NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED FOR THE
45th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC® AWARDS
COUNTRY MUSIC'S PARTY OF THE YEAR^TM

FANS WILL VOTE AGAIN FOR ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR; TOP NEW ARTIST CATEGORY FAN VOTED FOR SECOND YEAR IN A ROW TELECAST TO AIR LIVE FROM MGM GRAND IN LAS VEGAS SUNDAY, APRIL 18th AT 8:00 PM LIVE ET/ DELAYED PT ON CBS TELEVISION NETWORK

Lady Antebellum leads with 7 nominations; Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood each receive 6 nominations; Taylor Swift receives 5 nominations; Kenny Chesney and Brad Paisley each receive 4 nominations; Zac Brown Band receives 4 nominations, with Zac Brown receiving 2 additional nods

NEW YORK, NY (March 2, 2010) - Nominations were announced today for the 45th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, a star-studded event produced for television by dick clark productions broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 18 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.

Country super stars Reba McEntire and Blake Shelton read the nominations live this morning during CBS' The Early Show broadcast from New York City. As previously announced, Reba McEntire will return for an unprecedented 12th time to host this year's show.
For the third year, fans will select the winner of the Academy's most prestigious honor, Entertainer of the Year and for the second year, the three newcomer categories for the annual Academy of Country Music Awards -Top New Solo Vocalist, Top New Vocal Group and Top New Vocal Duo - will also be opened up to fan voting. The winner in each Top New category will then move on to compete for Top New Artist which is also a fan voted category. Online voting for all fan voted categories will be available at www.voteACM.com. The winners of Entertainer of the Year and Top New Artist will be announced live during the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards.

This morning Lady Antebellum led with seven nominations, including Album of the Year for Lady Antebellum and Top Vocal Group. In addition, Lady Antebellum was nominated for Single Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Video of the Year for "Need You Now." They were also nominated as a producer for Single Record of the Year and as a composer for Song of the Year.

Miranda Lambert is nominated for six awards, including Album of the Year for Revolution and Top Female Vocalist. Lambert won the 2007 Album of the Year for Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. She is nominated for Single Record of the Year and as an artist and composer for Song of the Year for "White Liar," which is also nominated for Video of the Year.

Carrie Underwood is nominated for six awards, including Entertainer of Year. Underwood is the reigning Entertainer of the Year, and, if she wins that category again, she will be the first female in Academy
history to capture two Entertainer of the Year trophies. Underwood is also nominated as an artist and composer for Song of the Year for "Cowboy Casanova," as well as Vocal Event of the Year for "I Told You So" with Randy Travis. In addition, Underwood is nominated for Top Female Vocalist and Album of the Year for Play On. If she wins Top Female Vocalist, it will be the fourth consecutive year she has won the
category. Underwood also won the 2006 Album of the Year for Some Hearts.

Taylor Swift is nominated for five awards, including her first nod for Entertainer of the Year. If Swift wins Entertainer of the Year, she will be the eighth female in Academy history to win in this category. Swift is nominated as an artist and composer for Song of the Year for "You Belong With Me," for which she is also nominated for Video of the Year and she also received a nomination for Top Female Vocalist.

Kenny Chesney is nominated for four awards, including Entertainer of the Year and Top Male Vocalist. If he wins Entertainer of the Year, it will be his fifth win in the category. He is currently one of only 3 acts in Academy history to achieve four wins for Entertainer of the Year. He is also nominated as an artist and producer for Vocal Event of the Year for "I'm Alive" with multi-platinum recording artist Dave Matthews.

Brad Paisley is nominated for four awards, including Entertainer of the Year and Top Male Vocalist. Paisley is the reigning Top Male Vocalist, and, if Paisley wins the category, it will be his fourth consecutive Top Male Vocalist title. Paisley is also nominated for Album of the Year for American Saturday Night and for Video of the Year for "Welcome to the Future." Paisley won the 2005 Album of the Year for Time Well Wasted.

Zac Brown Band is nominated for four awards including Entertainer of the Year, their first nomination in the category. If Zac Brown Band wins Entertainer of the Year they will be the third vocal group in Academy history ever to win the award. Zac Brown Band is also nominated for Album of the Year for The Foundation, Single Record of the Year for "Toes," and Top Vocal Group. They are the reigning Top New Vocal Group.

Zac Brown of Zac Brown Band also received two additional individual nominations as the producer for both Album of the Year for The Foundation and Single Record of the Year for "Toes."

Also, in its ninth year, the Academy of Country Music/The Home Depot Humanitarian Award will be given to Montgomery Gentry for their ongoing community service and charitable giving of their time and talent. The award recognizes country music artists who serve others, have a generous spirit and help build the dreams of those in need.

Members of the Academy of Country Music select the nominees and winners of the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, and select the final top eight nominees of the Entertainer of the Year category (up from the previously selected five) and the top three nominees in newcomer categories, Top Solo Vocalist, Top New Vocal Group and Top New Vocal Duo (different from last year's categories of Top New Female Vocalist, Top New Male Vocalist and Top New Vocal Duo or Group).

Presenters and performers who will appear at the ceremony will be announced at a later date.

Following is the list of final nominees. Winners in each of the following categories, except where noted, will be presented with an ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARD during the live television broadcast:

Entertainer of the Year

• Kenny Chesney
• Toby Keith
• Brad Paisley
• George Strait
• Taylor Swift
• Carrie Underwood
• Keith Urban
• Zac Brown Band

Top Male Vocalist of the Year

• Kenny Chesney
• Brad Paisley
• Darius Rucker
• George Strait
• Keith Urban

Top Female Vocalist of the Year

• Miranda Lambert
• Reba McEntire
• Taylor Swift
• Carrie Underwood
• Lee Ann Womack

Top Vocal Group of the Year

• Lady Antebellum
• Little Big Town
• Randy Rogers Band
• Rascal Flatts
• Zac Brown Band

Top Vocal Duo of the Year

• Brooks & Dunn
• Joey + Rory
• Montgomery Gentry
• Steel Magnolia
• Sugarland

TOP NEW SOLO VOCALIST of the Year *

• Luke Bryan
• Jamey Johnson
• Chris Young

TOP NEW VOCAL DUO of the Year *

• Bomshel
• Joey + Rory
• Steel Magnolia

TOP NEW VOCAL GROUP of the Year *

• Eli Young Band
• Gloriana
• The Lost Trailers

ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company(s)]

• American Saturday Night - Brad Paisley (Arista Nashville)

Produced by: Chris DuBois, Frank Rogers

• Lady Antebellum - Lady Antebellum (Capitol Records Nashville)

Produced by:  Victoria Shaw, Paul Worley

• Play On - Carrie Underwood (19/Arista Nashville)

Produced by: Mark Bright

"Quitter" Produced by Max Martin & Shellback for Maratone Productions and Mark Bright

• Revolution - Miranda Lambert (Columbia Nashville)

Produced by: Frank Liddell, Mike Wrucke

• The Foundation - Zac Brown Band (Southern Ground / Bigger Picture / Atlantic)

Produced by: Keith Stegall, Zac Brown

Single Record of the Year [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company(s)]     

• Need You Now - Lady Antebellum (Capitol Records Nashville)

Produced by: Lady Antebellum, Paul Worley

• People Are Crazy - Billy Currington (Mercury)

Produced by: Carson Chamberlain, Billy Currington

• Red Light - David Nail (MCA Nashville)

Produced by: Frank Liddell, Mike Wrucke

• Toes - Zac Brown Band (Southern Ground / Bigger Picture / Atlantic)

Produced by: Keith Stegall, Zac Brown

• White Liar - Miranda Lambert (Columbia Nashville)

Produced by: Frank Liddell, Mike Wrucke

Song of the Year [Awarded to Composer(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]

• Cowboy Casanova - Carrie Underwood

Composers:  Mike Elizondo, Brett James, Carrie Underwood 

Publishers:   Brett James Cornelius Music (ASCAP), Carrie Okie Music (BMI), Rincon Ave Music

(ASCAP), Stage Three Songs (ASCAP)

• Need You Now - Lady Antebellum

Composers:  Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott

Publishers: EMI Foray Music (SESAC), Darth Buddha (ASCAP), Dwhaywood Music (BMI), Hillary Dawn Publishing (SESAC), Radiobullets Publishing (BMI), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI), Year Of The Dog Music (ASCAP)

• People Are Crazy - Billy Currington

Composers:  Bobby Braddock, Troy Jones

Publishers:  Crozier Music Enterprises LLC (BMI), Mighty Nice Music (BMI), Sony/ATV Tree Publishing (BMI), Tiltawhirl Music (BMI)

• White Liar - Miranda Lambert

Composers:  Natalie Hemby, Miranda Lambert

Publishers:  Pink Dog Publishing (BMI), Sony/ATV Tree Publishing (BMI), Tiltawhirl Music (BMI)

• You Belong With Me - Taylor Swift

Composers:  Liz Rose, Taylor Swift

Publishers:  Sony/ATV Tree Publishing (BMI), Taylor Swift Music (BMI), Barbara Orbison World Publishing (SESAC), Potting Shed Music (SESAC)

Video of the Year [Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)] (Off Camera Award)

• Boots On - Randy Houser

Producer: Eric Welch

Director: Eric Welch (Drake footage: Vickie Vaughn)         

• Need You Now - Lady Antebellum

Producer: Clarke Gallivan

Director: David McClister

• Welcome To The Future - Brad Paisley

Producers: Mark Kalbfeld, Jim Shea, Peter Tilden

Director: Jim Shea

• White Liar - Miranda Lambert

Producer:  Tameron Hedge

Director: Chris Hicky

• You Belong With Me - Taylor Swift

Producer: Randy Brewer

Director: Roman White

Vocal Event of the Year [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/ Record Company(s)] (Off Camera Award)

• Hillbilly Bone - Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins (Reprise Records / Warner Music Nashville)

Producer: Scott Hendricks

• Honky Tonk Stomp - Brooks & Dunn featuring Billy Gibbons (Arista Nashville)

Producer: Ronnie Dunn, Terry McBride

• I Told You So - Carrie Underwood featuring Randy Travis (19/Arista Nashville)

Producer:  Mark Bright

• I'm Alive - Kenny Chesney with Dave Matthews (Blue Chair/BNA)

Produced by: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney

• Seeing Stars - Jack Ingram featuring Patty Griffin (Big Machine Records)

Produced by: Jack Ingram, Jeremy Stover

* Fan voting for Top New Solo Vocalist, Top New Vocal Group and Top New Vocal Duo began at VoteACM.com on Friday, February 26 and will close on Friday, March 12.  The winner in each of the three categories will be announced March 23, and will move on to compete for Top New Artist.  Fan voting for Top New Artist and Entertainer of the Year begins on Thursday, April 1 at VoteACM.com. Fan voting for Top New Artist will close at 5pm PT on April 18^th (before the LIVE show starts) and fan voting for Entertainer of the Year will close during the third hour of the LIVE broadcast.

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Nominees for the Academy's radio award categories have been announced! Find out who the contenders are HERE. Due to time constraints, winners will be announced off-camera at the 45TH ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS in Las Vegas.

45th Academy of Country Music Awards and Brooks & Dunn All-Star Concert Special Set for April

Country Music's Party of the Year, the 45^th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS will be broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Sunday, April 18^th, 2010 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network. In addition, the Academy will tape an all-star concert special, ACM Presents: Brooks & Dunn - The Last Rodeo at the same location on Monday, April 19^thto air later this year on CBS. Both shows are produced for television by dick clark productions.

Music, film and television legend Reba McEntire will host the 45^th ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS for the 12^th time. She has won 12 Academy of Country Music Awards including the first-ever annual Academy of Country Music/The Home Depot Humanitarian Award for her outstanding philanthropic work. This will be the fifth year the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS will be based at MGM Grand and the eighth year the show will be held in Las Vegas.  Nearly 15 million viewers tuned in to last year's Awards, a 21% increase over the previous year.

"No one does it better than Reba McEntire," said Orly Adelson, president of dick clark productions and executive producer of the awards.  "She always brings spunk and personality to the show and we are honored to have the Queen of country music back to host the Awards for the 12^th time."

Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn of Brooks & Dunn, the best selling duo in the history of country music, will receive the Academy's Milestone Award in recognition of their 20-year record-breaking career during a tribute concert special, ACM Presents: Brooks & Dunn - The Last Rodeo.  They will be honored for holding the record for the most wins of any artist in the Academy's history with 26 awards in total, including three Entertainer of the Year awards.  They will also be honored for holding the record for most Top Vocal Duo wins, with 15 awards, eight of which are consecutive from 2000-2007.

Artists already scheduled to perform at the taping include superstars Kenny Chesney, Reba McEntire, Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban, with many more to be announced soon. Brooks & Dunn have had 23 #1 hits, sold more than 30 million records, and won more than 80 major industry awards during their career.  In August 2009, they announced they will retire as a duo in 2010 and embark on a final farewell tour this summer, called "The Last Rodeo."

"Brooks & Dunn have defined country music for twenty years," said Bob Romeo, Executive Director of the Academy of Country Music. "With this all-star concert tribute, the Academy is honored to recognize Kix and Ronnie for their contributions to the country music industry, fans and to all the artists they have helped get a break in this business."

For event and ticket information,  CLICK HERE. Tickets are available for purchase to professional members and to fans who have joined the ACM A-List beginning January 15 while supplies last.

Tickets sales from ACM Presents: Brooks & Dunn - The Last Rodeo will benefit ACM Lifting Lives, the charitable arm of the Academy of Country Music, which works to improve lives through music. For more information on Lifting Lives, CLICK HERE.