Eric Church tops ACM nominees with seven

There are some fresh faces in the Academy of Country Music Award nominees this year and the usual suspects, but country star Eric Church was the top dog with seven nominations, which were announced Wednesday. Church was nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year and Single of the Year, amongst others, but somehow got snubbed for Entertainer of the Year.

Although I suppose it's hard to call seven nominations a snub. Maybe "perplexing" is a better word.

Hot on his heels in total nominations is newcomer Hunter Hayes with six nods, including New Male Vocalist of the Year, Single Record of the Year, and Video of the Year.

Miranda Lambert and Taylor Swift each have five nominations, and Little Big Town chalked up four. Newcomers Florida Georgia Line and Kacey Musgraves each earned three nods, as well as award ceremony co-hosts Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan.

But that's hardly the competition Shelton should be worrying about -- he and wife Lambert are going head to head for Entertainer of the Year. That should make an interesting after-party at the Shelton/Lambert ranch if one wins.

The ACM Awards, co-hosted by Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan, will air live on CBS on April 7 at 8 p.m. ET.

Here's a list of the nominees:

Entertainer of the Year
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Miranda Lambert
Blake Shelton
Taylor Swift

Male Vocalist of the Year
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Toby Keith
Blake Shelton

Female Vocalist of the Year
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Kacey Musgraves
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

Vocal Duo of the Year
Big & Rich
Florida Georgia Line
Love and Theft
Sugarland
Thompson Square

Vocal Group of the Year
The Band Perry
Eli Young Band
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Zac Brown Band

New Male Vocalist of the Year
Lee Brice
Brantley Gilbert
Hunter Hayes

New Female Vocalist of the Year
Jana Kramer
Kacey Musgraves
Sunny Sweeney

New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year
Florida Georgia Line
Love and Theft
Thompson Square

New Artist of the Year
Florida Georgia Line
Brantley Gilbert
Jana Kramer

Album of the Year

Blown Away – Carrie Underwood (19/Arista Nashville)
Produced by: Mark Bright

Chief – Eric Church (EMI-Nashville)
Produced by: Jay Joyce

Red – Taylor Swift (Big Machine Records)
Produced by: Jeff Bhasker, Nathan Chapman, Dann Huff, Jacknife Lee, Max Martin, Shellback, Taylor Swift, Butch Walker, Dan Wilson

tailgates & tanlines – Luke Bryan (Capitol Nashville)
Produced by: Mark Bright, Jeff Stevens

Tornado – Little Big Town (Capitol Nashville)
Produced by: Jay Joyce

Single Record of the Year
Even If It Breaks Your Heart – Eli Young Band (Republic Nashville)
Produced by: Mike Wrucke

Over You – Miranda Lambert (RCA)
Produced by: Chuck Ainlay, Frank Liddell, Glenn Worf

Pontoon – Little Big Town (Capitol Nashville)
Produced by: Jay Joyce

Springsteen – Eric Church (EMI-Nashville)
Produced by: Jay Joyce

Wanted – Hunter Hayes (Atlantic/WMN)
Produced by: Hunter Hayes, Dann Huff

Song of the Year
"A Woman Like You" – Lee Brice
Composers: Phil Barton, Johnny Bulford, Jon Stone
Publishers: 3JB Music (BMI), Adios Pantalones (SESAC), Hears That Skyline Music (SESAC), Sixteen Stars Music (BMI), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI)

"Even If It Breaks Your Heart" – Eli Young Band
Composers: Will Hoge, Eric Paslay
Publishers: Cal IV Songs (ASCAP), Will Hoge Music (BMI)

"Over You" – Miranda Lambert
Composers: Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton
Publishers: Pink Dog Publishing (BMI), Sony ATV/Tree Publishing (BMI)

"Springsteen" – Eric Church
Composers: Eric Church, Jeff Hyde, Ryan Tyndell
Publishers: Bug Music (BMI), Ole Purple Cape Music (BMI), Sinnerlina (BMI), Sony ATV/Tree Publishing (BMI)

"Wanted" – Hunter Hayes
Composers: Hunter Hayes, Troy Verges
Publishers: Happy Little Man Publishing (BMI), Songs From The Engine Room (BMI), Songs Of Universal Inc. (BMI)

Songwriter of the Year
Rodney Clawson
Dallas Davidson
Josh Kear
Luke Laird
Shane McAnally

Video of the Year
"Creepin'" – Eric Church
Producer: Iris Baker
Director: Peter Zavadil

"Merry Go 'Round" – Kacey Musgraves
Producers: Perry Bean, Kacey Musgraves
Director: Perry Bean

"Tornado" – Little Big Town
Producer: Iris Baker
Director: Shane Drake

"Wanted" – Hunter Hayes
Producers: Stephanie Reeves, Eric Williams
Directors: Traci Goudie, Patrick Hubik

"We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" – Taylor Swift
Producer: John Nguyen
Director: Declan Whitebloom

"The Wind" – Zac Brown Band
Producer: Ben Kalina
Director: Mike Judge

Vocal Event of the Year

"Don't Rush" – Kelly Clarkson Featuring Vince Gill (19/RCA/Columbia Nashville)
Produced by: Dann Huff

"Easy" – Rascal Flatts Featuring Natasha Bedingfield (Big Machine Records)
Produced by: Dann Huff, Brian Kennedy, Rascal Flatts

"Feel Like A Rock Star" – Kenny Chesney (Duet With Tim McGraw) (Blue Chair/BNA)
Produced by: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney

"Let It Rain" – David Nail Featuring Sarah Buxton (MCA Nashville)
Produced by: Chuck Ainlay, Frank Liddell