Miranda Lambert is again up for Female Vocalist of the year, as well as Entertainer of the Year. Courtesy
This year’s nominees for top Academy of Country Music Awards include several surprising Okies.
That’s because they’re venues.
The BOK Center is nominated for Venue of the Year for a 2013 ACM award as it goes toe-to-toe with venues in Indiana, Ohio, New Hampshire and even the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.
Also, the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa and WinStar World Casino in Thackerville both vie against venues in Las Vegas, California and Washington for Casino of the Year honors.
Also, last year’s reigning “king and queen” of country, husband and wife Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert, each are nominated for Entertainer of the Year against Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan and Taylor Swift.
Shelton and Lambert won Male and Female Vocalist of the Year awards in 2012. Both are nominated in the same categories this year, too. Shelton fights against fellow Oklahoma native Toby Keith for the award, as well as Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan and Eric Church. Lambert defends her crown against Checotah beauty Carrie Underwood, as well as Martina McBride, Kacey Musgraves and Taylor Swift.
Lambert earned a total five nominations, including her second nomination for Entertainer of the Year and seventh consecutive nod for Female Vocalist of the Year. Lambert also was nominated for Single Record of the Year and twice nominated for Song of the Year, as artist and as composer for “Over You.”
Shelton earned three nominations total, including one with his wife for Song of the Year with “Over You.”
Other Oklahoma-tied acts include Miami husband-wife duo Thompson Square for Vocal Duo of the Year and New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year.
Underwood raked in a second nomination for Album of the Year with “Blown Away.”
Oklahoma City-raised Vince Gill is nominated for Vocal Event of the Year with singer Kelly Clarson for their duet of “Don’t Rush.” In the same category, Picher-tied Rascal Flatts is nominated with Natasha Bedingfield for “Easy.”
Two local market radio stations were nominated for On-Air Personality of the Year, including Cash and Carey of KWEN-FM and Rowdy Yates, Sunny Leigh & Carly Rush of KVOO-FM.
Shelton and Bryan will host the awards show as it is broadcast live 7 p.m. April 7 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on the CBS network.
Again this year fans will help select Entertainer of the Year and New Artist of the Year categories. Voting starts March 25.
The Academy of Country Music’s professional membership selects the nominees and winners and selects 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 will be announced soon.
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Country Music Association Awards nomineesFor a full list and to vote, visit
tulsaworld.com/cmasEntertainer of the YearMiranda Lambert **
Blake Shelton **
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Taylor Swift
Male Vocalist of the YearToby Keith **
Blake Shelton **
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Female Vocalist of the YearMiranda Lambert **
Carrie Underwood **
Martina McBride
Kacey Musgraves
Taylor Swift
Vocal Duo of the YearThompson Square **
Big & Rich
Florida Georgia Line
Love and Theft
Sugarland
Vocal Group of the YearThe Band Perry
Eli Young Band
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Zac Brown Band
New Vocal Duo or Group of the YearThompson Square **
Florida Georgia Line
Love & Theft
Album of the Year (Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company)
Blown Away,
Carrie Underwood **
Chief, Eric Church
Red, Taylor Swift
Tailgates & Tanlines, Luke Bryan
Tornado, Little Big Town
Single Record of the Year (Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company)
Over You,
Miranda Lambert **
Even If It Breaks Your Heart, Eli Young Band
Pontoon, Little Big Town
Springsteen, Eric Church
Wanted, Hunter Hayes
Song of the Year (Award to Composer(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s))
Over You,
Miranda Lambert **
A Woman Like You, Lee Brice
Even If It Breaks Your Heart, Eli Young Band
Springsteen, Eric Church
Wanted, Hunter Hayes
Vocal Event of the YearDon’t Rush, Kelly Clarkson Featuring
Vince Gill **
Easy,
Rascal Flatts Featuring Natasha Bedingfield **
Feel Like A Rock Star, Kenny Chesney (Duet With Tim McGraw)
Let It Rain, David Nail Featuring Sarah Buxton
The Only Way I Know, Aldean With Luke Bryan & Eric Church
Casino of the Year (off-camera awards)
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tulsa **
WinStar World Casino, Thackerville **
Agua Caliente Casino, Rancho Mirage, Calif.
Northern Quest Casino, Airway Heights, Wash.
Red Rock Casino & Resort, Las Vegas
Venue of the YearBOK Center, Tulsa **
Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
Klipsch Music Center, Noblesville, Indiana
Meadowbrook, Gilford, N.H.
Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, Tenn.
Fiddle Player of the YearJoe Spivey (he plays with Vince Gill’s band,
The Time Jumpers) **
Glen Duncan
Larry Franklin
Aubrey Haynie
Hank Singer
On-Air Personality of the Year, Medium MarketCash and Carey,
KWEN-FM Tulsa **
Rowdy Yates, Sunny Leigh & Carly Rush,
KVOO-FM Tulsa **
Jack Ryan.WMYL-FM Knoxville, Tenn.
Party Marty Mitchell, WKMK-FM Monmouth, Ocean, N.J.
Tom and Becky, WBBS-FM Syracuse, N.Y.
