The Academy Of Country Music Loves Brad Paisley
The Academy Of Country Music Awards are essentially the American Music Awards to the Country Music Association Awards’ Grammys: Both came along a little later, and both seem to lack the prestige of their mainstream competitor. Still, even putting aside their very similar acronyms, the ACMs aren’t terribly distinctive from the CMAs. Both gave their prestige awards (Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist, Female Vocalist and Song of the Year) to the same people last year. While we wonder if there’s a point to the ACMs that doesn’t involve allowing Nashville types an excuse to hang out in Vegas for a weekend, feel free to peruse this year’s nominees. Brad Paisley, who took home two ACM Awards last year, led this year’s field, picking up six nods. And in something of a surprise, former Trick Pony frontwoman Heidi Newfield nabbed five nominations.
Heidi Newfield, “Johnny and June”:
It’s hard for me to see the appeal in this particular song besides referencing country legends. I’ll probably cheer for “Gunpowder & Lead,” even though the album it’s from—Miranda Lambert’s Crazy Ex-Girlfriend—came out in May 2007, and won the ACM’s Album Of The Year award last year.
For some reason, the Album of the Year nominations are not announced until March—possibly just to make sure Garth Brooks doesn’t sneak an album in over the next month or so—but the rest of the nominees are below:
Entertainer of the Year Kenny Chesney Brad Paisley George Strait Keith Urban Carrie Underwood
Top Male Vocalist Kenny Chesney Toby Keith Brad Paisley George Strait Keith Urban
Top Female Vocalist Miranda Lambert Heidi Newfield Taylor Swift Carrie Underwood Lee Ann Womack
Top Vocal Group Lady Antebellum Little Big Town Rascal Flatts Randy Rogers Band the Lost Trailers
Top Vocal Duo Big & Rich Brooks & Dunn Joey & Rory Montgomery Gentry Sugarland
Top New Male Vocalist Jamey Johnson James Otto Jake Owen
Top New Female Vocalist Sarah Buxton Julianne Hough Ashton Shepherd
Top New Vocal Duo or Group Eli Young Band The Lost Trailers Zac Brown Band
Single Record of the Year (producers in parentheses) “Gunpowder & Lead,” Miranda Lambert (Frank Liddell and Mike Wrucke) “In Color,” Jamey Johnson (The Ken Hardley Playboys) “Johnny and June,” Heidi Newfield (Tony Brown) “Waitin’ on a Woman,” Brad Paisley (Frank Rogers) “You’re Gonna Miss This,” Trace Adkins (Frank Rogers)
Song of the Year (songwriters in parentheses) “I Saw God Today,” George Strait (Rodney Clawson, Monty Criswell, Wade Kirby) “In Color,” Jamey Johnson (Jamey Johnson, Lee Thomas Miller, James Otto) “Johnny and June,” Heidi Newfield (Deanna Bryant, Heidi Newfield, Stephony Smith) “Waitin’ on a Woman,” Brad Paisley (Don Sampson, Wynn Varble) “You’re Gonna Miss This,” Trace Adkins (Ashley Gorley, Lee Thomas Miller)
Video of the Year “Johnny and June,” Heidi Newfield “Just a Dream,” Carrie Underwood “Love Story,” Taylor Swift “Troubadour,” George Strait “Waitin’ on a Woman,” Brad Paisley
Vocal Event of the Year “Another Try,” Josh Turner Featuring Trisha Yearwood “Cowgirls Don’t Cry,” Brooks & Dunn Featuring Reba McEntire “Down the Road,” Kenny Chesney With Mac McAnally “Life in a Northern Town,” Sugarland Featuring Little Big Town and Jake Owen “Start a Band,” Brad Paisley and Keith Urban
