Looks like 2010 is definitely yet another "year of the blond, explosively popular female country singer." However, this time, it's not Carrie Underwood or Taylor Swift--it's Miranda Lambert's turn. The Texas-bred sensation made country music history Wednesday morning by being nominated for a record nine Country Music Association awards, the most ever for any female artist.
When the first-round nominees for this year's CMA awards were announced in seven initial categories Tuesday morning, Lambert scooped up five nods, establishing her as the leader of the pack. On Wednesday morning, when the final round was revealed, she grabbed four more nods, putting her just below Alan Jackson's all-time record of 10 nominations.Last year's CMA awards sweeper, Taylor Swift, was nominated in just one category this year, female vocalist. Carrie Underwood, who received the entertainer of the year award at the Academy of Country Music Awards earlier this year, received two nods: Female vocalist and album of the year.
As Lambert herself put it, via Twitter, "Ok so my day started out um....AMAZING!" Well, yeah, I think you could say that.
Lambert's up for the coveted entertainer of the year title, as well as female vocalist of the year. Her album, Revolution, is in consideration for album of the year. Her two singles, "White Liar" and "The House That Built Me" are both up for single of the year, song of the year, and music video of the year. (Lambert herself can claim only five of the six nominations, as the song of the year award is presented to the songwriter and not the performing artist. While she is a co-writer on "White Liar," she did not write "The House That Built Me.")
Interestingly enough, Lambert--who's been nominated in past years but has yet to win a CMA award--will not only will be competing against herself...she will also be competing against her fiance, Blake Shelton! Shelton's duet with Trace Adkins, "Hillbilly Bone," is up for single and video of the year. May the best mate win! (Just my take: My money's on Lambert for both of these categories. Sorry, Blake.) The pair also face off in the musical event of the year category. Closely following Lambert in nominations is the trio Lady Antebellum, who began gaining rapid momentum last season and is up for five CMA awards this year. Shelton himself takes third place, tied with the Zac Brown Band, with four nods.
This year's list of nominees also had the welcome twist of several new names--new to either the Nashville scene or the CMAs themselves--including Chris Young, Easton Corbin, Jerrod Neiman, and Steel Magnolia.
"We are continuing a promising trend we saw last year with several artists receiving their first CMA Awards nomination or making a debut in a new category," explained CMA CEO Steve Moore in a statement. "The infusion of fresh faces is great for the format and speaks to the strength and future of country music."
The 44th annual CMA Awards will be broadcast live on ABC from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville November 10, at 8 PM/ET. A complete list of nominees can be found here.