This year, Miranda Lambert is standing tall. She leads with Miranda Lambert leads with eight nominations, while Dierks Bentley was close behind with seven nominations. Other top nominees are Florida Georgia Line with five nominations. Meanwhile, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney and Eric Church each received four nominations each.
Because it is the 50th year for the event, CBS announced that the show, which will air on Sunday, April 19, will be extended a half hour.
The awards were announced via online on the Academy’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts. This is a party and one category shows the fun of country music. Sure, Entertainer of the Year award is like the Best Picture Oscar, but Vocal Event of the Year can be down right entertaining. They should perform all of the nominees during the show like the Oscars do with Best Original Song.
Speaking of Entertainer of the Year, it looks like Garth Brooks is back in familiar territory and Lambert will not have to go up against her husband, Blake Shelton.
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Jason Aldean
Garth Brooks
Luke Bryan
Miranda Lambert
Florida Georgia Line
VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
“Lonely Tonight,” Blake Shelton feat. Ashley Monroe
“Meanwhile Back at Mama’s,” Tim McGraw and Faith Hill
“Somethin’ Bad,” Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood
“The South,” The Cadillac Three feat. Florida Georgia Line, Dierks Bentley & Mike Eli
“This is How We Roll,” Florida Georgia Line feat. Luke Bryan
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
“Old Boots, New Dirt,” Jason Aldean
“Pain Killer,” Little Big Town
“Platinum,” Miranda Lambert
“Riser,” Dierks Bentley
“The Outsiders,” Eric Church
SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR
“American Kids,” Kenny Chesney
“Automatic,” Miranda Lambert
“Dirt,” Florida Georgia Line
“Drunk on a Plane,” Dierks Bentley
“I Don’t Dance,” Lee Brice
SONG OF THE YEAR
“American Kids,” Kenny Chesney
“Automatic,” Miranda Lambert
“Drink a Beer,” Luke Bryan
“Follow Your Arrow,” Kacey Musgraves
“Give Me Back My Hometown,” Eric Church
“I Hold On,” Dierks Bentley
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Jason Aldean
Dierks Bentley
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Brad Paisley
Blake Shelton
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Brandy Clark
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Maddie & Tae
The Swon Brothers
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts
The Ban Perry
Zac Brown Band
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Rodney Clawson
Ashely Gorley
Luke Laird
Josh Osborne
Chris Tompkins
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
“American Kids,” Kenny Chesney
“Cop Car,” Keith Urban
“Drunk on a Plane,” Dierks Bentley
“I’m Not Gonna Miss You,” Glen Campbell
“Somethin’ Bad,” Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood
The show will take place at AT&T Stadium in North Texas.