SCOTCOUNTRY MUSIC NEWS

Kenny Chesney and George Strait received three nominations each when the initial nominees for the 42nd annual CMA Awards have been announced. Chesney and Strait are nominated for entertainer of the year alongside Brad Paisley, Sugarland and Keith Urban. The male vocalist nominees are Alan Jackson, Chesney, Paisley, Strait and Urban. Nominated for female vocalist are Alison Krauss, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood. Five-time vocal group of the year winners Rascal Flatts received another nomination in the category, this time with the Eagles, Emerson Drive, Lady Antebellum and Little Big Town. Up for this year's album of the year are Underwood's Carnival Ride, Brooks & Dunn's Cowboy Town, Jackson's Good Time, Chesney's Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates and Strait's Troubadour. This year's CMA Awards show takes place Nov. 12 at Nashville's Sommet Center.