Brad Paisley is the leader of the pack in 2009 Country Music Association Award nominations. The country superstar, who is also co-hosting the awards show with Carrie Underwood, has six nods: Entertainer, Male Vocalist, Album, Single, Song and Video of the Year. On Brad's heels are Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, George Strait, Jamey Johnson and the Zac Brown Band, with four nominations apiece. Joining Brad in the coveted Entertainer of the Year category are Kenny Chesney, George Strait, Keith Urban and Taylor Swift, who is the youngest-ever Entertainer nominee and the first solo female artist nominated for this award since Faith Hill back in 2000. Kenny has taken the award home four times. If he wins again this year, he'll surpass Garth Brooks' record for the most Entertainer wins in CMA history.
While no category seems to be a sure-thing this year, perhaps the toughest of all is New Artist of the Year. Up for that award are Randy Houser, Jamey Johnson, Jake Owen, Darius Rucker and the Zac Brown Band.
The 43rd Annual CMA Awards will broadcast live from Nashville, Nov. 11 at 8:00 PM ET on ABC. See the full list of nominees after the jump.
2009 CMA Nominations
Entertainer of the Year
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Taylor Swift
Keith Urban
New Artist Of The Year
Randy Houser
Jamey Johnson
Jake Owen
Darius Rucker
Zac Brown Band
Female Vocalist of the Year
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Reba McEntire
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
Male Vocalist of the Year
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
Darius Rucker
George Strait
Keith Urban
Vocal Group of the Year
Eagles
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts
Zac Brown Band
Vocal Duo of the Year
Big & Rich
Brooks & Dunn
Joey + Rory
Montgomery Gentry
Sugarland
Album of the Year (Award goes to artist and producer)
'American Saturday Night' - Brad Paisley, produced by Frank Rogers & Chris DuBois
'Defying Gravity' - Keith Urban, produced by Keith Urban & Dann Huff
'Fearless' - Taylor Swift, produced by Taylor Swift & Nathan Chapman
'Love on the Inside' - Sugarland, produced by Byron Gallimore, Jennifer Nettles & Kristian Bush
'That Lonesome Song' - Jamey Johnson, produced by the Kent Hardly Playboys
Single of the Year (Award goes to artist and producer)
'Chicken Fried' - Zac Brown Band, produced by Keith Stegall
'I Run to You' - Lady Antebellum, produced by Victoria Shaw & Paul Worley
'In Color' - Jamey Johnson, produced by the Kent Hardly Playboys
'People Are Crazy' - Billy Currington, produced by Billy Currington & Carson Chamberlain
'Then' - Brad Paisley, produced by Frank Rogers & Chris DuBois
Song of the Year (Award goes to songwriters)
'Chicken Fried' - Zac Brown, Wyatt Durette
'I Told You So' - Randy Travis
'In Color' - Jamey Johnson, Lee Thomas Miller, James Otto
'People Are Crazy' - Bobby Braddock, Troy Jones
'Then' - Brad Paisley, Chris DuBois, Ashley Gorley
Musical Event of the Year
'Cowgirl's Don't Cry' - Brooks & Dunn with Reba McEntire
'Down The Road' - Kenny Chesney with Mac McAnally
'Everything But Quits' - Lee Ann Womack with George Strait
'I Told You So' - Carrie Underwood with Randy Travis
'Old Enough' - The Raconteurs with Ricky Skaggs & Ashley Monroe
'Start a Band' - Brad Paisley with Keith Urban
Music Video of the Year (Award goes to artist and director)
'Boots On' - Randy Houser, directed by Eric Welch
'Love Story' - Taylor Swift, directed by Trey Fanjoy
'People Are Crazy' - Billy Currington, directed by The Brads
'Start a Band' - Brad Paisley and Keith Urban, directed by Jim Shea
'Troubadour' - George Strait, directed by Trey Fanjoy
Musician of the Year
Eddie Bayers
Paul Franklin
Dann Huff
Brent Mason
Mac McAnally
Reader Comments(1 of 3)
lgs320126at 9-09-2009
Ok - I can't resist! I am a longtime lover of country music but I cannot for the life of me understand this infatuation with Taylor Swift. I don't think she can sing at all and in my opionion is the Brittany Spears of country - nothing more than syncronizers and background music to hide her voice. Do people other than disc jockeys like her?
Billat 9-09-2009
I agree with you "lgs320126" she cannot sing. You hear about someone being "pitch perfect", she is "pitch wrong". I to do not understand all the infatuation with her. I love country but this love-in with her is insane.
Donna Leeat 9-10-2009
OH I so agree with you...for the life of me I can't understand why she gets all this recognition, yes she seems to be a very nice young lady but for goodness sake she can't sing a lick.
jboswell1088at 9-09-2009
I AGREE WITH YOU 100%, PEOPLE ARE MAKING TO MUCH OF TAYLOR SWIFT, AND FOR HER TO BE NOMINATED ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR IS CRAZY
nindaraat 9-09-2009
I agree also. I've never understood what all the fuss is about. I don't care for her music that much at my age (34) Maybe its the teens that are so into her ....But Entertainer of the Year and Female Vocalist?? I consider that an insult to the great talents that are up there on that list that she's up there with them..She's not even in the same galaxy as Reba, Martina and the others. If she's as good as everyone says she is , she'll survive the industry and earn her awards when she's older..Until then stick to school age stuff.
vball919at 9-09-2009
There's more out there then just the original stuff...open your eyes to variation. Taylor swift i think has some real talent, so let her flourish.
maryat 9-09-2009
taylor swift is someone my 8 yr.old granddaughter and I both love not many artists can bridge the gap of 50 yrs. george strait is still no. 1 in my heart.
George6225at 9-09-2009
George Strait gets my vote... Taylor Swift is good, but she is pop not country.
im4everbusyat 9-09-2009
I totally agree - Taylor Swift is certainly no Entertainer of the Year....all her songs sound alike and she sounds HORRIBLE performing live. It is the teeny-boppers that is making her so popular. While the Rebas, Martinas, Carries, & Faiths will be around for years to come - Taylor will be gone - and NOT fast enough!!!!!!
Tom McMinnat 9-11-2009
have you seen her live? I thought the same but saw her last night in bossier city and was blown away by how good she was
highwayterraat 9-09-2009
Never mind Taylor Swift. Long live the great Jim Reeves and Patsy Cline!!
her57at 9-09-2009
I agree- she has not earned the right to be Entertainer of the year. I have loved country music since I was 16 years old( so it has been a while) and she is one of the worst I have ever heard.
Linda Smithat 9-09-2009
Isn,t Carrie Underwood the reigning "Entertainer of The Year?"
k5on44_sat 9-10-2009
not at the cma's she's not. kenny is
Jimat 9-09-2009
People,it's not entertainer of the decade,it's of the YEAR. Taylor has a real shot.