ENCINO, Calif., Feb. 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Nominations were announced today for the 48^th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS­, a star-studded event honoring country music's best and introducing the industry's hottest emerging talent. Produced for television by dick clark productions, the ACM Awards will be broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 7^th, 2013 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.

Nominees were revealed online via the second annual ACM digital press conference this morning on the Academy's Facebook and Twitter pages. Iconic singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow, The Band Perry, 2 Broke Girls star Beth Behrs, Little Big Town, Scotty McCreery, Ryan Seacrest, The Talk's Julie Chen, Sarah Gilbert, Sharon Osbourne, Aisha Tyler, and Sheryl Underwood, plus Entertainment Tonight co-anchors Nancy O'Dell and Rob Marciano all announced batches of nominations in video postings during the approximately 35 minute online event, which culminated in music fans announcing the nominees for the Academy's biggest prize, Entertainer of the Year: Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton and Taylor Swift. For the second year, fans were invited to submit videos naming their favorite artist in this category. 

As nominations were announced via the ACM social media channels, The Band Perry continued the interaction as they took over the Music On Facebook page at www.facebook.com/musicians.  Over a million Music On Facebook fans, as well as any visitors to the page, were able to watch The Band Perry simultaneously update as the Academy of Country Music posted the nominations.

As previously announced, Blake Shelton will join forces with Luke Bryan to host the 48^th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. This year's show will mark reigning ACM Male Vocalist of the Year Shelton's third consecutive turn hosting the Awards and Bryan's first time hosting a LIVE televised event.

For the sixth year, fans will help select the winner of the Academy's most prestigious honor, Entertainer of the Year, and for the fifth year, the New Artist of the Year category will also be opened up to fan voting. Brantley Gilbert, Jana Kramer and Florida Georgia Line are the nominees for this year's ACM New Artist of the Year Presented by Kohl's Department Stores.  In the first round of fan voting at GACtv.com, fans named Gilbert, Kramer and Florida Georgia Line for ACM New Male Vocalist of the Year, ACM New Female Vocalist of the Year and ACM New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year, respectively. The winners of those categories go on to compete for overall ACM New Artist of the Year Presented by Kohl's. The winners of Entertainer of the Year and New Artist of the Year will be announced live during the 48^th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. 

Eric Church leads with seven nominations, including Male Vocalist of the Year and his second consecutive nod for Album of the Year and Video of the Year. He is twice nominated for Song of the Year for "Springsteen," as both artist and composer. Church also earned nominations for Single of the Year for "Springsteen" and for Vocal Event of the Year for "The Only Way I Know" with Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan.

Hunter Hayes received six nominations, including New Male Vocalist of the Year and Video of the Year for "Wanted." He is also twice nominated in the Song of the Year category as the artist and composer, as well as in the Single Record of the Year category as the artist and producer for "Wanted."

Miranda Lambert earned five nominations, including her second nomination for Entertainer of the Year and seventh consecutive nod for Female Vocalist of the Year. In addition, Lambert was nominated for Single Record of the Year and twice nominated for Song of the Year, as artist and composer, for "Over You." Lambert is the reigning ACM Female Vocalist of the Year.

Reigning Entertainer of the Year, Taylor Swift received five nominations, including her fourth consecutive nod for Entertainer of the Year.  If Swift wins Entertainer of the Year, this will be her third consecutive win in that category. Swift is nominated for the sixth time for Female Vocalist of the Year and for the fourth time for Video of the Year for "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together." She also received a double nomination for Album of the Year for Red as the artist and producer.

Luke Bryan received four nominations, including his first ever Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year nominations. He also received nominations for Album of the Year for tailgates & tanlines and Vocal Event of the Year for "The Only Way I Know" with Jason Aldean and Eric Church.

First-time ACM nominee, Kacey Musgraves is nominated for four awards including Female Vocalist of the Year, New Female Vocalist of the Year and twice for Video of the Year for "Merry Go 'Round" as both artist and producer.

Little Big Town leads group nominations with four nods, including their seventh nomination for Vocal Group of the Year. They are also nominated for Album of the Year, Single Record of the Year for "Pontoon" and Video of the Year for "Tornado."

Jason Aldean is nominated for three awards, including his third consecutive nod for Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year. He is nominated for Vocal Event of the Year for "The Only Way I Know" with Luke Bryan and Eric Church.

Reigning Male Vocalist of the Year, Blake Shelton is nominated for three awards, including his third consecutive nomination for Male Vocalist of the Year and second nod for Entertainer of the Year. Shelton also received a nomination for Song of the Year as composer for "Over You" with Miranda Lambert.

Eli Young Band earned three nominations, including their second consecutive nomination for Vocal Group of the Year. They also received nominations for "Even If It Breaks Your Heart" in the Single Record of the Year and Song of the Year categories.

Florida Georgia Line received nominations for three awards, including Vocal Duo of the Year, New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year and New Artist of the Year. This is Florida Georgia Line's first year to be nominated.

The Academy of Country Music's professional membership selects the nominees and winners of the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, and selects the final top five nominees of the Entertainer of the Year category. New Artist of the Year final nominees were selected by a combined vote of the fans and professional members. Presenters and performers who will appear at the ceremony will be announced at a later date.

Fan voting for New Artist of the Year and Entertainer of the Year begins on March 25, 2013 at 3:00 PM ET/12noon PT at VoteACM.com. Fan voting for New Artist of the Year will close at 5 p.m. PT on April 7, 2013 (before the LIVE show starts) and fan voting for Entertainer of the Year will close during the third hour of the LIVE broadcast.

Following is the list of final nominees. Winners in each of the categories, except where noted, will be presented with an ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARD during the live television broadcast:

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

• Jason Aldean
• Luke Bryan
• Miranda Lambert
• Blake Shelton
• Taylor Swift

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

• Jason Aldean
• Luke Bryan
• Eric Church
• Toby Keith
• Blake Shelton

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

• Miranda Lambert
• Martina McBride
• Kacey Musgraves
• Taylor Swift
• Carrie Underwood

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR

• Big & Rich
• Florida Georgia Line
• Love and Theft
• Sugarland
• Thompson Square

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR

• The Band Perry
• Eli Young Band
• Lady Antebellum
• Little Big Town
• Zac Brown Band

NEW MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

• Lee Brice
• Brantley Gilbert
• Hunter Hayes

NEW FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

• Jana Kramer
• Kacey Musgraves
• Sunny Sweeney

NEW VOCAL DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR

• Florida Georgia Line
• Love and Theft
• Thompson Square

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY KOHL'S DEPARTMENT STORES  [Winners of New Male, New Female & New Vocal Duo or Group  Of The Year]

• Florida Georgia Line
• Brantley Gilbert
• Jana Kramer

ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]

• Blown Away – Carrie Underwood (19/Arista Nashville)
  Produced by: Mark Bright
  
• Chief – Eric Church (EMI-Nashville)
  Produced by:  Jay Joyce
  
• Red – Taylor Swift (Big Machine Records)
  Produced by: Jeff Bhasker, Nathan Chapman, Dann Huff, Jacknife Lee, Max Martin, Shellback, Taylor Swift, Butch Walker, Dan Wilson
  
• tailgates & tanlines – Luke Bryan (Capitol Nashville)
  Produced by: Mark Bright, Jeff Stevens
  
• Tornado – Little Big Town (Capitol Nashville)
  Produced by: Jay Joyce

SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]

• Even If It Breaks Your Heart – Eli Young Band (Republic Nashville)
  Produced by: Mike Wrucke
  
• Over You – Miranda Lambert (RCA)
  Produced by: Chuck Ainlay, Frank Liddell, Glenn Worf
  
• Pontoon – Little Big Town (Capitol Nashville)
  Produced by: Jay Joyce
  
• Springsteen – Eric Church (EMI-Nashville)
  Produced by: Jay Joyce
  
• Wanted – Hunter Hayes (Atlantic/WMN)
  Produced by: Hunter Hayes, Dann Huff

SONG OF THE YEAR [Award to Composer(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]

• A Woman Like You – Lee Brice
  Composers: Phil Barton, Johnny Bulford, Jon Stone
  Publishers: 3JB Music (BMI), Adios Pantalones (SESAC), Hears That Skyline Music (SESAC), Sixteen Stars Music (BMI), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI)
  
• Even If It Breaks Your Heart – Eli Young Band
  Composers: Will Hoge, Eric Paslay
  Publishers: Cal IV Songs (ASCAP), Will Hoge Music (BMI)
  
• Over You – Miranda Lambert
  Composers: Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton
  Publishers:  Pink Dog Publishing (BMI), Sony ATV/Tree Publishing (BMI)
  
• Springsteen – Eric Church
  Composers: Eric Church, Jeff Hyde, Ryan Tyndell
  Publishers: Bug Music (BMI), Ole Purple Cape Music (BMI), Sinnerlina (BMI), Sony ATV/Tree Publishing (BMI)
  
• Wanted – Hunter Hayes
  Composers: Hunter Hayes, Troy Verges
  Publishers:  Happy Little Man Publishing (BMI), Songs From The Engine Room (BMI), Songs Of Universal Inc. (BMI)

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR *(Off Camera Award)

• Rodney Clawson
• Dallas Davidson
• Josh Kear
• Luke Laird
• Shane McAnally

VIDEO OF THE YEAR [Award to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)] *(Off Camera Award) [TIE]

• Creepin' – Eric Church
  Producer: Iris Baker
  Director: Peter Zavadil
  
• Merry Go 'Round – Kacey Musgraves
  Producers: Perry Bean, Kacey Musgraves
  Director: Perry Bean
  
• Tornado – Little Big Town
  Producer: Iris Baker
  Director: Shane Drake
  
• Wanted – Hunter Hayes
  Producers: Stephanie Reeves, Eric Williams
  Directors: Traci Goudie, Patrick Hubik
  
• We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together – Taylor Swift
  Producer: John Nguyen
  Director:  Declan Whitebloom
  
• The Wind – Zac Brown Band
  Producer: Ben Kalina
  Director:  Mike Judge

VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company] *(Off Camera Award)

• Don't Rush – Kelly Clarkson Featuring Vince Gill (19/RCA/Columbia Nashville)
  Produced by: Dann Huff
  
• Easy – Rascal Flatts Featuring Natasha Bedingfield (Big Machine Records)
  Produced by: Dann Huff, Brian Kennedy, Rascal Flatts
  
• Feel Like A Rock Star – Kenny Chesney (Duet With Tim McGraw) (Blue Chair/BNA) Produced by: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney
  
• Let It Rain – David Nail  Featuring Sarah Buxton (MCA Nashville)
  Produced by:  Chuck Ainlay, Frank Liddell
  
• The Only Way I Know – Jason Aldean With Luke Bryan & Eric Church (Broken Bow)
  Produced by:  Michael Knox

OFF CAMERA AWARDS – The following off-camera awards will be presented during the annual ACM Honors event held in Nashville this fall.

INDUSTRY AWARDS:

CASINO OF THE YEAR

• Agua Caliente Casino - Rancho Mirage, CA
• Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - Tulsa, OK
• Northern Quest Casino - Airway Heights, WA
• Red Rock Casino & Resort - Las Vegas, NV
• WinStar World Casino - Thackerville, OK

NIGHTCLUB OF THE YEAR

• Buck Owens' Crystal Palace - Bakersfield, CA
• Joe's Bar - Chicago, IL
• The Dusty Armadillo - Rootstown, OH
• Toby Keith's I Love This Bar and Grill - Denver, CO
• Wild Bills - Duluth, GA

VENUE OF THE YEAR

• Blossom Music Center - Cuyahoga Falls, OH
• BOK Center - Tulsa, OK
• Klipsch Music Center - Noblesville, IN
• Meadowbrook - Gilford, NH
• Ryman Auditorium - Nashville, TN

DON ROMEO TALENT BUYER OF THE YEAR

• Billy Brill - Billy Alan Productions
• Jerry Hufford - Buck Owens' Crystal Palace
• Gary Osier - Gary Osier Presents
• Pat Powelson - Jayson Promotions, Inc.
• Fran Romeo - Romeo Entertainment Group

PROMOTER OF THE YEAR

• Brad Garrett - Police Productions
• Darin Lashinsky - NS2
• Debra Rathwell - AEG Live
• Glenn Smith - Glenn Smith Presents
• Ed Warm - Joe's Bar

MUSICIAN/BANDLEADER/INSTRUMENTALIST (MBI) AWARDS:

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

• Brett Beavers
• Buddy Cannon
• Dann Huff
• Jay Joyce
• Michael Knox

AUDIO ENGINEER OF THE YEAR

• Chuck Ainlay
• Derek Bason
• Mills Logan
• Steve Marcantonio
• F. Reid Shippen

BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR

• Dennis Crouch
• Kevin "Swine" Grantt
• Larry Paxton
• Jimmie Lee Sloas
• Glenn Worf

PERCUSSIONIST/DRUMMER OF THE YEAR

• Eddie Bayers
• Matt Chamberlain
• Chad Cromwell
• Chris McHugh
• Greg Morrow

FIDDLE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

• Glen Duncan
• Larry Franklin
• Aubrey Haynie
• Hank Singer
• Joe Spivey

GUITARIST OF THE YEAR

• Tom Bukovac
• J.T. Corenflos
• Jay Joyce
• Rob McNelley
• Brent Mason

PIANO/KEYBOARD PLAYER OF THE YEAR

• John Jarvis
• Charlie Judge
• Gordon Mote
• Steve Nathan
• Michael Rojas

SPECIALTY INSTRUMENT(S) PLAYER OF THE YEAR

• Eric Darken
• Glen Duncan
• Jim Hoke
• Bryan Sutton
• Ilya Toshinsky

STEEL GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR

• Dan Dugmore
• Mike Johnson
• Greg Leisz
• Russ Pahl
• Scotty Sanders

RADIO AWARDS – The following radio awards will be presented during the annual Radio Winners event held the day prior to the ACM Awards telecast, on April 6^th in Las Vegas.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  Awards counts for artists reflect categories in which they have been recognized as individuals or as part of their duo or group. In some cases, an artist may receive more than one nomination which factors into their official count. For example, Eric Church received two nominations in the Song of the Year category—one each as artist and composer—because that category recognizes both.

In addition, the Song of the Year category recognizes the artist, composer and publishing company as a nominee but does not recognize an individual as owner or partial owner of the publishing company. 

Award recipients in each category are noted above parenthetically in the Album of the Year, Single Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Video of the Year and Vocal Event of the Year.

About the Academy of Country Music Awards
The 48^th Academy of Country Music Awards is dedicated to honoring and showcasing the biggest names and emerging talent in the country music industry.  The show is produced for television by dick clark productions and will be broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Sunday, April 7, 2013 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.  Allen Shapiro, Orly Adelson and R.A. Clark are executive producers.  Barry Adelman is producer, and Bob Bardo is the executive in charge of production. Bob Romeo is executive producer for the Academy of Country Music. 

Press credential applications to cover the awards in Las Vegas are available from the Media Center at www.ACMcountry.com. 

SOURCE Academy of Country Music