American Country Awards 2011 Nominees Announced

The nominations for the second annual American Country Awards were announced on Wednesday, with Jason Aldean and the Zac Brown Band leading the way with eight nods each. The Dec. 5 FOX broadcast honors country artists in traditional categories like Artist of the Year, but also unconventional categories like Touring Headline Act of the Year.

Trace Adkins and Kristen Chenoweth will host this year’s ACAs. Nominees are decided using a more scientific method than the CMA or ACM Awards — a combination of record and single sales, video and radio airplay and touring information gets an artist a nod. Thompson Square scored seven nominations, while the Band Perry and Taylor Swift each received six.

No performers or presenters have been announced yet, but last year’s inaugural broadcast featured many of the stars that other award shows offer. Fans can vote for their favorite artists once each day until Nov. 11 at the ACA website starting October 13. The Artist of the Year category is open until Dec. 2.

Artist of the Year

Jason Aldean

Kenny Chesney

Lady Antebellum

Taylor Swift

Zac Brown Band

Artist of the Year: Male

Jason Aldean

Luke Bryan

Kenny Chesney

Brad Paisley

Blake Shelton

Artist of the Year: Female

Sara Evans

Alison Krauss

Miranda Lambert

Taylor Swift

Carrie Underwood

Artist of the Year: Duo or Group

The Band Perry

Lady Antebellum

Rascal Flatts

Sugarland

Zac Brown Band

Artist of the Year: Breakthrough Artist

Eric Church

Eli Young Band

Justin Moore

Jake Owen

Chris Young

Artist of the Year: New Artist

The Band Perry

Scotty McCreery

Jerrod Niemann

Pistol Annies

Thompson Square

Album of the Year

Jason Aldean, ‘My Kinda Party’

Kenny Chesney, ‘Hemingway’s Whiskey’

Brad Paisley, ‘This Is Country Music’

Taylor Swift, ‘Speak Now’

Keith Urban, ‘Get Closer’

Zac Brown Band, ‘You Get What You Give’

Single of the Year

Billy Currington, ‘Let Me Down Easy’

Tim McGraw, ‘Felt Good On My Lips’

Thompson Square, ‘Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not’

Chris Young, ‘Voices’

Zac Brown Band Feat. Alan Jackson, ‘As She’s Walking Away’

Single of the Year: Male

Jason Aldean, ‘My Kinda Party’

Luke Bryan, ‘Someone Else Calling You Baby’

Billy Currington, ‘Let Me Down Easy’

Tim McGraw, ‘Felt Good On My Lips’

Chris Young, ‘Voices’

Single of the Year: Female

Sara Evans, ‘A Little Bit Stronger’

Miranda Lambert, ‘Heart Like Mine’

Reba McEntire, ‘Turn On The Radio’

Taylor Swift, ‘Mean’

Carrie Underwood, ‘Mama’s Song’

Single of the Year: Duo or Group

The Band Perry, ‘You Lie’

Rascal Flatts, ‘Why Wait’

Sugarland, ‘Stuck Like Glue’

Thompson Square, ‘Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not’

Zac Brown Band, ‘Colder Weather’

Single of the Year: New Artist

The Band Perry, ‘You Lie’

Craig Campbell, ‘Family Man’

The JaneDear Girls, ‘Wildflower’

Jerrod Niemann, ‘What Do You Want’

Thompson Square, ‘Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not’

Single of the Year: Vocal Collaboration

Jason Aldean Feat. Kelly Clarkson, ‘Don’t You Wanna Stay’

Kenny Chesney Feat. Grace Potter, ‘You and Tequila’

Brad Paisley Feat. Alabama, ‘Old Alabama’

Zac Brown Band Feat. Jimmy Buffet, ‘Knee Deep’

Zac Brown Band Feat. Alan Jackson, ‘As She’s Walking Away’

Touring Headline Act of the Year

Jason Aldean

Kenny Chesney

Toby Keith

Tim McGraw

Brad Paisley

Rascal Flatts

George Strait

Taylor Swift

Carrie Underwood

Keith Urban

Music Video of the Year

Sara Evans, ‘A Little Bit Stronger’

Jerrod Niemann, ‘What Do You Want’

Blake Shelton, ‘Who Are you When I’m Not Looking’

Thompson Square, ‘Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not’

Josh Turner, ‘I Wouldn’t Be A Man’

Music Video: Male

Jason Aldean, ‘My Kinda Party’

Jerrod Niemann, ‘What Do You Want’

Blake Shelton, ‘Who Are You When I’m Not Looking’

Josh Turner, ‘I Wouldn’t Be A Man’

Keith Urban, ‘Put You In A Song’

Music Video: Female

Sara Evans, ‘A Little Bit Stronger’

Reba McEntire, ‘Turn On The Radio’

Ashton Shepherd, ‘Look It Up’

Taylor Swift, ‘Back To December’

Carrie Underwood, ‘Mama’s Song’

Music Video: Duo, Group or Collaboration

Jason Aldean Feat. Kelly Clarkson, ‘Don’t You Wanna Stay’

The Band Perry, ‘You Lie’

Lady Antebellum, ‘Hello World’

Thompson Square, ‘Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not’

Zac Brown Band with Alan Jackson, ‘As She’s Walking Away’

Music Video: New Artist

The Band Perry, ‘You Lie’

Craig Campbell, ‘Family Man’

Brett Eldredge, ‘Raymond’

Jerrod Niemann, ‘What Do You Want’

Thompson Square, ‘Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not’