Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood announced nominees for "The 43rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards" on Monday, March 4, 2008 at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville. Photo by Shay Taylor.
March 5, 2008 — Yesterday’s announcement of the nominees for the 43rd annual Academy of Country Music Awards provoked a strong reaction from many of the artists and songwriters who found their names on that prestigious list. Here’s what a few of the nominees were saying:
• Kenny Chesney (11 nominations): "To me, Just Who I Am is a record that’s shown a lot of growth, and when people give us these nominations, it says we’re growing in the right direction."
• Rodney Atkins (six total nominations): "It’s amazing to have your name mentioned with these guys like George Strait, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley. It’s going to take a while to sink in. It’s nice to be noticed, kind of like getting to the big leagues: It’s what you always hope for."
• Big Kenny, Big & Rich (eight collective nominations as a duo, and as individuals): "People always say it is an honor to just be nominated, and you know what? It is. I feel like all the years we struggled to be accepted [have] paid off. These nominations mean more to us than you will ever know."
Miranda Lambert photo courtesy of frontpagepublicity.com.
• Brad Paisley (four nominations, including Video of the Year): "Any time you get William Shatner to do a makeout scene in your video with Jason Alexander’s mother from ‘Seinfeld,’ you should be up for Video of the Year!"
• Miranda Lambert (three nominations): "I was hoping for one since I played [on the nominations broadcast] this morning, but three is just amazing. Album of the Year is the big one, and I’m so excited to be nominated. I poured my heart into this album, and the great response makes it that much better."
Luke Bryan photo by Jeremy Cowart, courtesy of Capitol Nashville.
• Taylor Swift (three nominations): "I can’t believe I got three nominations. To be included in both the Female Vocalist of the Year and the Top New Female categories in the same year is something I thought I could only dream about, and to have my album up for Album of the Year gives me butterflies. I am thrilled beyond words."
• Keith Anderson, co-writer of "Lost In This Moment" (Song of the Year): "I’m touched by the number of folks who’ve been impacted by this song. It’s an honor to be nominated, and I’m certainly looking forward to the show, as well as to a little hang time in Las Vegas."
• Luke Bryan (Top New Male Vocalist): "Mama’s going to freak about this one. I’m freakin’ out even more."
• Charles Kelley, Lady Antebellum (Top New Duo Or Vocal Group): "Can’t believe it. I’m going to Disney World!"
Kellie Pickler photo by Kristin Barlowe, courtesy of Sony BMG.
• Kellie Pickler (Top New Female Vocalist): "A few years ago when I was a roller-skating waitress at Sonic, I was never nominated as Employee of the Month, but maybe that was because I spilled a lot of the food on the cars." Now I’m doing what I love, and to get recognized for it is even more special."
• Rhean Boyer, Carolina Rain (Top New Duo Or Vocal Group): "We’ve been fortunate enough to attend the ACM Awards for the past two years and have always been thrilled to be involved with the various events that surround it. Just to be nominated really is an incredible honor. Me and the boys love making music together, and to be recognized for it means so much."
• Jake Owen (Top New Male Vocalist): "A few years ago I was playing in college bars, and now to be nominated for an ACM — I’m truly humbled and speechless."
• Carrie Underwood (Top Female Vocalist): "A nomination’s not just about the artist. I don’t think it ever is. When an artist wins an award, it’s like the whole machine that is the artist — you know, they’re winning the award, too. There’s a lot, a lot, a lot of people behind the scenes that nobody ever sees, so it’s a victory for everyone when you get nominated, and when you win things."