The list of nominees for the 46th annual Country Music Association Awards has been released. Eric Church had a big breakthrough this past year, and such is reflected in the nominee list – Church leads the pack with five nominations. Power couple Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert follow with four each, including a shared Song of the Year nod for their co-write “Over You.”
What’s your take on this year’s field of CMA nominees? Whose nominations were deserved, and whose were not? Who got snubbed? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
The live presentation airs Thursday, November 1 at 8pm Eastern on ABC-TV. The Country Universe Staff Picks & Predictions will be released the week of the show. Feel free to join us on show night for some live-blogging fun!
Entertainer of the Year
- Jason Aldean
- Kenny Chesney
- Brad Paisley
- Blake Shelton
- Taylor Swift
Who’s in: Kenny Chesney
Who’s out: Keith Urban
No real surprises here. This year we swapped out Urban for Chesney, but all of these nominees have been here at least once before.
Female Vocalist of the Year
- Kelly Clarkson
- Miranda Lambert
- Martina McBride
- Taylor Swift
- Carrie Underwood
Who’s in: Kelly Clarkson
Who’s out: Sara Evans
Well, I was hoping for some new blood in this category, and that’s definitely what I got. Pop crossover star Kelly Clarkson scores her first nomination in the Female Vocalist field, displacing Sara Evans. There will likely be some amount of upset over Clarkson receiving such an accolade, as she had one #21-peaking country hit in the past year with “Mr. Know It All,” but has yet to release a full-length country album. And…that makes her one of the top five leading female vocalists in the country format? Okay…
Male Vocalist of the Year
- Jason Aldean
- Luke Bryan
- Eric Church
- Blake Shelton
- Keith Urban
Who’s in: Luke Bryan, Eric Church
Who’s out: Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley
Bryan and Church’s recent career strides are rewarded
with their first nominations in the always-competitive Male Vocalist race.
Vocal Group of the Year
- The Band Perry
- Eli Young Band
- Lady Antebellum
- Little Big Town
- Zac Brown Band
Who’s in: Eli Young Band
Who’s out: Rascal Flatts (!!!)
Eli Young Band scores a pair of huge radio hits, and thus squeezes out a former staple of the Vocal Group race.
Vocal Duo of the Year
- Big & Rich
- Love and Theft
- Sugarland
- The Civil Wars
- Thompson Square
Who’s in: Big & Rich, Love and Theft
Who’s out: Montgomery Gentry, Steel Magnolia
New Artist of the Year
- Lee Brice
- Brantley Gilbert
- Hunter Hayes
- Love and Theft
- Thompson Square
Who’s in: Lee Brice, Brantley Gilbert, Hunter Hayes, Love and Theft
Who’s out: The Band Perry (won), Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Chris Young (So, everyone except Thompson Square)
Album of the Year (Awarded to artist and producer)
- Luke Bryan, Tailgates and Tanlines
Produced by Jeff Stevens and Mark Bright
- Eric Church, Chief
Produced by Jay Joyce
- Miranda Lambert, Four the Record
Produced by Frank Liddell, Chuck Ainlay, and Glenn Worf
- Dierks Bentley, Home
Produced by Brett Beavers, Luke Wooten, and Jon Randall Stewart
- Lady Antebellum, Own the Night
Produced by Paul Worley and Lady Antebellum
Song of the Year (Awarded to songwriters)
- Eli Young Band, “Even if It Breaks Your Heart”
Written by Will Hoge and Eric Paslay
- Blake Shelton, “God Gave Me You”
Written by Dave Barnes
- Dierks Bentley, “Home”
Written by Dierks Bentley, Dan Wilson and Brett Beavers
- Miranda Lambert, “Over You”
Written by Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton
- Eric Church, “Springsteen”
Written by Eric Church, Jeff Hyde and Ryan Tyndell
Single of the Year (Awarded to artist and producer)
- Jason Aldean, “Dirt Road Anthem”
Produced by Michael Knox
- Blake Shelton, “God Gave Me You”
Produced by Scott Hendricks
- Dierks Bentley, “Home”
Produced by Brett Beavers and Luke Wooten
- Little Big Town, “Pontoon”
Produced by Jay Joyce
- Eric Church, “Springsteen”
Produced by Jay Joyce
Musical Event of the Year
- Alan Jackson and Zac Brown Band, “Dixie Highway”
- Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw, “Feel Like a Rock Star”
- Willie Nelson featuring Snoop Dogg, Kris Kristofferson and Jamey Johnson, “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die”
- Taylor Swift featuring the Civil Wars, “Safe and Sound”
- Lionel Richie and Darius Rucker, “Stuck on You”
Music Video of the Year (Awarded to artist and director)
- Eric Church, “Springsteen”
Directed by Peter Zavadil
- Kenny Chesney, “Come Over”
Directed by Shaun Silva
- Miranda Lambert, “Over You”
Directed by Trey Fanjoy
- Little Big Town, “Pontoon”
Directed by Declan Whitebloom
- Toby Keith, “Red Solo Cup”
Directed by Michael Salomon
Musician of the Year
Sam Bush
Paul Franklin
Dann Huff
Brent Mason
Mac McAnally
Using the word rewind in 2014 is a bit dated and quaint, don’t you think?
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