NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Country music star George Strait went straight to the top of the nomination list for the 42nd-annual Academy of Country Music Awards Monday, grabbing eight nods including Entertainer of the Year.

Brooks and Dunn followed closely behind with seven nominations, and Rascal Flatts had six. Both acts join Strait in the Entertainer of the Year race, along with Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw.

The nominations were revealed by Kenny Chesney -- the reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year -- and the duo Sugarland on CBS' "The Early Show " from the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville.

Strait, Chesney, Toby Keith, Brad Paisley and Keith Urban are up for the ACM's Male Vocalist of the Year trophy, while Sara Evans, Faith Hill, Miranda Lamber, Martina McBride and Carrie Underwood vie for Female Vocalist of the Year.

Noticeably absent from the nominations was the Dixie Chicks, which dominated the Grammy Awards last month, including honors for Album of the Year.

Up for the ACM Album of the Year trophy are Strait for "It Just Comes Natural," Brooks & Dunn for "Hillbilly Deluxe," Rascal Flatts for "Me and My Gang," Carrie Underwood for "Some Hearts" and Vince Gill for "These Days."

Up for Song of the Year are Jason Aldean's "Amarillo Sky," Strait's "Give it Away," Underwood's "Before He Cheats," Rodney Atkins' "If You're Going Through Hell (Before the Devil Even Knows)" and Josh Turner's "Would You Go With Me."

Underwood, Strait and Turner's songs are also up for Single of the Year, along with Rascal Flatts' "What Hurts the Most" and Heartland's "I Loved Her First."

The ACM Awards will be handed out May 15 in Las Vegas.