In this June 4, 2014, file photo, Miranda Lambert performs on stage at the CMT Music Awards at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.NASHVILLE – Miranda Lambert released the most ambitious album of her career earlier this year and Country Music Association voters responded by giving her a record-tying load of nominations.
Lambert has nine nominations for the 48th annual CMA Awards, tying her own mark for the most nods to a female nominee, and nearly doubling her nearest competitor when the list was announced Wednesday in New York. Dierks Bentley is next with five nominations and Eric Church and Keith Urban have four apiece.
The 30-year-old Lambert is up for top honor entertainer of the year along with husband Blake Shelton and has nominations for major categories album of the year for “Platinum,” song and single of the year for “Automatic,” and is vying for her fifth straight female vocalist of the year trophy. She’s been among the top CMA nominees and winners since “Revolution” won album of the year in 2010 and now has 34 CMA nominations – behind Reba McEntire, Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn among women.
Urban, George Strait and Luke Bryan round out the entertainer of the year category where Lambert and Bryan are seeking their first win in that category. Bryan and Urban also are up for album of the year. Bryan’s “Crash My Party” and Urban’s “Fuse” join Bentley’s “Riser” and Church’s “The Outsiders” in the category.
New artist of the year nominees are Brandy Clark, Brett Eldredge, Kip Moore, Thomas Rhett and Cole Swindell.