Jackson leads the awards with seven nominations

Jackson's nods include entertainer of the year and male vocalist. His song Remember When won him song and video of the year nominations.

Newcomer Gretchen Wilson received five high-profile nominations, including one for best album Here for the Party.

The 38th annual CMA awards ceremony will take place at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry House on 9 November 2004.

New act

Jackson - who has won 16 CMA awards during his career - became a country sensation for his post-11 September song Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning).

He has already won the coveted entertainer of the year award three times.

Jackson has also been nominated for his duet with Jimmy Buffett, It's Five O'clock Somewhere, and a nomination for musical event of the year for collaborating on a remake of the Hank Williams' tune Hey, Good Lookin'.

Wilson's first hit single Redneck Woman was nominated for three awards: single, song and music video of the year.

She also was nominated for the Horizon award, which honours the top new act.

Hall of Fame

The other best album nominees were Brad Paisley for Mud on the Tires, Toby Keith for Shock'N Y'all, Kenny Chesney for When the Sun Goes Down and Brooks & Dunn for Red Dirt Road.

Artists with five nominations include Chesney and Alison Krauss, who was nominated for female vocalist of the year.

Other nominees include Terri Clark, Sara Evans, Martina McBride and Reba McEntire.

Singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson was selected for induction into the Country Hall of Fame.

The awards will be presented by country duo Brooks & Dunn.