Kenny Chesney led the field with nine nods when nominations for America's Academy of Country Music Awards were announced Thursday.

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Chesney will compete for the top prize of Entertainer of the Year with Jason Aldean, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton and Taylor Swift.

Aldean is up for six prizes, while Lady Antebellum is in the running for five awards, Paisley for four, and Taylor Swift, Toby Keith, Eli Young Band and Grace Potter for three.

The nominations were announced in ACM's first digital news conference on the academy's Facebook and Twitter pages.

The ACM Award winners will be announced live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas April 1.

Shelton and Reba McEntire will serve as hosts of the event for the second consecutive year.