Miranda Lambert leads Academy of Country Music Award nominations

Miranda Lambert looks set to dominate the Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards after scooping eight nominations on Friday (30Jan15).

The Mama's Broken Heart hitmaker earned her ninth consecutive nod for Female Vocalist of the Year, and will defend her title against competition from Carrie Underwood, Kacey Musgraves, Brandy Clark and Martina McBride.

She also landed nods for Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year for Platinum, both Song and Single Record of the Year for her track Automatic plus Video and Vocal Event of the Year for her duet with Carrie Underwood, Somethin' Bad.

Dierks Bentley follows closely behind with seven nominations, and will go up against Lambert's husband Blake Shelton, as well as Brad Paisley, Eric Church, Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean, for the Male Vocalist of the Year title.

Bentley is also up for Entertainer of the Year alongside Lambert, Jason Aldean, Garth Brooks, Luke Bryan and band Florida Georgia Line, who earned five nominations, including Vocal Duo of the Year.

Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Rascal Flatts, The Band Perry and the Zac Brown Band are up for Vocal Group of the Year, while Album of the Year contenders alongside Lambert include Jason Aldean (Old Boots, New Dirt), Little Big Town (Pain Killer), Dierks Bentley (Riser) and Eric Church (The Outsiders).

Lambert and Bentley will go head to head for the Song of the Year title alongside Kacey Musgraves (Follow Your Arrow), Eric Church (Give Me Back My Hometown), Luke Bryan (Drink A Beer) and Kenny Chesney (American Kids).

Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan will return as hosts for the third year when the winners are announced in Arlington, Texas on 19 April (15).