Contest: Outguess Country Universe – CMA Nominations

I’m feeling a little generous, my friends, and bankrolling a fun little contest here. Over the past few days, I’ve made predictions for eight categories in the upcoming CMA Awards. Do you think you can outguess Country Universe?

Here’s how the contest works. Post your predictions for all eight categories – five per category – in the comments section below. The final nominees will be announced on Thursday, August 30, so the deadline for posting your prediction is Wednesday, August 29, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. I’ll award one point for each correct nominee, for a total possible score of 40. The person with the highest score will win a $25 Amazon Gift Certificate via e-mail. In the event of a tie, the person with the earliest entry will win, so get cracking! Make sure to include a valid e-mail address when posting.

Here are the predictions of Country Universe. Click on the category title for analysis:

Entertainer of the Year

  • Kenny Chesney
  • Brad Paisley
  • Rascal Flatts
  • Carrie Underwood
  • Keith Urban

Male Vocalist of the Year

  • Kenny Chesney
  • Brad Paisley
  • George Strait
  • Josh Turner
  • Keith Urban

Female Vocalist of the Year

  • Sara Evans
  • Alison Krauss
  • Miranda Lambert
  • Martina McBride
  • Carrie Underwood

Vocal Duo of the Year

  • Big & Rich
  • Brooks & Dunn
  • Montgomery Gentry
  • Sugarland
  • The Wreckers

Vocal Group of the Year

  • Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas
  • Emerson Drive
  • Heartland
  • Little Big Town
  • Rascal Flatts

Horizon Award

  • Jason Aldean
  • Rodney Atkins
  • Billy Currington
  • Little Big Town
  • Taylor Swift

Single of the Year

  • “Before He Cheats” – Carrie Underwood
  • “Find Out Who Your Friends Are” – Tracy Lawrence
  • “Give it Away” – George Strait
  • “If You’re Going Through Hell” – Rodney Atkins
  • “Ticks” – Brad Paisley

Album of the Year

  • Vince Gill, These Days
  • Tim McGraw, Let it Go
  • Brad Paisley, 5th Gear
  • George Strait, It Just Comes Natural
  • Keith Urban, Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing

20 Comments

  1. Entertainer of the Year
    Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, George Strait

    Male Vocalist
    Keith Urban, Tim Mcgraw, George Strait, Brad Paisley, Kenny Chesney

    Female Vocalist
    Carrie Underwood, Faith Hill, Martina Mcbride, Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert

    Vocal Duo of the Year
    Brooks & Dunn, Sugarland, Big & Rich, The Wreckers, Montgomery Gentry

    Vocal Group of the Year
    Rascal Flatts, Little Big Town, Emerson Drive, Heartland,
    Allison Krauss & the Union Station(Featuring Jerry Douglas)

    Horizon Award
    Eric Church, Jake Owen, Jason Aldean, Taylor Swift, Bucky Covington

    Single of the Year
    Before He Cheats(Carrie Underwood), Give It Away(George Strait),
    Ticks(Brad Paisley), Stupid Boy(Keith Urban), Stand(Rascal Flatts)

    Album of the Year
    Love, Pain, & the Whole Crazy Thing(Keith Urban),
    It Just Comes Natural(George Strait),
    Let It Go(Tim Mcgraw), 5th Gear(Brad Paisley), Bucky Covington(Bucky Covington)

  2. Entertainer: Trace Adkins, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw
    Male Vocalist: Tim McGraw, Josh Turner, Rodney Atkins, Kenny Chesney, George Strait
    Female Vocalist: Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Sara Evans
    Vocal Duo: Big & Rich, Brooks & Dunn, Sugarland, Montgomery Gentry, Halfway to Hazard
    Vocal Group: Rascal Flatts, Emerson Drive, Little Big Town, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Heartland
    Horizon: Eric Church, Jason Aldean, Rodney Atkins, Jake Owen, Taylor Swift
    Single: Before He Cheats (Carrie Underwood), Brand New Girlfriend (Steve Holy), If You’re Going Through Hell (Rodney Atkins), Good Directions (Billy Currington), Want To (Sugarland)
    Album: Love, pain, & the whole crazy thing (Keith Urban), 5th Gear (Brad Paisley), It Just Comes Natural (George Strait), Let It Go (Tim McGraw), Enjoy the Ride (Sugarland)

    Two additional outside of the contest, just because I feel like it:
    Song: If You’re Going Through Hell (Berg/Tate/Tate), Moments (Berg/Tate/Tate), If You’re Reading This (McGraw/Warren/Warren), Tough (Leathers/Criswell), I’ll Wait For You (Anderson/Allen)
    Vocal Event: Because of You (Reba McEntire/Kelly Clarkson), Oh Love (Brad Paisley/Carrie Underwood), I Need You (Tim McGraw/Faith Hill), Missing You (Alison Krauss/John Waite), The Reason Why (Vince Gill/Alison Krauss)

  3. Entertainer Of The Year:

    Kenny Chesney
    Brad Paisley
    Rascal Flatts
    Keith Urban
    Tim McGraw

    Male Vocalist

    Kenny Chesney
    Brad Paisley
    George Strait
    Keith Urban
    Tim McGraw

    Female Vocalist

    Carrie Underwood
    Miranda Lambert
    Martina McBride
    Faith Hill
    Sara Evans

    Vocal Duo

    Brooks & Dunn
    Big & Rich
    Sugarland
    Montogomery Gentry
    The Wreckers

    Vocal Group

    Allison Krauss and Union Station Featuring Jerry Douglas
    Rascal Flatts
    Emerson Drive
    Little Big Town
    Heartland

    Horizon Award

    Jason Aldean
    Rodney Atkins
    Taylor Swift
    Little Big Town
    Bucky Covington

    Single Of The Year

    Before He Cheats-Carrie Underwood
    Stand-Rascal Flatts
    Stupid Boy-Keith Urban
    Give It Away-George Strait
    If Your Going Through Hell-Rodney Atkins

    Album Of The Year

    Brad Paisley-5TH Gear
    Keith Urban-Love,Pain,and the whole crazy thing
    George Strait-It Just Comes Natural
    Tim McGraw-Let It Go
    Taylor Swift-Taylor Swift

  4. Album Of The Year

    Brad Paisley-5TH Gear
    Keith Urban-Love,Pain,and the whole crazy thing
    George Strait-It Just Comes Natural
    Tim McGraw-Let It Go
    Taylor Swift-Taylor Swift

  5. okay for some reason i can’t get my predications to go through but every other comment of mine will. so can i email you my predications if i can’t get it to work(i have been trying for 3 hours to get it to go through and it won’t but hey,i am still trying)

  6. Jenny,

    Your comments were getting caught in the spam folder, so I approved your earliest posting. That way, you’ll get credit for the earliest time you tried to post!

  7. EOTY: George Strait should get this one. He’s a legend. If not, Kenny will walk away with this award (who I think is overrated). I don’t think Kenny will be around in the next 25 years.
    Male Vocalist: George Strait
    Female Vocalist: Martina McBride (enough of Carrie)
    Singleof the Year: Give it Away
    Songof the Year: Give it Away
    Album of the Year: It Just Comes Natural, Geo Strait

  8. Top Vocal Group: Rascal Flatts will win.
    Top Duo: Sugarland (and it’s about time). Brooks & Dunn are very talented; but let’s move on, CMA.

    I always felt that Keith Urban is more rock-n-roll than country. Brad Paisley seems like a nice guy but I think he lacks charisma in his song delivery. Tim McGraw is a sexy, attractive man, but I think he should exclude his wife in his musical endeavors.
    Toby is in his own world and doing fine without the CMAs, ACMs, etc. Fans know where to find him. In my opinion, George Strait is still the king and will always retain his throne in country music. He deserves a lot more musical honors.

    Carrie is a blah. She has tremendous vocal range but so does Martina. Carrie is having her moment now but she’ll never equal Reba’s versatility. She’s way too overplayed for my money.

  9. Maureen,

    Just a heads-up. If you’re looking to participate in this contest, it requires listing your predictions for who/what will be the five nominees in the following 8 categories: Entertainer, Male, Female, Duo, Group, Horizon, Single, Album.

  10. Okay, Kevin:

    EOTY: Kenny, Brad, Rascal Flatts, Geo Strait, Tim McGraw
    Male Vocalist: Brad, George Strait, Kenny, Tim, Josh turner
    Female Vocalist: Martina, Carrie, Miranda Lambert, Faith, Lee ann rimes
    Best Duo: B&D, Sugarland, MGentry, Wreckers,
    Best Group: LBT, RF, Heartland, Allison kraus,
    Horizon: jason aldean, rodney, taylor swift,
    Single: Give it Away, I loved her first, what you give away,stupid, before he cheats
    Record: Give it Away, I loved her first, what you give away, stupid, before he cheats
    Album: Tim McGraw, KUrban, Geo Strait, Vince Gill, brad paisley

  11. Entertainer Of The Year:

    Kenny Chesney
    Brad Paisley
    Rascal Flatts
    Keith Urban
    Carrie Underwood

    Male Vocalist

    Kenny Chesney
    Brad Paisley
    George Strait
    Keith Urban
    Josh Turner

    Female Vocalist

    Carrie Underwood
    Miranda Lambert
    Martina McBride
    Taylor Swift
    Sara Evans

    Vocal Duo

    Brooks & Dunn
    Big & Rich
    Sugarland
    Montogomery Gentry
    Halfway to Hazard

    Vocal Group

    Allison Krauss and Union Station Featuring Jerry Douglas
    Rascal Flatts
    Emerson Drive
    Little Big Town
    Heartland

    Horizon Award

    Jason Aldean
    Rodney Atkins
    Taylor Swift
    Little Big Town
    Craig Morgan

    Single Of The Year

    Before He Cheats – Carrie Underwood
    Stupid Boy – Keith Urban
    If You’re Going Through Hell – Rodney Atkins
    Ticks – Brad Paisley
    Find Out Who Your Friends Are – Tracy Lawrence

    Album Of The Year

    Brad Paisley – 5th Gear
    Keith Urban – Love,Pain,and the Whole Crazy Thing
    Miranda Lambert – Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
    Rodney Atkins – If You’re Going Through Hell
    George Strait – It Just Comes Natural

  12. Entertainer of the Year

    Keith Urban
    Kenny Chesney
    Carrie Underwood
    Rascal Flatts
    Brad Paisley

    Male Vocalist of the Year

    Kenny Chesney
    Keith Urban
    Brad Paisley
    George Strait
    Josh Turner

    Female Vocalist of the Year

    Carrie Underwood
    Alison Krauss
    Sara Evans
    Miranda Lambert
    Martina McBride

    Vocal Duo of the Year

    Sugarland
    Big & Rich
    Brooks & Dunn
    Montgomery Gentry
    The Wreckers

    Vocal Group of the Year

    Emerson Drive
    Rascal Flatts
    Little Big Town
    Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas
    Heartland

    Horizon Award

    Billy Currington
    Rodney Atkins
    Jason Aldean
    Taylor Swift
    Little Big Town

    Single of the Year

    “Before He Cheats” – Carrie Underwood
    “If You’re Going Through Hell” – Rodney Atkins
    “Find Out Who Your Friends Are” – Tracy Lawrence
    “Give it Away” – George Strait
    “Ticks” – Brad Paisley

    Album of the Year

    Keith Urban, Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing
    Brad Paisley, 5th Gear
    Tim McGraw, Let it Go
    George Strait, It Just Comes Natural
    Vince Gill, These Days

  13. Entertainer Of The Year:

    Kenny Chesney
    Brad Paisley
    Rascal Flatts
    Martina McBride
    Tim McGraw

    Male Vocalist

    Kenny Chesney
    Brad Paisley
    George Strait
    Keith Urban
    Tim McGraw

    Female Vocalist

    Sara Evans
    Alison Krause
    Miranda Lambert
    Martina McBride
    Carrie Underwood

    Vocal Duo

    Big & Rich
    Brooks & Dunn
    Montogomery Gentry
    Sugarland
    The Wreckers

    Vocal Group

    Allison Krauss and Union Station Featuring Jerry Douglas
    Emerson Drive
    Heartland
    Little Big Town
    Rascal Flatts

    Horizon Award

    Jason Aldean
    Rodney Atkins
    Little Big Town
    Kellie Pickler
    Taylor Swift

    Single Of The Year

    Before He Cheats-Carrie Underwood
    Anyway- Martina McBride
    Ticks -Brad Paisley
    Give It Away-George Strait
    If Your Going Through Hell-Rodney Atkins

    Album Of The Year

    Martina McBride- Waking Up Laughing
    Tim McGraw-Let It Go
    Brad Paisley-5TH Gear
    George Strait-It Just Comes Natural
    Keith Urban-Love,Pain,and the whole crazy thing

  14. Entertainer of the Year

    Kenny Chesney
    Brad Paisley
    Rascal Flatts
    George Strait
    Keith Urban

    Male Vocalist of the Year

    Kenny Chesney
    Brad Paisley
    George Strait
    Josh Turner
    Keith Urban

    Female Vocalist of the Year

    Sara Evans
    Miranda Lambert
    Martina McBride
    Taylor Swift
    Carrie Underwood

    Vocal Duo of the Year

    Big & Rich
    Brooks & Dunn
    Montgomery Gentry
    Sugarland
    The Wreckers

    Vocal Group of the Year

    Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas
    Emerson Drive
    Heartland
    Little Big Town
    Rascal Flatts

    Horizon Award

    Jason Aldean
    Rodney Atkins
    Billy Currington
    Little Big Town
    Taylor Swift

    Single of the Year

    “Beer in Mexico” – Kenny Chesney (If “Summertime” made it in last year, well…)
    “Before He Cheats” – Carrie Underwood
    “Give it Away” – George Strait
    “If You’re Going Through Hell” – Rodney Atkins
    “Ticks” – Brad Paisley

    Album of the Year

    Alan Jackson, Like Red on a Rose
    Brad Paisley, 5th Gear
    George Strait, It Just Comes Natural
    Keith Urban, Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing
    Vince Gill, These Days

  15. Entertainer of the Year

    Kenny Chesney
    Brad Paisley
    Rascal Flatts
    George Strait
    Keith Urban

    Male Vocalist of the Year

    Kenny Chesney
    Brad Paisley
    George Strait
    Josh Turner
    Keith Urban

    Female Vocalist of the Year

    Sara Evans
    Miranda Lambert
    Martina McBride
    Taylor Swift
    Carrie Underwood

    Vocal Duo of the Year

    Big & Rich
    Brooks & Dunn
    Montgomery Gentry
    Sugarland
    The Wreckers

    Vocal Group of the Year

    Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas
    Emerson Drive
    Heartland
    Little Big Town
    Rascal Flatts

    Horizon Award

    Jason Aldean
    Rodney Atkins
    Billy Currington
    Little Big Town
    Taylor Swift

    Single of the Year

    “Beer in Mexico” – Kenny Chesney (If “Summertime” made it in last year, well…)
    “Before He Cheats” – Carrie Underwood
    “Give it Away” – George Strait
    “If You’re Going Through Hell” – Rodney Atkins
    “Ticks” – Brad Paisley

    Album of the Year

    Alan Jackson, Like Red on a Rose
    Brad Paisley, 5th Gear
    George Strait, It Just Comes Natural
    Keith Urban, Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing
    Vince Gill, These Days

  16. Well entertainer of the year should be Kenny Chesney, he was great but his opening acts were terrific too. I saw Keith Urban and his show was you basic concert but he rocked.

    Horzion award should be 100% Eric Church every song he wrote on his album is great.

    Album of the year should be Keith Urban, Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy thing.

    Female vocalist definitely Miranda Lambert, she is great.

    Male Vocalist is a hard one, I love George Strait but Keith is great too.

    Duo or Group has to be Sugarland –

    Song of the Year – my vote would be “If you’re reading this” by Tim McGraw, man that song just makes my heart stop and my eyes tear up everytime I hear it

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