NASHVILLE, TN  [Thursday Mar.8.2007]  /WMQT.com/ -- When the 42nd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards are handed out on CBS TV from Las Vegas' MGM Grand Hotel on May 15th, George Strait will have the most odds on winning multiple awards thanks to his leading-the-pack 8 nominations.

BROOKS & DUNN received 7 nominations, with Ronnie Dunn receiving an additional nod; Rascal Flatts receives 6 nominations; Carrie Underwood receives 5 nominations; Big & Rich receives 4 nominations, with John Rich receiving an additional nod; Vince Gill, Josh Turner and Gretchen Wilson all receive 3 nominations

DETAILS - George Strait's nominations include Entertainer of the Year and Top Male Vocalist. In addition Strait was nominated as artist and producer for both Album of the Year for It Just Comes Natural and Single Record of the Year for "Give It Away" along with nods for Song of the Year for "Give It Away" and Video of the Year for "Seashores of Old Mexico." Strait has previously won 15 Academy of Country Music Award honors.

BROOKS & DUNN are nominated for seven awards including Entertainer of the Year, Top Vocal Duo, Album of the Year for Hillbilly Deluxe, Video of the Year for "Hillbilly Deluxe," and Vocal Event of the Year for "Building Bridges" with Vince Gill and Sheryl Crow. They have previously been awarded 21 Academy of Country Music Awards as a duo, with Ronnie Dunn having received 22 Academy of Country Music Awards in total.

RASCAL FLATTS are nominated in six categories, including Entertainer of the Year, Top Vocal Group, Album of the Year for Me and My Gang, and Single Record of the Year for "What Hurts the Most." They have previously been awarded six Academy of Country Music Awards.

They learned of their nominations as they were boarding a plane to return home from a weekend of shows in Canada. Their categories include Entertainer of the Year, Group of the Year, Album (Me And My Gang) and Single of The Year for "What Hurts The Most." The band received 2 nods in each of the album and single categories as co-producers, which brings their total to 6 nods.

"We are grateful that we continue to be recognized by our peers and the Academy," said Gary LeVox. "This will never, ever get old." RASCAL FLATTS have previously won 6 ACM Awards.

CARRIE UNDERWOOD WITH FIVE NODS Carrie Underwood has five nominations including Top Female Vocalist, Album of the Year for Some Hearts, along with Single Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Video of the Year all for "Before He Cheats."

BIG & RICH HAS 4 NOMINATIONS Big Kenny and John Rich received four nominations including Top Vocal Duo, Video of the Year for "8th of November" and for Vocal Event of the Year for "That's How They Do It In Dixie," with Hank Williams Jr., Gretchen Wilson and Van Zant. John Rich has an additional nomination for producing Gretchen Wilson's single, "Politically Uncorrect" which brings his total to five nominations.

THREE NODS WENT TO VINCE GILL, JOSH TURNER and GRETCHEN WILSON Vince Gill received nods for both artist and producer for Album of the Year for These Days, and Vocal Event of the Year for "Building Bridges." Josh Turner is nominated for Single Record of the Year and Song of the Year for "Would You Go With Me," and Vocal Event of the Year for "Me and God." Gretchen Wilson is nominated for Vocal Event of the Year for both "Politically Uncorrect" and "That's How They Do It In Dixie," for the former, she receives an additional producing nod.

KENNY ADDS BIG TWO HE'S ALWAYS IN RUNNING FOR Kenny Chesney walked away from the Academy of Country Music Awards nominees announcements - broadcast live on CBS' "The Early Show" -- with nods for Top Male Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year. "Somebody asked me, 'Doesn't this ever get old'," Chesney said with a laugh, "and I have to tell you: No, it really doesn't. Being recognized for how hard this team works on the road, how much work the people who help me make my records put in... it's always great to be honored like this, because it recognizes everybody who helps contribute to this success.

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