Miranda Lambert, one of country music's hottest entertainers, led the way on Tuesday with seven nominations for the 46th annual Academy of Country Music Awards, including her first Entertainer of the Year nod.
Lambert learned firsthand of her haul, reading out the list of nominees with Ronnie Dunn on "The Early Show" on CBS from the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville.
Reba McEntire and Blake Shelton will co-host the annual awards show, which will be broadcast live on CBS from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on April 3, at 8:00 p.m. ET.
As a teenager getting started on her music career in Texas, Lambert dreamed of one day capturing Entertainer of the Year honors. "Ten years later, here I am," the 27-year-old said in an interview with Reuters.
"I did get a sneak peak at a few of the categories so I knew my fiance Blake Shelton was nominated." Lambert said. "I didn't see the categories where I'm nominated so I really didn't know what was going to happen."
Dunn, of the former duo Brooks & Dunn, said of Lambert, "when you add authenticity to talent it's hard to beat."
Lambert earned Top Female Vocalist and Vocal Event with Sheryl Crow and Loretta Lynn for the single "Coal Miner's Daughter" from the album "Coal Miner's Daughter: A Tribute To Loretta Lynn."
Lambert was also nominated for Single Record of the Year and Song of the Year for her smash hit "The House That Built Me," which was written by Tom Douglas and Allen Shamblin. Lambert's tune "Only Prettier" was nominated for Video of the Year, as was "The House That Built Me."
CHESNEY, ZAC BROWN BAND
Kenny Chesney, who is one of the top live acts in music, was nominated for five awards, including Album of the Year for "Hemingway's Whiskey" and Single Record of the Year for "The Boys of Fall."
The native of East Tennessee also received nods as artist and producer. His video "The Boys of Fall" was nominated for Video of the Year.
Also receiving five nominations were newcomers the Zac Brown Band. They picked up nods for Top Vocal Group and Album of the Year. The band was also nominated for Song of the Year, Single Record of the Year and Vocal Event of the Year for "As She's Walking Away," featuring Alan Jackson.
Group leader Zac Brown picked up four additional individual nominations as the producer of their album "You Get What You Give," Single Record of the Year and Vocal Event of the Year for "As She's Walking Away." He is also up for a songwriter award for "As She's Walking Away."
The Band Perry received four nods, including Top Vocal Group and Top New Vocal Duo or Group. Additionally they were nominated for Single Record of the Year and Song of the Year for "If I Die Young."
Taylor Swift was nominated for four awards, including her second one for Entertainer of the Year. Should the singer win, it will be her first time to take home the trophy.
Swift is nominated as an artist and producer for Album of the Year for "Speak Now" and also earned a nomination for Top Female Vocalist.
Lady Antebellum pulled in three nods including Top Vocal Group. They were also nominated for Album of the Year as artists and producers for "Need You Now." The trio is the reigning ACM Top Vocal Group.
Lee Brice received his first nominations from the Academy this year, garnering nods for Song of the Year and as both an artist and producer for Single Record of the Year "Love Like Crazy."
Easton Corbin was also nominated for the first time, landing nominations for Top New Solo Vocalist and for Song of the Year and Single Record of the Year for "A Little More Country than That."
The Academy of Country Music allows fans to select the winners in three award categories: Entertainer of the Year, Top New Solo Vocalist and Top New Vocal Duo or Group. The winner of the latter two categories will compete for Top New Artist, also voted on by fans.
Online voting can be accessed at http://www.voteACM.com.