NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED FOR THE "48th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC(R) AWARDS," COUNTRY MUSIC'S PARTY OF THE YEAR(R), TO BE BROADCAST LIVE FROM THE MGM GRAND IN LAS VEGAS SUNDAY, APRIL 7 ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK

Eric Church Leads with 7 Nominations; Hunter Hayes Earns 6 Nominations; Miranda Lambert and Taylor Swift Each Receive 5 Nominations; Luke Bryan, Kacey Musgraves and Little Big Town Each Receive 4 Nominations; Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, Eli Young Band And Florida Georgia Line Each Receive 3 Nominations

Nominations were announced this morning for the 48th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, a star-studded event honoring country music's best and introducing the industry's hottest emerging talent. Produced for television by dick clark productions, the ACM Awards will be broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 7 (8:00-11:00 PM, live ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network.

Nominees were revealed online via the second annual ACM digital press conference this morning on the Academy's Facebook and Twitter pages. Iconic singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow, The Band Perry, 2 BROKE GIRLS star Beth Behrs, Little Big Town, Scotty McCreery, Ryan Seacrest, the ladies of THE TALK, and "Entertainment Tonight" co-anchors Nancy O'Dell and Rob Marciano all announced batches of nominations in video postings during the approximately 35-minute online event, which culminated in music fans announcing the nominees for the Academy's biggest prize, Entertainer of the Year: Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton and Taylor Swift. For the second year, fans were invited to submit videos naming their favorite artist in this category.

As previously announced, Blake Shelton will join forces with Luke Bryan to host the 48TH ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS. This year's show will mark reigning ACM Male Vocalist of the Year Shelton's third consecutive turn hosting the Awards and Bryan's first time hosting a LIVE televised event.

For the sixth year, fans will select the winner of the Academy's most prestigious honor, Entertainer of the Year, and for the fifth year, the New Artist of the Year category will also be opened up to fan voting. Brantley Gilbert, Jana Kramer and Florida Georgia Line have been named nominees for this year's ACM New Artist of the Year Award Presented by Kohl's Department Stores. They were chosen by fans as nominees for the New Artist of the Year Award via fan-voting at GACtv.com, as they were previously the nominees for New Male Vocalist of the Year, New Female Vocalist of the Year and New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year, respectively. Fans elected them winners in those categories as announced today by the Academy of Country Music, since winners of those categories go on to compete for New Artist of the Year. The winners of Entertainer of the Year and New Artist of the Year will be announced live during the 48TH ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS.

Eric Church leads with seven nominations, including Male Vocalist of the Year and his second consecutive nods for Album of the Year and Video of the Year. He is twice nominated for Song of the Year for "Springsteen," as both artist and composer. Church also earned nominations for Single of the Year for "Springsteen" and for Vocal Event of the Year for "The Only Way I Know" with Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan.

Hunter Hayes received six nominations, including New Male Vocalist of the Year and Video of the Year for "Wanted." He is also twice nominated in the Song of the Year category as the artist and composer, as well as in the Single Record of the Year category as the artist and producer for "Wanted."

Miranda Lambert earned five nominations, including her second nomination for Entertainer of the Year and seventh consecutive nod for Female Vocalist of the Year. In addition, Lambert was nominated for Single Record of the Year and Song of the Year for "Over You." Lambert is the reigning ACM Female Vocalist of the Year.

Reigning Entertainer of the Year Taylor Swift received five nominations, including her fourth consecutive nod for Entertainer of the Year. If Swift wins Entertainer of the Year, this will be her third consecutive win in that category. Swift is nominated for the sixth time for Female Vocalist of the Year and for the fourth time for Video of the Year for "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together." She also received a double nomination for Album of the Year for Red as the artist and producer.

Luke Bryan received four nominations, including his first-ever Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year nominations. He also received nominations for Album of the Year for Tailgates & Tanlines and Vocal Event of the Year for "The Only Way I Know" with Jason Aldean and Eric Church.

First-time ACM nominee Kacey Musgraves is nominated for four awards, including Female Vocalist of the Year, New Female Vocalist of the Year and twice for Video of the Year for "Merry Go 'Round" as both artist and producer.

Little Big Town leads group nominations with four nods, including their seventh nomination for Vocal Group of the Year. They are also nominated for Album of the Year, Single Record of the Year and Video of the Year for "Tornado."

Jason Aldean is nominated for three awards, including his third consecutive nods for Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year. He is nominated for Vocal Event of the Year for "The Only Way I Know" with Luke Bryan and Eric Church.

Reigning Male Vocalist of the Year Blake Shelton is nominated for three awards, including his third consecutive nomination for Male Vocalist of the Year and second nod for Entertainer of the Year. Shelton also received a nomination for Song of the Year as composer for "Over You" with Miranda Lambert.

Eli Young Band earned three nominations, including their second consecutive nomination for Vocal Group of the Year. They also received nominations for "Even If It Breaks Your Heart" in the Single Record of the Year and Song of the Year categories.

Florida Georgia Line received nominations for three awards, including Duo of the Year, New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year and New Artist of the Year. This is Florida Georgia Line's first year to be nominated.

The Academy of Country Music's professional membership select the nominees and winners of the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, and select the final top five nominees of the Entertainer of the Year category. New Artist of the Year final nominees were selected by a combined vote of the fans and professional members. Presenters and performers who will appear at the ceremony will be announced at a later date.

Fan voting for New Artist of the Year and Entertainer of the Year begins on March 25 at 3:00 PM, ET/12:00 PM, PT at www.VoteACM.com. Fan voting for New Artist of the Year will close at 5:00 PM, PT on April 7 (before the LIVE show starts) and fan voting for Entertainer of the Year will close during the third hour of the LIVE broadcast.

Following is the list of final nominees. Winners in each of the following categories, except where noted, will be presented with an ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARD during the live television broadcast. The complete list of categories and nominees can be seen at www.ACMcountry.com.

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
· Jason Aldean
· Luke Bryan
· Miranda Lambert
· Blake Shelton
· Taylor Swift

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
· Jason Aldean
· Luke Bryan
· Eric Church
· Toby Keith
· Blake Shelton

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
· Miranda Lambert
· Martina McBride
· Kacey Musgraves
· Taylor Swift
· Carrie Underwood

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
· Big & Rich
· Florida Georgia Line
· Love and Theft
· Sugarland
· Thompson Square

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
· The Band Perry
· Eli Young Band
· Lady Antebellum
· Little Big Town
· Zac Brown Band

NEW MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
· Lee Brice
· Brantley Gilbert
· Hunter Hayes

NEW FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
· Jana Kramer
· Kacey Musgraves
· Sunny Sweeney

NEW VOCAL DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
· Florida Georgia Line
· Love and Theft
· Thompson Square

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR [Winners of New Male, New Female & New Vocal Duo or Group OTY]
· Florida Georgia Line
· Brantley Gilbert
· Jana Kramer

ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
· Blown Away - Carrie Underwood (19/Arista Nashville) Produced by: Mark Bright
· Chief - Eric Church (EMI-Nashville) Produced by: Jay Joyce
· Red - Taylor Swift (Big Machine Records) Produced by: Jeff Bhasker, Nathan Chapman, Dann Huff, Jacknife Lee, Max Martin, Shellback, Taylor Swift, Butch Walker, Dan Wilson
· Tailgates & Tanlines - Luke Bryan (Capitol Nashville) Produced by: Mark Bright, Jeff Stevens
· Tornado - Little Big Town (Capitol Nashville) Produced by: Jay Joyce

SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
· Even If It Breaks Your Heart - Eli Young Band (Republic Nashville) Produced by: Mike Wrucke
· Over You - Miranda Lambert (RCA) Produced by: Chuck Ainlay, Frank Liddell, Glenn Worf
· Pontoon - Little Big Town (Capitol Nashville) Produced by: Jay Joyce
· Springsteen - Eric Church (EMI-Nashville) Produced by: Jay Joyce
· Wanted - Hunter Hayes (Atlantic/WMN) Produced by: Hunter Hayes, Dann Huff

SONG OF THE YEAR [Award to Composer(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
· A Woman Like You - Lee Brice Composers: Phil Barton, Johnny Bulford, Jon Stone Publishers: 3JB Music (BMI), Adios Pantalones (SESAC), Hears That Skyline Music (SESAC), Sixteen Stars Music (BMI), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI)
· Even If It Breaks Your Heart - Eli Young Band Composers: Will Hoge, Eric Paslay Publishers: Cal IV Songs (ASCAP), Will Hoge Music (BMI)
· Over You - Miranda Lambert Composers: Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton Publishers: Pink Dog Publishing (BMI), Sony ATV/Tree Publishing (BMI)
· Springsteen - Eric Church Composers: Eric Church, Jeff Hyde, Ryan Tyndell Publishers: Bug Music (BMI), Ole Purple Cape Music (BMI), Sinnerlina (BMI), Sony ATV/Tree Publishing (BMI)
· Wanted - Hunter Hayes Composers: Hunter Hayes, Troy Verges Publishers: Happy Little Man Publishing (BMI), Songs From The Engine Room (BMI), Songs Of Universal Inc. (BMI)

VIDEO OF THE YEAR [Award to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)] *Off Camera Award
· Creepin' - Eric Church Producer: Iris Baker Director: Peter Zavadil
· Merry Go 'Round - Kacey Musgraves Producer: Perry Bean, Kacey Musgraves Director: Perry Bean
· Tornado - Little Big Town Producer: Iris Baker Director: Shane Drake
· Wanted - Hunter Hayes Producer: Stephanie Reeves, Eric Williams Director: Traci Goudie, Patrick Hubik
· We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together - Taylor Swift Producer: John Nguyen Director: Declan Whitebloom
· The Wind - Zac Brown Band Producer: Ben Kalina Director: Mike Judge

VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company] *Off Camera Award
· Don't Rush - Kelly Clarkson Featuring Vince Gill (19/RCA/Columbia Nashville) Produced by: Dann Huff
· Easy - Rascal Flatts Featuring Natasha Bedingfield (Big Machine Records) Produced by: Dann Huff, Brian Kennedy, Rascal Flatts
· Feel Like A Rock Star - Kenny Chesney (Duet With Tim McGraw) (Blue Chair/BNA) Produced by: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney
· Let It Rain - David Nail Featuring Sarah Buxton (MCA Nashville) Produced by: Chuck Ainlay, Frank Liddell
· The Only Way I Know - Jason Aldean With Luke Bryan & Eric Church (Broken Bow) Produced by: Michael Knox

IMPORTANT NOTE: Awards counts for artists reflect categories in which they have been recognized as individuals or as part of their duo or group. In some cases, an artist may receive more than one nomination which factors into their official count. For example, Eric Church received two nominations in the Song of the Year category - one each as artist and composer - because that category recognizes both.

In addition, the Song of the Year category recognizes the artist, composer and publishing company as a nominee but does not recognize an individual as owner or partial owner of the publishing company.

Award recipients in each category are noted above parenthetically in the Album of the Year, Single Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Video of the Year and Vocal Event of the Year.

The 48th ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS is dedicated to honoring and showcasing the biggest names and emerging talent in the country music industry. The show is produced for television by dick clark productions. Orly Adelson and R.A. Clark are executive producers, Barry Adelman is producer and Bob Bardo is the executive in charge of production. Bob Romeo is executive producer for the Academy of Country Music.

RATING: To Be Announced