CMAAwards960x360BTime just passes way too fast!  Doesn’t seem like 10 months ago that we were all sitting in front of our big screens watching the 2016 CMA Awards. But, it won’t be long until we are doing it again.  The 51st annual CMA Awards will be broadcast live from Nashville on Nov. 8.  Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood will again host the event, held at the Bridgestone Arena.  The show will air live on ABC at 8 p.m. (ET). 

Nominees were announced this morning, and I see a big surprise in the Vocal Duo of the Year category.  While I know Maddie and Tae are doing touring overseas, and have music played on UK radio all the time, we haven’t heard much from them here in the U.S. lately.  I think they have some really tough competition in that Vocal Duo of the Year category.

Former country artist (now pop singer), Taylor Swift received her first CMQA nomination in three years, as songwriter for Little Big Town’s “Better Man”.

It isn’t a surprise that Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert lead the group with five nominations each.  they are also competing against each other in three of those categories, Music Video of the Year, Single of the Year and Song of the Year.

But a few surprises still remain – Blake Shelton fans are obviously disappointed that he has no nominations again this year.  I do like seeing Chris Stapleton in that Entertainer of the Year category. He puts out some awesome music.

We are very happy to see Luke Combs in the New Vocalist of the Year category. I think Old Dominion belongs in the Vocal Duo of the Year category, but they don’t belong in the ‘new’ category.  They’ve been around a while.  I would have taken Jon Pardi out of the ‘new’ and moved him to Male Vocalist, too.  That would make room for some of our ‘newer’ artists.  Michael Ray has had some great songs out.  Still no ‘new’ nomination for him.  We have a lot of newcomers that deserve to be in that ‘new’ category list…hopefully next year they will have room for High Valley, Chris Janson and William Michael Morgan (to name a few).

Here are your 2017 CMA Award nominees.

Entertainer of the Year
Garth Brooks
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban

Female Vocalist of the Year
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Reba McEntire
Maren Morris
Carrie Underwood

Male Vocalist of the Year
Dierks Bentley
Eric Church
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban

New Artist of the Year
Luke Combs
Old Dominion
Jon Pardi
Brett Young
Lauren Alaina

Music Video of the Year
Little Big Town, “Better Man”
Keith Urban, “Blue Ain’t Your Color”
Thomas Rhett feat. Maren Morris, “Craving You”
Miranda Lambert, “Vice”
Brothers Osborne, “It Ain’t My Fault”

Vocal Duo of the Year
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
LOCASH
Maddie & Tae
Brothers Osborne

Single of the Year
“Better Man,” Little Big Town
“Blue Ain’t Your Color,” Keith Urban
“Body Like A Back Road,” Sam Hunt
“Dirt On My Boots,” Jon Pardi
“Tin Man,” Miranda Lambert

Album of the Year
The Breaker, Little Big Town
From A Room: Volume 1, Chris Stapleton
Heart Break, Lady Antebellum
The Nashville Sound, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
The Weight of These Wings, Miranda Lambert

Song of the Year
“Better Man,” Little Big Town
“Blue Ain’t Your Color,” Keith Urban
“Body Like A Back Road,” Sam Hunt
“Dirt On My Boots,” Jon Pardi
“Tin Man,” Miranda Lambert

Vocal Group of the Year
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Old Dominion
Rascal Flatts
Zac Brown Band

Musical Event of the Year
“Craving You,” Thomas Rhett feat. Maren Morris
“Funny How Time Slips Away,” Glen Campbell with Willie Nelson
“Kill A Word,” Eric Church feat. Rhiannon Giddens
“Setting the World on Fire,” Kenny Chesney feat. Pink
“Speak to a Girl,” Tim McGraw & Faith Hill

Musician of the Year
Jerry Douglas (Dobro)
Paul Franklin (Steel Guitar)
Dann Huff (Guitar)
Mac McAnally (Guitar)
Derek Wells (Guitar)

Mark your calendar for 8 p.m., Nov. 8, for the 2016 CMA awards.  It is always a great show, full of awesome performances, good music, a bit of humor from Carrie and Brad, and they toss in a few awards here and there.  Are you following Country’s Chatter on Twitter?   You will find us @countryshcatter. We’d love to have you.

countryAwardsNominations>ittle Big Town,ABC,Brad Paisley,Brothers Osborne,Carrie Underwood,chris stapleton,cma awards,Keith Urban,Miranda Lambert,Old Dominion,Sam Hunt
Time just passes way too fast!  Doesn’t seem like 10 months ago that we were all sitting in front of our big screens watching the 2016 CMA Awards. But, it won’t be long until we are doing it again.  The 51st annual CMA Awards will be broadcast live from...