46th Annual CMA Awards Nominations

Eric Church leads the nominations for the 46th Annual CMA Awards, earning nods in five categories.

Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton scored four nominations each, while Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney, Jason Aldean, Little Big Town and Dierks Bentley received three apiece.

The first round of nominations were announced this morning on ABC’s Good Morning America by Aldean and Luke Bryan (who was filling in last minute for Lady Antebellum after severe weather interrupted the band’s travel plans). Remaining categories were announced via livestream from B.B. King Blues Club in New York City.

Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood return to host “Country Music’s Biggest Night” for a fifth time in 2012. The CMA Awards will air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Thurs., Nov. 1 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on ABC.

The third and final ballot will be emailed to CMA members Thurs., Oct. 4. Voting for the CMA Awards final ballot ends Mon., Oct. 22 (5:00 PM/CT).

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Jason Aldean
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
Blake Shelton
Taylor Swift

ALBUM OF THE YEAR (Award goes to Artist and Producer(s))
Chief, Eric Church, Produced by Jay Joyce, EMI Records Nashville
Four The Record, Miranda Lambert, Produced by Frank Liddell, Chuck Ainlay, and Glenn Worf, RCA Nashville
Home, Dierks Bentley, Produced by Brett Beavers, Luke Wooten, and Jon Randall Stewart, Capitol Records Nashville
Own The Night, Lady Antebellum, Produced by Paul Worley and Lady Antebellum, Capitol Records Nashville
tailgates & tanlines, Luke Bryan, Produced by Jeff Stevens and Mark Bright, Capitol Records Nashville

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Kelly Clarkson
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Blake Shelton
Keith Urban 

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Eli Young Band
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
The Band Perry
Zac Brown Band

SONG OF THE YEAR (Award goes to Songwriter(s))
“Even If It Breaks Your Heart,” Will Hoge and Eric Paslay
“God Gave Me You,” Dave Barnes
“Home,” Dan Wilson, Brett Beavers, and Dierks Bentley
“Over You,” Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton
“Springsteen,” Eric Church, Ryan Tyndell, and Jeff Hyde

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Lee Brice
Brantley Gilbert
Hunter Hayes
Love & Theft
Thompson Square

SINGLE OF THE YEAR (Award goes to Artist and Producer(s))
“Dirt Road Anthem,” Jason Aldean, Produced by Michael Knox, Broken Bow Records
“God Gave Me You,” Blake Shelton, Produced by Scott Hendricks, Warner Bros. Records
“Home,” Dierks Bentley, Produced by Brett Beavers and Luke Wooten, Capitol Records Nashville
“Pontoon,” Little Big Town, Produced by Jay Joyce, Capitol Records Nashville
“Springsteen,” Eric Church, Produced by Jay Joyce, EMI Records Nashville

MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR (Award goes to each Artist)
“Dixie Highway,” Alan Jackson featuring Zac Brown, ACR/EMI Records Nashville
“Feel Like A Rock Star,” Kenny Chesney (duet with Tim McGraw), Blue Chair Records/Columbia Nashville
“Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die,” Willie Nelson with Snoop Dogg, Kris Kristofferson, and Jamey Johnson, Legacy Recordings
“Safe & Sound,” Taylor Swift (featuring The Civil Wars), Big Machine Records/Universal Republic Records
“Stuck On You,” Lionel Richie (with Darius Rucker), Mercury Records Nashville

DUO OF THE YEAR
Big & Rich
Love &Theft
Sugarland
Civil Wars
Thompson Square

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR (Award goes to Artist and Director)
“Come Over,” Kenny Chesney, Directed by Shaun Silva
“Over You,” Miranda Lambert, Directed by Trey Fanjoy
“Pontoon,” Little Big Town, Directed by Declan Whitebloom
“Red Solo Cup,” Toby Keith, Directed by Michael Salomon
“Springsteen,” Eric Church, Directed by Peter Zavadil

MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Sam Bush, mandolin
Paul Franklin, steel guitar
Dann Huff, guitar
Brent Mason, guitar
Mac McAnally, guitar

• • • •

Robert Deaton is Executive Producer of the CMA Awards, Paul Miller is the Director, and David Wild is the writer.

Tickets for The 46th Annual CMA Awards and CMA Country Christmas will go on sale to the public Sat., Sept. 29 (10:00 AM/CT). Tickets can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com or Ticketmaster outlets. Pre-sale access for both events is available to subscribers of CMA’s free email newsletter CMA Exclusive, plus fans who like or follow CMA on Facebook or Twitter. Fans can connect with CMA by visiting CMAawards.com.