Miranda Lambert leads the list of nominees heading into the 44th Annual Country Music Association Awards. The singer-songwriter is entering the ceremony with a record nine nominations, which is the most for a female artist at a single CMA awards event. Her many bids include the event's top prize of Entertainer of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year, which she earned on the strength of her hit CD "Revolution." But Lambert isn't alone in having several chances to win. Other multiple nominees include Lady Antebellum, who have five group nods, Zac Brown Band and Blake Shelton, who have four bids each; and Brad Paisley, Trace Adkins, and Dierks Bentley, who are three-time contenders.
The three-hour ceremony will include much more than award presentations. Numerous artists are on board to perform at the event. Lambert, Lady A, Paisley, Shelton, and Bentley will turn in songs, along with Kenny Chesney, Taylor Swift, Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, George Strait, Rascal Flatts and many others. Zac Brown Band and Alan Jackson will team up on stage, while Vince Gill will provide backing vocals for Gwyneth Paltrow's country music TV performance debut. In addition, Tim McGraw, Sara Evans, Martina McBride, Chris Young, Luke Bryan, Darius Rucker, and Kellie Pickler are just some of the many other country stars slated to appear. NASCAR great Jeff Gordon, ABC's "Better With You" star JoAnna Garcia, and ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition's" Ty Pennington have also been tapped as presenters. Paisley and Underwood will serve as co-hosts for the 44th annual CMA Awards, airing live from Nashville on ABC tonight at 8:00 p.m. Eastern.
Nominees for the 44th annual CMA Awards
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Lady Antebellum
Miranda Lambert
Brad Paisley
Keith Urban
Zac Brown Band
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Dierks Bentley
Brad Paisley
Blake Shelton
George Strait
Keith Urban
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Reba McEntire
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Brooks & Dunn
Joey + Rory
Montgomery Gentry
Steel Magnolia
Sugarland
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts
The Band Perry
Zac Brown Band
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Luke Bryan
Easton Corbin
Jerrod Niemann
Chris Young
Zac Brown Band
ALBUM OF THE YEAR - Award goes to Artist and Producer
Lady Antebellum, "Need You Now"
Carrie Underwood, "Play On"
Miranda Lambert, "Revolution"
George Strait, "Twang"
Dierks Bentley, "Up On the Ridge"
SINGLE OF THE YEAR - Award goes to Artist and Producer(s)
Easton Corbin, "A Little More Country Than That," Produced by Carson Chamberlain
Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins, "Hillbilly Bone," Produced by Scott Hendricks
Lady Antebellum, "Need You Now," Produced by Paul Worley and Lady Antebellum
Miranda Lambert, "The House That Built Me," Produced by Frank Liddell and Mike Wrucke
Miranda Lambert, "White Liar," Produced by Frank Liddell and Mike Wrucke
SONG OF THE YEAR - Award goes to Songwriter(s)
"A Little More Country Than That." written by Rory Lee Feek, Don Poythress, and Wynn Varble
"Need You Now," written by Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott, and Josh Kear
"The House That Built Me," written by Tom Douglas and Allen Shamblin
"Toes," written by Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette, John Driskell Hopkins, and Shawn Mullins
"White Liar," written by Miranda Lambert and Natalie Hemby
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR - Award goes to Artist and Director
Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins, "Hillbilly Bone," Directed by Roman White
Lady Antebellum, "Need You Now," Directed by David McClister
Miranda Lambert, "The House That Built Me," Directed by Trey Fanjoy
Miranda Lambert, "White Liar," Directed by Chris Hicky
Brad Paisley, "Water," Directed by Jim Shea
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR - Award goes to each Artist
"Bad Angel," Dierks Bentley featuring Miranda Lambert and Jamey Johnson
"Can't You See," Zac Brown Band featuring Kid Rock
"Hillbilly Bone," Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins
"I'm Alive," Kenny Chesney with Dave Matthews
"Till The End," Alan Jackson with Lee Ann Womack
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Paul Franklin - Steel Guitar
Dann Huff - Guitar
Brent Mason - Guitar
Mac McAnally - Guitar
Randy Scruggs - Guitar
