(L-R): Jason Aldean, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton and Taylor Swift each earned five CMA Award nominations, and will all vie for the Entertainer trophy.
Topping the list of final nominees for The 45th Annual CMA Awards are Jason Aldean, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, and Taylor Swift with five nods each. Right on their heels are The Band Perry and Zac Brown Band, who each received four nominations as a group while individual members Kimberly Perry (of The Band Perry), Coy Bowles and Zac Brown (of Zac Brown Band) each earned a solo nod as a songwriter.
This is a huge step forward for Aldean, who earned first-time nominations in five categories including the coveted Entertainer prize, as well as Male Vocalist, Album, Single and Musical Event. Aldean’s two prior nominations are for the Horizon Award in 2007, and in 2008 when the category changed names to CMA New Artist of the Year.
For the sixth year, the announcement of the final nominees in five of the 12 categories was made live on ABC News’ Good Morning America with The Band Perry and Jake Owen delivering the news from the heart of New York City’s Times Square. Finalists in the other seven categories were announced by Jerrod Niemann, and CMA Vocal Duo and New Artist of the Year nominees Thompson Square from the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, which was home to the first broadcast of the CMA Awards in 1968.
Broadcast Awards finalists were also revealed at the Ryman, click here to see the list.
The 45th Annual CMA Awards air live on ABC November 9, 2011.
Entertainer of the Year
Jason Aldean
Brad Paisley
Blake Shelton
Taylor Swift
Keith Urban
Male Vocalist of the Year
Jason Aldean
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
Blake Shelton
Keith Urban
Female Vocalist of the Year
Sara Evans
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Carrie Underwood
Taylor Swift
New Artist of the Year
The Band Perry
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Thompson Square
Chris Young
Vocal Group of the Year
The Band Perry
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts
Zac Brown Band
Album of the Year (Award to Artist and Producer(s))
All About Tonight, Blake Shelton, Produced by Scott Hendricks, Warner Bros. Nashville
My Kinda Party, Jason Aldean, Produced by Michael Knox, Broken Bow Records
Speak Now, Taylor Swift, Produced by Nathan Chapman and Taylor Swift, Big Machine Records
This Is Country Music, Brad Paisley, Produced by Frank Rogers, Arista Nashville
You Get What You Give, Zac Brown Band, Produced by Keith Stegall and Zac Brown, Southern Ground Artists/Atlantic Records
Single of the Year (Award goes to Artist and Producer(s))
“A Little Bit Stronger” Sara Evans, Produced by Tony Brown, RCA Nashville
“Colder Weather” Zac Brown Band, Produced by Keith Stegall and Zac Brown,
Southern Ground Artists/Atlantic Records
“Don’t You Wanna Stay” Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson, Produced by Michael Knox, Broken Bow Records
“Honey Bee” Blake Shelton, Produced by Scott Hendricks, Warner Bros. Nashville
“If I Die Young” The Band Perry, Produced by Paul Worley, Republic Nashville
Song of the Year
“Colder Weather,” Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette, Levi Lowrey, and Coy Bowles
“Dirt Road Anthem,” Brantley Gilbert and Colt Ford
“If I Die Young,” Kimberly Perry
“Mean,” Taylor Swift
“You and Tequila,” Matraca Berg and Deana Carter
Musical Event of the Year
“As She’s Walking Away” Zac Brown Band featuring Alan Jackson, Southern Ground Artists/Atlantic Records
“Coal Miner’s Daughter” Loretta Lynn, Sheryl Crow, and Miranda Lambert, Columbia Records Nashville
“Don’t You Wanna Stay” Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson, Broken Bow Records
“Old Alabama” Brad Paisley featuring Alabama, Arista Nashville
“You and Tequila” Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter, BNA Records
Vocal Duo of the Year
Civil Wars
Montgomery Gentry
Steel Magnolia
Sugarland
Thompson Square
Music Video of the Year
“Honey Bee” Blake Shelton, Directed by Trey Fanjoy
“If I Die Young” The Band Perry, Directed by David McClister
“Mean” Taylor Swift, Directed by Declan Whitebloom
“Old Alabama” Brad Paisley featuring Alabama, Directed by Jim Shea
“You and Tequila” Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter, Directed by Shaun Silva
Musician of the Year
Sam Bush – Mandolin
Jerry Douglas – Dobro
Paul Franklin – Steel Guitar
Dann Huff – Guitar
Mac McAnally – Guitar
