Miranda Lambert leads Academy of Country Music Awards with 8 nods; Dierks Bentley has 7

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Miranda Lambert is continuing her reign as contemporary country queen with eight nominations at this year’s Academy of Country Music Awards.

The ACMs announced Friday that Lambert is the top contender, including a nomination for entertainer of the year, pitting her against top-billing male stars Garth Brooks, Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean and Florida Georgia Line.

Lambert is also nominated for album of the year for “Platinum,” female vocalist of the year as well as vocal event and video of the year for “Somethin’ Bad’” with Carrie Underwood. “Automatic,” Lambert’s hit single, earned her a nomination for song of the year and two nominations for single record of the year since she also co-wrote the song.

The ACMs reflect next month’s Grammy Awards, where Lambert is nominated in all four country categories, including best country album.

The 31-year-old’s main competition at the ACMS — to be held April 19 at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas — is Dierks Bentley, who earned seven nominations, including male vocalist, album, single record, song, video and vocal event of the year.

Last year George Strait won entertainer of the year, but if Lambert takes the top honour home she will be the first woman to do so since Taylor Swift in 2012. Lambert has won female vocalist of the year for five consecutive years and is the current record holder in the category.

Chart-topping duo Florida Georgia Line earned five nominations, while Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney and Eric Church earned four apiece. Glen Campbell, who earned Oscar and Grammy nominations for “I’m Not Gonna Miss You” from the documentary, “Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me,” is up for video of the year for the song’s music video. The 78-year-old is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

Brandy Clark, who is nominated for two Grammys including best new artist, will compete at the ACMS for female vocalist of the year and song of the year since she co-wrote Kacey Musgraves’ “Follow Your Arrow,” a song about acceptance.

Musgraves, Aldean and Underwood are up for three awards each.

The ACMs are celebrating their 50th year, and Bryan and Blake Shelton will help bring the party to life as the show’s hosts. The show will air live on CBS.

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Online:

http://www.acmcountry.com/

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