A Swift rise to the top?

While Brad Paisley snagged a leading six Country Music Association Awards nominations Wednesday, breakout stars like Taylor Swift and Darius Rucker could be tough competition.

The 19-year-old Swift is the youngest person to be nominated for entertainer of the year, and Rucker – the former Hootie and the Blowfish singer – was nominated for male vocalist of the year after his first country album.

Swift, whose CD “Fearless” has sold more than 3 million copies and made her the top-selling act in both country and pop, is the first female solo artist to be nominated for the top award since 2000.

Her competitors are Paisley, Kenny Chesney, George Strait and Keith Urban.

Chesney has won the category four out of the last five years.

Swift was also nominated for female vocalist of the year, along with Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire and Carrie Underwood.

A not-so-quiet week

Garrison Keillor still plans to start his new season of “A Prairie Home Companion” as scheduled in just over two weeks, despite suffering a minor stroke.

He’ll remain at the Mayo Clinic until Friday for tests, then resume his normal schedule, a spokesman said.

Keillor, 67, underwent surgery to repair a heart valve at the Mayo Clinic in 2001.

Take five for posterity

Jazz legend Dave Brubeck, who plays Spokane on Tuesday, will be feted at the 32nd Kennedy Center Honors Gala on Dec. 6 – his 89th birthday.

Singer Bruce Springsteen, actor Robert De Niro, comic genius Mel Brooks and opera singer Grace Bumbry also will be honored.

The birthday bunch

Singer Jose Feliciano is 64. Guitarist Joe Perry (Aerosmith) is 59. Actress Amy Irving is 56. Director Chris Columbus is 51. Actor Colin Firth is 49. Singer-guitarist David Lowery (Cracker) is 49. Director Guy Ritchie is 41. Actor Ryan Phillippe is 35.