2016 CMA Awards Predictions

Posted on October 30, 2016

Lisa, Jim and friends-of-the-show Elaina Doré Smith and John Shomby sit down to discuss their picks for this year’s CMA Awards winners.

Show Participants

  • Lisa Konicki, Editor in Chief
  • Jim Casey, Managing Editor
  • Elaina Doré Smith, co-host of Nash Nights Live
  • John Shomby, Nash Director of Programming at Cumulus Media

Show Links & Notes

(From left) John Shomby, Elaina Doré Smith, Jim Casey and Lisa Konicki in the strangely Christmas-decorated “America’s Morning Show” studio
(From left) John Shomby, Elaina Doré Smith, Jim Casey and Lisa Konicki in the very early Christmas-decorated “America’s Morning Show” studio

The Writers Room’s 2016 CMA Awards Winner Picks

Entertainer of the Year

  • Elaina: Garth Brooks
  • Jim: Carrie Underwood
  • John: Luke Bryan
  • Lisa: Keith Urban
  • NCD Reader Poll: Carrie Underwood

Female Vocalist of the Year

  • Elaina: Carrie Underwood
  • Jim: Carrie Underwood
  • John: Carrie Underwood
  • Lisa: Carrie Underwood
  • NCD Reader Poll: Carrie Underwood

Male Vocalist of the Year

  • Elaina: Keith Urban
  • Jim: Chris Stapleton
  • John: Chris Stapleton
  • Lisa: Keith Urban
  • NCD Reader Poll: Keith Urban

Album of the Year

  • Elaina: Ripcord, Keith Urban
  • Jim: Ripcord, Keith Urban
  • John: Ripcord, Keith Urban
  • Lisa: Ripcord, Keith Urban
  • NCD Reader Poll: Storyteller, Carrie Underwood

Vocal Group of the Year

  • Elaina: Little Big Town
  • Jim: Zac Brown Band
  • John: Little Big Town
  • Lisa: Little Big Town
  • NCD Reader Poll: Little Big Town

Vocal Duo of the Year

  • Elaina: Florida Georgia Line
  • Jim: Florida Georgia Line
  • John: Florida Georgia Line
  • Lisa: Florida Georgia Line
  • NCD Reader Poll: Joey + Rory

New Artist of the Year

  • Elaina: Kelsea Ballerini
  • Jim: Kelsea Ballerini
  • John: Kelsea Ballerini
  • Lisa: Kelsea Ballerini
  • NCD Reader Poll: Cole Swindell

Single of the Year

  • Elaina: “Die a Happy Man,” Thomas Rhett
  • Jim: “Die a Happy Man,” Thomas Rhett
  • John: “Die a Happy Man,” Thomas Rhett
  • Lisa: “Die a Happy Man,” Thomas Rhett
  • NCD Reader Poll: “Humbe and Kind,” Tim McGraw

Song of the Year (Awarded to Songwriter)

  • Elaina: “Humble and Kind,” Lori McKenna
  • Jim: “Humble and Kind,” Lori McKenna
  • John: “Burning House,” Cam, Tyler Johnson, Jeff Bhasker
  • Lisa: “Humble and Kind,” Lori McKenna
  • NCD Reader Poll: “Record Year,” Eric Church, Jeff Hyde

Musical Event of the Year

  • Elaina: “Different for Girls,” Dierks Bentley feat. Elle King
  • Jim: “Different for Girls,” Dierks Bentley feat. Elle King
  • John: “Different for Girls,” Dierks Bentley feat. Elle King
  • Lisa: “Different for Girls,” Dierks Bentley feat. Elle King
  • NCD Reader Poll: “Think of You,” Chris Young with Cassadee Pope

Video of the Year

  • Elaina: “Somewhere on a Beach,” Dierks Bentley, directed by Wes Edwards
  • Jim: “Somewhere on a Beach,” Dierks Bentley, directed by Wes Edwards
  • John: “Humble and Kind,” Tim McGraw, directed by Wes Edwards
  • Lisa: “Burning House,” Cam, directed by Trey Fanjoy
  • NCD Reader Poll: Vote Now!

Musician of the Year

  • Elaina: Dan Huff, Guitar
  • Jim: Dan Huff, Guitar
  • John: Dan Huff, Guitar
  • Lisa: Paul Franklin, Steel Guitar
  • NCD Reader Poll: Vote Now!

The Writers Room, Ep. 41, 42 minutes
photos by Jason Simanek

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