Hey country music fans, guess what? The CMA Awards (Country Music Association) show will be taking place in early November and this is not an event to miss. All the huge country music performers will be there, either performing or nominated for an award. The Awards Show has 2 hugely popular hosts in Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood and is promising live performances by big names such as Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Eric Church & Hank Williams Jr, Sam Hunt, Kelsea Ballerini, Maddie & Tae, Kacey Musgraves and more. Supposedly Thomas Rett will join forces with Fall Out Boy and also Keith Urban will be performing with the well know John Mellencamp. This is truly going to be one of Country Music’s biggest nights of the year, and if you’re a fan, you can not miss it. The show is set to air on November 4th on ABC, but check your local listings to be sure.
When it comes to nominations, Jason Aldean has been nominated this awards show for the Album of the Year for his record ‘Old Boots, New Dirt‘. Luke Bryan has received multiple nominations as the CMA Entertainer of the Year and the Male Vocalist of the Year. From the TV show The Voice, coach Blake Shelton picked up nominations for the Musical Event of the Year and Best Male Vocalist, while Sam Hunt will be up against some tough competition for the New Artist of the Year, Single of the Year, and Song of the Year.
Below here is a complete list of the 2015 CMA Awards nominees. Top nominations include Little Big Town and Eric Church, both with 5 nominations. Kenny Chesney and Miranda Lambert aren’t far from them, they each have four nominations. See the rest below.
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
- Garth Brooks
- Luke Bryan
- Kenny Chesney
- Eric Church
- Miranda Lambert
SINGLE OF THE YEAR – (Award goes to Artist and Producer(s))
- “American Kids” – Kenny Chesney – Produced by Buddy Cannon and Kenny Chesney – Blue Chair Records/Columbia Nashville
- “Girl Crush” – Little Big Town – Produced by Jay Joyce – Capitol Records Nashville
- “I Don’t Dance” – Lee Brice – Produced by Lee Brice – Curb Records
- “Take Your Time” – Sam Hunt – Produced Zach Crowell and Shane McAnally – MCA Nashville
- “Talladega” – Eric Church – Produced by Jay Joyce and Arturo Buenahora, Jr. – EMI Records Nashville
ALBUM OF THE YEAR – (Award goes to Artist and Producer(s))
- Old Boots, New Dirt – Jason Aldean – Produced by Michael Knox – Broken Bow
- Pageant Material – Kacey Musgraves – Produced by Kacey Musgraves, Luke Laird, and Shane McAnally – Mercury Nashville
- Pain Killer – Little Big Town – Produced by Jay Joyce – Capitol Records Nashville
- The Big Revival – Kenny Chesney – Produced by Buddy Cannon and Kenny Chesney – Blue Chair Records/Columbia Nashville
- Traveller – Chris Stapleton – Produced by Dave Cobb and Chris Stapleton – Mercury Nashville
SONG OF THE YEAR – (Award goes to Songwriter(s))
- “American Kids” – Rodney Clawson, Luke Laird, and Shane McAnally
- “Girl Crush” – Liz Rose, Lori McKenna, and Hillary Lindsey
- “Like a Cowboy” – Randy Houser and Brice Long
- “Like a Wrecking Ball” – Eric Church and Casey Beathard
- “Take Your Time” – Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally, and Josh Osborne
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
- Kelsea Ballerini
- Miranda Lambert
- Kacey Musgraves
- Carrie Underwood
- Lee Ann Womack
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
- Dierks Bentley
- Luke Bryan
- Eric Church
- Blake Shelton
- Chris Stapleton
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
- Lady Antebellum
- Little Big Town
- Rascal Flatts
- The Band Perry
- Zac Brown Band
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
- Brothers Osborne
- Dan + Shay
- Florida Georgia Line
- Maddie & Tae
- Thompson Square
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR – (Award goes to each artist)
- “Django and Jimmie” – Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard – Legacy Recordings
- “Lonely Tonight” – Blake Shelton featuring Ashley Monroe – Warner Bros./Warner Music Nashville
- “Raise ‘Em Up” – Keith Urban featuring Eric Church – Hit Red Records/Capitol Records Nashville
- “Smokin’ and Drinkin’” – Miranda Lambert featuring Little Big Town – RCA Nashville
- “Wild Child” – Kenny Chesney with Grace Potter – Blue Chair Records/Columbia Nashville
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
- Sam Bush (Mandolin)
- Jerry Douglas (Dobro)
- Paul Franklin (Steel Guitar)
- Dann Huff (Guitar)
- Mac McAnally (Guitar)
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
- “Biscuits” – Kacey Musgraves – Directed by Marc Klasfeld
- “Girl Crush” – Little Big Town – Directed by Karla Welch and Matthew Welch
- “Girl in a Country Song” – Maddie & Tae – Directed by TK McKamy
- “Little Red Wagon” – Miranda Lambert – Directed by Trey Fanjoy
- “Something in the Water” – Carrie Underwood – Directed by Raj Kapoor
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Kelsea Ballerini
- Sam Hunt
- Maddie & Tae
- Thomas Rhett
- Chris Stapleton
The 2015 CMA Awards will air on TV on November 4th. All country music fans should watch the show because it will be loaded with their favorite country performers!
Written by Craig Scott