First, a few facts:
• Show will be broadcast live from Las Vegas on Sun., April 18 (on CBS) … hosted for the 12th time by Reba McEntire
• Fans will again vote for Entertainer of the Year
• For the second year, the three newcomer categories – Top New Solo Vocalist, Top New Vocal Group and Top New Vocal Duo – will also be opened up to fan voting. Winner in each category will compete for Top New Artist, which is also voted on by fans.
• Visit www.voteacm.com by March 12
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
• 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
• 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
• 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 (BMI), 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)
Video of the Year
• Boots On – Randy Houser
Producer: Eric Welch
Director: Eric Welch (Drake footage: Vickie Vaughn)
• Need You Now – Lady Antebellum
Producer: Clarke Gallican
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
• 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