NBC; AP IMAGES; Kevin Mazur/WireImage.comWhether you're a fan of country music or not, you've got to admire the consistency with which the honky-tonk industry honors their own.
The nominations for the 45th Annual CMA Awards were announced this morning, and the usual suspects were all present and accounted for.
Don't believe us? Well, perhaps you've heard of a little trailblazer called Taylor Swift? Or bona fide TV star Blake Shelton? Do the names Keith Urban and Brad Paisley ring any bells? How about Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood? If so, then consider yourself already acquainted with the nominees.
In fact, the only surprise might be which of those ladies managed to break through into the traditional boys' club, the male-dominated Entertainer of the Year category…
Though not that big a surprise.
While Miranda may be the darling of this year's country music scene, thanks to her one-two punch of unstoppable album and wedding, it was instead the young'un of the group, Taylor Swift, who managed the coup yet again, pitting her against Jason Aldean, Paisley, Shelton and Urban for the night's biggest honor.
Swift is also unsurprisingly up for Female Vocalist of the Year, alongside Sara Evans, Lambert, Underwood and Martina McBride.
In fact, Swift is one of four stars who scored a leading five nominations, and the only female to top the otherwise male pack. Also racking up the kudos are Shelton, Aldean and Paisley. Next best are Zac Brown Band and the Band Perry, who scored four apiece.
As for the ladies' cowboy counterparts, Shelton, Paisley, Urban, Aldean and Kenny Chesney will vie for Male Vocalist of the Year.
Sugarland and Montgomery Gentry are up for Vocal Duo of the Year, while country superstars the Band Perry, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Rascal Flatts and Zac Brown Band comprise the nominees for Vocal Group of the Year.
Album of the Year honors will be fought out by Shelton's All About Tonight, Aldean's My Kinda Party, Swift's Speak Now, Paisley's definitive-sounding This Is Country Music and Zac Brown Band's You Get What You Give.
As for other heavy hitters, Kelly Clarkson managed to score a nod for Music Event of the Year, thanks to her duet with Aldean on "Don't You Wanna Stay," while Sheryl Crow also scored a nomination, thanks to the triple-threat collaboration "Coal Miner's Daughter," which also scored noms for Loretta Lynn and Lambert.
The awards will be handed out live in Nashville on Nov. 9, with Paisley and Underwood joining forces to host the ceremony for a fourth consecutive time.
Here's the complete list of nominees:
Entertainer of the Year
Jason Aldean
Brad Paisley
Blake Shelton
Taylor Swift
Keith Urban
Female Vocalist of the Year
Sara Evans
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
Male Vocalist of the Year
Jason Aldean
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
Blake Shelton
Keith Urban
New Artist of the Year
The Band Perry
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Thompson Square
Chris Young
Vocal Group of the Year
The Band Perry
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts
Zac Brown Band
Vocal Duo of the Year
The Civil Wars
Montgomery Gentry
Steel Magnolia
Sugarland
Thompson Square
Single of the Year
Sara Evans, "A Little Bit Stronger"
Zac Brown Band, "Colder Weather"
Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson, "Don't You Wanna Stay"
Blake Shelton, "Honey Bee"
The Band Perry, "If I Die Young"
Album of the Year
Blake Shelton, All About Tonight
Jason Aldean, My Kinda Party
Taylor Swift, Speak Now
Brad Paisley, This Is Country Music
Zac Brown Band, You Get What You Give
Song of the Year
Zac Brown Band, Wyatt Durrette, Levi Lowrey and Coy Bowles, "Colder Weather"
Brantley Gilbert and Colt Ford, "Dirt Road Anthem"
Kimberly Perry, "If I Die Young"
Taylor Swift, "Mean"
Matraca Berg and Deana Carter, "You and Tequila"
Musical Event of the Year
Zac Brown Band featuring Alan Jackson, "As She's Walking Away"
Loretta Lynn, Sheryl Crow and Miranda Lambert, "Coal Miner's Daughter"
Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson, "Don't You Wanna Stay"
Brad Paisley featuring Alabama, "Old Alabama"
Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter, "You and Tequila"
Music Video of the Year
Blake Shelton, "Honey Bee"
The Band Perry, "If I Die Young"
Taylor Swift, "Mean"
Brad Paisley featuring Alabama, "Old Alabama"
Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter, "You and Tequila"
Musician of the Year
Sam Bush, mandolin
Jerry Douglas, dobro
Paul Franklin, steel guitar
Dann Huff, guitar
Mac McAnally, guitar