The Dixie Chicks [ tickets ], Tim McGraw [ tickets ], and his wife, Faith Hill [ tickets ], have each garnered nominations in five Academy of Country Music Awards Categories, including Entertainer of the Year. Meanwhile, Brad Paisley [ tickets ], on the strength of his debut album "Who Needs Pictures," is in the running for four "Hats."

The nominees were revealed Wednesday (3/2) at the annual Country Radio Seminar in Nashville, and the trophies for the top categories will be awarded at a May 3 ceremony in Universal City, Calif, televised by CBS. Nominations in seven instrumentalist categories will be announced later this month, and those winners will be honored prior to the May 3 ceremony. Hill was the top ACM winner in both 1998 and 1999, taking home four awards each year. This year, Hill faces her husband, McGraw, in the Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year and Song of the Year categories. Hill is also nominated for the top Female Vocalist and Video categories, while McGraw is a nominee for top Male Vocalist and Single Record of the Year.

Besides Entertainer of the Year, the Dixie Chicks are nominated for awards in the top Vocal Duo or Group, Album of the Year, Single Record of the Year, and Country Video of the Year categories. The Dixie Chicks took home a "Hat'' in the New Vocal Duo or Group category last year.

Absent from this year's list of nominees was Garth Brooks, who earned the Academy Artist of the Decade award in 1999. Brooks spent most of the year promoting the album of his alter-ego Chris Gaines.

Performers on the telecast will include McGraw, Hill, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, George Jones, Lonestar and Martina McBride. Trace Adkins, Asleep at the Wheel's Ray Benson [ tickets ], Toby Keith, Jo Dee Messina, Marie Osmond, Buck Owens, Mark Wills, Michelle Wright and Dwight Yoakam will be among the country artists handing out awards.

A complete list of nominees announced to date follows.