The nominations for country music's 42nd Annual CMA Awards are in, and Kenny Chesney [ tickets ] heads up the pack with seven nods.

Hot on Chesney's heels are George Strait [ tickets ] and Sugarland [ tickets ], who scored five nominations apiece, and Alan Jackson and Brad Paisley [ tickets ], who garnered four each. Other multiple nominees include Carrie Underwood [ tickets ], Keith Urban [ tickets ], Brooks & Dunn [ tickets ], Alison Krauss [ tickets ], Trace Adkins [ tickets ], Miranda Lambert [ tickets ] and Lady Antebellum.

Chesney, the reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year, is vying for that honor again along with Paisley, Strait, Urban and Sugarland. Jennifer Nettles, one half of the Sugarland duo, is the first woman nominated in the coveted Entertainer category since the Dixie Chicks in 2001, according to The Tennessean. She told the paper that female entertainers "really have to bring it."

"You can't strut across the stage in a short skirt and high heels and expect to compete with Kenny Chesney, who is flying around the stage on a high wire," she said. "I love it as a nod to that, that hopefully I am bringing it."

In addition to her five nods with Sugarland, Nettles is also up for Song for the Year for penning the band's hit "Stay."

Vying for Male Vocalist of the Year honors are Chesney, Paisley, Urban, Strait and Jackson, who tops the list of career CMA nominations with 79.

The Female Vocalist of the Year category comprises Alison Krauss, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift, who was on hand to announce the first round of nominees on ABC's "Good Morning America" with Rascal Flatts.

Swift is the reigning Horizon Award winner, and she'll pass the new-artist baton to either Jason Aldean, Rodney Atkins, Lady Antebellum, James Otto or Kellie Pickler.

It's been more than 30 years since the Eagles' last CMA nomination for Vocal Group of the Year, but the band is back in running. The Eagles are competing with Emerson Drive, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town and Rascal Flatts for the honor.

The CMA Awards will be handed out Nov. 12 at Nashville's Sommet Center, and the soiree will air live on ABC-TV.

The final nominees for the 2008 CMA Awards are:

Entertainer of the Year
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Sugarland
Keith Urban

Female Vocalist of the Year
Alison Krauss
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

Male Vocalist of the Year
Kenny Chesney
Alan Jackson
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Keith Urban

New Artist of the Year
Jason Aldean
Rodney Atkins
Lady Antebellum
James Otto
Kellie Pickler

Vocal Group of the Year
Eagles
Emerson Drive
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts

Vocal Duo of the Year
Big & Rich
Brooks & Dunn
Montgomery Gentry
Sugarland
The Wreckers

Single of the Year
"Don't Blink," Kenny Chesney
"Gunpowder & Lead," Miranda Lambert
"I Saw God Today," George Strait
"Stay," Sugarland
"You're Gonna Miss This," Trace Adkins

Album of the Year
"Carnival Ride," Carrie Underwood
"Cowboy Town," Brooks & Dunn
"Good Time," Alan Jackson
"Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates," Kenny Chesney
"Troubadour," George Strait

Song of the Year
"Good Time," Alan Jackson (performed by Alan Jackson)
"I Saw God Today," Rodney Clawson/Monty Criswell/Wade Kirby (performed by George Strait)
"Letter To Me," Brad Paisley (performed by Brad Paisley)
"Stay," Jennifer Nettles (performed by Sugarland)
"You're Gonna Miss This," Lee Thomas Miller/Ashley Gorley (performed by Trace Adkins)

Musical Event of the Year
Josh Turner f/ Trisha Yearwood, "Another Try"
Reba McEntire and Kenny Chesney, "Every Other Weekend"
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, "Gone, Gone, Gone"
Sugarland f/ Little Big Town and Jake Owen, "Life In A Northern Town"
Kenny Chesney with George Strait, "Shiftwork"

Music Video of the Year
"Don't Blink," Kenny Chesney (directed by Shaun Silva)
"Good Time," Alan Jackson (Trey Fanjoy)
"Stay," Sugarland (Shaun Silva)
"Waitin' On A Woman," Brad Paisley (Jim Shea)
"You're Gonna Miss This," Trace Adkins (Peter Zavadil)

Musician of the Year
Jerry Douglas (dobro)
Paul Franklin (steel guitar)
Dann Huff (guitar)
Brent Mason (guitar)
Mac McAnally (guitar)