Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley announced the nominations for the 43rd Academy of Country Music Awards on Tuesday with singer-songwriter Kenny Chesney leading the pack with 11 nominations including Entertainer of the Year and Top Male Vocalist.

A three-time Entertainer of the Year winner, Chesney was also nominated as an artist and producer for album of the year for "Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates" and for single of the year, song of the year and top video for "Don't Blink."

Following closely behind Chesney was rising star Rodney Atkins, who had four straight number one singles, with six nominations. He is nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Song of the Year and Video of the Year for "Watching You" and Album of the Year for "If You're Going Through Hell." He won Top New Male Vocalist last year.

Atkins, who performed at the Wildhorse Saloon just after the announcement on television, said he was "still in shock. I never dreamed that this could happen."

"I think my heart's going out of my throat," said Atkins, adding, "I'm very thrilled."

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

Paisley's latest release, "I'm Still a Guy," is Radio & Records No. 1 most-added song at country radio this week.

Big & Rich snared nominations for Top Vocal Duo and, for the song "Lost in this Moment," Single Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Video of the Year while Sugarland's four nominations were for Top Vocal Duo, and for the song "Stay," Single Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Video of the Year.

Miranda Lambert and Taylor Swift nabbed three nominations each, leading all female nominees. Both are up for album of the year.

The awards, which will be hosted by Reba McEntire, will be presented on Sunday, May 18 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. This year will mark the first year when fans are being given the chance to pick up the winner for "Entertainer of the Year" with voting starting May 5.

The contenders were revealed during a broadcast of The Early Show. Others receiving two or more nominations this year include Emerson Drive, Rascal Flatts, LeAnn Rimes and Keith Urban.

Underwood, who won last year's Top Female Vocalist award, was nominated for the same title this year.