From Reba to Jason: 2009 AMA country nominees include old pros & first-timers

Can country-rocker Jason Aldean nab an AMA 
the first time at bat? (Photo/Broken Bow Records)

Big Machine recording artist Taylor Swift may be leading this year’s 2009 American Music Awards, with six nominations in her apron pocket, but a favorite of country fans who’s been overlooked in other contests come award time has a horse in this year’s race, too.

Every generation has its underdog, one might say, and it’s been speculated that country-rocker Jason Aldean is in that category, since he's previously neglected to land nods for awards that country fans think he’s deserved.

Some, in fact, have likened Aldean’s early luck with the Country Music Association Awards as being on par with that of established country superstar and clear fan-favorite Toby Keith, who boycotts the CMA contest, period, and makes no bones about it.

However, the 37th Annual American Music Awards, which are determined by fan votes, aren’t ignoring Aldean this award season, because one simply can’t. The hard-touring performer has been on a roll throughout 2009, with his hot-selling Wide Open album—his third for the Broken Bow label—and its back-to-back No. 1 singles, “She’s Country” and “Big Green Tractor.” (Plus, his latest release, “The Truth,” is at No. 26 and climbing at this writing.)

Country nominees for Favorite Male Artist

That said, Georgia native Aldean is up for Favorite Male Artist in the AMA’s Country category, alongside country newcomer Darius Rucker and heartthrob country crooner Keith Urban both of whom have been embraced by the CMA powers that be, unlike the bankable and fan-rich Aldean. (For the curious, Brad Paisley took the prize at the 2008 AMA event.)

Can the reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year and
CMA co-host land another AMA prize this time
around? (Photo courtesy of Walmart-Soundscan)

Regarding his freshman shot at the fan-voted prize, “The AMAs are one of the coolest award shows of the year ... you never know what you're going to see," Aldean says. "One of my first memories of the show was the year Michael Jackson came out carrying Emmanuel Lewis ... crazy!”

Moreover, Aldean’s a gracious nominee and wouldn’t miss the live activities come Nov. 22.

“It's great that I'll get to be a part of it this year,” he adds. “I'll be easy to spot, since I'm sure I'll be the only guy in the room representin' with a cowboy hat!"

AMA nominees for Favorite Female Artist/Country

Looking to the Favorite Female Artist area of the AMA’s country side, one finds two blonds and a red-head; specifically, Oklahomans Reba McEntire and Carrie Underwood, along with recent first-time MTV Video Music Award winner Swift. Last year, both Swift and Underwood took home AMA trophies—Swift in this particular contest and 2009 CMA Awards co-host Underwood in the Favorite Album/Country contest.

Country contenders for Favorite Band, Duo or Group

In the AMA’s Favorite Band, Duo or Group/Country contest, newcomers the Zac Brown Band continues to make it their year when it comes to industry nods. The group is “all over” this year’s CMA ballot and kicked off the year with an ACM win. Nonetheless, the do-no-wrong lineup’s got stiff competition in their AMA contest from established favorites Rascal Flatts, who captured the honor last year, and duo Sugarland. But really, it’s anyone’s race this time around.

Georgia-based Zac Brown Band are up for the players'
first AMA trophy. (Photo/Atlantic Records)

Favorite Country Album & Favorite Soundtrack nominees

Familiar names surface in the Favorite Album competition on the country side, with Unstoppable by Rascal Flatts, the multi-platinum Fearless by Swift and Foundation, the debut album from Zac Brown Band, vying for the prize.

Further, on the soundtrack side of things, while it’s not a country category, the Soundtracks/Favorite Album contest has a bit of a country connection, thanks to another teen, Miley Cyrus, the sometime-duet partner of her country singer dad, Billy Ray Cyrus. In this category, Miley’s chances are high, since she has two nods in the contest, thanks to the Hannah Montana: The Movie and Hannah Montana 3 soundtracks. The Twilight Soundtrack rounds out the category.

Six-pack to go: Taylor Swift scores six AMA nods in 2009

And last but assuredly far from least, the genre-crossing Swift serves as an ambassador for her chosen genre by showing up on the AMA ballots in categories outside the country realm. In addition to the aforementioned nods, she’s also accrued nominations for Artist of the Year (a category that also includes the late King of Pop), as well as in the Pop-Rock/Favorite Female Artist. Pop-Rock/Favorite Album and Adult Contemporary/Favorite Artist arenas.

The fan-voted AMA’s will air live from L.A.’s Nokia Theatre on Sunday, Nov. 22, beginning at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC. For the third year in a row, fans may begin the final round of voting online today at ama.abc.com as well as via amavote.com and mycokerewards.com.