Miranda Lambert tops 51st CMA Awards nominees

Miranda Lambert tops the list of nominees for The 51st Annual CMA Awards with five nominations. Little Big Town and Keith Urban each garner four nominations, tying for the second most nominations this year.

“The talent of the past year for country has been exceptional,” says Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. It’s great to see nominee names that have graced the list before, and continue to deliver quality artistry. It’s equally thrilling to see six new names – ushering in a new generation earning their first CMA Awards nods.”

The 51st Annual CMA Awards will be hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood for the tenth time and broadcast live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Wednesday, November 8th from 8-11 pm ET on the ABC Television Network.

Lauren Alaina, Brothers Osborne and Dustin Lynch were live in Good Morning America‘s New York Times Square studio this morning (Mon, Sept 4th) to reveal six of the 12 categories. Following that, Brothers Osborne and Lynch announced the remaining six categories and the CMA Broadcast Awards nominees on GoodMorningAmerica.com as well as via Good Morning America‘s Facebook page through Facebook Live and simulcast on the show’s YouTube channel.

Lambert’s name appeared more than any others this year with nominations in the Single and Song of the Year categories for “Tin Man,” produced by Frank Liddell, Eric Masse, Glenn Worf, and written by Jack Ingram, Lambert, and Jon Randall. Masse also mix engineered the song. Lambert secured her fourth nod for Album of the Year with The Weight of These Wings, produced by Liddell, Worf, and Masse; Music Video of the Year for “Vice,” directed by Trey Fanjoy; and Female Vocalist. This is Lambert’s eleventh nomination for Female Vocalist, a category she’s won a record-setting six consecutive times (2010-2015). Lambert is the most awarded female in CMA Awards history with 12 trophies. This year’s nods bring her to a career total of 44 CMA Awards nominations.

Little Big Town’s nominations include Single, produced by Jay Joyce and mix engineered by Jason Hall and Joyce; Music Video of the Year directed by Becky Fluke and Reid Long for “Better Man”; Album of the Year for The Breaker, also produced by Joyce; and Vocal Group of the Year. This is Little Big Town’s fourth nomination for Music Video. They have been nominated in past years for “Pontoon” (2012), “Tornado” (2013), and “Girl Crush” (2015). They are seven-time CMA Awards winners and this year’s nods bring their career total to 26 nominations. Taylor Swift received her 23rd nomination for writing “Better Man,” marking her second nomination for Song of the Year and first CMA Awards nod since 2014.

Urban tallied up nominations for Entertainer of the Year, Single and Music Video of the Year for “Blue Ain’t Your Color” and Male Vocalist. This is his thirteenth nomination for Male Vocalist and he is a three-time consecutive winner in this category (2004-2006). Urban is a 10-time CMA Awards winner. Songwriters for “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” Clint Lagerberg, Hillary Lindsey, and Steven Lee Olsen earned a nod for Song of the Year. “Blue Ain’t Your Color” Music Video Director Carter Smith is a first-time nominee. “Blue Ain’t Your Color” producer Dann Huff and mix engineer Chris Lord-Alge also earned nods. Urban received one nomination for Single of the Year, but can receive an additional trophy as producer.

Eric Church, Maren Morris, Thomas Rhett and Chris Stapleton each earned three nominations with Brothers Osborne, Sam Hunt, Lady Antebellum, Old Dominion and Jon Pardi garnering two nominations. For the second year in a row, Old Dominion received nods for Vocal Group of the Year and New Artist of the Year. They have four career CMA nominations.

Alaina, Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Garth Brooks, Luke Bryan, Glen Campbell, Kenny Chesney, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line, Giddens, Faith Hill, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, LOCASH, Maddie & Tae, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Willie Nelson, P!nk, Rascal Flatts, Swift, Underwood, Brett Young and Zac Brown Band each received one nomination for trophies that will be handed out on Country Music’s Biggest Night.

Reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year Brooks returns with his 12th nomination in the category, a title he has won five times (1991, 1992, 1997, 1998, 2016), making him the most awarded artist in this category. Two-time former Entertainer Bryan rounds out the nominees for this category.

McEntire nabbed her eighteenth nomination for Female Vocalist, a category she’s won four years consecutively (1984-1987). She is a six-time CMA Awards winner and now ties Brooks & Dunn with 50 career CMA Awards nominations. She is the most nominated female in CMA Awards history.

Other first time CMA Awards nominees include Alaina, Combs, and Young in the New Artist of the Year category, and LOCASH in Duo. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit debuted in Album of the Year with The Nashville Sound, produced by Cobb.

The Musician of the Year category includes Jerry Douglas (dobro), Paul Franklin (steel guitar), Huff (guitar), Mac McAnally (guitar), and Derek Wells (guitar).

Winners of The 51st Annual CMA Awards will be determined in a final round of voting by eligible voting CMA members. The third and final ballot will be emailed to CMA members Monday, Oct. 2. Voting for the CMA Awards final ballot ends Tuesday, Oct. 24 (6:00 PM/CT). Ballots will be tabulated by the professional services organization Deloitte & Touche LLP.

Final Nominees:

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
  • Garth Brooks
  • Luke Bryan
  • Eric Church
  • Chris Stapleton
  • Keith Urban
SINGLE OF THE YEAR

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

  • “Better Man” – Little Big Town
    Producer: Jay Joyce
    Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
  • “Blue Ain’t Your Color” – Keith Urban
    Producers: Dann HuffKeith Urban
    Mix Engineer: Chris Lord-Alge
  • “Body Like A Back Road” – Sam Hunt
    Producer: Zach Crowell
    Mix Engineer: Zach Crowell
  • “Dirt On My Boots” – Jon Pardi
    Producers: Bart ButlerJon Pardi
    Mix Engineer: Ryan Gore
  • “Tin Man” – Miranda Lambert
    Producers: Frank LiddellEric MasseGlenn Worf
    Mix Engineer: Eric Masse
ALBUM OF THE YEAR

(Award goes to Artist and Producer(s))

  • The Breaker – Little Big Town
    Producer: Jay Joyce
  • From A Room: Volume 1 – Chris Stapleton
    Producers: Dave CobbChris Stapleton
  • Heart Break – Lady Antebellum
    Producer: busbee
  • The Nashville Sound – Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
    Producer: Dave Cobb
  • The Weight of These Wings – Miranda Lambert
    Producers: Frank LiddellGlenn WorfEric Masse
SONG OF THE YEAR

(Award goes to Songwriter(s))

  • “Better Man”
    Songwriter: Taylor Swift
  • “Blue Ain’t Your Color”
    Songwriters: Clint LagerbergHillary LindseySteven Lee Olsen
  • “Body Like A Back Road”
    Songwriters: Zach CrowellSam HuntShane McAnallyJosh Osborne
  • “Dirt On My Boots”
    Songwriters: Rhett AkinsJesse FrasureAshley Gorley
  • “Tin Man”
    Songwriters: Jack IngramMiranda LambertJon Randall
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
  • Kelsea Ballerini
  • Miranda Lambert
  • Reba McEntire
  • Maren Morris
  • Carrie Underwood
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
  • Dierks Bentley
  • Eric Church
  • Thomas Rhett
  • Chris Stapleton
  • Keith Urban
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
  • Lady Antebellum
  • Little Big Town
  • Old Dominion
  • Rascal Flatts
  • Zac Brown Band
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
  • Brothers Osborne
  • Dan + Shay
  • Florida Georgia Line
  • LOCASH
  • Maddie & Tae
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR

(Award goes to each Artist)

  • “Craving You” – Thomas Rhett featuring Maren Morris
  • “Funny How Time Slips Away” – Glen Campbell with Willie Nelson
  • “Kill A Word” – Eric Church featuring Rhiannon Giddens
  • “Setting the World on Fire” – Kenny Chesney with P!nk
  • “Speak to a Girl” – Tim McGraw & Faith Hill
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
  • Jerry Douglas (Dobro)
  • Paul Franklin (Steel Guitar)
  • Dann Huff (Guitar)
  • Mac McAnally (Guitar)
  • Derek Wells (Guitar)
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR

(Award goes to Artist and Director(s))

  • “Better Man” – Little Big Town
    Directors: Becky Fluke and Reid Long
  • “Blue Ain’t Your Color” – Keith Urban
    Director: Carter Smith
  • “Craving You” – Thomas Rhett featuring Maren Morris
    Director: TK McKamy
  • “It Ain’t My Fault” – Brothers Osborne
    Directors: Wes Edwards and Ryan Silver
  • “Vice” – Miranda Lambert
    Director: Trey Fanjoy
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
  • Lauren Alaina
  • Luke Combs
  • Old Dominion
  • Jon Pardi
  • Brett Young

CMA Broadcast Personality of the Year Nominees (by market size):

NATIONAL
  • American Country Countdown (Kix Brooks) – Cumulus
  • The Big D and Bubba Show (Derek HaskinsSean PowellPatrick Thomas, and Carsen Humphreville) –  Compass Media Networks
  • The Blair Garner Show (Blair Garner) – Cumulus
  • The Bobby Bones Show (Bobby Bones) – iHeartMedia
  • Country Gold (Terri Clark) – Westwood One
MAJOR MARKET
  • Bud and Broadway (Bud FordJerry Broadway, and Kelly Rebal) – WIL, St. Louis, Mo.
  • Michael J On Air (Michael J. Stuehler) – WPOC, Baltimore, Md.
  • Mike & Amy (Mike Chase and Amy Faust) – KWJJ, Portland, Ore.
  • Paul Schadt and Meg (Paul SchadtMeg Butterly, and Geof Knight) – WKKT, Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, N.C.
  • The Q Morning Zoo (Tim TuttleKevin Kline, and Erica Rico) – KKBQ, HoustonGalveston, Texas
LARGE MARKET
  • Amanda and Jesse (Amanda Valentine and Jesse Tack) – WUBE, Cincinnati, Ohio
  • The Boxer Show (“Boxer” Brandon Nasby) – WCOL, Columbus, Ohio
  • Double-L (Lois Lewis) – KWNR, Las Vegas, Nev.
  • The Randy, Jamie, and Jojo Show (Randy CarrollJamie Martin, and JoJo Meza) – KAJA, San Antonio, Texas
  • Tige And Daniel (Tige RodgersDaniel Baker, and Mari Mueller) – WSIX, Nashville, Tenn.
  • Woody and the Wake-Up Call (Woody JohnsonDan E. Zuko, and Kayla Hanley) – WCOL, Columbus, Ohio
MEDIUM MARKET
  • Brent Michaels – KUZZ, Bakersfield, Calif.
  • Cash and Bradley (Natalie Cash and Matt Bradley) – KWEN, Tulsa, Okla.
  • The Dex and Mo Show (Bill “Dex” Poindexter and Melissa “Mo” Turner) – WUSY, Chattanooga, Tenn.
  • New Country Mornings (Nancy Wilson and James Frye) – WHKO, Dayton, Ohio
  • Tom & Becky (Tom Owens and Becky Palmer) – WBBS, Syracuse, N.Y.
SMALL MARKET
  • Barrett, Fox & Berry (Bill BarrettTim Fox, and Tracy Berry) – KKNU, EugeneSpringfield, Ore.
  • Ben and Arnie (Arnie Andrews and Ben Butler) – WCOW, La Crosse, Wis.
  • The Cat Pak Morning Show (Brent Lane and Candy Cullerton) – WYCT, Pensacola, Fla.
  • Officer Don and DeAnn (Don Evans and DeAnn Stephens) – WBUL, LexingtonFayette, Ky.
  • Scotty & Cara in the Morning (Scotty Cox and Cara Denis) – KCLR, Columbia, Mo.

CMA Radio Station of the Year Nominees (by market size):

MAJOR MARKET
  • KPLX – Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas
  • KUPL – Portland, Ore.
  • KWJJ – Portland, Ore.
  • WIL – St. Louis, Mo.
  • WKKT– Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, N.C.
LARGE MARKET
  • KCYY – San Antonio, Texas
  • WCOL – Columbus, Ohio
  • WQDR – Raleigh-Durham, N.C.
  • WQIK – Jacksonville, Fla.
  • WSIX – Nashville, Tenn.
MEDIUM MARKET
  • CKRY – Calgary, Alta.
  • KXKT – OmahaCouncil Bluffs, Neb.-Iowa
  • WBBS – Syracuse, N.Y.
  • WIVK – Knoxville, Tenn.
  • WYRK – BuffaloNiagara Falls, N.Y.
SMALL MARKET
  • KCLR – Columbia, Mo.
  • KKNU – EugeneSpringfield, Ore.
  • KORA – Bryan-College Station, Texas
  • WCOW – La Crosse, Wis.
  • WYCT – Pensacola, Fla.

Buddy Iahn
Buddy Iahn