Brad Paisley is the leader of the pack in ACM nominations with six nods this year, including Entertainer, Male Vocalist, Single, Song, Vocal Event and Video of the Year. Theboot.com had the nominations announced Wednesday at Nashville's Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Heidi Newfield was the second most-heard name at the press conference, as the former Trick Pony lead singer has five nominations: Single, Song and Video of the Year for her breakthrough solo hit, 'Johnny and June,' along with a Female Vocalist nod.

Kenny Chesney, Jamey Johnson and George Strait follow with four nominations apiece.  Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban each have three. Underwood is up for the ACM's biggest award, Entertainer of the Year, which rarely includes female nominees. Underwood is up against Chesney, Urban, Strait and Paisley for the honor.

For the first time ever, fans will vote for the three new artist categories: Top New Female Vocalist, Top New Male Vocalist and Top New Vocal Duo or Group. Voting begins February 13 on GACTV.com and will close March 5. The three winners will be announced March 9, and will move on to compete in a brand new ACM category, Top New Artist.

The ACM Awards air live from Las Vegas, April 5 at 8 PM ET on CBS. Reba McEntire will be the night's host for the 11th time.

2009 ACM AWARD NOMINEES

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
• Kenny Chesney
• Brad Paisley
• George Strait
• Keith Urban
• Carrie Underwood

TOP MALE VOCALIST
• Kenny Chesney
• Toby Keith
• Brad Paisley
• George Strait
• Keith Urban

TOP FEMALE VOCALIST
• Miranda Lambert
• Heidi Newfield
• Taylor Swift
• Carrie Underwood
• Lee Ann Womack

TOP VOCAL GROUP
• Lady Antebellum
• Little Big Town
• Rascal Flatts
• Randy Rogers Band
• The Lost Trailers

TOP VOCAL DUO
• Big & Rich
• Brooks & Dunn
• Joey & Rory
• Montgomery Gentry
• Sugarland

TOP NEW MALE VOCALIST
• Jamey Johnson
• James Otto
• Jake Owen

TOP NEW FEMALE VOCALIST
• Sarah Buxton
• Julianne Hough
• Ashton Shepherd

TOP NEW VOCAL DUO OR GROUP
• Eli Young Band
• The Lost Trailers
• Zac Brown Band

SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
• 'Gunpowder & Lead'
Miranda Lambert, Produced by Frank Liddell and Mike Wrucke
Columbia

• 'In Color'
Jamey Johnson, Produced by The Ken Hardley Playboys
Mercury

• 'Johnny & June'
Heidi Newfield, Produced by Tony Brown
Asylum-Curb

• 'Waitin' On A Woman'
Brad Paisley, Produced by Frank Rogers
Arista Nashville

• 'You're Gonna Miss This'
Trace Adkins, Produced by Frank Rogers
Capitol Nashville

SONG OF THE YEAR [Award to Composer(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
• 'I Saw God Today'
George Strait
Composers: Rodney Clawson, Monty Criswell, Wade Kirby
Publishers: Big Red Toe Music (BMI), Blind Mule Music (BMI), Extremely Loud Music (BMI), Steel Wheels Music (BMI)

• 'In Color'
Jamey Johnson
Composers: Jamey Johnson, Lee Thomas Miller, James Otto
Publishers: Big Gassed Hitties (BMI), Eldorotto Music Publishing (BMI), EMI Blackwood Music, Inc., Lucky Thumb Music (BMI), New Song of Sea Gayle (BMI), Noah's Little Boat Music (BMI)

• 'Johnny & June'
Heidi Newfield
Composers: Deanna Bryant, Heidi Newfield, Stephony Smith
Publishers: Amylase Music (ASCAP), Big Hit Makers Music (BMI), Rainy Graham Publishing LLC (BMI), Souljet Music Tell Texas Tune III (ASCAP)

• 'Waitin' On A Woman'
Brad Paisley
Composers: Don Sampson, Wynn Varble
Publishers: EMI April Music, Inc. (ASCAP), Sea Gayle Music LLC (ASCAP), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI)

• 'You're Gonna Miss This'
Trace Adkins
Composers: Ashley Gorley and Lee Thomas Miller
Publishers: EMI Blackwood Music, Inc. (BMI), Music of Windswept (ASCAP), Noah's Little Boat Music (BMI), Song of Combustion (ASCAP), Songs of Sea Gayle (BMI)

VIDEO OF THE YEAR [Award to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]
• 'Johnny & June' - Heidi Newfield
Producer: Karen Martin
Director: Eric Welch

• ' Just A Dream' - Carrie Underwood
Producer: Randy Brewer
Director: Roman White

• 'Love Story' - Taylor Swift
Producer: Trent Hardville
Director: Trey Fanjoy

• 'Troubadour' - George Strait
Producer: Dominic Cancilla
Director: Trey Fanjoy

• 'Waitin' On A Woman' - Brad Paisley
Producer: Mark Kalbfeld, Jim Shea
Director: Jim Shea, Peter Tilden

VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
• 'Another Try' - Josh Turner Featuring Trisha Yearwood
Produced by: Frank Rogers
MCA Nashville

• 'Cowgirls Don't Cry' - Brooks & Dunn Featuring Reba McEntire
Produced by: Kix Brooks, Tony Brown, Ronnie Dunn,
Arista Nashville

• 'Down The Road' - Kenny Chesney With Mac McAnally
Produced by: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney
Blue Chair/BNA

• 'Life In A Northern Town' - Sugarland Featuring Little Big Town & Jake Owen
Mercury

• 'Start A Band' - Brad Paisley Duet With Keith Urban
Produced by: Frank Rogers
Arista Nashville

HOME DEPOT HUMANITARIAN AWARD - LeAnn Rimes