The 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards

2008 Academy of Country Music Award Nominees

Please note, though the awards are presented in the calendar year 2009, honors are bestowed for works produced in 2008.

Top Nominees:

• Brad Paisley leads with 6 nominations
• Heidi Newfield receives 5 nominations
• Brad Paisley receives 4 individual nominations
• Kenny Chesney, Jamey Johnson and George Strait each receive 4 nominations
• Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban both receive 3 nominations
• Trace Adkins, Brooks & Dunn, Little Big Town, James Otto, Jake Owen, Taylor Swift and Sugarland each receive 2 nominations

Did you know…

• This is Reba McEntire's 11th year hosting the Academy of Country Music Awards.
• If Kenny Chesney wins Entertainer of the Year, it will be his fifth consecutive win, and he will be tied with Alabama for that honor.
• If Brooks & Dunn win Top Vocal Duo, it will be their 14th consecutive win. They also have the highest wins of any nominee, with 25 awards.
• If Rascal Flatts win Top Vocal Group, it will be their seventh consecutive win. This will break Alabama record of 6 consecutive wins.
• Carrie Underwood is nominated for three awards, including Entertainer of Year. If Carrie wins Entertainer of the Year, she will be only the 7th female to take the award; previous winners include Loretta Lynn in 1975, Reba McEntire in 1994 and most recently Dixie Chicks in 2000. Carrie is also nominated for Top Female Vocalist. If she wins Top Female Vocalist, it will be the third consecutive year she has won the category.
• Keith Urban received three nominations, including Entertainer of the Year, Top Male Vocalist and Vocal Event of the Year for his duet with Brad Paisley for "Start a Band." Keith is a five-time ACM award winner. If he wins Entertainer of the Year, he will be eligible for the Triple Crown Award, the Academy’s recognition of those who have taken Top New Artist, Top Artist and Entertainer of the Year awards.
• If George Strait wins Entertainer of the Year, it will be his second win in that category, previously winning the award in 1989. George has also been named the Academy of Country Music’s Artist of the Decade and will be honored in a television special to air later in the year on CBS.
• Jamey Johnson received four nominations, including Top New Male Vocalist, Single Record of the Year and as an artist and composer for Song of the Year for "In Color." This is the first time Jamey has been nominated as an artist. He previously won an Academy of Country Music Award in 2006 for Song of the Year for "Give It Away," which was recorded by George Strait.