44th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS NOMINEES
Entertainer of the Year
- Kenny Chesney
- Brad Paisley
- George Strait
- Carrie Underwood ***WINNER
- Keith Urban
Top Male Vocalist
- Kenny Chesney
- Toby Keith
- Brad Paisley ***WINNER
- George Strait
- Keith Urban
Top Female Vocalist
- Miranda Lambert
- Heidi Newfield
- Taylor Swift
- Carrie Underwood ***WINNER
- Lee Ann Womack
Top Vocal Group
- Lady Antebellum
- Little Big Town
- Rascal Flatts ***WINNER
- Randy Rogers Band
- The Lost Trailers
Top Vocal Duo
- Big & Rich
- Brooks & Dunn
- Joey + Rory
- Montgomery Gentry
- Sugarland ***WINNER
Top New Male Vocalist
- Jamey Johnson
- James Otto
- Jake Owen ***WINNER
Top New Female Vocalist
- Sarah Buxton
- Julianne Hough ***WINNER
- Ashton Shepherd
Top New Vocal Duo or Group
- Eli Young Band
- The Lost Trailers
- Zac Brown Band ***WINNER
Top New Artist
- Julianne Hough ***WINNER
- Jake Owen
- Zac Brown Band
Album of the Year
- Back When I Knew It All – Montgomery Gentry (Columbia)
Produced by: Blake Chancey
- Carnival Ride – Carrie Underwood (19/Arista Nashville)
Produced by: Mark Bright
- Fearless – Taylor Swift (Big Machine) ***WINNER
Produced by: Scott Borchetta, Nathan Chapman, Taylor Swift
- That Lonesome Song – Jamey Johnson (Mercury)
Produced by: The Kent Hardly Playboys
- Troubadour – George Strait (MCA)
Produced by: Tony Brown and George Strait
Single Record of the Year [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
- Gunpowder & Lead
Miranda Lambert, Produced by Frank Liddell and Mike Wrucke
Columbia
- In Color
Jamey Johnson, Produced by The Kent Hardly Playboys
Mercury
- Johnny And June
Heidi Newfield, Produced by Tony Brown
Asylum-Curb
- Waitin' On A Woman
Brad Paisley, Produced by Frank Rogers
Arista Nashville
- You're Gonna Miss This ***WINNER
Trace Adkins, Produced by Frank Rogers
Capitol Nashville
Song of the Year [Award to Composer(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
- I Saw God Today
George Strait
Composers: Rodney Clawson, Monty Criswell, Wade Kirby
Publishers: Big Red Toe Music (BMI), Blind Mule Music (BMI), Extremely Loud Music (BMI), Steel Wheels Music (BMI)
- In Color ***WINNER
Jamey Johnson
Composers: Jamey Johnson, Lee Thomas Miller, James Otto
Publishers: Big Gassed Hitties (BMI), Eldorotto Music Publishing (BMI), EMI Blackwood Music, Inc., Lucky Thumb Music (BMI), New Song of Sea Gayle (BMI), Noah's Little Boat Music (BMI)
- Johnny And June
Heidi Newfield
Composers: Deanna Bryant, Heidi Newfield, Stephony Smith
Publishers: Amylase Music (ASCAP), Big Hit Makers Music (BMI), Rainy Graham Publishing LLC (BMI), Souljet Music (BMI), Tell Texas Tune III (ASCAP)
- Waitin' On A Woman
Brad Paisley
Composers: Don Sampson, Wynn Varble
Publishers: Emma and Maddie Music (ASCAP), Sea Gayle Music LLC (ASCAP), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI)
- You're Gonna Miss This
Trace Adkins
Composers: Ashley Gorley and Lee Thomas Miller
Publishers: Music of Windswept (ASCAP), Noah's Little Boat Music (BMI), Song of Combustion (ASCAP), Songs of Sea Gayle (BMI)
Video of the Year [Award to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]
- Johnny And June - Heidi Newfield
Producer: Karen Martin
Director: Eric Welch
- Just A Dream - Carrie Underwood
Producer: Randy Brewer
Director: Roman White
- Love Story - Taylor Swift
Producer: Trent Hardville
Director: Trey Fanjoy
- Troubadour - George Strait
Producer: Dominic Cancilla
Director: Trey Fanjoy
- Waitin' On A Woman - Brad Paisley ***WINNER
Producer: Mark Kalbfeld, Jim Shea
Director: Jim Shea, Peter Tilden
Vocal Event of the Year [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
- Another Try - Josh Turner Featuring Trisha Yearwood
Produced by: Frank Rogers
MCA Nashville
- Cowgirls Don't Cry - Brooks & Dunn Featuring Reba McEntire
Produced by: Kix Brooks, Tony Brown, Ronnie Dunn
Arista Nashville
- Down The Road - Kenny Chesney With Mac McAnally
Produced by: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney
Blue Chair/BNA
- Life In A Northern Town - Sugarland Featuring Little Big Town & Jake Owen
Produced by: Not listed
Mercury
- Start A Band - Brad Paisley Duet With Keith Urban ***WINNER
Produced by: Frank Rogers
Arista Nashville
ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR - NATIONAL
- Blair Garner - After MidNite with Blair Garner
- Crook & Chase - Crook and Chase Countdown
- Danny Wright - Danny Wright All Night
- Lon Helton - Country Countdown USA ***WINNER
ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR - MAJOR MARKET
- KEEY‐FM (Minneapolis, MN) - Donna Valentine, Muss and Fish
- KSCS‐FM (Arlington, TX) - Dorsey Gang ***WINNER
- KSON‐FM (San Diego, CA) - Cliff & Company: Cliff, Morgan, Tanner and Tori
- KYGO‐FM (Denver, CO) - Kelly Ford & Mudflap McGrew with Ed Greene
- WIL ‐FM (St. Louis, MO) - The Cornbread Show featuring Cornbread, Pat James, Producer Annie, Captain Mac Douglas & Father Harry Shroeder
ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR - LARGE MARKET
- WFMS‐FM (Indianapolis, IN) - JD Cannon ***WINNER
- WFMS‐FM (Indianapolis, IN) - Jim Denny, Deborah Honeycutt & Kevin Freeman
- WMIL‐FM (Milwaukee, WI) - Karen, Scott & Radar ‐ The Moo Crew
- WTQR‐FM (Greensboro, NC) - Jeff Roper & Angie Ward
- WUBE‐FM (Cincinnati, OH) - Chris Carr & Amanda Orlando
ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR - MEDIUM MARKET
- WBBS‐FM (Syracuse, NY) - Tom and Becky ‐ B104.7 Morning Show
- WBCT‐FM (Grand Rapids, MI) - The Electric Barnyard with Broadway (and Crawl)
- KFDI‐FM (Wichita, KS) - Brian Pierce & Kellie Michaels
- WIVK‐FM (Knoxville, TN) - Gunner
- WIVK‐FM (Knoxville, TN) - Andy Ritchie, Alison West, Jimmy Holt ***WINNER
ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR - SMALL MARKET
- KUAD‐FM (Ft. Collins, CO) - Brian Gary and Todd Harding (The Good Morning Guys)
- WCTY‐FM (Norwich, CT) - Jimmy Lane and Shelly Martinez
- WFYR‐FM (Peoria, IL) - Rick Stephenson & Lisa Franks
- WOKQ‐FM (Dover, NH) - Mark & Danielle
- WYCT‐FM (Pensacola, FL) - Brent Lane and Dana Cervantes ***WINNER
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR - MAJOR MARKET
- KMPS‐FM (Seattle, WA) - Today's Country
- KYGO‐FM (Denver, CO) - Denver's #1 For New Country
- WKLB‐FM (Boston, MA) - Country 102.5
- WQYK‐FM (Tampa, FL) - Tampa Bay's Country Station
- WSOC‐FM (Charlotte, NC) - Charlotte's # 1 Country ***WINNER
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR - LARGE MARKET
- WFMS‐FM (Indianapolis, IN) - The Country Station
- WMIL‐FM (Milwaukee, WI) - Continuous Country Favorites of Yesterday and Today
- WQDR‐FM (Raleigh, NC) - Today's Best Country
- WSIX‐FM (Nashville, TN) - The Big 98 WSIX ***WINNER
- WUBE‐FM (Cincinnati, OH) - Cincinnati's Country!
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR - MEDIUM MARKET
- KFDI‐FM (Wichita, KS) - Today's KFDI
- KUZZ AM/FM (Bakersfield, CA) - Bakersfield's Best Country
- WGNA‐FM (Albany, NY) - Country 107.7
- WIVK‐FM (Knoxville, TN) - Today's Best Music and the All‐Time Country Legends ***WINNER
- WYRK‐FM (Buffalo, NY) - Today's Country & Your All Time Favorites
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR - SMALL MARKET
- WFYR‐FM (Peoria, IL) - River Country
- WKXC‐FM (Augusta, GA) - Number One for New Country and More Variety
- WXCL‐FM (Peoria, IL) - Number One For New Country
- WXXQ‐FM (Rockford, IL) - Rockford's Country
- WYCT‐FM (Pensacola, FL) - Cat Country ***WINNER
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
- Tony Brown ***WINNER
- Buddy Cannon
- Nathan Chapman
- Dann Huff
- Frank Rogers
AUDIO ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
- Chuck Ainlay ***WINNER
- Greg Droman
- John Kelton
- Mills Logan
- Steve Marcantonio
TOP BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
- Mike Brignardello
- Dave Hungate
- Larry Paxton
- Jimmie Lee Sloas
- Glenn Worf ***WINNER
TOP PERCUSSIONIST/DRUMMER OF THE YEAR
- Eddie Bayers
- Chad Cromwell
- Paul Leim
- Greg Morrow ***WINNER
- Lonnie Wilson
TOP FIDDLE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
- Rob Hajacos
- Aubrey Haynie ***WINNER
- Larry Franklin
- Joe Spivey
- Jonathan Yudkin
TOP GUITARIST OF THE YEAR
- Tom Bukovac ***WINNER
- J.T. Corenflos
- Kenny Greenberg
- Brett Mason
- Bryan Sutton
TOP PIANO/KEYBOARDS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
- Tony Harrell
- John Hobbs
- John Jarvis
- Gordon Mote ***WINNER
- Steve Nathan
TOP SPECIALTY INSTRUMENT(S) PLAYER OF THE YEAR
- Eric Darken ***WINNER
- Rob Ickes
- Jelly Roll Johnson ***WINNER
- Randy Kohrs
- Ilya Toshinsky
TOP STEEL GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
- Bruce Bouton
- Dan Dugmore ***WINNER
- Steve Hinson
- Mike Johnson
- Russ Pahl
VENUE OF THE YEAR
- DTE Energy Music Theatre - Clarkston, MI
- Meadowbrook US Cellular Pavilion - Gilford, NH
- The Ryman Auditorium - Nashville, TN ***WINNER
- Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek - Raleigh, NC
- Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheatre - Virginia Beach, VA
NIGHTCLUB OF THE YEAR
- Buck Owens' Crystal Palace - Bakersfield, CA
- Coyote Joe's - Charlotte, NC
- Joe's Bar - Chicago, IL ***WINNER
- The Grizzly Rose - Denver, CO
- Wild Bill's - Duluth, GA
CASINO OF THE YEAR
- Casino Rama - Orillia, Ontario
- Chumash Casino - Santa Ynez, CA
- Mystic Lake - Minneapolis, MN
- The Peppermill Resorts at Wendover - West Wendover, NV
- Turning Stone Casino - Verona, NY ***WINNER
DON ROMEO TALENT BUYER OF THE YEAR
- Todd Boltin - Variety Attractions
- Gary Osier - Gary Osier Presents
- Fran Romeo - Romeo Entertainment ***WINNER
- David Snowden - Triangle Talent
- Suzanne Wilson - Wilson Events
PROMOTER OF THE YEAR
- Ben Farrell - Varnell Enterprises
- Darin Lashinsky - Outback Concerts
- Louis Messina - The Messina Group ***WINNER
- Steve Moore - AEGLive
- Gary Weinberger - Red Mountain Entertainment