Paisley Snags 6 CMA Award Noms

And it was an especially good morning for Paisley, scoring 6 nominations – Entertainer of the Year; Male Vocalist of the Year; Single of the Year; Song of the Year; Album of the Year and Music Video of the Year.

Paisley’s nod for Album of the Year is for American Saturday Night, produced by Frank Rogers and Chris DuBois. Single and Song of the Year noms were for “Then,” written by Dubois and Ashley Gorley, and “Start A Band,” directed by Jim Shea and also featuring Keith Urban, which gathered Paisley a Video of the Year nomination.

Zac Brown, Jamey Johnson, George Strait, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban each received four nominations. Especially noteworthy is Swift’s nomination for Entertainer of the Year with the CMA pointing out this is the first time a solo female artist has been nominated for the award since Faith Hill was given the nom in 2000.

This morning’s announcements were split between ABC’s Good Morning America, which announced nominees in five categories and the CMT network in Nashville which took care of the real heavy lifting by announcing noms in all categories big and small.

“It is great for the format and speaks to the strength of our music and talent of our artists that there are so many new faces on the list of nominees this year,” CMA CEO Tammy Genovese said. “With more than a quarter of the nominees making their debut in 2009, representing a variety of major and independent labels, there will be a heightened level of excitement and anticipation for the CMA Awards in November.”

The 43rd annual CMA Awards will air live from Nashville’s Sommet Center on ABC Nov. 11 at 8 p.m.

Entertainer of the Year

Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Taylor Swift
Keith Urban

Female Vocalist of the Year

Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Reba McEntire
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

Male Vocalist of the Year

Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
Darius Rucker
George Strait
Keith Urban

New Artist Of The Year

Randy Houser
Jamey Johnson
Jake Owen
Darius Rucker
Zac Brown Band

Vocal Group of the Year

Eagles
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts
Zac Brown Band

Vocal Duo of the Year

Big & Rich
Brooks & Dunn
Joey + Rory
Montgomery Gentry
Sugarland

Single of the Year (Award goes to Artist and Producer)

“Chicken Fried”
Zac Brown Band
Produced by Keith Stegall
Atlantic Records

“I Run To You”
Lady Antebellum
Produced by Victoria Shaw and Paul Worley
Capitol Records Nashville

“In Color”
Jamey Johnson
Produced by The Kent Hardly Playboys
Mercury Nashville

“People Are Crazy”
Billy Currington
Produced by Carson Chamberlain and Billy Currington
Mercury Nashville

“Then”
Brad Paisley
Produced by Frank Rogers and Chris DuBois
Arista Nashville

Album of the Year (Award goes to Artist and Producer)

American Saturday Night
Brad Paisley
Produced by Frank Rogers and Chris DuBois
Arista Nashville

Defying Gravity
Keith Urban
Produced by Dann Huff and Keith Urban
Capitol Records Nashville

Fearless
Taylor Swift
Produced by Nathan Chapman and Taylor Swift
Big Machine Records

Love On The Inside
Sugarland
Produced by Byron Gallimore, Kristian Bush, and Jennifer Nettles
Mercury Nashville

That Lonesome Song
Jamey Johnson
Produced by The Kent Hardly Playboys
Mercury Records

Song of the Year (Award goes to Songwriter(s)

“Chicken Fried”
Zac Brown/Wyatt Durrette

“I Told You So”
Randy Travis

“In Color”
Jamey Johnson/Lee Thomas Miller/James Otto

“People Are Crazy”
Bobby Braddock/Troy Jones

“Then”
Brad Paisley/Chris DuBois/Ashley Gorley

Musical Event of the Year (Award goes to each Artist)

“Cowgirls Don’t Cry”
Brooks & Dunn featuring Reba McEntire
Arista Nashville

“Down The Road”
Kenny Chesney (with Mac McAnally)
Blue Chair Records, LLC & BNA Records

“Everything But Quits”
Lee Ann Womack (duet with George Strait)
MCA Nashville

“I Told You So”
Carrie Underwood featuring Randy Travis
19 Recordings/Arista Nashville

“Old Enough”
The Raconteurs featuring Ricky Skaggs and Ashley Monroe
Third Man Records/Warner Bros. Records

Music Video of the Year (Award goes to Artist and Director)

“Boots On”
Randy Houser
Directed by Eric Welch

“Love Story”
Taylor Swift
Directed by Trey Fanjoy

“People Are Crazy”
Billy Currington
Directed by The Brads

“Start A Band”
Brad Paisley (with Keith Urban)
Directed by Jim Shea

“Troubadour”
George Strait
Directed by Trey Fanjoy

Musician of the Year

Eddie Bayers– Drums
Paul Franklin – Steel Guitar
Dann Huff – Guitar
Brent Mason – Guitar
Mac McAnally – Guitar