CHRIS STAPLETON leads all ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC (ACM) nominees with 8 nods across five categories, including his first ever ACM Entertainer of the Year nomination. Other multiple nominees include: THOMAS RHETT with 5 & KEITH URBAN and songwriter SHANE MCANALLY with 4. SAM HUNT, LITTLE BIG TOWN and MIDLAND received 3 nominations each.
REBA MCENTIRE revealed nominees for the "53rd ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS" during her appearance on "CBS THIS MORNING" today (3/1), adding this surprise announcement: She'll return as host of the ACM Awards, set for Sunday, April 15th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The Show will be broadcast "live" on CBS-TV. MCENTIRE has hosted the ACM awards 15 times, most recently in 2012, with BLAKE SHELTON.