THE ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC NOMINEES

The nominations for The 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards were announced live via social networking yesterday morning through Facebook, and Kenny Chesney is the top nominee with nine nominations. The show will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on April 1 on CBS at 8 PM, ET.

The 2012 ACM nominees are:

Entertainer of the Year

Jason Aldean

Kenny Chesney

Brad Paisley

Blake Shelton

Taylor Swift

Male Vocalist of the Year

Jason Aldean

Kenny Chesney

Brad Paisley

Blake Shelton

Chris Young

Female Vocalist of the Year

Sara Evans

Miranda Lambert

Martina McBride

Taylor Swift

Carrie Underwood

Vocal Duo of the Year

Love and Theft

Montgomery Gentry

Steel Magnolia

Sugarland

Thompson Square

Vocal Group of the Year

The Band Perry

Eli Young Band

Lady Antebellum

Rascal Flatts

Zac Brown Band

Album of the Year

Chief – Eric Church (EMI-Nashville)

Four The Record – Miranda Lambert (RCA)

Hemingway's Whiskey – Kenny Chesney (BNA)

My Kinda Party – Jason Aldean (Broken Bow Records)

Own The Night – Lady Antebellum (Capitol Records Nashville)

Single Record of the Year

Crazy Girl – Eli Young Band (Republic Nashville)

Don't You Wanna Stay – Jason Aldean With Kelly Clarkson (Broken Bow Records)

Red Solo Cup – Toby Keith (Show Dog-Universal Music)

Tomorrow – Chris Young (RCA)

You And Tequila – Kenny Chesney Featuring Grace Potter (BNA)

Song of the Year

Crazy Girl – Eli Young Band

Composers: Lee Brice, Liz Rose

Home – Dierks Bentley

Composers: Brett Beavers, Dierks Bentley, Dan Wilson

Just A Kiss – Lady Antebellum

Composers: Dallas Davidson, Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott

Threaten Me With Heaven – Vince Gill

Composers: Amy Grant, Vince Gill, Dillon O'Brian, Will Owsley

You And Tequila – Kenny Chesney Featuring Grace Potter

Composers: Matraca Berg, Deana Carter

Video of the Year

Homeboy – Eric Church

Just A Kiss – Lady Antebellum

Mean – Taylor Swift

Red Solo Cup – Toby Keith

Tattoos On This Town – Jason Aldean

Vocal Event of the Year

Country Boy – Aaron Lewis Featuring George Jones & Charlie Daniels (R&J Records)

Don’t You Wanna Stay – Jason Aldean With Kelly Clarkson (Broken Bow Records)

Old Alabama – Brad Paisley Featuring Alabama (Arista Nashville)

Remind Me – Brad Paisley Duet With Carrie Underwood (Arista Nashville)

You And Tequila – Kenny Chesney Featuring Grace Potter (BNA)

CHESNEY TOPS THE ACM NOMINATIONS LIST

Kenny Chesney tops the ACM nominations list with nine total nominations for the 2012 Academy of Country Music Awards. It's the most nominations for any artist this year. Chesney's nominations include: "Entertainer of the Year," "Male Vocalist of the Year," "Album of the Year" for Hemingway's Whiskey (BNA), and "Single of the Year" for "You and Tequila," his duet with Grace Potter. Kenny has received nine ACM Awards to date, including four consecutive "Entertainer of the Year" awards.

The ACM announcement coincides with the news that the "Brothers of the Sun Tour" - with Chesney and Tim McGraw - has already sold over 500,000 tickets for what is one of 2012's biggest tours. The stadium-only tour will be the only cities and venues that Kenny plays in 2012.

The "Brothers of the Sun Tour" Dates:

Sat. June 2 - Tampa, FL - Raymond James Stadium

Sun. June 3 - Atlanta, GA - Georgia Dome

Sat. June 9 - Dallas, TX - Cowboys Stadium

Sun. June 10 - Kansas City, MO - Arrowhead Stadium

Sat. June 16 - Philadelphia, PA - Lincoln Financial Field

Sat. June 23 - Nashville, TN - LP Field

Sun. June 24 - Charlotte, NC - Bank of America Stadium

Sat. June 30 - Pittsburgh, PA - Heinz Field

Sun. July 1 - Cincinnati, OH - Paul Brown Stadium

Sat. July 7 - Chicago, IL - Soldier Field

Sun. July 8 - Minneapolis, MN - Target Field

Sat. July 14 - Anaheim, CA - Angel Stadium

Sat. July 21 - Denver, CO - Sports Authority Field at Mile High

Sat. July 28 - Indianapolis, IN - Lucas Oil Stadium

Sun. July 29 - Cleveland, OH - Cleveland Browns Stadium

Sat. August 11 - East Rutherford, NJ - MetLife Stadium

Sun. August 12 - Washington, DC - FedExField

Sat. August 18 - Detroit, MI - Ford Field

Fri. August 24 - Foxboro, MA - Gillette Stadium

Sat. August 25 - Foxboro, MA - Gillette Stadium

GARTH'S DREAM

In the aftermath of the Garth Brooks court case, in which he was awarded $1 million this week after suing a local Oklahoma hospital, The Chicago Sun-Times reports that some residents in the Yukon area - which is Garth's hometown - feel a bit stuck in the middle. Integris Canadian Valley Hospital, after all, has become a huge part of this Oklahoma City suburb. Integris is Oklahoma's largest health care company and employs about 9,000 people at its 16 hospitals and almost 100 affiliated clinics. While many of the town's residents do not plan on cutting ties with Integris care, Brooks has made his position quite clear as well. After the jury announced its verdict on Tuesday night, he said, "This is how I feel: One day, mom's name is going to go on the women's center right there where the hospital is, but that hospital won't be owned by Integris when it happens, I can tell you that. That's my dream." Brooks' name is displayed in his hometown on a water tower. The main road through town also is called Garth Brooks Boulevard.

RASCAL FLATTS HITS THE GROUND RUNNING

Rascal Flatts is still flying pretty high from their Opry induction last fall. The trio's Joe Don Rooney tells Press of Atlantic City, "That was the pinnacle of everything that happened to us. That was such a special way to finish last year and finish the past ten years. We were so blown away - it's something we wanted really badly from day one in 2000 when we first played the Opry." The induction followed a change in record companies, about which Joe Don says, "It's funny how change happens and affects you. Sometimes, change can be so awkward, you can't get your feet on the ground and get anything going. Change for us - we hit the ground running, with a newness and urgency that came along with it. We said, you know what? We have another ten years in us. Let's see what other lives we can touch. There were some new goals that were set forth for us. It inspired us to put the pedal to the metal." You can find Rascal Flatts on their "Thaw Out" tour, which will run through February 23.

IN THE BOTTOM BAY OF LADY A'S BUS

Gone are the single-minded days when it comes to Lady Antebellum; Charles Kelley is married, Hillary Scott recently got hitched, and Dave Haywood proposed to his girlfriend in December. Scott tells Country Weekly, "We're all happier. We've always had a really close friendship from the beginning, but I think we've seen each other grow. I'll speak for myself that I'm in a much happier place. We're excited to all be going through the same things quickly after the other, so it's really fun. Love is in the air." For Kelley, he is able to connect with his Lady A partners even better now. Charles says, "They can relate to me now. It's interesting. I was the first one to get married and it was very interesting coming onto a bus with two single people, so it's nice [that they are] going through the same thing and you know we're gonna figure out the next step when kids come, what that's going to be." He jokes, "We'll stick them in the bottom bay of the bus so you don't hear them when they cry." Hillary adds, "[We'll] make a really wicked nursery under there. The family's grown."

BRICE'S ACM NOD HAS HIM BEAMING

Lee Brice - who is nominated by the Academy of Country Music in the Song of the Year category for his tune, "Crazy Girl," recorded by Eli Young Band - is thrilled. Lee wrote the song with Liz Rose. Brice shares, "Liz Rose and I were just fortunate enough to be in the same room that magical day and wrote a magical song. Within a few hours, the song came together. I'm so honored to be acknowledged along with these other amazing writers." Brice also extends his congratulations to Eli Young Band for their ACM nomination for Single of the Year for "Crazy Girl" as well. Lee says, "I'm so happy for the Eli Young Band. They've worked so hard for so long, and they deserve all the success that's coming to them." The tune was Billboard's #1 country song for 2011.

CAMPBELL SINGS WITH SHELTON AND TBP ON THE GRAMMYS

Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient and five-time Grammy winner Glen Campbell, currently out on the road for his "Goodbye Tour," will join current Grammy nominees The Band Perry and Blake Shelton for a special performance on the 54th Annual Grammy Awards. Previously announced performers include: current Grammy nominees Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson, Taylor Swift, Coldplay and Rihanna, Foo Fighters, Bruno Mars, Paul McCartney and Nicki Minaj. Aldean, The Band Perry, Shelton and Minaj will perform on the telecast for the first time, while Swift, Clarkson, Coldplay, Foo Fighters, Mars, McCartney and Rihanna are returning to the Grammy stage. Hosted by two-time Grammy winner LL COOL J, the show will broadcast live on Sunday, February 12 at Staples Center in Los Angeles on CBS at 8 PM, ET.

TIDBITS

-- Happy birthday wishes going out today to Tracy Lawrence.

-- Look for Faith Hill and Carrie Underwood on Great Performances: Tony Bennett: Duets II on PBS.

-- Kellie Pickler will visit The Ellen DeGeneres Show today.

-- Country star and TV host Craig Morgan is excited to be the special guest this weekend on CMT's Southern Fried Flicks With Hazel Smith. The episode, which also features the film Overboard, premieres this Sunday night at 8 PM, ET.