Country Countdown Nominees Named

Luke Bryan is in the running for seven different awards, with Sam Hunt up for five, and Thomas Rhett and Zac Brown Band in for four.

The nominees for touring artist of the year are Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney, Luke Bryan, Shania Twain, and Zac Brown Band. The touring artist nominees are based on Pollstar’s data. A live awards show will take place at the Forum in Inglewood, Calif., May 1.

The event will include performances from Carrie Underwood, Rhett, and Florida Georgia Line.

The awards, now in the third year, are based on the long-running radio program American Country Countdown with Kix Brooks, which has been running it since 1973 and is one of the most widely distributed programs chronicling country music at the national level.