Paisley leads the pack

Country superstar Brad Paisley -- who'll be performing March 12 at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo -- leads all finalists for the Academy of Country Music Awards, with no fewer than six nominations (including a nod for Entertainer of the Year). Heidi Newfield also scored impressively, picking up nominations in five categories. Other multiple nominees include Kenny Chesney, Jamey Johnson -- and, of course, George Strait. Winners will be announced April 5 during an ACM awards presentation airing on CBS.

Chesney's 11

Superstar Kenny Chesney picked up an impressive 11 nods -- including one for Entertainer of the Year -- during this morning's announcement of nominations for the 43rd annual Academy of Country Music awards. Multiple ACM nominations also went to four acts performing at the 2008 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo: Sugarland (four nominations), March 10; Brad Paisley (four nominations), March 15; Miranda Lambert (three nominations), March 17; and Big & Rich (four nominations), March 18. Winners will receive their prizes May 18 during a star-studded Las Vegas extravaganza broadcast on CBS.