Kenny Chesney photo by Glen Rose, courtesy of SonyBMG.

March 4, 2008 — Nominations have been announced for the 43rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards — and Kenny Chesney leads the pack with an impressive 11 nods. Kenny is up for Entertainer of the Year and Top Male Vocalist, and was also 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 wins Entertainer of the Year, it will be his fourth consecutive win.

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. Brad and Carrie 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.

Rodney Atkins photo courtesy of Curb Records.

Rodney 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 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, Brad 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 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.

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 p.m. live ET/delayed PT on CBS.

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 ACM award during the television broadcast:

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
• Kenny Chesney
• Brad Paisley
• Rascal Flatts
• George Strait
• Keith Urban