Paisley focused on duties, not noms at CMA awards

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Brad Paisley is up for seven trophies at Wednesday's Country Music Association Awards, but his duties as co-host with Carrie Underwood and performer will keep his attention elsewhere.

He welcomes all distractions.

"It's a good problem to have to be that busy because I've had six nominations and went away empty-handed," Paisley said. "And when you're just sitting in the audience for three hours and perform one time in the middle of that, and then lose six times, that's a long night, you know."

Paisley learned last year when he won two awards, including his second straight male vocalist trophy, that time flies when you're having fun, and hosting with Underwood turned out to be a blast — in a lot of different ways.

Underwood even served as a distraction with 10 dress changes from red carpet to after parties. Paisley joked he served as her designated zipper technician.

"This year I think we might actually hire a zipper tech to take care of that and have that person standing by with hands ready to zip or button accordingly, someone who is an expert, a former Boy Scout who knows all kind of knots or something," Paisley said.

Paisley could have more on his hands if things go just right. The leading nominee is up for the biggest awards of the evening, including entertainer, male vocalist and album of the year.

Keith Urban is next with five nominations and Taylor Swift, Zac Brown, George Strait and Jamey Johnson have four.

While the entertainer of the year category has been fairly predictable the last five years with Kenny Chesney winning four out of five times, there seems to be plenty of mystery around this year's awards.

The biggest question is whether Taylor Swift — this year's top-selling music artist in all genres outside of Michael Jackson — can end his reign and also become the first female solo artist to win the category since 1999 when Shania Twain won. In addition, she can end Carrie Underwood's streak: Swift is competing with her for female vocalist of the year, an award that Underwood has won three straight years.

Underwood thinks it will be tough to win as she faces off with Swift, Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert and Martina McBride.