Chesney leads country music award bids

By Pat Harris

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Reuters) - Kenny Chesney snagged 11 nominations on Tuesday to lead contenders for the annual Academy of Country Music awards, and Rodney Atkins, who has had four straight number one singles, was second with six.

Atkins whose "If You're Going Through Hell" was the most played country single of 2006, was Top Male Vocalist in last year's academy competition.

Chesney's nominations included one for Entertainer of the Year, which he has already won three times. Another win would tie Garth Brooks for academy honors in that category. The academy had originally announced Chesney had 12 nominations but later revised the total to 11.

The nominations were announced in Nashville along with the announcement that, for the first time, fans will choose the winner of the "Entertainer of the Year" award. Voting will start on May 5 and the awards will be presented on May 18 in Las Vegas in a program aired on CBS Television.

Third on the nominations list was Brad Paisley with four, while the duos Big & Rich and Sugarland also each won four nominations.

Miranda Lambert and 18-year-old Taylor Swift both received three nominations.

In addition to the top entertainer award, Chesney's nominations included Top Male Vocalist, Album of the Year for "Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates," Single Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Video of the Year for "Don't Blink."

Atkins was nominated for Top Male Vocalist, Song of the Year and Video of the Year for "Watching You" and Album of the Year for "If You're Going Through Hell."