Before this year, Jason Aldean has only gotten Country Music Association nominations in the newcomer category. What a difference a year makes—Jason is in a four-way tie for most CMA noms this year with five, including in the entertainer category.

“I said this morning that I kinda feel like the ugly stepsister that finally got an invite to the ball,” Jason told The Tennessean.

“You never expect nominations . . . but I knew we had had a good year. So to get one is cool, but to leave there and have five is a big day for me and everybody in my camp.”

Jason says he’d love to win the top prize, entertainer, but he’s not picky.

“I’ll take any of them," he told the Nashville newspaper. “If I can figure out a way to get in that female vocalist category, I'll take that, too.”