Kenny, Taylor, Lady A + More React to CMA Nods

The 2009 CMA nominations are in! Here's what some of the nominated artists had to say about hearing their names called today.

"Moments like this force you to slow down and think about everything that goes into a nomination like this ... all the pieces, the team who helps you pull stuff like this off and, especially, the faces of the fans when you're on a gator in the parking lot or flying over them on that swing we used for entrances this year." - Kenny Chesney (Nominations: Entertainer, Male Vocalist, Musical Event of the Year)

"This is absolutely awe inspiring. I've never loved playing music as much as I have this year. The response to the new album has been divine and, given the crazy times we're in, the celebratory atmosphere and positive energy night after night on this particular tour has been nothing short of a miracle ... and we're not even done yet!" - Keith Urban (Nominations: Entertainer, Male Vocalist, Album, Video of the Year)

"To country music radio and the fans and anybody who voted for the CMAs this year, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you." - Taylor Swift, counting out four 'thank yous' for each nomination. (Nominations: Entertainer, Female Vocalist, Album, Music Video of the Year)

"Being halfway around the world and hearing that we got two CMA nominations is totally surreal ... We're so far from home, but we're also really connected to Nashville, because there are so many fans over here who absolutely love country music." - Lady Antebellum's Charles Kelley, after landing in Gstaad, Switzerland. (Nominations: Single and Group of the Year)

"Everything with this record has been wild, and this really caps the year we've had with these two honors. It feels great. It feels like I'm part of the family." - Darius Rucker (Nominations: Male Vocalist and New Artist of the Year)

"It's such an honor to be grouped with these other great New Artist nominees. Many of them are buddies of mine, so it's going to be a fun party afterwards no matter who wins. To have your music and hard work acknowledged like this is pretty cool ... Drake's performance sold this video ('Boots On,' nominated for Video of the Year). This goes to prove that you can't go wrong with kids or puppies. If we can find a puppy to super impose real quick, we'll win this thing!" - Randy Houser (Nominations: New Artist, Music Video of the Year).