By Anthony Breznican
The Associated Press

Toby Keith received a leading eight Academy of Country Music nominations, including song and single of the year for "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)."

The Sept. 11-inspired song also got a mention for video of the year. The tune's hostility toward terrorists generated some headlines last year when Keith claimed it cost him a spot on an ABC Fourth of July special. The network said his exclusion was caused by a scheduling conflict.

Keith's other nominations included entertainer of the year, top male vocalist and album of the year for Unleashed.

Alan Jackson had six nominations, including entertainer of the year and top male vocalist, album of the year for Drive, and song and video of the year for the title track.

Among other multiple nominees, Kenny Chesney and the group Trick Pony each had five, while the Dixie Chicks and Willie Nelson had three apiece.

Besides Jackson and Keith, other entertainer of the year nominees were the Dixie Chicks, Brooks & Dunn and Chesney.

The single of the year category was filled out by Mark Wills' "19 Somethin'," Trick Pony's "Just What I Do," Keith Urban's "Somebody Like You" and Chesney's "The Good Stuff." Other album nominees were the Dixie Chicks' Home, Chesney's No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems and Trick Pony's On a Mission.

Winners will be announced during the 38th annual Academy of Country Music Awards show broadcast May 21 on CBS from Las Vegas.

Nominees were announced by show producer Dick Clark and previous winner LeAnn Rimes and newcomer Jennifer Hanson.

Nominees

Entertainer: Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Dixie Chicks, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith.

Male Vocalist: Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith, Tim McGraw, George Strait.

Female Vocalist: Terri Clark, Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Shania Twain, Lee Ann Womack.

Duo: Brooks & Dunn, Hometown News, Montgomery Gentry, Sons of the Desert, The Bellamy Brothers.

Group: Diamond Rio, Dixie Chicks, Lonestar, Rascal Flatts, Trick Pony.

New Male Vocalist: Joe Nichols, Blake Shelton, Darryl Worley.

New Female Vocalist: Kellie Coffey, Jennifer Hanson, Rebecca Lynn Howard.

New Duo or Group: Emerson Drive, Nickel Creek, Pinmonkey.

Album: Drive, Alan Jackson; Home, Dixie Chicks; No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems, Kenny Chesney; On a Mission, Trick Pony; Unleashed, Toby Keith.

Single: "19 Somethin'," Mark Wills; "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)," Toby Keith; "Just What I Do," Trick Pony; "Somebody Like You," Keith Urban; "The Good Stuff," Kenny Chesney.

Song: "A Lot of Things Different," composers Bill Anderson and Dean Dillon, artist Kenny Chesney; "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)," composer and artist Toby Keith; "Drive (For Daddy Gene)," composer and artist Alan Jackson; "Forgive," composers Rebecca Lynn Howard and Trey Bruce, artist Rebecca Lynn Howard; "I'm Movin' On," composers Phillip Brian White and David Vincent Williams, artist Rascal Flatts.

Vocal Event: "Beer for My Horses," Toby Keith with Willie Nelson; "Designated Drinker," Alan Jackson with George Strait; "Mendocino County Line," Willie Nelson with Lee Ann Womack ; "Picture," Kid Rock with Sheryl Crow; "Whiskey River," Trick Pony and Willie Nelson.

Video: "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)," Toby Keith; "Drive (For Daddy Gene)," Alan Jackson; "I'm Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin' Song)," Brad Paisley; "Just What I Do," Trick Pony; "She's My Kind of Rain," Tim McGraw; "Who's Your Daddy," Toby Keith.