ACM Noms Highlight New Country Class

Today’s ACM nominations were filled with new names and rising superstars, leaving less room for some of the genre’s most successful artists.
Jason Aldean and Miranda Lambert landed Entertainer of the Year nominations for the first time. Meanwhile, reigning Entertainer Carrie Underwood, and superstar Kenny Chesney—who still scored five other nods—were absent from the category.
The final ACM slate was selected by the industry, but the Academy gives consumers the last word in the Entertainer category. Through online voting, fans will get to pick which star takes home the night’s top prize.
Continuing an awesome year, Blake Shelton got his first Top Male nod, and is co-hosting the awards show with Reba.

All three of stalwart Alan Jackson’s nominations were thanks to “As She’s Walking Away,” his hit with younger act Zac Brown Band.
Zac Brown scored nine nods, a combined total of his individual nominations and nominations with his band, including Top Vocal Group.
There are several new faces in the separate Top Vocal Group and Top Vocal Duo categories, where final nominees The Band Perry, the JaneDear girls and Steel Magnolia are also competing for Top New Vocal Duo or Group. Meanwhile, Rascal Flatts was missing from the Vocal Group category.
Other first-time ACM nominees include new faces Easton Corbin, Colt Ford and Lee Brice.
Looking back to the November CMA Awards gives further evidence of the shift in starpower, where big winners included Miranda Lambert and Lady Antebellum. Also that night, Blake Shelton and Brad Paisley made significant career strides, taking home awards for Male Vocalist, and Entertainer of the Year, respectively.