LA, Mar 11: Georgia-born singer Alan Jackson, who shared a recent hit with Jimmy Buffett on the duet "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere," led the field of contenders for the Academy of Country Music Awards with eight nominations on Wednesday. Jackson, currently in the pop album charts with his "Greatest Hits, Vol. 2," was nominated as entertainer of the year and top male vocalist while collecting six other bids for his performances on "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" and the wistful ballad "Remember When."
Last year, Jackson took home the ACM's album-of-the-year honors for his 2002 release "Drive" and the award for best country video for that album's title track. He also was named entertainer of the year for the past two years by the rival Country Music Association.

Jackson, who scored a huge crossover hit on the country and pop charts with the poignant 2001 single "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)," garnered nominations for best song and best record for both "Remember When" and "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere." The latter tune also drew bids for vocal event of the year and best video.
Other leading nominees announced Wednesday were last year's ACM entertainer of the year, Toby Keith, and the country duo Brooks & Dunn, with five nominations each. Buffett scored four nominations, as did Martina McBride, who was voted top female vocalist last year.
They were followed by Kenny Chesney with three nominations and Tim McGraw, Montgomery Gentry, Brad Paisley and Randy Travis, each with two nods.
Competing with Jackson for the entertainer-of-the-year award is an all-male group: Chesney, Keith, McGraw and Brooks & Dunn.
McBride was the lone female artist to be recognized for her work in the album-of-the-year category. Her self-titled "Martina" will compete with George Strait's "Honkytonkville," Paisley's "Mud on the Tires," Brooks & Dunn's "Red Dirt Road" and Keith's "Shock 'N Y'all."
The 39th annual Academy of Country Music Awards, hosted by singer-actress Reba McEntire, will be broadcast live on CBS May 26 from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
The ACM consists of more than 3,000 performers and other professionals in the country music industry who vote on the nominees and winners. Bureau Report