2012 ACM Awards Nominees Celebrate!

As the saying goes, it's just an honor to be nominated, but that didn't stop The Boot from tracking down more detailed responses from this year's ACM nominees. Here are comments of surprise, gratitude and elation from Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Toby Keith, Kenny Chesney, Chris Young, Eric Church, Dierks Bentley and more.

Blake Shelton (Entertainer, Male Vocalist): "The support I have felt this week is overwhelming. Thank you everyone for this honor."

Jason Aldean (Entertainer, Male Vocalist, Album, Single, Video, Vocal Event): "Thank you guys very much for a great 2011. Great 2012, starting off pretty good, too. Thank y'all very much, as always, you guys vote for Entertainer of the Year, so go to ACMVote.com and help a brother out."

Kenny Chesney (Entertainer, Male Vocalist, Album, Song, Single, Vocal Event): "It's an honor to receive so much love from the Academy of Country Music after all they've done to support my music over the years. I can't wait to get back on the road with my good friend Tim [McGraw] and throw one big spring break party all summer long."

Toby Keith (Single, Video): "Cool ... Proceed to Party!"

Chris Young (Male Vocalist, Single): "First of all, it's just really exciting waking up on my bus, knowing [I'm] a musician ... but waking up and finding out [I'm] nominated for two ACM awards is pretty amazing. I'm so excited to be nominated for Single of the Year with 'Tomorrow' and, especially, to be nominated in the Male Vocalist of the Year category. Thank you guys so much, and I'm fired up."

Eric Church (Album, Video): "I've never minced words about the fact that my passion is making great records for the sake of the music. The fact that the ACMs have nominated us for the album category is quite the honor and, frankly, the one I revere the most. 'Homeboy,' both musically and visually, is a song that tells a compelling story. I have a very special place in my heart for the video, and I'm very grateful that it is getting recognized. It's been one hell of a year!"

Dierks Bentley (Song) tweeted this pic: "My immediate reaction after hearing 'Home' nominated for Song for the Year. Slightly excited... just a bit..."

Lady Antebellum: "We are extremely honored to be a part of all this with so many other great artists."

Lee Brice (Song for Eli Young Band's 'Crazy Girl'): "Liz Rose and I were just fortunate enough to be in the same room that magical day and wrote a magical song. Within a few hours, the song came together. I'm so honored to be acknowledged along with these other amazing writers. I'm so happy for the Eli Young Band. They've worked so hard for so long, and they deserve all the success that's coming to them."

Sara Evans (Female Vocalist): "So excited about the ACMs! Thanks to everyone who voted for me!"

Montgomery Gentry's Troy Gentry (Duo): "We are really proud to be nominated and blessed to be living our dream for as long as we have been. As always, we are truly humbled to be included in this category once again."

Thompson Square's Kiefer Thompson (Duo, New Artist) tells CMIL: "We woke up this morning to the email. It's just another moment like we had all year – just completely elated. [We] can't believe that this is [our] life right now. It's unbelievable."

Love and Theft's Stephen Barker Liles (Duo): "We're really thrilled. This is an honor, and we appreciate everyone who voted for us. And we couldn't be more grateful and humbled and thankful."

See a full list of nominees here. Reba McEntire and Blake Shelton are back for the second year to host the ACM ceremony, which will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena, April 1 at 8:00 PM ET on CBS.