Kenny Chesney Leads 2012 ACM Award Nominations

Kenny Chesney has become the hot favorite to be the runaway success at the 47th annual Academy of Country Music Awards with a whopping nine nods when nominations were announced earlier today.

Chesney, whose last seven albums have all reached the top of the US Country charts, will compete for the top prize of Entertainer of the Year with Jason Aldean, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton and Taylor Swift. The results will be aired live April 1 from Las Vegas on CBS with Reba McEntire and Blake Shelton hosting the show.

In addition to the EOTY nod – Chesney has won the award four times in past – the “Out Last Night” singer has been nominated for a 10th time in the male vocalist category and received double nominations as artist and producer for album of the year for “Hemingway’s Whiskey” and single record of the year and vocal event of the year for “You and Tequila.”

He also receives a song of the year nomination as performer on “You and Tequila,” a collaboration with Grace Potter that was written by Matraca Berg and Deana Carter.

Watch the music video for Kenny Chesney and Grace Potter’s You & Tequila below:

Chesney’s nine 2012 ACM Award nominations are followed by Aldean’s six and Paisley’s four. Swift is the most nominated female solo artist with three. Lady Antebellum leads in group nominations with five, while the Eli Young Band has three.

Among this year’s first time nominees are folk/rock singer Potter (for her duet with Chesney), Aaron Lewis (who earned two nominations), Thompson Square, and Love and Theft. Thompson Square is also a finalist in the fan-voted new artist of the year category announced earlier, so the duo could end up with two nominations after those final nominees are announced in February.

Here is the complete list of nominees for the 2012 Academy of Country Music Awards:

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

• Jason Aldean
• Kenny Chesney
• Brad Paisley
• Blake Shelton
• Taylor Swift

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

• Jason Aldean
• Kenny Chesney
• Brad Paisley
• Blake Shelton
• Chris Young

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

• Sara Evans
• Miranda Lambert
• Martina McBride
• Taylor Swift
• Carrie Underwood

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR

• Love and Theft
• Montgomery Gentry
• Steel Magnolia
• Sugarland
• Thompson Square

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR

• The Band Perry
• Eli Young Band
• Lady Antebellum
• Rascal Flatts
• Zac Brown Band

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

Chief – Eric Church (EMI-Nashville)
Produced by: Arturo Buenahora, Jr., Jay Joyce

Four The Record – Miranda Lambert (RCA)
Produced by: Chuck Ainlay, Frank Liddell, Glenn Worf

Hemingway’s Whiskey – Kenny Chesney (BNA)
Produced by: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney

My Kinda Party – Jason Aldean (Broken Bow Records)
Produced by: Michael Knox

Own The Night – Lady Antebellum (Capitol Records Nashville)
Produced by: Lady Antebellum, Paul Worley

SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]

Crazy Girl – Eli Young Band (Republic Nashville)
Produced by: Mike Wrucke

Don’t You Wanna Stay – Jason Aldean With Kelly Clarkson (Broken Bow Records)
Produced by: Michael Knox

Red Solo Cup – Toby Keith (Show Dog-Universal Music)
Produced by: Toby Keith

Tomorrow – Chris Young (RCA)
Produced by: James Stroud

You And Tequila – Kenny Chesney Featuring Grace Potter (BNA)
Produced by: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney

SONG OF THE YEAR [Award to Composer(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]

Crazy Girl – Eli Young Band
Composers: Lee Brice, Liz Rose
Publishers: Cake Taker Music (BMI), Mike Curb Music (BMI), Sony/ATV Tree Publishing (BMI), Sweet Hysteria Music (BMI)

Home – Dierks Bentley
Composers: Brett Beavers, Dierks Bentley, Dan Wilson
Publishers: Big White Tracks (ASCAP), Chestnut Barn Music (BMI), Chrysalis Music/BMG Rights (ASCAP), Chrysalis One Songs (BMI)

Just A Kiss – Lady Antebellum
Composers: Dallas Davidson, Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott
Publishers: Dwhaywood Music (BMI), EMI Blackwood Music, Inc. (BMI), EMI Foray Music (SESAC), Hillary Dawn Songs (SESAC), Radiobulletspublishing (BMI), String Stretcher Music (BMI), Warner-Tamberlane Publishing Corp. (BMI)

Threaten Me With Heaven – Vince Gill
Composers: Amy Grant, Vince Gill, Dillon O’Brian, Will Owsley
Publishers: Grant Girls Music (ASCAP), Vinny Mae Music (BMI), Willie-O Music (ASCAP)

You And Tequila – Kenny Chesney Featuring Grace Potter
Composers: Matraca Berg, Deana Carter
Publishers: Deanaling Music (ASCAP), Hannaberg Music (BMI), Songs of Universal Inc. (BMI), WB Music Corp. (ASCAP)

VIDEO OF THE YEAR [Award to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)] *(Off Camera Award)

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 OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record

Company] *(Off Camera Award)
Country Boy – Aaron Lewis Featuring George Jones & Charlie Daniels (R&J Records)
Produced by: Aaron Lewis, James Stroud

Don’t You Wanna Stay – Jason Aldean With Kelly Clarkson (Broken Bow Records)
Produced by: Michael Knox

Old Alabama – Brad Paisley Featuring Alabama (Arista Nashville)
Produced by: Frank Rogers

Remind Me – Brad Paisley Duet With Carrie Underwood (Arista Nashville)
Produced by: Frank Rogers

You And Tequila – Kenny Chesney Featuring Grace Potter (BNA)
Produced by: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney

via Country Weekly