The 2015 CMA awards show is over. Or, should we call this one The Chris Stapleton Show. We now know the names of all the winners. There are always a few surprises for me when the winner is announced. But, I think this year, for the most part, I tended to agree with the people who made the decisions. I said “for the most part” – there is one I totally disagree with. And we’ll just leave it go at that. I will tell you that I was as thrilled as Chris Stapleton when I watched him take home his awards! Very well deserved. Here is the list of nominees and winners.
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Garth Brooks
Luke Bryan — WINNER
Kenny Chesney
Eric Church
Miranda Lambert
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert — WINNER
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood
Lee Ann Womack
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Dierks Bentley
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Blake Shelton
Chris Stapleton — WINNER
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town — WINNER
Rascal Flatts
The Band Perry
Zac Brown Band
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line–WINNER
Maddie & Tae
Thompson Square
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Kelsea Ballerini
Sam Hunt
Maddie & Tae
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton — WINNER
ALBUM OF HE YEAR
Jason Aldean – Old Boots, New Dirt
Kacey Musgraves – Pageant Material
Little Big Town – Pain Killer
Kenny Chesney – The Big Revival
Chris Stapleton – Traveller–WINNER
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Kenny Chesney – American Kids
Little Big Town – Girl Crush — WINNER
Lee Brice – I Don’t Dance
Sam Hunt – Take Your Time
Eric Church – Talladega
SONG OF THE YEAR
American Kids – writers, Luke Laird and Shane McAnally
Girl Crush – writers, Liz Rose, Lori McKenna and Hillary Lindsey–WINNER
Like a Cowboy – writers, Randy Houser and Brice Long
Like a Wrecking Ball – writers, Eric Church and Casey Beathard Take Your Time – writers, Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne
Take Your Time – Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally, and Josh Osborne
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
Django and Jimmie – Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard
Lonely Tonight – Blake Shelton featuring Ashley Monroe
Raise ‘Em Up – Keith Urban featuring Eric Church — WINNER
Smokin’ and Drinkin’ – Miranda Lambert featuring Little Big Town
Wild Child – Kenny Chesney with Grace Potter
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Kacey Musgraves – Biscuits
Little Big Town – Girl Crush
Maddie & Tae – Girl in a Country Song — WINNER
Miranda Lambert – Little Red Wagon
Carrie Underwood – Something in the Water
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Sam Bush
Jerry Douglas
Paul Frankli
Dann Huff
Mac McAnally –WINNER
What did you think? Did the right ones take those trophies home this year? What do you think of awards shows in general? Are there just too many award shows these days? I always ask – and I always get a wide variety of answers. Do you think the awards are important? There are a lot of really awesome country artists who you aren’t seeing in that list of nominees. Do you think it matters to Toby Keith, George Strait, Brad Paisley, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Reba or any of the ones who weren’t nominated? I really believe what is more important to the artist is how many fans are in the seats at their shows; how many CDs and downloads they sold last month; and how high up on those music charts did their songs get. Seems to me they are all doing very well in those areas.
The show was definitely entertaining. Brad and Carrie always do a great job hosting. Some of the bits they did this year were really more stupid than they were funny, but I can deal with that. And, the show on a whole always leaves me anxiously waiting for the next CMA Award Show. So watch for me to be sitting in front of my television again next November, like I do every year.
We’ll have more for you soon!
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