You are going to have to wait until Nov. 8th on ABC to find out who wins. It will be another great show hosted for the second time by Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning. For now, let the debates begin. Did ‘they’ get it right? Who got ‘snubbed’? Who doesn’t deserved a nomination? I think anyone who can sing and perform at this level deserves a nomination, sadlly, at the end of the day, there are only so many categories and not everyone can win. You don’t get a participation trophy.
First take – Lainey Wilson with her nine nominations, is the first artist in CMA history to top the nominations list in her first two appearances on the final ballot.
Moreover, Wilson is just the fourth artist in CMA history to land nine or more nominations in a single year. She follows Merle Haggard (nine nods in 1970), Alan Jackson (a record 10 nods in 2002) and Miranda Lambert (nine nods in both 2010 and 2014).
Luke Combs
Lainey Wilson
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen
Carrie Underwood
“Fast Car”
Luke Combs
PRODUCER(S): Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton
MIX ENGINEER(S): Chip Matthews
River House Artists / Columbia Nashville
“Heart Like A Truck”
Lainey Wilson
PRODUCER(S): Jay Joyce
MIX ENGINEER(S): Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
“Need A Favor”
Jelly Roll
PRODUCER(S): Austin Nivarel
MIX ENGINEER(S): Jeff Braun
BBR Music Group / Stoney Creek Records
“Next Thing You Know”
Jordan Davis
PRODUCER(S): Paul DiGiovanni
MIX ENGINEER(S): Jim Cooley
MCA Nashville / Universal Music Group Nashville
“Wait in the truck”
HARDY (feat. Lainey Wilson)
PRODUCER(S): HARDY, Joey Moi, Jordan Schmidt, Derek Wells
MIX ENGINEER(S): Joey Moi
Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville
Ashley McBryde
PRODUCER(S): John Osborne, John Peets
MIX ENGINEER(S): Gena Johnson, John Osborne
Bell Bottom Country
Lainey Wilson
PRODUCER(S): Jay Joyce
MIX ENGINEER(S): Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
Gettin’ Old
Luke Combs
PRODUCER(S): Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton
MIX ENGINEER(S): Michael H. Brauer, Jim Cooley, Chip Matthews
River House Artists / Columbia Nashville
One Thing At A Time
Morgan Wallen
PRODUCER(S): Jacob Durrett, Charlie Handsome, Joey Moi, Cameron Montgomery
MIX ENGINEER(S): Josh Ditty, Joey Moi, Eivind Nordland
Big Loud Records / Republic Records
Rolling Up the Welcome Mat
Kelsea Ballerini
PRODUCER(S): Kelsea Ballerini, Alysa Vanderheym
MIX ENGINEER(S): Dan Grech-Marguerat, Alysa Vanderheym
Black River Entertainment
SONG OF THE YEAR Award goes to Songwriter(s)
“Heart Like A Truck”
Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson, Lainey Wilson
“Next Thing You Know”
Jordan Davis, Greylan James, Chase McGill, Josh Osborne
“Tennessee Orange”
David Fanning, Paul Jenkins, Megan Moroney, Ben Williams
“wait in the truck”
Renee Blair, Michael Hardy, Hunter Phelps, Jordan Schmidt
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Ashley McBryde
Carly Pearce
Lainey Wilson
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Luke Combs
Jelly Roll
Chris Stapleton
Cody Johnson
Morgan Wallen
Lady A
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion
Zac Brown Band
Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Maddie & Tae
The War & Treaty
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
“Save Me”
Jelly Roll (with Lainey Wilson)
PRODUCER(S): Zach Crowell, David Ray Stevens
BBR Music Group / Stoney Creek Records
“She Had Me At Heads Carolina (Remix)”
Cole Swindell & Jo Dee Messina
PRODUCER(S): Zach Crowell
“Thank God”
Kane Brown (with Katelyn Brown)
“wait in the truck”
HARDY (feat. Lainey Wilson)
PRODUCER(S): HARDY, Joey Moi, Jordan Schmidt, Derek Wells
“We Don’t Fight Anymore”
Carly Pearce (featuring Chris Stapleton)
PRODUCER(S): Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Carly Pearce
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Jenee Fleenor
Paul Franklin
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Rob McNelley
Derek Wells
Charlie Worsham
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR (Award goes to artist and director)
“Light On In The Kitchen”
Ashley McBryde
“Memory Lane”
Old Dominion
DIRECTOR(S): Mason Allen, Nicki Fletcher
“Need A Favor”
Jelly Roll
DIRECTOR(S): Patrick Tohill
“Next Thing You Know”
Jordan Davis
DIRECTOR(S): Running Bear
“Wait in the truck”
HARDY (feat. Lainey Wilson)
DIRECTOR(S): Justin Clough
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Zach Bryan
Jelly Roll
Parker McCollum
Megan Moroney
Hailey Whitters
