ACM nominations leave Kenny Chesney happy

"I don't make music for awards," Chesney said. "I have to be true to who I am, who the people who listen to this music are...but that doesn't mean I don't want to be recognized for these songs. I hope that the time Buddy and I spend on finding the songs and in the studio... that Shaun Silva and I invest in getting the videos right...the songwriters who bring me songs that make me feel like they understand everything about who I am and how I feel...And the people who help me keep this whole thing rocking isn't lost on everyone who cares about country music."

"At a time like this (when the nominations are read), I am blown away by the fact that the people at radio, the promoters and the Music Row folks do recognize how many people are part of what they hear and what they see. To me, Just Who I Am is a record that's shown a lot of growth and when people give us these nominations, it says we're growing in the right direction."

In addition to being nominated for Entertainer and Male Vocalist, Chesney's "Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates" is up for Album of the Year - and its five-week number one song "Don't Blink" received nods for Song, Single and Video of the Year. He also picked up a pair of nominations for Vocal Event: "Find Out Who Your Friends Are" with Tracy Lawrence and Tim McGraw and Poets & Pirates' "Shiftwork" with George Strait. Chesney also receivee nominations as a Producer for Album, Single and Vocal Event.

"The last year really let me get deeper into the music," Chesney said. "Aside from having another incredible year on the road, playing everywhere from football stadiums to college bars, I not only made what I think is my best album, but I got to produce a record on Willie Nelson and a bluegrass record on my band mate Tim Hensley. I think all of it makes me strive even harder at this."

Chesney is readying his Poets & Pirate Tour - due to stop in 14 NFL Stadiums around the country this year.

"You know," he said. "I just try to be the kinda artist I wanted to see when I was coming up. To me, if you remember who you are, sing songs that speak to that and pay attention to the fans, that's all I can hope for. Seeing those people every night, I don't think I could do anything less."