In the Entertainer and Male Vocalist races, I’ve been making the case for fresh blood. In those categories, the routine nominees are mostly past their peaks, and there’s room to let some rising stars in on the action.
Oh, to be able to make the same case for the Female Vocalist race. Let’s take a look at last year’s nominees:
2009
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Reba McEntire
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
For the first time in this category’s history, I believe voters are facing a dilemma that plagued the Vocal Duo category for most of the nineties: there just aren’t enough worthy nominees to finish out the category.
Even earlier in this decade, when radio was barely playing any women at all, there were women like Alison Krauss, Dolly Parton, and Patty Loveless who earned nominations for their critically acclaimed roots records. Krauss was even a regular in this category for a good chunk of the decade, and despite being largely absent from radio, she sold more records than some of her fellow nominees.
This year, there isn’t even a woman who could step forward and claim that mantle. So my picks don’t bring anything new to the table. Maybe some of you can make the case that I’m unable to, and suggest new blood in the comments.
Picks for Female Vocalist
Miranda Lambert
She deserves her fourth consecutive nomination, and on the strength of Revolution and its hit single “The House That Built Me”, I think that she deserves the win this year.
Martina McBride
In any other year, this would be the slot that should be up for grabs. McBride didn’t release a new album, and while she had some success at radio with “Wrong Baby Wrong”, it didn’t crack the top ten or reignite album sales. Still, who is standing in her way? Kellie Pickler? Gretchen Wilson? Laura Bell Bundy? I fully expect her to earn her thirteenth consecutive nomination, matching Reba McEntire’s record run from 1983-1995.
Reba McEntire
Speaking of McEntire, she’s been popping up in this category again in recent years. After those thirteen consecutive nominations ended in 1995, the race was far too competitive for a good while. She’s earned three nominations since then, in 2004, 2006, and 2009. Her massive hit “Consider Me Gone” and surprisingly strong record sales mean that this won’t be a filler nomination. She’s earned it.
Taylor Swift
Yes, I know the idea of her winning vocalist awards makes many wince, but c’mon now. There’s no denying she’s one of the top female artists today. Until Eminem’s recent comeback, she was the biggest star in all of music, period. And she’s got a shot at reclaiming that title with her third album, if initial reaction to “Mine” is any indication.
Carrie Underwood
The three-time winner is radio’s favorite artist and her album sales have remained strong. If Lambert hadn’t surged with “The House That Built Me”, I think that Underwood would be ahead in the race this year. If she makes the final ballot for Entertainer, I suspect that voters will reward her in that category and give Female Vocalist to Lambert. There’s good precedent for this, as Dolly Parton (1978), Barbara Mandrell (1980), and Shania Twain (1999) won Entertainer without winning Female Vocalist that night. It’s happened even more in the Entertainer/Male races, given that the big prize has gone to men far more frequently.
If turnover has been slow in the Entertainer category, it’s been nothing less than glacial in the Male Vocalist race. Over the past ten years, only eleven men have received nominations. Four of those eleven – Dierks Bentley, Vince Gill, Darius Rucker, and Josh Turner – have been nominated only once.
Now, Toby Keith and Tim McGraw were regularly invited to the party in the first half of the last decade, with four and three nominations, respectively. But the race has essentially been dominated by the same five men: Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley, George Strait, and Keith Urban, who combine for forty nominations in just one decade.
The recent history has been pretty boring. After two consecutive wins by Alan Jackson, we’ve had three consecutive wins each by Keith Urban and reigning champ Brad Paisley.
Will there be a new winner this year, or even a new nominee? Should there be?
Let’s take a look at last year’s race:
2009
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
Darius Rucker
George Strait
Keith Urban
Darius Rucker was the new face to enter the race last year. No brand new nominee has been nominated again in this category since Keith Urban earned his first nomination in 2004. He’s been in the race ever since. I’d say Rucker’s close to a lock, along with Paisley. But just like in the Entertainer race, a case could be made for a decent shake-up, especially some of this category’s veteran acts have dipped at radio and retail.
Here’s who I would nominate this year. Share your picks in the comments:
Jason Aldean
Anybody else notice that this guy’s outselling the rest of the male solo artists? All the while, he’s been completely ignored at the country awards shows for his last two projects. He’s not overdue just yet, but he’s due.
Dierks Bentley
He went out of his comfort zone to release a bluegrass-flavored album that was pretty darn good.
Brad Paisley
He just missed my list for preferred Entertainer nominees, but he’s at the head of the pack in this category. With his domination at radio, not to mention a stronger studio album than his previous two, I wouldn’t be shocked for him to become the third artist in history to win four of these.
Blake Shelton
His hit-making has certainly been kicked up a notch as of late. He may be destined to toil just under the radar of this category like Trace Adkins and Gary Allan before him, but it would be nice to see him get a nod.
Josh Turner
A decent comeback at radio and retail, coupled with him being a great singer who’s been overlooked, makes me hope he finishes out this category.
___
I left off previous nominees Keith Urban, George Strait, and Darius Rucker because they haven’t put out new albums during the eligibility period, so it seems like a good time to let some new folks get a chance. I left off Kenny Chesney because he’s been doing nothing but stopgap releases for the past year, none of which sold to his normal standards. I left off Tim McGraw, even though he’s made some music I really like lately, because he hasn’t been doing as well as usual at radio and retail.
As we did last year, it’s time to share our preferences for this year’s CMA Awards. Last year, Taylor Swift was the belle of the ball, winning four awards. Some long winning streaks came to an end, as Swift replaced both Kenny Chesney as Entertainer of the Year and Carrie Underwood as Female Vocalist of the Year. Lady Antebellum ended Rascal Flatts’ long run as top Vocal Group, and were the surprise winners of Single of the Year as well.
Once again. I’ve selected the five artists that I believe are most deserving of an Entertainer of the Year nomination. But first, let’s take a look at last year’s race:
Entertainer of the Year (2009)
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Taylor Swift
Keith Urban
Swift was victorious in her first nomination in this category. She competed against three previous winners: Kenny Chesney, who has gone 4 for 8 in this category; Keith Urban, who is 1 for 5; and the incomparable George Strait, who is 2 for 17. Brad Paisley lost for the fifth year, tying Kenny Rogers for the most nominations without a win.
As the numbers above show, this has been a largely static category for the past ten years. Only thirteen artists earned nominations from 2000-2009. The CMA noms can be very predictable.
But looking at radio and retail these days, there’s been a big changing of the guard. I think that this category more than any other should reflect that. I’m putting my personal tastes aside here, as there are only two artists I list that I actually listen to regularly.
Entertainer of the Year (2010)
The nominees should be:
Lady Antebellum
Their second album has already spent 25 weeks at #1, and “Need You Now” was such a big hit that it’s led to pop airplay for “I Run to You”, the award-winning hit from their debut album. It would be an early nomination in terms of their career, but Alabama and Dixie Chicks were elevated to this category even faster, so there’s precedent for vocal groups.
Miranda Lambert
She’s always had the critical success, and she’s always sold records. But she’s selling them a heck of a lot faster these days and radio is suddenly, shockingly, spectacularly on board. It’s time for the CMA to catch up with the ACM, who have been away ahead in acknowledging this artist.
Taylor Swift
Being nominated the year after winning is not a given, but it’s the norm. While it was common in the seventies, it’s been very rare in recent years. Shania Twain (1999) was the last winner to not receive another nomination the following year, with the others being: Dolly Parton (1978), Mel Tillis (1976), John Denver (1975), and Charlie Rich (1974).
So she’s probably a lock for a nomination, and she deserves one. Though things have been quiet on the Swift front for the past couple of months, she had a massive tour and sold a ton of records during the eligibility period.
Carrie Underwood
She really should be enjoying her third nomination this year, but a (flimsy) case could be made for her not making the ballot in 2008 and 2009. But no nomination this year would be inexcusable. She had a very successful tour, continued to dominate radio, and her third album is quickly approaching double platinum. At this point, she shouldn’t just get a nomination. She should win.
Zac Brown Band
Their live performances are well-regarded, radio is fully on board, and their first major label album is double platinum. A case could be made for Brad Paisley getting this spot, but sales of his new album have fallen quite a bit short of previous efforts. The same goes for other perennial nominees Keith Urban, George Strait, and Kenny Chesney.
Musical Event of the Year – “Start A Band”, Brad Paisley & Keith Urban
Music Video of the Year – “Love Story”, Taylor Swift
Single of the Year – “I Run To You”, Lady Antebellum
Song of the Year – “In Color”, Jamey Johnson, Lee Thomas Miller, James Otto
Vocal Group of the Year – Lady Antebellum
New Artist of the Year – Darius Rucker
Album of the Year – Fearless, Taylor Swift
Vocal Duo of the Year – Sugarland
Male Vocalist of the Year – Brad Paisley
Female Vocalist of the Year – Taylor Swift
Entertainer of the Year – Taylor Swift
- – -
11:05 DM: Final tally of CMA staff predictions: Leeann – 9, Dan – 7, Tara – 6, Kevin – 5 (not counting Video). Leeann triumphs again! Thanks for joining us, everyone!
11:04 KC: Artists who have won 4 CMA awards in one night: Johnny Cash. Merle Haggard. Vince Gill. Alison Krauss. Dixie Chicks. Taylor Swift.
11:00 DM: Well, this certainly feels like some kind of watershed moment for country music. I guess we’ll see what happens, huh?
10:59 KC: Though to get us back to reality: Female winners of the Entertainer of the Year award – Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Barbara Mandrell, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Dixie Chicks, Taylor Swift.
10:57 KC: And she brought out the band. And she thanked the fans. And she’s crying. Darn you, Taylor Swift. Making me be happy for you!
10:56 KC: And her parents just made me get misty.
10:55 KC: Okay, she deserved this one.
10:55 DM: A clean sweep.
Entertainer of the Year: Taylor Swift
10:54 DM: After that, no Entertainer result could surprise me.
10:52 KC: Before the show, I told Dan that I hoped there would be some surprises tonight. God says “Ha!”
10:48 DM: Dave Matthews is pretty cool. It’s a shame he couldn’t be here for a more interesting song. Anybody remember his Crossroads with Emmylou Harris? That was cool.
10:46 KC: Pardon my absence. I had to put a “Kanye Was Right” sticker on my car.
10:42 DM: Well, the backlash should start pretty soon here. I don’t even wanna know what’s being said in the Carrie Underwood fan forums right now.
10:40 DM: Speechless.
10:40 KC: Oh dear.
Female Vocalist of the Year: Taylor Swift
10:37 KC: People are crazy. Crazy enough to give Lady Antebellum single of the year, but not quite crazy enough to give it to Billy Currington.
10:35 DM: Billy Currington. I feel a power-nap coming on!
10:34 KC: Also praying that Reba can drag George Strait up to the NYC metro area when they tour together.
10:33 KC: This decent Reba single reminded me of an interesting piece of trivia: All five female vocalist nominees are in the top 20 of the singles chart this week. See what’s possible when you don’t nominate Alison Krauss?
10:31 DM: Have you guys noticed how Reba is just going by the one name now? Not a fan. She still sounds good, but it’s time for some better singles.
10:26 KC: Now they brought the Hall of Fame CMA moment back? After the Emmylou Harris induction has already come and gone?
10:24 KC: Okay George Strait just saved it. Perhaps because he actually has been country all along?
10:24 KC: Let’s all pray that Martina isn’t previewing Timeless II.
10:24 KC: Even if Roy Clark was dead, it wouldn’t be excusable for Barbara Mandrell to get such a lopsided amount of attention.
10:21 DM: Well, I’m glad they’re doing something for the inductees. Even if it involves “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool.”
10:21 KC: I have this fear that Taylor Swift is going to win Female Vocalist.
10:19 KC: That sounds like a dangerous thing to do on a tractor.
10:18 DM: Is Jason Aldean really at superstar status now? Bummer.
10:15 DM: Upsets at every turn.
Male Vocalist of the Year: Brad Paisley
10:11 KC: To answer LeAnn’s question, “By listening to their music.”
10:10 KC: I didn’t know who I was supposed to be at 19, either.
10:09 From the Comments, Diamond: Kanye. NOW. Please…
10:08 KC: I wonder how LeAnn Rimes feels about all of this.
10:07 DM: Gotta say, there are probably at least five girls in a ten-foot radius of Swift who could be up there singing this better.
10:04 DM: Wow, burn.
10:03 KC: Rascal Flatts commercial for Wendy’s. A celebrity endorsement that is completely believable.
10:02 KC: Why didn’t B&D get up and talk? Way to sink a classy moment.
10:01 KC: Sugarland: A standing O I can get behind.
10:00 DM: Don’t think we didn’t notice your complete lack of applause for Joey + Rory, CMA! For shame.
Vocal Duo of the Year: Sugarland
9:59 KC: B&D’s retirement announcement was timed so it could impact CMA voting. Let’s see if it did the trick.
9:58 KC: In terms of personal grooming, he’s somewhere between Jennings and Cousin It.
9:57 KC: Still don’t think Johnson’s schtick is particularly authentic.
9:56 DM: John Rich got a mention. Not going to do much to help that smugness thing.
9:54 DM: Jamey Johnson doing “Between Jennings and Jones” at the CMAs. If he doesn’t kick ass, he’s going to come off really smug.
9:54 KC: Dan, the time for steel-tipped intervention was when they were considering recording it in the first place.
9:52 DM: I remember Ronnie doing a good job on “It’s Getting Better All The Time” some number of years back.
9:52 KC: This final B&D CMA performance has me feeling sentimental for all of those amazing CMA performances from them over the past eighteen years, of which I can’t name one.
9:51 DM: Brooks & Dunn’s final CMA performance is “Honky Tonk Stomp.” I’d like to kick the balls of whoever made that call.
9:48 KC: KC: Shout-out to Cutting the Treacle, living up to the name and the comment thread’s MVP so far.
9:46 KC: Women who’ve won Album of the Year: Sissy Spacek, Anne Murray, Patty Loveless, Dixie Chicks, Lee Ann Womack, Taylor Swift. Rank them as you wish.
9:44 KC: Shocked that Jamey Johnson didn’t win.
9:45 DM: And the tweens have it.
Album of the Year: Fearless, Taylor Swift
9:42 DM: I think my dad may have had that ugly black Aloha-cowboy vest.
9:42 KC: My dad also went out with his Boots On.
9:41 KC: My dad had that POW MIA hat!
9:39 DM: Seriously, Nettles has better stage presence than just about anybody else we’ve seen tonight. Maybe Zac Brown Band could compete. Still not digging her head voice, though.
9:38 KC: KC: Love this song. Love this duo.
9:36 DM: Carrie has a lot more charisma this year. And speaking of charisma, here comes Jennifer Nettles!
9:30 DM: …So how about Tim’s jester pants?
9:27 DM: Tim forgot his first few words because he was looking around waiting for that “famous Southern people” montage Kevin promised to start up. Now that it has, he’s good.
9:25 DM: I really want to like this song – it’s certainly something new for Keith – but I just can’t get into it somehow. Doesn’t feel accessible.
9:23 DM: Keith Urban debuting his new single about how depressing empty carnivals are.
9:21 DM: I don’t know whether to smile that Little Jimmy got a spot at all or weep that it was just so he could deliver a limp Kanye joke.
9:15 KC: For me, the Tennessee line just meant that I had another three hours of driving until Nashville or another twelve until New York.
9:12 KC: Much like cheddar cheese and Grey Goose, Vince Gill makes everything a little bit better.
9:11 DM: Good thing Daughtry is here. I was worried they might mention the Country Music Hall of Fame inductees or something.
9:10 KC: Darius Rucker joins Shelby Lynne in possession of both a country new artist award and the Best New Artist Grammy.
New Artist of the Year: Darius Rucker
9:08 KC: Wynonna – you look great, but you won the HORIZON AWARD, not the New Artist award
9:07 KC: Songs that stink live and on record: “Alright”, whatever Taylor sang.
9:07 KC: Songs that haven’t: “White Liar”, “Welcome to the Future”
9:07 KC: Songs that have sounded better live tonight: “Need You Now”, “Cowboy Casanova”, “Twang”
9:06 KC: Also, very cool set piece
9:05 KC: Why is it that the whole “they sound bad because of the sound system” argument falls apart every time that Carrie Underwood opens her mouth and puts the rest of them to shame?
9:05 DM: I meant that positively. She looks hot.
9:03 DM: Oh man. This performance is going to inspire drag shows for years to come.
9:02 DM: Carrie launching into “Cowboy Casanova.”
9:00 KC: Dan, it’s taking all my strength to get through this show without medication, and I’m watching at home.
8:58 DM: Now the healing can begin.
8:57 KC: Rascal Flatts didn’t win, which is more satisfying than any winner could be.
Vocal Group of the Year: Lady Antebellum
8:56 DM: OH! VOCAL GROUP MOMENT OF TRUTH!
8:55 DM: Is it me, or do the TV star presenters always seem the most medicated?
8:54 KC: That’s Jamey Johnson and Kid Rock up on the rafters, shaking out their hair.
8:53 KC: I bet Miranda Lambert feels just like that string of Christmas lights.
8:50 KC: If Jason Aldean recorded this, it would sound like a Metallica record.
8:50KC: Amazing how this man has managed to wade through at least three “Country Goes Crazy for Crossover” phases without even sullying his crisp white shirt.
8:48 KC: The CMA needs a little “Twang” too. Thanks George!
8:47 DM: Incidentally, the awards for Video and Musical Event were given out pre-show. The winners are “Love Story” and “Start A Band”, respectively.
8:45 KC: I cursed on the CMAs. That means I’m hard-core!
8:44 DM: But point taken – it was a breath of fresh air.
8:44 KC: Scratch that – AK&US and Nickel Creek have been on the show since then.
8:43 KC: Though to be fair, it’s the first time since the Dixie Chicks ruled the CMAs that a band has actually played well live on the stage.
8:42 KC: The devil went down to K-Mart, he was looking for some clothes to wear. He found a polo shirt and stone-washed jeans for his big awards show affair.
8:40 DM: Alright, this is the most interesting CMA performance I’ve seen in some time. They’re so un-glamorous compared to the rest of the crowd that it’s a little mesmerizing.
8:40 KC: Loving the tambourine guy.
8:39 KC: Halloween was eleven days ago and a lot less scary.
8:39 DM: Zac Brown Band doing “Devil Went Down To Georgia.” I’m sure they can play it, but seriously, WTF?
8:38KC: The history geek in me wants to tell Brad that he just woke up the founder of the Lutherans, not the leader of the civil rights movement
8:36KC: Apparently in the future, you don’t have to sing into the microphone.
8:35 DM: Seconded.
8:35 KC: Seriously, if Mario or Link show up, I’m switching my Entertainer vote to Brad
8:34 KC: Pac-Man!
8:33 KC: PONG!!!!
8:31 DM: I know what you mean, Kevin. I get to a point where I just have to stop reading reviews in order to enjoy music.
8:29 KC: This song’s grown on me a bit. Miranda’s talent and her hype keep switching leads in their ongoing race. Right now, it’s hype by a nose.
8:28 KC: Craig Wiseman won Song in 2004 and 2006. Bill Anderson in 2005 and 2007. Jamey Johnson in 2007 and 2009. Next year, Jennifer Nettles better prepare a speech!
8:27 DM: Wow, this mix is terrible. She’s singing well, but she and the drums are about all you can hear.
8:24 DM: Miranda Lambert doing “White Liar.” Interested to hear how it sounds live.
8:24 KC: Jamey’s comment about not thinking he’d ever be allowed to come to stuff like this would seem a bit more believable if he hadn’t already won in this category before.
8:22 Song of the Year: “In Color”
8:21 KC: Darius, we already knew white people don’t have any rhythm. You didn’t have to rub it in.
8:20 DM: This song does not deserve a giant light-up sign of its title.
8:20 KC: Way to set the bar at just “Alright” and still not even approach it.
8:18 KC: Nobody’s EVER made the leap from rock to country as gracefully as Darius Rucker? Somewhere, the family of Conway Twitty is screaming.
8:17 KC: I think Brad & Carrie just locked in hosting duties for the next five years.
8:16 DM: Why can’t Carrie Underwood record countrier music? She’s cleaning up on these song parodies.
8:16 KC: Check out our Country Universe spin-off site launching tomorrow: ladyantebellumsingleoftheyearseriously????.com
8:13 KC: Full disclosure. I purchased the cassingle of Victoria Shaw’s “Cry Wolf” back in ’94.
Single of the Year: Lady Antebellum, “I Run To You”
8:12 DM & KC: WHAT????
8:11 KC: Look! Skeeter Davis grew a beard!
8:11 KC: Kid Rock. Performing AND presenting. Of course.
8:09 DM: Gotta say I’m actually liking some of the opening monologue this time. The gags on Tim & Faith’s colognes and the Brooks & Dunn/Sugarland competition are pretty solid.
8:07 KC: Hope that’s the first and last Kanye joke.
8:06 DM: For a second I thought they were actually just going to stand there and sing old country songs. Bummer.
8:05 DM: Ditto, Kev.
8:04 KC: All of my objective, “She’s the top performer right now and should be acknowledged” comments are difficult to stand by when I hear her sing
8:03 DM: Dramatic moments in song = key time to start singing in fake British accent.
8:01 KC: It’s 8:01. Do you know where your Pro Tools are?
8:00 DM: Taylor performance. She’s doing that Joe Jonas harangue song.
7:59 DM: Show time’s almost here! Kevin and I will be doing double-duty throughout the night and highlighting some of your comments. Get pumped!
Given that CMA Live Blogging has become so widespread that even the super-cool Whitney Pastorek at Entertainment Weeklyis doing it, our “update the post repeatedly while you add your comments” approach seems almost quaint.
For a look back at the other major categories, visit our CMA Awards page.
2010
Lady Antebellum
Miranda Lambert
Brad Paisley
Keith Urban
Zac Brown Band
For the first time since 1990, the category includes only one former winner of the big prize. Keith Urban took home this award in 2005, and has been nominated every year since. Brad Paisley broke into the category the same year and is nominated for the sixth time, but has yet to win. Also in the running are three first-time nominees: Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, and Zac Brown Band. Conventional wisdom suggests that Paisley will win, but if he doesn’t, he’ll hold the record for most nominations without a win.
Can Keith Urban come back to win the prize again? Such gaps between victories have happened only twice before. Garth Brooks returned to the winner’s circle in 1997 and 1998 after earning his first two trophies in 1991 and 1992. Alan Jackson first won in 1995, then came back to win twice more in 2002 and 2003.
But our three new nominees aren’t out of the running, as beginner’s luck has also played a role in this category. Of the 28 artists to win this award over the years, ten of them won the first year they were nominated, including Garth Brooks, Shania Twain, and last year’s victor, Taylor Swift.
2009
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Taylor Swift
Keith Urban
Taylor Swift both made history and prevented it with her win in this category. She simultaneously became the youngest artist ever and the first female solo artist in ten years to take home the prize. She also kept Kenny Chesney from becoming the all-time champion in this category by his lonesome, as he remains tied with Garth Brooks with four wins to date.
2008
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Sugarland
Keith Urban
As Sugarland became only the third duo in history to receive a nomination and George Strait extended his record number of nominations to sixteen, Kenny Chesney tied Garth Brooks for the most wins in this category with his fourth victory.
2007
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
Rascal Flatts
George Strait
Keith Urban
Chesney entered the elite company of Garth Brooks, Alabama, and Alan Jackson with his third victory in this category. Rascal Flatts, meanwhile, became the first group since the Dixie Chicks to score back-to-back nominations, a feat also accomplished by Alabama and the Oak Ridge Boys.
2006
Brooks & Dunn
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
Rascal Flatts
Keith Urban
It’s pretty rare to come back and win this award for a second time, as most multiple wins have been consecutive in this category. But Kenny Chesney joined Garth Brooks and Alan Jackson as the only other artists to pull it off when he won in 2006.
2005
Kenny Chesney
Alan Jackson
Toby Keith
Brad Paisley
Keith Urban
One of the most surprising and endearing wins in the history of this category, a shocked and humbled Urban accepted this award in New York City. He couldn’t have picked a better night to bring his Australian parents to the ceremony.
2004
Brooks & Dunn
Kenny Chesney
Alan Jackson
Toby Keith
Tim McGraw
Chesney’s long dry spell at the CMA’s came to a satisfying end as the superstar collected both Entertainer and Album of the Year trophies. He had been charting for eleven years before finally winning a CMA award.
2003
Brooks & Dunn
Kenny Chesney
Alan Jackson
Toby Keith
Tim McGraw
All signs were pointing to Toby Keith winning in 2003, after a politically charged year in country music that included his bitter feud with the Dixie Chicks. Even though the ACM had chosen Keith as their standard bearer a few months earlier, the CMA stuck with the previous year’s winner Alan Jackson, who in all honesty was a more dignified representation of the genre than Keith at the time.
2002
Brooks & Dunn
Kenny Chesney
Alan Jackson
Toby Keith
George Strait
Jackson had won before, way back in 1995, but he always had his heart set on Male Vocalist – which he also won at the CMA’s for the first time the very same night. Jackson had always been respected, but the one-two punch of “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)” and “Drive (For Daddy Gene)” was such the embodiment of the very virtues that define country music, that Alan became a deity for the genre for a good stretch of time.
2001
Brooks & Dunn
Dixie Chicks
Alan Jackson
Tim McGraw
George Strait
After winning two Male Vocalist and two Album of the Year honors in the previous three years, Tim McGraw finally won the big one. It was a satisfying acknowledgment of an artist who’d had his talent underestimated in the first few years of his stardom.
2000
Dixie Chicks
Faith Hill
Alan Jackson
Tim McGraw
George Strait
They are the only female act to win this award this century, and only the second band in the history of the CMA, for that matter. The Chicks capped off a stunning three-year run at the CMA’s with this victory, one of nine that they racked up since 1998. Sadly, they were the first female act to receive multiple nominations in this category since Reba McEntire, who was the only other one to do so in the last twenty years. Since they were nominated for the last time in 2001, it’s been an all-male lineup, the longest run without a female nominee in CMA history. Heck, at least one woman was nominated every year from 1971-1995. What gives?
1999
Garth Brooks
Dixie Chicks
Tim McGraw
George Strait
Shania Twain
There are very few times that I’ve stood up and cheered while watching the CMA’s, and I’ve been watching it since 1991. The only time I’ve done it for this category was in 1999, when the unfairly maligned mega-star Shania Twain was finally acknowledged for her massive success and awarded her only CMA to date. That Reba McEntire, the last female to win the award thirteen years earlier, presented it to a tearful Twain was absolutely poetic. The winner returned the favor, giving heartfelt shoutouts to Reba, Conway Twitty and Dolly Parton through her tears. Host Vince Gill’s post-win assertion – “Well, that ought to shut everybody up. You did it, baby!” was the icing on the cake.
1998
Brooks & Dunn
Garth Brooks
Vince Gill
Tim McGraw
George Strait
As hard as it is to believe that there were any records left for him to break by 1998, Garth Brooks shattered another one, becoming the first artist in the history of the CMA to win four Entertainer of the Year awards.
1997
Brooks & Dunn
Garth Brooks
Vince Gill
Alan Jackson
George Strait
In a year when all five nominees had won this award before, it was Garth Brooks who returned to the winner’s circle, tying Alabama’s long-standing record of three victories in this category.
1996
Brooks & Dunn
Garth Brooks
Vince Gill
Alan Jackson
George Strait
They were already winners of five CMA awards, thanks to their domination of the Vocal Duo category. But they finally won another race, and it was a big one. Brooks & Dunn remain the only duo to win this award, and only the second to be nominated, after The Judds.
1995
Brooks & Dunn
Garth Brooks
Vince Gill
Alan Jackson
Reba McEntire
The hype was that Reba McEntire would win her second Entertainer trophy, after she had ended Garth’s four-year reign at the ACM’s by winning the same award at that ceremony in the spring. Proving that bringing your parents is good luck for winning this award, it was Alan Jackson who won instead. He expressed relief that he finally won something with his parents in the audience, as he had lost every other race that evening.
1994
Brooks & Dunn
Garth Brooks
Vince Gill
Alan Jackson
Reba McEntire
Soft-spoken Gill won for a second year, which was no big surprise given his widespread popularity in Music City. He also went home with Album and Male Vocalist the same night.
1993
Brooks & Dunn
Garth Brooks
Vince Gill
Alan Jackson
Reba McEntire
Vince Gill capped off an amazing night at the 1993 CMA’s with his first victory in this category. It was his fifth win of the night, as he also took home Male Vocalist, Song, Album and Vocal Event.
1992
Garth Brooks
Vince Gill
Alan Jackson
Reba McEntire
Travis Tritt
Given that he was already the biggest-selling country artist the world had ever seen, it was no surprise that Garth Brooks won his second Entertainer of the Year trophy in 1992.
1991
Clint Black
Garth Brooks
Vince Gill
Reba McEntire
George Strait
A mere year after winning the Horizon award, Garth Brooks was the Entertainer of the Year at the CMA’s. He was breaking every sales record in the book by that point. His meteoric rise from newcomer to standard-bearer has only been matched by the Dixie Chicks, who also won Entertainer of the Year in only their third year on the charts.
1990
Clint Black
Kathy Mattea
Ricky Van Shelton
George Strait
Randy Travis
While Randy Travis dominated the Male Vocalist race, George Strait was given his due again in the Entertainer category. He remains the most nominated in this category, and is only the second Hall of Famer to receive a nomination after being inducted into the Hall.
1989
Reba McEntire
Ricky Van Shelton
George Strait
Randy Travis
Hank Williams, Jr.
Three years after his most recent Male Vocalist trophy, mega-star George Strait was named Entertainer of the Year. He would go on to have one of his biggest years at radio, with two multi-week #1 singles in the twelve months that followed his victory.
1988
The Judds
Reba McEntire
George Strait
Randy Travis
Hank Williams, Jr.
Hank Jr. may have waited a long time for some CMA love, but once it came, it was in droves. He won Album of the Year the same night he repeated in this category.
1987
The Judds
Reba McEntire
George Strait
Randy Travis
Hank Williams, Jr.
Four new traditionalists fell to a man who had been the glorification of Southern Rock for the previous decade. Williams had cracked the previous year when he won the Music Video award, “I make audio, too.” Finally, the CMA acknowledged him for his remarkable contributions to the genre.
1986
The Judds
Reba McEntire
Willie Nelson
Ricky Skaggs
George Strait
It was a shocking win, to be sure. But Reba McEntire had broken through to real star status with “Whoever’s in New England”, and her kind of country was making waves nationwide. The real shock is that another thirteen years would pass before another woman would win this award.
1985
Alabama
Lee Greenwood
Reba McEntire
Ricky Skaggs
George Strait
Few country artists command as much respect as Ricky Skaggs, a consummate singer and musician. Skaggs’ victory in this category was a triumph for bluegrass music that would only be matched by the O Brother and Alison Krauss wins in the years to come.
1984
Alabama
Lee Greenwood
Barbara Mandrell
Ronnie Milsap
Oak Ridge Boys
A mere three years after Barbara Mandrell made history by being the first artist to win two Entertainer awards, Alabama went her one better and won three. They remain the only act to win this award three years in a row.
1983
Alabama
Merle Haggard
Barbara Mandrell
Willie Nelson
Ricky Skaggs
How big were Alabama back in the early eighties? They were selling Rascal Flatts numbers – four million an album – back when country artists were lucky to go gold. In th pre-Garth/Shania/Dixie Chicks days, that was unthinkable.
1982
Alabama
Barbara Mandrell
Willie Nelson
Oak Ridge Boys
Ricky Skaggs
The massive success of Alabama at radio and retail helped them become the first group to ever win this award. Though they helped usher in the multi-platinum era of country music, these Hall of Famers are still the only male band to take this award home.
1981
Alabama
George Jones
Barbara Mandrell
Oak Ridge Boys
Kenny Rogers
Who would’ve guessed that the first person to win this award twice would be a woman? On top of that, a woman with a cheesy variety show whose music was closer to pop and R&B? Give the girl credit, she made some history back in ’81.
1980
Charlie Daniels Band
Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers
Barbara Mandrell
Willie Nelson
Kenny Rogers
After losing Female Vocalist to Emmylou Harris, Mandrell could be forgiven for thinking her night would end without a win. Instead, she became the third woman to win Entertainer of the Year, after Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn. Talk about excellent company.
1979
Crystal Gayle
Barbara Mandrell
Willie Nelson
Kenny Rogers
Statler Brothers
He never won Male Vocalist of the Year, but superstar Willie Nelson was given his due by the CMA in 1979 when they awarded him Entertainer. Nearly three decades later, he’s still entertaining on the road, blowing away audiences across the country.
1978
Crystal Gayle
Ronnie Milsap
Dolly Parton
Kenny Rogers
Mel Tillis
Her famous quote – “I’m not leaving country. I’m taking it with me!” – must have held some water with the Nashville establishment, as Parton won this award at the height of her pop crossover success with “Here You Come Again,” the title track of her first platinum album.
1977
Merle Haggard
Waylon Jennings
Ronnie Milsap
Dolly Parton
Kenny Rogers
He has three Male Vocalist and three Album awards to his credit, but Milsap’s only victory in the biggest race came in 1977.
1976
Waylon Jennings
Ronnie Milsap
Willie Nelson
Dolly Parton
Mel Tillis
This 2007 Hall of Fame inductee won this award just as he was changing labels. His daughter, Pam Tillis, would win Female Vocalist eighteen years later, making them the only parent-child combination to date to win major CMA awards.
1975
John Denver
Waylon Jennings
Loretta Lynn
Ronnie Milsap
Conway Twitty
John Denver’s victory in this race led to the most infamous moment in CMA history. Though he claimed it was due to medication later on, presenter Charlie Rich seemed to be making a furious statement against the pop crossover artists dominating country music when he opened the envelope, read it, and then lit a cigarette lighter and burned the envelope. The paper went up in flames as he derisively snarled the winner’s name, “My friend, Mister John Denver.” Poor John, accepting via satellite, was clueless to what was going on at the Opry house, and graciously accepted his award.
1974
Roy Clark
Mac Davis
Loretta Lynn
Olivia Newton-John
Charlie Rich
The massive success of “The Most Beautiful Girl” and “Behind Closed Doors” helped Charlie Rich win this award, only a year after winning Male Vocalist.
1973
Roy Clark
Merle Haggard
Tom T. Hall
Loretta Lynn
Charley Pride
He’s best known for Hee Haw, the country music variety show that he co-hosted, and it’s no coincidence that he won while the show was in its prime. Still, Clark is also one of country’s most admired legends, and his legacy goes far beyond his campy TV show.
1972
Merle Haggard
Freddie Hart
Loretta Lynn
Charley Pride
Jerry Reed
Her husband Mooney went hunting because he didn’t want to watch her lose. He missed watching history unfold before his eyes as Loretta Lynn became the first woman to win Entertainer of the Year.
1971
Merle Haggard
Loretta Lynn
Charley Pride
Jerry Reed
Conway Twitty
The last of four consecutive years where the Male Vocalist winner matched the Entertainer winner, Charley Pride went home with both awards in 1971.
1970
Glen Campbell
Johnny Cash
Roy Clark
Merle Haggard
Charley Pride
Merle Haggard swept the show in 1970, winning Male Vocalist, Single and Album of the Year, so it was no surprise when he triumphed in the final category.
1969
Glen Campbell
Johnny Cash
Roy Clark
Merle Haggard
Charley Pride
Cash was practically invisible to the CMA for the next 34 years, until his cover of “Hurt” scored him some nominations at the 2003 awards. But in 1969, he was the king, winning four big awards.
1968
Eddy Arnold
Glen Campbell
Johnny Cash
Merle Haggard
Charley Pride
Glen Campbell not only won a ton of CMA’s in 1968, he also was a big presence at the Grammys, a reflection his status as a pop-country star in his prime.
1967
Bill Anderson
Eddy Arnold
Merle Haggard
Sonny James
Buck Owens
One year after being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, Eddy Arnold was named the very first Entertainer of the Year at the inaugural CMA awards in 1967. Don’t assume it was a sympathy vote. Arnold had three #1 hits in the twelve months leading up to the ceremony, as he was in the middle of his impressive mid-sixties comeback defined by the 1965 mega-hit “Make the World Go Away.”
Facts & Feats
Multiple Wins:
(4) – Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney
(3) – Alabama, Alan Jackson
(2) –Vince Gill, Barbara Mandrell, George Strait, Hank Williams, Jr.
(2) – Garth Brooks (1991-1992, 1997-1998), Vince Gill (1993-1994), Barbara Mandrell (1980-1981), George Strait (1989-1990), Hank Williams, Jr. (1987-1988)
Most Nominations:
(17) – George Strait
(12) – Alan Jackson
(11) – Brooks & Dunn
(10) – Reba McEntire
(9) – Garth Brooks
(8) – Kenny Chesney, Vince Gill, Merle Haggard
(6) – Barbara Mandrell, Tim McGraw, Willie Nelson, Brad Paisley, Charley Pride, Keith Urban
(5) – Alabama, Loretta Lynn, Ronnie Milsap, Kenny Rogers
Most Nominations Without a Win:
(6) – Brad Paisley
(5) – Kenny Rogers
(4) – Toby Keith, Randy Travis
(3) – Waylon Jennings, The Judds, Oak Ridge Boys
Winners in First Year of Nomination:
Eddy Arnold (1967), Garth Brooks (1991), Glen Campbell (1968), John Denver (1975), Charlie Rich (1974), Taylor Swift (2009), Mel Tillis (1976), Shania Twain (1999), Keith Urban (2004), Hank Williams, Jr. (1987)
CMA Entertainers of the Year Who Have Never Won the ACM Award:
Eddy Arnold, Johnny Cash, Glen Campbell, Roy Clark, John Denver, Vince Gill, Alan Jackson, Tim McGraw, Ronnie Milsap, Charlie Rich, Ricky Skaggs, Taylor Swift, Mel Tillis, Keith Urban
ACM Entertainers of the Year Who Have Never Won the CMA Award:
Mac Davis, Mickey Gilley, Freddie Hart, Toby Keith, Kenny Rogers, Carrie Underwood
The CMA Awards are upon us again, and I must say that this is the most underwhelming lineup I’ve ever seen, and I started watching the show back in 1991. We’ll be back to live blog the festivities on Wednesday night. In the meantime, enjoy our personal picks in each category, along with who we think will actually win.
Entertainer of the Year
Should Win:
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley – Leeann, Tara
George Strait
Taylor Swift – Kevin, Dan
Keith Urban
Will Win:
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley – Kevin, Leeann, Tara
George Strait
Taylor Swift – Dan
Keith Urban
Kevin: Much like the field finally cleared for him in the Male Vocalist race two years ago, I expect that this is Paisley’s year to win with his sixth nomination. I think Taylor Swift deserves to win, though. There’s no getting around the fact that she’s the biggest thing out there right now.
Leeann: I won’t be shocked (or really even disappointed) if Taylor Swift picks it up, but I really feel it’s finally Brad’s year.
Dan: Swift is the face of the genre right now, and she’s putting out better-written material than many of the veterans in this category. It looks like a race between her and Paisley, and I think she may actually get it.
Tara: It wouldn’t be inappropriate for Swift to take this award, and I would much (understatement) prefer her to win this over the vocalist award. But to me, Paisley is the all-around entertainer, and I think it’s his year to be recognized.
Male Vocalist of the Year
Should Win:
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley – Leeann, Tara
Darius Rucker
George Strait – Dan
Keith Urban – Kevin
Will Win:
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley – Kevin, Leeann, Dan, Tara
Darius Rucker
George Strait
Keith Urban
Leeann: I have no doubt that Paisley will win again, as he has had a strong year and the CMAs tend to prefer him for this award. While I think Urban is technically a very worthy opponent, the combination of Paisley’s warm voice and stronger album makes me continue to root for him. I’d also be just as happy if Strait won, however, and feel that his and Paisley’s albums were the strongest of the year.
Dan: Looks like an easy Paisley win, but I’ll give Strait the nod for all-around strength this past year.
Tara: I don’t anticipate that Paisley’s winning streak will be broken. I’m pulling for him on the strength of his material, but wouldn’t mind one bit if Urban took the award. Just please, CMAs, don’t give it to Rucker!
Kevin: Paisley’s poised to pick up his third trophy, with his only real competition being five-time winner George Strait. I’d give a fourth trophy to previous winner Keith Urban over the rest of the field. He really sang rings around the rest of ‘em when comparing their latest albums.
Female Vocalist of the Year
Should Win:
Miranda Lambert - Leeann
Martina McBride
Reba McEntire
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood – Kevin, Dan, Tara
Will Win:
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Reba McEntire
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood – Kevin, Leeann, Dan, Tara
Dan: I tend to find Underwood boring, but I do think she released some of her better singles this past year. Swift just isn’t a strong enough vocalist to merit this prize, and I’d rather see Lambert win in a year where she has more momentum going, which could well be next year.
Tara: It will no doubt spark controversy when Underwood takes her fourth trophy and joins the ranks of Reba McEntire and Martina McBride, and that’s another discussion all together – but looking at the nominees for this year, it’s clear she deserves to win. In terms of sheer vocal talent, few artists in the genre come close to her. I’d love to see Lambert take this award (and Underwood would too!), but like Dan, I don’t think it’s her time just yet.
Kevin: I won’t believe a different winner in this race until I see it. I was underwhelmed by the latest albums from Lambert, McBride, McEntire, and Swift, and quite frankly, Underwood is the only lady of the five to put out more than one single this year that I actually really liked (“Just a Dream”, “I Told You So.”) I remain in her corner.
Leeann: Carrie will deserve to win this award when she wins it this year. I, however, still prefer Lambert’s voice and feel that her output (album) is the most interesting of the nominees.
Vocal Duo of the Year
Should Win:
Big & Rich
Brooks & Dunn
Joey + Rory
Montgomery Gentry
Sugarland – Kevin, Leeann, Dan, Tara
Will Win:
Big & Rich
Brooks & Dunn
Joey + Rory
Montgomery Gentry
Sugarland – Kevin, Leeann, Dan, Tara
Tara: Sugarland continues to excite me, and I think they deserve this award again.
Kevin: I love Joey + Rory, but Sugarland have really been blowing me away lately. I’d pick them for Entertainer if they’d been nominated.
Leeann: I’d technically love for Joey + Rory to win, but I know full well that Sugarland is the duo that truly deserves to win based upon their impact this year.
Dan: Sugarland. But I want to talk to whoever is picking their singles.
Vocal Group of the Year
Should Win:
Eagles
Lady Antebellum – Tara
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts
Zac Brown Band – Kevin, Leeann, Dan
Will Win:
Eagles
Lady Antebellum – Kevin, Leeann, Dan, Tara
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts
Zac Brown Band
Kevin: I find Zac Brown Band more interesting, and I think they have a real shot at winning this. I suspect Lady Antebellum has a bit more industry support, though, so I’ll give them the edge.
Leeann: Lady A will win because they’ve got more industry support and popularity with radio, but the Zac Brown Band has certainly put out more interesting music and have a refreshingly unique sound that deserves to be rewarded.
Dan: Pretty much what Kevin and Leeann said. “Chicken Fried” notwithstanding.
Tara: It’s definitely a race between Zac Brown Band and Lady Antebellum, and I can understand why my co-bloggers are rooting for the former. But even if Lady Antebellum’s talent needs a little cultivating, their music strikes a very personal chord with me, and I’ll be thrilled when they take this award. Can you believe Rascal Flatts might actually walk away from an awards show empty-handed?
New Artist of the Year
Should Win:
Randy Houser
Jamey Johnson – Dan
Jake Owen
Darius Rucker
Zac Brown Band – Kevin, Leeann, Tara
Will Win:
Randy Houser
Jamey Johnson – Kevin
Jake Owen
Darius Rucker – Dan, Leeann, Tara
Zac Brown Band
Kevin: A weak lineup that speaks volumes about why country music is where it is today. I think Zac Brown Band should win. They’ve really been the real breakthrough act of the five. But I suspect in this battle of “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” co-writers, Jamey Johnson will emerge victorious.
Leeann: While I’m tempted to root for Jamey Johnson, I think Zac Brown Band has a chance of keeping me intrigued over the next few years (even if they fall out of the mainstream), though I don’t think they’ve reached their potential just yet. I predict that Darius Rucker will actually win, however, as he’s been the most successful in the last year.
Dan: Time will tell whether Johnson is able to remain a strong artistic force, but I’d say he has as good a chance as any of these five if he can keep from getting self-important. Rucker is the biggest star on the ballot, though, and I suspect he’ll squeak the win over Johnson and Zac Brown Band.
Tara: Johnson and Zac Brown Band are both deserving recipients of this award, but I personally prefer the band’s music. With the commercial success Rucker’s seen in the past year, though, I think it’s his award to lose. Not too sure how I feel about that.
Album of the Year
Should Win:
Jamey Johnson, That Lonesome Song – Leeann, Dan
Brad Paisley, American Saturday Night – Tara
Sugarland, Love on the Inside – Kevin
Taylor Swift, Fearless
Keith Urban, Defying Gravity
Will Win:
Jamey Johnson, That Lonesome Song – Kevin, Dan, Tara
Brad Paisley, American Saturday Night
Sugarland, Love on the Inside
Taylor Swift, Fearless – Leeann
Keith Urban, Defying Gravity
Leeann: While Johnson’s album hasn’t really stuck with me over the past year or so, I still think it’s the best album out of the bunch. I think Swift will win, however, due to the volume of sales and hit singles.
Dan: All of these albums have strengths, but That Lonesome Song is the only one that makes me optimistic about country music’s future. I expect it to triumph, though Swift’s has a great shot, too.
Tara: Paisley’s album, to me, strikes that sweet balance of traditional and contemporary. I think it’s a strong, interesting and relevant album that epitomizes why Paisley is so deservingly successful. But Johnson will deserve this award when he takes it, and I recognize and appreciate his positive influence on mainstream country music.
Kevin: I expected more nods overall for Jamey Johnson. I think that the eligibility period hurt him, with the project less fresh in voters’ minds. But the CMA values traditional country more than any other awards organization, so I expect him to win this. I enjoy the Sugarland album far more than any of the other four, so I’m rooting for that one.
Single of the Year
Should Win:
“Chicken Fried” – Zac Brown Band
“I Run to You” – Lady Antebellum
“In Color” – Jamey Johnson – Kevin, Leeann, Dan, Tara
“People Are Crazy” – Billy Currington
“Then” – Brad Paisley
Will Win:
“Chicken Fried” – Zac Brown Band
“I Run to You” – Lady Antebellum
“In Color” – Jamey Johnson – Kevin, Leeann, Tara
“People Are Crazy” – Billy Currington – Dan
“Then” – Brad Paisley
Dan: I’ve just got a bad feeling about that Currington single. “I Run To You” does have some smokin’ production, but “In Color” is the only one of the five I can still stand.
Tara: Ouch. I’m pleased that “I Run to You” is nominated as it’s a personal favorite, but I don’t think any song other than “In Color” is deserving of this award. Again…ouch.
Kevin: This is the weakest lineup in the history of this category.
Leeann: Johnson’s song feels old to me now, but it’s the best song in this underwhelming category, though I’m sure David Letterman disagrees. While I like the production on “People Are Crazy” the best in this line-up, the hook (not to mention the frustratingly weak story development) is just lame.
Song of the Year
Should Win:
“Chicken Fried” – Zac Brown & Wyatt Durette
“I Told You So” – Randy Travis – Kevin, Leeann, Tara
“In Color” – Jamey Johnson – Dan
“People Are Crazy” – Bobby Braddock & Troy Jones
“Then” – Chris Dubois, Ashley Gorley & Brad Paisley
Will Win:
“Chicken Fried” – Zac Brown & Wyatt Durette
“I Told You So” – Randy Travis – Leeann
“In Color” – Jamey Johnson – Kevin, Dan, Tara
“People Are Crazy” – Bobby Braddock & Troy Jones
“Then” – Chris Dubois, Ashley Gorley & Brad Paisley
Tara: I would absolutely love to see Travis take this award; Underwood’s success with the song proves that the best-written country songs are timeless. I think “In Color” has more pull, though.
Kevin: I think Johnson will win, but kudos to Carrie Underwood for recognizing the value of the Randy Travis-penned gem and making it a hit all over again.
Leeann: This is not one of my favorite Randy Travis songs, but for nostalgia’s sake, I’m rooting for him to win this one. I even think it has a chance of winning, since it was a hit song for one of today’s country music’s most popular artists. I think the Paisley composition is, by far, the weakest though.
Dan: I like probable-winner “In Color” marginally more than “I Told You So.” Any of the other three winning would hurt me way down deep.
Musical Event of the Year
Should Win:
“Cowgirls Don’t Cry” – Brooks & Dunn featuring Reba McEntire
“Down the Road” – Kenny Chesney with Mac McAnally
“Everything But Quits” – Lee Ann Womack with George Strait
“I Told You So” – Carrie Underwood featuring Randy Travis – Kevin, Tara
“Old Enough” – The Raconteurs with Ricky Skaggs and Ashley Monroe – Leeann, Dan
“Start a Band” – Brad Paisley and Keith Urban
Will Win:
“Cowgirls Don’t Cry” – Brooks & Dunn featuring Reba McEntire
“Down the Road” – Kenny Chesney with Mac McAnally
“Everything But Quits” – Lee Ann Womack with George Strait
“I Told You So” – Carrie Underwood featuring Randy Travis – Kevin, Dan, Tara
“Old Enough” – The Raconteurs with Ricky Skaggs and Ashley Monroe
“Start a Band” – Brad Paisley and Keith Urban – Leeann
Kevin: Will the CMA really pass up the chance to give a trophy to Randy Travis for the first time in 21 years? I hope not.
Leeann: Paisley’s and Urban’s collaboration was originally accidentally left off the ballot, but the superstar pairing is the most likely to win. Conversely, I suspect that the inclusion of the collaboration with Ricky Skaggs and Ashley Monroe was likely an accident, but I’d still love to see this dark horse nomination win. It’s certainly the most interesting song of the category. I might have gone for the Underwood/Travis pairing if Travis’ inclusion didn’t seem so random. I liked Underwood’s original version better, as Vince Gill’s harmony seemed more natural.
Dan: It’s totally between “I Told You So” and “Start A Band”, but I’m pulling for the underdog Raconteurs record, too. I like my collaborations a little spontaneous like that, and it’s always great to see outsiders included in the CMA fold.
Tara: While I have a particular soft spot for “Down the Road,” which I thought was one of the best singles of 2008, it should come as no surprise that I’m pulling for the beautiful, rough-and-pure “I Told You So.” I think it will easily win.
Music Video of the Year
Should Win:
“Boots On” – Randy Houser
“Love Story” – Taylor Swift
“People Are Crazy” – Billy Currington
“Start a Band” – Brad Paisley and Keith Urban
“Troubadour” – George Strait – Kevin, Dan, Tara
Will Win:
“Boots On” – Randy Houser
“Love Story” – Taylor Swift – Kevin, Dan, Tara
“People Are Crazy” – Billy Currington
“Start a Band” – Brad Paisley and Keith Urban
“Troubadour” – George Strait
Dan: I enjoy the Strait video most, but Swift’s is the flashiest, and that tends to win out.
Tara: Strait’s video is poignant and tastefully done. I never understood the appeal of Swift’s Shakespearean video, but apparently a whole generation of country music fans does. My money’s on Swift.
Kevin: I think the Swift fairytale will get the most votes, but the Strait clip hypnotizes me every time it’s on. Who knew a simple slide show could be so powerful and such a perfect fit for a song?
Musician of the Year
Should Win:
Eddie Bayers (drums)
Paul Franklin (steel guitar) – Kevin, Leeann, Dan, Tara
Dan Huff (guitar)
Brent Mason (guitar)
Mac McAnally (guitar)
Will Win:
Eddie Bayers (drums)
Paul Franklin (steel guitar)
Dan Huff (guitar)
Brent Mason (guitar)
Mac McAnally (guitar) – Kevin, Leeann, Dan, Tara
Dan: I should really start paying more attention to this kind of thing. But I know Paul Franklin’s been doing steel for everyone from Lyle Lovett to Rascal Flatts in the past year. Respek!
Tara: Franklin’s the one I’m most familiar with, and I agree with Kevin and Dan that he deserves it. I’ll admit I’m not entirely sure how to gauge who’ll win this year, but I suppose I’d go with McAnally again.
Kevin: I guess that McAnally will repeat his victory from last year. The other previous winners won quite a bit of time ago – Dann Huff in 2001 and 2004, Brent Mason in 1997 and 1998. My sympathy goes to Eddie Bayers, who is nominated for the tenth time and has yet to win. I have no choice but to pull for Paul Frankin, though, who has lost this award sixteen times. Here’s hoping that seventeen’s a charm!
Leeann: Please don’t let it be Dann Huff! That’s all I ask. Of course, I’m partial to the steel guitar, not to mention that it’s a shame that a steel guitar player has to work so hard to win a country music award.
Country Universe reader, Sheldon, brought this clip to my attention. It’s Dolly Parton singing a song that was specially written for the opening of the 1988 CMA awards that she was hosting that year. Oh, how I wish the Association would have Dolly and Vince host the show someday. But alas, that’s beside the point. Enjoy this fun video.
It’s that time of year again! For each major category, we’ll look at who’s broken in since last year, who’s been booted out, plus some initial thoughts. As always, we invite you to share your own opinions in the comments. Without further ado:
Entertainer
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Taylor Swift
Keith Urban
Who’s In: Taylor Swift
Who’s Out: Sugarland
Snap Judgment: With Carrie Underwood and Sugarland a little out of the spotlight recently, it’s no shock to see the regular foursome of Chesney, Paisley, Strait and Urban prevail. Swift was a logical inclusion given her across-the-board dominance, but I gotta say that I’m surprised to see her acknowledged for it by the historically traditional-leaning CMA.
Male Vocalist
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
Darius Rucker
George Strait
Keith Urban
Who’s In: Darius Rucker
Who’s Out: Alan Jackson
Snap Judgment: Pretty predicable. Rucker has shown he can get serious spins at radio, which is probably what won him this slot over Jamey Johnson.
Female Vocalist
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Reba McEntire
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
Who’s In: Reba McEntire
Who’s Out: Alison Krauss
Snap Judgment: Again, no big surprises. Martina always hangs in there somehow, doesn’t she?
Vocal Duo
Big & Rich
Brooks & Dunn
Joey + Rory
Montgomery Gentry
Sugarland
Who’s In: Joey + Rory
Who’s Out: The Wreckers (finally!), oddly not Big & Rich
Snap Judgment: I guess there has to be at least one defunct act in this category every year, huh?
Vocal Group
Eagles
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts
Zac Brown Band
Who’s In: Zac Brown Band
Who’s Out: Emerson Drive
Snap Judgment: I’m baffled to see the Eagles still here. I expect there will be a lot more shake-up in this category next year, with Love and Theft, Eli Young Band and The Lost Trailers all experiencing a rise in profile recently.
New Artist
Randy Houser
Jamey Johnson
Jake Owen
Darius Rucker
Zac Brown Band
Who’s In: Completely new line-up!
Snap Judgment: A strong group. Johnson, Rucker and Zac Brown Band are selling better than many of the veteran acts, so they’re the serious contenders this year, but all five nominees show great artistic potential.
Album
Brad Paisley, American Saturday Night
Jamey Johnson, That Lonesome Song
Sugarland, Love On The Inside
Taylor Swift, Fearless
Keith Urban, Defying Gravity
Snap Judgment: Probably as good a line-up as you could’ve hoped for. Never thought I’d live to see a CMA category where I thought Keith Urban had the weakest offering!
Single
“Chicken Fried” – Zac Brown Band
“I Run To You” – Lady Antebellum
“In Color” – Jamey Johnson
“People Are Crazy” – Billy Currington
“Then” – Brad Paisley
Snap Judgment: Sigh.
Song
“Chicken Fried” – Zac Brown & Wyatt Durette
“I Told You So” – Randy Travis
“In Color” – Jamey Johnson, Lee Thomas Miller & James Otto
“People Are Crazy” – Bobby Braddock & Troy Jones
“Then” – Brad Paisley, Chris DuBois and Ashley Gorley
Snap Judgment: I mean, it’s not like Randy Travis ever had his own hit with “I Told You So” or anything.
Musical Event
“Cowgirls Don’t Cry” – Brooks & Dunn featuring Reba McEntire
“Down The Road” – Kenny Chesney with Mac McAnally
“Everything But Quits” – Lee Ann Womack with George Strait
“I Told You So” – Carrie Underwood featuring Randy Travis
“Old Enough” – The Raconteurs featuring Ricky Skaggs and Ashley Monroe
“Start A Band” – Brad Paisley with Keith Urban
Snap Judgment: How in the world did that Raconteurs record sneak in there? Props, CMA!
Music Video
“Boots On” – Randy Houser
“Love Story” – Taylor Swift
“People Are Crazy” – Billy Currington
“Start A Band” – Brad Paisley with Keith Urban
“Troubadour” – George Strait
Snap Judgment: Not bad. Houser’s doesn’t have much, but the only one I outright dislike is Currington’s. It’s just another excuse for him to sit around looking scruffy on a beach.
This is a guest contribution by regular commenter, Michael Hawkins, who posts as Highwayman3.
The movies have the Oscars, the world of music has the Grammys, and that world subdivided into the country genre has the CM’s—the annual extravaganza that we fans look forward to every year. We see our favorites perform, win awards and lose with smiling gracious faces, or not [insert the inevitable Faith Hill reference here]. Everyone picks their favorites in each category as to who they’d like to win. But what about the show itself, the backdrop for which these prestigious awards are presented?
Recently, there have been posts at both The 9513 and on this site where people have been weighing in on their favorite moments from these awards. It occurred to me that none of those moments have happened in the last few years. The awards have slid into mediocrity, which is a fitting representation of the current state of country music. I understand producing these awards must be tough because you have to be everything to everyone, and acknowledge the traditional country, the Disney country, the old and new alike, and bring in people who don’t belong for the sake of ratings.
What’s wrong with the show?
The awards themselves seem like an after thought, filler in between all the endless performances. The main suspense isn’t who wins, but rather, how many performances the producers can fit in 3 hours. Also, it’s become an award show that is ashamed of its roots, barely mentioning who is inducted into the Hall of Fame. Any artist with the slightest sign of a wrinkle, regardless of their legend status is shunned and hidden in the audience next to seat fillers and radio contest winners. It’s an award show with self esteem issues, not cool enough to stand on its own. You can bet the main attraction used to promote this year’s show will be a non-country performer like Kid Rock, The Eagles of last year, and Jamie Foxx of two years ago.
What can be done?
Well, the first order of business would be for the Sommet Center to take out a one day restraining order from Miley Cyrus on November 11, 2009, or better yet, the whole Cyrus family, Billy Ray, Noah, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. Yes, she’ll bring in ratings, but we’ve gotten along fine without her for 40 plus years.
The CMA’s need to take a cue from the Grammy awards, or even the American Idol finale. There are so many surprises, legends, moving moments, coming at you, left right and center, you don’t know what’s coming next, all you know is you’re in for the ride, you’re loving every second and you’re talking about it the next day. Last year, the biggest surprise was Shania Twain presenting Entertainer of the Year, which she has done at least 3 times before, and to those who keep up on country news, it was hardly a surprise at all.
What can possibly be done to make the night more entertaining?
How about taking a cue from this yearis Academy Awards and only announce a handful of performers, leaving the rest a mystery? Don’t tell us who and what everyone’s performing, which leaves more room for surprises. Also, like the Oscars, don’t announce who is presenting, and before each award have a mini-montage of past winners. Then at the end, the curtain opens and a surprise past winner comes out and shares insights on their winning experience. Instead of the otherwise cheesy dialogue or weird presenter pairings, it would make more sense if they just brought out Trisha Yearwood for Female Vocalist, Vince for Male, The Judds for Duo, Alabama forGroup, and hand it off to the winner like an Olympic torch or rite of passage. This way of thinking would work out great for the Entertainer of the Year category, in bringing out past winners, Roy Clark, and Barbara Mandrell, who also happen to be this year’s Hall of Fame inductees.
Speaking of the Hall of Fame, I would prefer it if it went back to how it used to be with a taped bio and artists performing a medley of hits. But even that is too much to ask. If they are going to cut it out entirely, the least they could do is show 3 separate 30-60 second bios of each of the inductees at different times as they are going to commercial and have them wave from the audience. Or, from the paragraph above, show a taped piece just before Barbara and Roy present Entertainer.
The most boring parts of the show are seeing full performances from all the mundane hits of the past year. Was it necessary for Darius Rucker to perform “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It” last year when he wasn’t nominated? Yes, it’s necessary for the biggest hits to be performed, but does every top 5 hit of the past year have to be sung? Instead, encourage them to sing unique songs, like Alan Jackson in 2005 performing, “Wonderful Tonight”, songs you’ll actually remember more than 5 minutes after they are performed. Another idea, which the Grammys have down pat, is pairing people up. Think of the Al Green, Keith Urban, Justin Timberlake and Boys 2 Men grouping of earlier this year. For the CMA’s, this would be a perfect year to acknowledge the 20th anniversary of the hat act boom of 89. Why not bring out Alan Jackson, Clint Black, Garth Brooks, and Travis Tritt for a small medley?
Instead of each of the new artist nominees performing their full songs – do we really want to see Julianne Hough performing a full version of her song this year? - it would be great if they stole from the ACM’s all-star opener this year, and did the same thing with the 5 nominees. Lady Antebellum can be the ring leader like Brooks & Dunn were at the ACMs, and they all can perform a small portion of their hits. To wrap it up, Lady Antebellum can present the award. This will allow more time for the Collaboration and Video of the year awards to be back on the telecast.
If you ran the CMAs, thinking creatively but realistically, which special moments would you create that could go down in history and make country’s biggest night more fun to watch? How would you make George Strait’s performance less predictable? And how would you measure that Miley restraining order? In inches, feet, yards, or miles?
Ah, Music Video of the Year. The awkward stepchild of the CMA Awards. Aside from provoking fewer blog wars than the bigger races, it’s also the category that apparently takes the least effort for voters to fill up, since predicting the nominees is o
ften as easy as asking yourself, “well, which songs are probably going to be nominated for Song and Single?”
Nevertheless, music videos remain an important aspect of an artist’s public image, and sometimes even rise to the level of legitimate art. Keeping in mind the eligibility period (July 1st, 2008 – June 30th, 2009), below are the five videos I would most like to see recognized as such by CMA voters. Interestingly, four of them were breakthrough videos for their artists:
A little melodramatic, but a lot captivating. I can’t get over the way he plays the chorus of the song to his ex, like he can’t even have a moment of self-pity to himself.
The CU J+R lovefest continues! Come on, how can you resist their spousey charms atop this hot bluegrass beat? Truth be told, I’m an equally big fan of the sharp “Play The Song” treatment, but since this is the one that actually stands a chance, I’ll give it the nod.
I found it really tacky when they tried to recreate this clip in his ACM performance, but the thing itself is an understated beaut, carefully capturing the song’s mood and imagery without ever getting in the way.
Haters to the left. This video is a four-minute distillation of everything likable about its maker, and it manages to pull through its various cliches thanks to its sheer pluck. Since “Love Story” swept the CMT’s, I expect this one to remain relegated to VMA territory, but this is the stronger work.
I still don’t care for the song, but the video more than makes up for it. The visuals are gorgeous, the vibe is warm and personal, and it even provides a context to the seemingly random military shout-out in the song’s bridge.
Which five videos would you like to see nab a nomination this year?
In the Entertainer and Male Vocalist races, I’ve been making the case for fresh blood. In those categories, the routine nominees are mostly past their peaks, and there’s room to let some rising stars in on the action.
Miranda Lambert
Reba McEntire
Winners
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
1990
1989
1988
1987
1986
1985
1984
1983
1982
1981
1980 
1979
1977
1976
1975
1974
1973
1972
1971
1970
1969
1968
1967
Entertainer of the Year
Male Vocalist of the Year
Female Vocalist of the Year
Vocal Duo of the Year
Vocal Group of the Year
New Artist of the Year
Album of the Year
Single of the Year
Song of the Year
Musical Event of the Year
Music Video of the Year
Musician of the Year 
It’s that time of year again! For each major category, we’ll look at who’s broken in since last year, who’s been booted out, plus some initial thoughts. As always, we invite you to share your own opinions in the comments. Without further ado:
The movies have the Oscars, the world of music has the Grammys, and that world subdivided into the country genre has the CM’s—the annual extravaganza that we fans look forward to every year. We see our favorites perform, win awards and lose with smiling gracious faces, or not [insert the inevitable Faith Hill reference here]. Everyone picks their favorites in each category as to who they’d like to win. But what about the show itself, the backdrop for which these prestigious awards are presented?
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