominations. I wanna know what the ACM board is smoking The Zach Brown Band EOTY WHAT HOW WHY.
Have they headlined NO have they Sold out arena’s like MSG NO.
They leave out Jason Aldean he had a stealer year and he gets no recognition for it COME ON PEOPLE really.
And Rascal Flatts gets no EOTY what the hell is wrong with you people. I guess selling out Wrigley Field and MSG don’t amount to anything.
I have to agree with Kristi FARCE. What do rascal flatts have to do to get a nom for EOTY sacrifice a live goat on stage.
WHAT TELL ME WHAT DO THEY HAVE TO DO.
ACM AWARDS YOU GET A BIG THUMBS DOWN ONCE AGAIN.
And i’m sorry but LADY A you have proved nothing to me to be granted the title of GROUP OF THE YEAR. You don’t headline and you don’t sell out arena’s Sorry but that’s how i feel.
Zach Brown and the guys are pretty good but not enough for Ent of the Year…it will probably go to that non-country cannot sing a tune in a bucket Taylor Swift. Toby is ok but not for Ent of the Year. And wasn’t the Carrie/Randy duet around before for a nom? Sugarland is soooo over rated & how in the heck did the Randy Rogers Band get in all of this? Are they grabbin? Joey & Rory and so weird…Miranda rocks & so deserves her recognition…Hillybilly Bone is off the hook & if Taylor wins for Female vocalist I will throw a hissy…
why dot these things make me so mad?!?!
Where do these people get their statistics at? Seems like they are pulling things out of a hat with these nominations!
Martina McBride isn’t in the FVOTY anywhere!? WHYYYYYY???????????
Wheres Dierks Bentley and Tim McGraw?????? Tim Mcgraw is played on the radio more than anyone it seems like so why is he NEVER nominated for anything? Im not even a big fan of Mcgraws but jeeeeeez, you hear him everywhere except on COUNTRY music award shows!
What about Keith Urban’s Defying Gravity album, that was a huge success…but nope, lets cut him too…talk about talent right there and they just throw him out like he’s garbage.
I love Carrie, I really really do but she is nominated for Vocal event of the YEAR with ‘I Told You So’….when was this song released???? AGES AGO!!!!!!!!!
I also like Taylor but this seems like its going to be another Taylor Swift show again and i’m pretty sick of it. I think she sings OKAY, its not terrible like many claim but she has a descent voice but she is NO Martina Mcbride! How in the world can Taylor be in this category with the vocals she has?
Again, why do I bother getting mad over this, why?! I guess cuz it just doesn’t seem fair. If it were up to me Keith would win everything lol but its not up to me…ill just watch the show for the performances and not get upset.
I wish Keith all the luck, he’s my star! Even tho everything will be stolen away from him, we Keith fans know that he deserves it more than anyone! I’ll be looking forward to his performance!
I’m sick about George Strait not receiving AOTY nod for “Twang” and Single/Song of the Year for “Living for the Night”.
If the Academy has no intention of awarding the King any more awards, then do not keep putting his name on the nominee list.
The ACMs/CMAs are a sham and I will not longer watch these award shows.
Wow, where to start? Tbese nominations only seem to get stranger every year. I never wanted to believe that politics win over the music the majority of the time, but that theory is live and well thanks to the numerous “Taylor Swift show” type sweeps and performances over the past year.
I know the politics will never go away, but this has gotten so ridculous it’s sad.
ZBB for Entertainer- so having one #1 single and a few top tens, releasingnot one album that only sold marginally well, and not even being out long enough to reach headliner status earns you a nomination? Really? I almost think this happened just so the Academy could have an excuse to keep Flatts/Tim/Deirks out of the running. They know full well these artists more than deserve the recognition, but they reapeatdly seem to calculate moves that tell them they’re STILL not good enough.
All these artists have the success, fans, and power in the industry to warrant a nomination, there is no excuse for this.
Also, I don’t understand why Strait,Toby and ZBB are there? They’ve all had moderate success- not enough to warrant a nomination. They keep putting Strait in there just because he’s the “King.” Please. They didn’t bother to reward Toby with anything- until they had to throw in anyone else to make sure other artists were out of the running.
I’m glad Carrie is nominated, and I would even argue that she deserves a win over many of the others. She had a TV special, headlined a few touring dates, platinum album (the biggest by a female country artist), and another #1 single. Not to mention she was on nearly every TV station and magazine cover around.
As others have said, why is Lady A’s album nominated? It came out two years ago. I don’t understand why they can set eligibilty periods for albums being “too new” to make the cut, but they can if they’ve been out for years. What is that all about? “Unstoppable” should’ve been nominated for sure. The biggest opening week for a country album in 2009, one of only a handful to go platinum, and it had the biggest digital sales of any country album that year as well. It is a weaker album than some of their past works, but I would agrue the same for “Play On,” “Lady Antebellum,” and “American Saturday Night.”
There are so many questions in the single/song category. “You Belong With Me” is nowhere near the quality of past winners. It shouldn’t be nominated just because it was a monster success at radio. Not to mention it came out last year. How on earth was “Red Light” nominated? It had only moderate chart success, and it’s one of the weakest songs of the past year. What do the voters want here? Weak songs that are a huge success, weak songs that are a moderate sucess, or strong songs that hardly made a dent on the charts?
Video of The Year cateogry is not bad, but that’s not saying much. Why was “Boots On” nominated? Half the people reading this have probably never heard the song or the artist. “Here Comes Goodbye” was one of the best of the past year- it deserved a spot here.
Honkytonk Stomp for vocal event? That song bombed on the charts. I guess you can be nominated for anything as long as you’re Brooks and Dunn.
I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: Why can’t Rascal Flatts get any respect? They continue to have one of the top tours (a pattern that has continued over the last several years), they continue to sell-out historic venues, and have the top albums in all genres of music. They are top sellers in the weak album market, touring curcit, and download eara. They have been one of the top selling artists for all generes for years now; country music should thank their lucky stars for them. If not for their sucess, the term “successful vocal group” would not exist in country music. Lady A has success, but nowehere near the top of their game.
I think MOST of the people or groups nominated desirve it…..but some lets face it who picks them!!!! Between me and my daughters we have seen our fare share of some of them and some would still love to see. But to get this off my chest the person who said that KENNY CHESNEY DOESN’T PUT ON A GOOD SHOW, MUST OF BEEN SOMEWHERE ELSE OR NEEDS HER EYES AND EARS CHECKED!! Sorry!! But he puts on an AMAZING show,gets the audience going and envolved!! When i seen him there wasn’t just one age group, it was a very wide range of ages and everyone was singing and having a great time, that’s what and concert is all about!!! Yes, i’m a BIG kenny fan,but performance is what it is all about!! Good Luck to all the other nominee’s, even though i’m not a big fan of LA or TS.
Lets make it 5 Kenny!!