Carrie Underwood, Garth Brooks among 2019 CMA Awards nominees

Maren Morris tops the list of finalists with six nominations

The Country Music Association has announced the final nominees for The 53rd Annual CMA Awards, as Maren Morris tops the list of finalists with six nominations. Brothers Osborne receives four nominations, the second most nominations this year, while 11 garner three nominations each — Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Scott Hendricks, Dann Huff, Greg Kurstin, Kacey Musgraves, Blake Shelton, Chris Stapleton and Carrie Underwood. For the night’s highest honor, reigning Entertainer of the Year Keith Urban is nominated again in the category alongside Garth Brooks, Eric Church, Chris Stapleton and Underwood.

Jimmie Allen and Ashley McBryde revealed select nominees on ABC’s Good Morning America, live from their Times Square studio in New York, followed by a performance of “If I Know Me” by Morgan Wallen. Immediately following the broadcast, Wallen and Midland visited Billboard’s Times Square studio to reveal the remaining eight CMA Awards categories in addition to the CMA Broadcast Awards finalists on Billboard’s Twitter and YouTube, as well as CMA’s Twitter and YouTube.

“This year, we have the privilege of honoring Country legends, new and emerging talent and even artists from outside our genre,” says Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “The breadth of Country Music’s landscape is evident in this year’s nominations, and we can’t wait to celebrate our deserving nominees in November.”

Maren Morris tops this year’s CMA Awards nominations with six, adding to her previous ten nominations and one win. She scores her fourth nomination for Female Vocalist and third nomination in Musical Event of the Year for “All My Favorite People” featuring Brothers Osborne, produced by Morris and busbee. This marks her second nomination in four categories – Single, Album, Song and Music Video of the Year. “GIRL” was written by Morris and first-time nominees Sarah Aarons and Kurstin. The single was also mixed and produced by Kurstin. The album was produced by busbee, Morris and Kurstin. First-time nominee Dave Meyers directed the music video for “GIRL.”

The reigning CMA Vocal Duo of the Year Brothers Osborne returns to this year’s ballot vying for the title for the fifth consecutive year – a trophy they’ve claimed for the last three years. This marks the brothers’ first nomination for Single and second nod for Music Video of the Year, both for their featured performance on Bentley’s “Burning Man.” They won Music Video in 2017 for “It Ain’t My Fault.” The duo earns their second nomination for Musical Event of the Year with Morris’ “All My Favorite People.”

Adding three nominations to his previous 24 nods and three wins, “Burning Man” earns Dierks Bentley his third nomination in both Single and Music Video of the Year. The single features Brothers Osborne, was produced by Ross Copperman, Jon Randall and Arturo Buenahora, Jr. and mixed by first-time nominee F. Reid Shippen. The video was directed by Wes Edwards.

With 25 prior nominations and three wins under his belt, Eric Church claims his third nomination for both Entertainer and Music Video of the Year for “Some Of It,” which was directed by Reid Long. He also earns his fourth nomination for Album of the Year with Desperate Man produced by Jay Joyce and Buenahora, Jr.

Luke Combs garners three nominations on top of his previous three, nabbing his second nomination for Male Vocalist of the Year. He is a first-time nominee in Song of the Year for “Beautiful Crazy,” co-written with Wyatt B. Durrette III and first-time nominee Robert Williford. He also secures a first-time nod for Musical Event of the Year with “Brand New Man” alongside Country Music Hall of Fame inductees and the most awarded artists in CMA history – Brooks & Dunn.

Dan + Shay tally three nominations alongside their previous seven. This marks their sixth consecutive nomination for Vocal Duo and their first nomination for Album of the Year. Dan + Shay was produced by Hendricks and the duo’s Dan Smyers. They also earn their second nomination in Single of the Year with “Speechless,” produced by Smyers and Hendricks and mixed by Jeff Juliano. Smyers earns his second Song of the Year nomination for “Tequila” with co-writers Nicolle Galyon and Jordan Reynolds.

With 15 previous nominations and three wins to her credit, Kacey Musgraves claims her sixth nomination for Female Vocalist of the Year. She earns a fourth nomination in Song of the Year for “Rainbow” with co-writers Natalie Hemby and Shane McAnally. She last won the category in 2014 with “Follow Your Arrow.” “Rainbow” also nabs Musgraves’ third nomination for Music Video of the Year, directed by first-time nominee Hannah Lux Davis.

Songwriter and producer Shane McAnally makes history with his nomination for “Rainbow” as Song of the Year, tying the record for most songs nominated in the category throughout the award show’s history. McAnally shares this record with Nashville Songwriters’ Hall of Fame inductees Alan Jackson and Bob McDill, each composing seven songs nominated by the Country Music Association industry members. McAnally becomes the fastest songwriter to achieve this feat, earning his seven nominations in seven years for songs including “Mama’s Broken Heart,” “Merry Go Round,” “Follow Your Arrow,” “American Kids,” Take Your Time,” “Body Like a Backroad,” and “Rainbow.”

Blake Shelton adds three nominations to his prior 25, claiming his fifth nomination for Single and fourth for Music Video with “God’s Country,” produced by Hendricks and mixed by Niebank. The music video was directed by first-time nominee Sophie Muller. This marks Shelton’s fourth nomination in Musical Event of the Year for “Dive Bar” with Garth Brooks. Shelton is a nine-time CMA Awards winner.

With 16 prior nominations and ten wins, Chris Stapleton earns his fifth nod for Male Vocalist of the Year, a category he’s won consecutively since 2015. He scores his third nomination for Single of the Year with “Millionaire” produced by Dave Cobb and Stapleton, mixed by Vance Powell. This marks Stapleton’s fourth nomination for Entertainer of the Year.

Thirty-time CMA Awards nominee and seven-time winner Underwood claims her second nomination for Entertainer of the Year, first securing the nod in 2016. She nabs a 14th consecutive nomination for Female Vocalist, a title she’s won five times, including in 2018. This marks her fifth nomination for Album of the Year with Cry Pretty, produced by Underwood and first-time nominees David Garcia and Jim Jonsin.

Underwood hosts The 53rd Annual CMA Awards with special guest hosts Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton, celebrating legendary women in country music throughout the ceremony. Country Music’s Biggest Night broadcasts live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville Wednesday, November 13th at 8 pm ET/PT on the ABC Television Network.

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
  • Garth Brooks
  • Eric Church
  • Chris Stapleton
  • Carrie Underwood
  • Keith Urban
SINGLE OF THE YEAR

Award goes to Artist(s), Producer(s), and Mix Engineer

  • “Burning Man” – Dierks Bentley Feat. Brothers Osborne
    Producers: Ross Copperman, Jon Randall, Arturo Buenahora, Jr.
    Mix Engineer: F. Reid Shippen
  • “GIRL” – Maren Morris
    Producer: Greg Kurstin
    Mix Engineer: Greg Kurstin
  • “God’s Country” – Blake Shelton
    Producer: Scott Hendricks
    Mix Engineer: Justin Niebank
  • “Millionaire” – Chris Stapleton
    Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
    Mix Engineer: Vance Powell
  • “Speechless” – Dan + Shay
    Producers: Dan Smyers, Scott Hendricks
    Mix Engineer: Jeff Juliano
ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Award goes to Artist and Producers

  • Center Point Road – Thomas Rhett
    Producers: Dann Huff, Jesse Frasure, Thomas Rhett, Julian Bunetta, The Stereotypes, Cleve Wilson
  • Cry Pretty – Carrie Underwood
    Producers: David Garcia, Jim Jonsin, Carrie Underwood
  • Dan + Shay – Dan + Shay
    Producers: Dan Smyers, Scott Hendricks
  • Desperate Man – Eric Church
    Producers: Jay Joyce, Arturo Buenahora, Jr.
  • GIRL – Maren Morris
    Producers: busbee, Maren Morris, Greg Kurstin
SONG OF THE YEAR

Award goes to Songwriters

  • “Beautiful Crazy”
    Songwriters: Luke Combs, Wyatt B. Durrette III, Robert Williford
  • “GIRL”
    Songwriters: Maren Morris, Sarah Aarons, Greg Kurstin
  • “God’s Country”
    Songwriters: Devin Dawson, Jordan Schmidt, Michael Hardy
  • “Rainbow”
    Songwriters: Natalie Hemby, Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves
  • “Tequila”
    Songwriters: Dan Smyers, Nicolle Galyon, Jordan Reynolds
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
  • Kelsea Ballerini
  • Miranda Lambert
  • Maren Morris
  • Kacey Musgraves
  • Carrie Underwood
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
  • Dierks Bentley
  • Luke Combs
  • Thomas Rhett
  • Chris Stapleton
  • Keith Urban
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
  • Lady Antebellum
  • Little Big Town
  • Midland
  • Old Dominion
  • Zac Brown Band
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
  • Brooks & Dunn
  • Brothers Osborne
  • Dan + Shay
  • Florida Georgia Line
  • Maddie & Tae
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR

Award goes to Artists and Producer(s)

  • “All My Favorite People” – Maren Morris (feat. Brothers Osborne)
    Producers: Maren Morris, busbee
  • “Brand New Man” – Brooks & Dunn (with Luke Combs)
    Producer: Dann Huff
  • “Dive Bar” – Garth Brooks & Blake Shelton
    Producer: Garth Brooks
  • “Old Town Road (Remix)” – Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus
    Producers: YoungKio, Michael Trent Reznor, Atticus Matthew Ross
  • “What Happens In A Small Town” – Brantley Gilbert & Lindsay Ell
    Producer: Dann Huff
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
  • Jenee Fleenor, Fiddle
  • Paul Franklin, Steel Guitar
  • Mac McAnally, Guitar
  • Ilya Toshinsky, Banjo/Guitar
  • Derek Wells, Guitar
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Award goes to Artist(s) and Director

  • “Burning Man” – Dierks Bentley Feat. Brothers Osborne
    Director: Wes Edwards
  • “GIRL” – Maren Morris
    Director: Dave Meyers
  • “God’s Country” – Blake Shelton
    Director: Sophie Muller
  • “Rainbow” – Kacey Musgraves
    Director: Hannah Lux Davis
  • “Some Of It” – Eric Church
    Director: Reid Long
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
  • Cody Johnson
  • Ashley McBryde
  • Midland
  • Carly Pearce
  • Morgan Wallen

Buddy Iahn
Buddy Iahn

Buddy Iahn founded The Music Universe when he decided to juxtapose his love of web design and music. As a lifelong drummer, he decided to take a hiatus from playing music to report it. The website began as a fun project in 2013 to one of the top independent news sites. Email: info@themusicuniverse.com