2012 ACM Nominees Are Out

This morning Reba and Blake Shelton announced the nominees for the 47th Academy of Country Music Awards, which will air live on CBS, April 1st.  Kenny Chesney leads all niminees with 6 nominations.

Entertainer of the Year

Jason Aldean

Kenny Chesney

Brad Paisley

Blake Shelton

Taylor Swift

Male Vocalist

Jason Aldean

Kenny Chesney

Brad Paisley

Blake Shelton

Chris Young

Female Vocalist

Sara Evans

Miranda Lambert

Martina McBride

Taylor Swift

Carrie Underwood

Vocal Duo

Love and Theft

Montgomery Gentry

Steel Magnolia

Sugarland

Thompson Square

Vocal Group

The Band Perry

Eli Young Band

Lady Antebellum

Rascal Flatts

Zac Brown Band

Album of the Year

Chief - Eric Church

Producers: Arturo Buenahora Jr., Jay Joyce

Four the Record - Miranda Lambert

Producers: Chuck Ainlay, Frank Liddell, Glenn Worf

Hemingway's Whiskey - Kenny Chesney

Producers: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney

My Kinda Party - Jason Aldean

Producer: Michael Knox

Own the Night - Lady Antebellum

Producers: Lady Antebellum, Paul Worley

Single Record of the Year

"Crazy Girl" - Eli Young Band

Producer: Mike Wrucke

"Don't You Wanna Stay" - Jason Aldean With Kelly Clarkson

Producer: Michael Knox

"Red Solo Cup" - Toby Keith

Producer: Toby Keith

"Tomorrow" - Chris Young

Producer: James Stroud

"You and Tequila" - Kenny Chesney Featuring Grace Potter

Producers: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney

Song of the Year

"Crazy Girl" - Eli Young Band

Composers: Lee Brice, Liz Rose

"Home" - Dierks Bentley

Composers: Brett Beavers, Dierks Bentley, Dan Wilson

"Just a Kiss" - Lady Antebellum

Composers: Dallas Davidson, Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott

"Threaten Me With Heaven" - Vince Gill

Composers: Amy Grant, Vince Gill, Dillon O'Brian, Will Owsley

"You and Tequila" - Kenny Chesney Featuring Grace Potter

Composers: Matraca Berg, Deana Carter

Video of the Year

"Homeboy" - Eric Church

Producer: Brandon Arolfo

Director: Peter Zavadil

"Just a Kiss" - Lady Antebellum

Producer: Don Lepore

Director: Shawn Silva

"Mean" - Taylor Swift

Producer: Oualid Mouaness

Director: Declan Whitebloom

"Red Solo Cup" - Toby Keith

Producer: Mark Kalbfeld

Director: Michael Salomon

"Tattoos on This Town" - Jason Aldean

Producer: John Burke

Director: Wes Edwards

Vocal Event

"Country Boy" - Aaron Lewis Featuring George Jones and Charlie Daniels

Producers: Aaron Lewis, James Stroud

"Don't You Wanna Stay" - Jason Aldean With Kelly Clarkson

Producer: Michael Knox

"Old Alabama" - Brad Paisley Featuring Alabama

Producer: Frank Rogers

"Remind Me" - Brad Paisley Duet With Carrie Underwood

Producer: Frank Rogers

"You and Tequila" - Kenny Chesney Featuring Grace Potter

Producers: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney

At first glance, some things stick out to me.  One, is that Chris Young is getting a well-deserved nod for Male Vocalist of the Year.  Unfortunately we don't see Luke Bryan's name on the list, and I believe he had a good enough year to deserve to appear somewhere.  Also, while there are some strong tunes in Single and Song of the Year, I am very surpirsed to see Blake Shelton's "God Gave Me You" absent from these lists.  Otherwise, I'm very excited with this list and I think the nominees are very deserving.  The New Artist nominees will again be fan voted and they will be announced next month.