I am a country music junkie. Michael does not like country all that much, so the past three months I didn’t get to listen to much country music — I’d go “start the car” for him, while I hurriedly changed the station to sneak in a song or two while I could. I was like a freakin’ junkie.

In any case, here’s a fairly pointless post for all my fellow country music addicts. The Academy of Country Music has announced the nominations for the annual Country Music Awards, and here they are! My picks for the winner are italicized — sometimes I picked more than one because, dang it, it’s a tough decision.

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
— Kenny Chesney
— Brad Paisley
— Rascal Flatts
— George Strait
— Keith Urban

TOP MALE VOCALIST
— Rodney Atkins
— Kenny Chesney
— Brad Paisley
— George Strait
— Keith Urban

TOP FEMALE VOCALIST
— Miranda Lambert
— Martina McBride
— LeAnn Rimes
— Taylor Swift
— Carrie Underwood

TOP VOCAL GROUP
— Diamond Rio
— Eagles
— Emerson Drive
— Little Big Town
— Rascal Flatts

TOP VOCAL DUO
— Big & Rich
— Brooks & Dunn
— Halfway To Hazard
— Montgomery Gentry
— Sugarland

TOP NEW MALE VOCALIST
— Luke Bryan
— Jack Ingram
— Jake Owen

TOP NEW FEMALE VOCALIST
— Sarah Buxton
— Kellie Pickler
— Taylor Swift

TOP NEW DUO OR VOCAL GROUP
— Carolina Rain
— Lady Antebellum
— The Wreckers

ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
— 5th Gear, Brad Paisley (Arista Nashville), Produced by Frank Rogers
— Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Miranda Lambert (Columbia), Produced by Frank Liddell, Mike Wrucke
— Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates, Kenny Chesney (BNA), Produced by Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney
— If You’re Going Through Hell, Rodney Atkins (Curb), Produced by Rodney Atkins, Ted Hewitt
— Taylor Swift, Taylor Swift (Big Machine), Produced by Scott Borchetta, Nathan Chapman # 6 Produced by Robert Ellis Orrall

SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]– Don’t Blink, Kenny Chesney, Produced by Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney BNA
— Famous In A Small Town, Miranda Lambert, Produced by Frank Liddell, Mike Wrucke Columbia
— Lost In This Moment, Big & Rich, Produced by Big Kenny, John Rich Warner Bros/WRN
— Stay, Sugarland, Produced by Kristian Bush, Byron Gallimore, Jennifer Nettles Mercury
— Watching Airplanes, Gary Allan, Produced by Gary Allan , Mark Wright MCA Nashville

SONG OF THE YEAR [Award to Composer(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]

– Don’t Blink Kenny Chesney Writers: Casey Beathard, Chris Wallin Publishers: Lavender Zoo Music (BMI), Mama’s Dream Music (ASCAP), Sony/ATV Acuff Rose (BMI), WB Music Corp. (ASCAP)
— Lost In This Moment Big & Rich Writers: Keith Anderson, Rodney Clawson, John Rich Publishers: EMI April Music, Inc. (ASCAP), Romeo Cowboy Music (ASCAP), WB Music Corp. (ASCAP), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI), Writer’s Extreme Music (BMI)
— Moments Emerson Drive Writers: Dave Berg, Annie Tate, Sam Tate Publishers: Gravitron (SESAC), WB Music Corp. (ASCAP)
— Watching You Rodney Atkins Writers: Rodney Atkins, Steve Dean, Brian White Publishers: Bethar Music (BMI), Mike Curb Music (BMI), Multisongs (SESAC), Songs From The White House (SESAC)
— Stay Sugarland Writer: Jennifer Nettles Publishers: Jennifer Nettles Publishing (ASCAP)

VIDEO OF THE YEAR [Award to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]

– Don’t Blink, Kenny Chesney Producer: Tacklebox Films Director: Shaun Silva
— Lost In This Moment, Big & Rich Producer: Big Kenny, Steve Lamar, Marc Oswald Director: Robert Deaton and George Flanigen
— Online, Brad Paisley Producer: Frames Per Second Director: Jason Alexander
— Stay, Sugarland Producer: Kristian Bush, Byron Gallimore, Jennifer Nettles Director: Shaun Silva
— Watching You, Rodney Atkins Producer: Broken Poet Production Director: Eric Welch

VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]

– Because Of You, Reba McEntire Duet With Kelly Clarkson Produced by Tony Brown, Reba McEntire MCA Nashville
— Find Out Who Your Friends Are, Tracy Lawrence With Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney Produced by Julian King, Tracy Lawrence Rocky Comfort/CO5
— Shiftwork, Kenny Chesney Duet With George Strait Produced by Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney BNA
— Till We Ain’t Strangers Anymore, Bon Jovi Featuring LeAnn Rimes Produced by Dann Huff Mercury
— What You Give Away, Vince Gill With Sheryl Crow Produced by Vince Gill, John Hobbs, Justin Niebank MCA

Fans will choose the Entertainer of the Year Award; voting begins May 5th. The ceremony will be held on May 18th in Las Vegas.