Underwood's "Carnival Ride," Chesney's "Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates," and Jackson's "Good Time" were nominated for album of the year along with George Strait's "Troubadour" and Brooks & Dunn's "Cowboy Town."
Other CMA nominees included Taylor Swift and Rascal Flatts, who were on hand to reveal the some of nominees during a live announcement on Wednesday's ABC's "Good Morning America." The 18-year-old Swift, who last year won CMA's Horizon award for upcoming acts, giggled excitedly when her name was read as a nominee for female vocalist of the year, a category that included Alison Krauss, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride and Underwood.
"I can't believe it!" Swift said. "I'm having a really good morning."
Nominees for male vocalist of the year included Chesney, Jackson, Strait, Keith Urban, and Brad Paisley.
Rascal Flatts was nominated for vocal group of the year. Other nominees in that category included the Eagles, Emerson Drive, Lady Antebellum, and Little Big Town.
Chesney was also nominated for entertainer for the year. The category also included Strait, Paisley, Sugarland and Keith Urban.
Additional nominees were to be announced later Wednesday morning in Nashville on the CMT network. The CMA awards are set for Nov. 12, and will air on ABC.
The nominees are:
Entertainer of the Year
· Kenny Chesney
· Brad Paisley
· George Strait
· Sugarland
· Keith Urban
Female Vocalist of the Year
· Alison Krauss
· Miranda Lambert
· Martina McBride
· Taylor Swift
· Carrie Underwood
Male Vocalist of the Year
· Kenny Chesney
· Alan Jackson
· Brad Paisley
· George Strait
· Keith Urban
New Artist of the Year
· Jason Aldean
· Rodney Atkins
· Lady Antebellum
· James Otto
· Kellie Pickler
Vocal Group of the Year
· Eagles
· Emerson Drive
· Lady Antebellum
· Little Big Town
· Rascal Flatts
Vocal Duo of the Year
· Big & Rich
· Brooks & Dunn
· Montgomery Gentry
· Sugarland
· The Wreckers
Single of the Year< (Award goes to Artist and Producer)
· "Don't Blink"
Kenny Chesney
Produced by Buddy Cannon and Kenny Chesney
BNA Records
· "Gunpowder & Lead"
Miranda Lambert
Produced by Frank Liddell and Mike Wrucke
Columbia Records
· "I Saw God Today"
George Strait
Produced by Tony Brown and George Strait
MCA Nashville
· "Stay"
Sugarland
Produced by Byron Gallimore, Kristian Bush and Jennifer Nettles
Mercury Nashville
· "You're Gonna Miss This"
Trace Adkins
Produced by Frank Rogers
Capitol Records Nashville
Album of the Year (Award goes to Artist and Producer)
· Carnival Ride
Carrie Underwood
Produced by Mark Bright
19 Records Limited/Arista Nashville
· Cowboy Town
Brooks & Dunn
Produced by Tony Brown, Ronnie Dunn and Kix Brooks
Arista Nashville
· Good Time
Alan Jackson
Produced by Keith Stegall
Arista Nashville
· Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates
Kenny Chesney
Produced by Cannon and Kenny Chesney
BNA Records
· Troubadour
George Strait
Produced by Tony Brown and George Strait
MCA Nashville
Song of the Year (Award goes to Songwriter and Primary Publisher)
· "Good Time"
Alan Jackson
EMI-April Music/Tri-Angels Music
· "I Saw God Today"
Rodney Clawson/Monty Criswell/Wade Kirby
Big Red Toe/Extremely Loud Music/Steel Wheels Music/Blind Mule Music
· "Letter To Me"
Brad Paisley
EMI-April Music/New Sea Gayle Music
· "Stay"
Jennifer Nettles
Jennifer Nettles Publishing
· "You're Gonna Miss This"
Ashley Gorley/Lee Thomas Miller
EMI Blackwood Music/New Songs of Sea Gayle/Noah's Little Boat Music/Songs of Combustion Music
Musical Event of the Year (Award to each Artist)
· Josh Turner featuring Trisha Yearwood
"Another Try"
MCA Nashville
· Reba McEntire and Kenny Chesney
"Every Other Weekend"
MCA Nashville
· Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
"Gone, Gone, Gone"
Rounder Records
· Sugarland featuring Little Big Town and Jake Owen
"Life In A Northern Town"
Mercury Nashville
· Kenny Chesney (duet with George Strait)
"Shiftwork"
BNA Records
Music Video of the Year (Award goes to Artist and Director)
· "Don't Blink"
Kenny Chesney
Directed by Shaun Silva
· "Good Time"
Alan Jackson
Directed by Trey Fanjoy
· "Stay"
Sugarland
Directed by Shaun Silva
· "Waitin' On A Woman"
Brad Paisley
Directed by Jim Shea
· "You're Gonna Miss This"
Trace Adkins
Directed by Peter Zavadil
Musician of the Year
· Jerry Douglas - Dobro
· Paul Franklin - Steel Guitar
· Dann Huff - Guitar Brent
· Mason - Guitar
· Mac McAnally - Guitar
