Taylor Swift earns nod for top country star

Teen singing sensation Taylor Swift has been nominated for entertainer of the year at the Country Music Association Awards, the first woman to earn a nomination for the top prize since 2000.

Swift is burning up the country and pop airwaves with her album Fearless.

Women dominated the Academy of Country Music Awards this April, with Carrie Underwood winning the top award, which had been taken by Kenny Chesney for the past four years. 

The other top entertainer finalists are all men and veterans of country music — Chesney, George Strait, Brad Paisley and Keith Urban.

Paisley led CMA nominations, with six, when they were announced Wednesday morning on Good Morning America and CMT television. Paisley is vying with Strait, Urban and Chesney for best male vocalist.

Darius Rucker — the former Hootie and the Blowfish singer whose transition to country music has been embraced by fans — also was nominated for male vocalist of the year and for best new artist.

"It feels great. It feels like I'm part of the family," Rucker said. "I love being in country music because of the accessibility — and the relationships you have with fans and with radio is awesome."

Others in the new artist category are Jamey Johnson, Randy Houser, the Zac Brown Band and Jake Owen.

Houser, who wrote songs for three years in Nashville before starting to perform in 2005, said he's been waiting for this kind of recognition.

"I've told myself for so many years, 'Maybe next year, maybe next year,"' Houser said.

He is also nominated for his music video, Boots On, which features a toddler rocking out to his song on a toy guitar.

Swift is also nominated in the best female artist category, along with Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire and Carrie Underwood.

Paisley and Underwood will host the CMA Awards show, scheduled for Nov. 11 in Nashville.