The nominations for the “56th Annual CMA Awards” were announced yesterday, and first-time nominee Lainey Wilson leads the pack with six. Carly Pearce, Ashley McBryde, and Chris Stapleton are right behind with five each. Lainey is speechless over all this. She should be. She’s only the fourth artist in CMA history to get six or more nods in their breakthrough year. The others were Glen Campbell in 1968, Brad Paisley in 2000, and Kacey Musgraves in 2013. Chris Stapleton is an Entertainer of the Year nominee, along with Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, and Morgan Wallen. That’s a huge turnaround for Morgan who was still in PR hell last year and wasn’t eligible for CMA solo awards. Miranda Lambert remains the most-nominated female in CMA history. She’s up to 61. Overall, that’s the third most . . . behind George Strait’s 83 and Alan Jackson’s 81.Taste of Country has a couple snubs they’d like to talk about. They think Walker Hayes deserved a Best Male Vocalist nomination . . . and they don’t understand why the CMAs always overlook Kane Brown. Everyone is mad that Scotty McCreery got snubbed. He had a great year, he played to sold-out crowds, and “Damn Strait” was a huge hit that deserved a Single of the Year or Song of the Year nomination. You know who else “got screwed”? Zach Bryan, according to Saving-Country-Music.com. And they’re thrilled that Sam Hunt, Jason Aldean, and Florida Georgia Line got shut out. “The 56th Annual CMA Awards” will air November 9th on ABC. Here are the nominations in the CMA’s eight biggest categories:
Entertainer of the Year:
Luke Combs
Miranda Lambert
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood
Morgan Wallen
Male Vocalist of the Year
Eric Church
Luke Combs
Cody Johnson
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen
Female Vocalist of the Year
Miranda Lambert
Ashley McBryde
Carly Pearce
Carrie Underwood
Lainey Wilson
New Artist of the Year:
Hardy
Walker Hayes
Cody Johnson
Parker McCollum
Lainey Wilson
Album of the Year:
“Growin’ Up”, Luke Combs
“Humble Quest”, Maren Morris
“Palomino”, Miranda Lambert
“Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin'”, Lainey Wilson”
Time, Tequila & Therapy”, Old Dominion
Single of the Year:
“Buy Dirt”, Jordan Davis featuring Luke Bryan
“Half of My Hometown”, Kelsea Ballerini featuring Kenny Chesney
“Never Wanted to Be That Girl”, Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde
“‘Til You Can’t “, Cody Johnson
“You Should Probably Leave”, Chis Stapleton
Vocal Group of the Year:
Lady A
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion
Zac Brown Band
Vocal Duo of the Year:
Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
LoCash
Maddie & Tae
Blake Shelton will hit the road in February for an arena tour. The “Back to the Honky Tonk Tour” will also feature Carly Pearce and Jackson Dean. It’s possible that additional dates are tacked on, since there’s nothing in the western U.S. yet. Tickets start going on sale NEXT Friday.
Contestant Logan Crosby on the ABC show, “Claim to Fame”, was revealed to be the cousin of Jason Aldean on the finale Tuesday night. Yesterday Jason tweeted, quote, “Well I’m glad I can finally tell y’all to watch my lil Cuzzin Logan do his thing. Proud of ya man. Way to represent the family.”
Gary LeVox graduated from Ohio State University, so OSU football is in his blood. Somebody asked if he thinks they can win the title this year. Guess what he said. Quote, “It’s going to be us and Alabama, but I think we can take them.”
Dierks Bentley is a crazy person who enjoys a nice ICE BATH every now and then to clear his head. So before Elvie Shane opened for him in Nashville last month, he surprised Dierks with two ice bath barrels as a tour gift. Elvie posted a video the other day where Dierks hops in one, and he’s in the other.
Jonathan Taylor Thomasis 41. Randy Taylor on “Home Improvement”.
Pinkis 43. “Just Give Me a Reason”.
David Arquetteis 51. The fool who let Courteney Cox get away.
Bernie Sandersis 81. Vermont Senator and failed presidential candidate.
Patsy Cline (1932 – 1963) Country legend. Her classic country hits include: “Crazy”, “I Fall to Pieces”, and “Walkin’ After Midnight”.
