CMA Nominees Announced

Carrie Underwood has one thing over her nemesis Jessica Simpson: She's once again in the running to take top honors at this year's CMA Awards.

The event's 12 categories were revealed in two rounds on Wednesday morning, proving once again that the show loves Underwood, Kenny Chesney and Keith Urban.  Chesney dominated the competition, scoring a leading seven nominations, including Ablum and Entertainer of the Year. 

Taylor Swift and Rascal Flatts announced the nominees for the five biggest categories of the show on Good Morning America. Swift herself was nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year, something she was ecstatic to learn.

"I can't believe it,"she said. "I'm having a really good morning."

Padding out the nominations were country music veterans Alison Krauss, Miranda Lambert and Martina McBride. Jennifer Nettles got six nods, five of which came from her band Sugarland. George Strait lassoed five nominations, including Male Vocalist of the Year.

Rascal Flatts, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Emerson Drive and the Eagles are up for Best Vocal Group.

The night's top honor, Best Album of the Year is sure to be a battle of the heavyweights. Carrie Underwood's Carnival Ride, Chesney's Just Who I Am: Poets and Pirates, Alan Jackson's Good Time, Strait's Troubadour and Brooks & Dunn's Cowboy Town will battle it out for the prize.

The remaining contenders were announced by Lady Antebellum and James Otto, both nominees, during a special edition of CMT Insider.

The 42nd annual CMA Awards will take place in Nashville on Nov. 12 and air live on ABC.