BRAD PAISLEY will lead the charge at the 2009 Country Music Awards after landing six nominations.
Paisley – who will host the event with Carrie Underwood – scored the most nominations when they were announced on U.S. TV on Wednesday (9Sep09) and will compete in the best album, single, song, male vocalist and music video of the year categories.
The rocker is also up for the coveted Entertainer of the Year prize, competing for the title with Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, George Strait, and teen star Taylor Swift.
The 19 year old and Urban follow Paisley’s lead with four nominations of their own, tied with Zac Brown, Jamey Johnson and George Strait.
It’s Swift’s first year competing for the title of Entertainer of the Year. She will also compete against veteran stars Reba McEntire, Martina McBride, and fellow nominees Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood for Female Vocalist of the Year.
Facing off in the Male Vocalist of the Year category are Chesney, Paisley, Strait, Urban and New Artist of the Year nominee Darius Rucker.
Underwood also landed a nod in the Musical Event category for her collaboration with Randy Travis entitled I Told You So.
The 43rd Annual Country Music Awards ceremony will be broadcast live from Nashville, Tennessee on 11 November (09).