| Sony Music Nashville has earned 20 overall nominations for “The 55th Annual CMA Awards.” Kane Brown, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris, and Chris Young each earned three nominations; Ryan Hurd received two; and Brooks & Dunn, Elle King, and Old Dominion each notched one. Brown earned his first-ever CMA nominations this year as he and Chris Young are up for Single, Musical Event, and Music Video of the Year for their multi-week, No. 1 collaboration “Famous Friends.” Combs earns his fourth nominations for Male Vocalist of the Year and Song of the Year (six-week No. 1 “Forever After All”). He’s won the former trophy for two consecutive years and previously took home the latter in 2019 (“Beautiful Crazy”). Lambert, the most nominated female artist now ties Brad Paisley as third most nominated artist overall in CMA history. She earned her fifth nod for Entertainer of the Year, 15th consecutive nomination for Female Vocalist of the Year – which she has won seven times – and eighth nomination for Musical Event of the Year (“Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)” with Elle King), a category she previously won in 2014 (“We Were Us” with Keith Urban). Reigning Female Vocalist of the Year Morris earned her sixth nomination in that category and in Musical Event of the Year for “Chasing After You,” her collaboration with husband Ryan Hurd. “Chasing After You” is also nominated for Music Video of the Year, as Hurd earns his first nominations ever for the Top 20 hit. Brooks & Dunn earned their 22nd Vocal Duo of the Year nomination, a category they have swept 14 times. Elle King is nominated for her second Musical Event of the Year trophy for “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)” with Lambert, a category she previously won for “Different for Girls” with Dierks Bentley. Old Dominion earned their sixth consecutive Vocal Group of the Year nomination, which they have won the past three years. “The 55th Annual CMA Awards” airs live from Nashville Wednesday, Nov. 10 on ABC. “THE 55th ANNUAL CMA AWARDS” – FINAL NOMINEES (by ballot category order): ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR • Eric Church • Luke Combs • Miranda Lambert • Chris Stapleton • Carrie Underwood SINGLE OF THE YEAR Award goes to Artist(s), Producer(s) and Mix Engineer(s) • “Famous Friends” – Chris Young with Kane Brown Producers: Corey Crowder, Chris Young Mix Engineer: Sean Moffitt • “The Good Ones” – Gabby Barrett Producers: Ross Copperman, Zach Kale Mix Engineers: Chris Galland, Manny Marroquin • “Hell Of A View” – Eric Church Producer: Jay Joyce Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce • “One Night Standards” – Ashley McBryde Producer: Jay Joyce Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce • “Starting Over” – Chris Stapleton Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton Mix Engineer: Vance Powell ALBUM OF THE YEAR Award goes to Artist(s), Producer(s) and Mix Engineer(s) • 29 – Carly Pearce Producers: Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne and Jimmy Robbins Mix Engineer: Ryan Gore • Dangerous: The Double Album – Morgan Wallen Producers: Dave Cohen, Matt Dragstrem, Jacob Durrett, Charlie Handsome and Joey Moi Mix Engineer: Joey Moi • Heart – Eric Church Producer: Jay Joyce Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce • Skeletons – Brothers Osborne Producer: Jay Joyce Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce • Starting Over – Chris Stapleton Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton Mix Engineer: Vance Powell SONG OF THE YEAR Award goes to Songwriter(s) • “Forever After All” Songwriters: Luke Combs, Drew Parker, Robert Williford • “The Good Ones” Songwriters: Gabby Barrett, Zach Kale, Emily Landis, Jim McCormick • “Hell Of A View” Songwriters: Casey Beathard, Eric Church, Monty Criswell • “One Night Standards” Songwriters: Nicolette Hayford, Shane McAnally, Ashley McBryde • “Starting Over” Songwriters: Mike Henderson, Chris Stapleton FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR • Gabby Barrett • Miranda Lambert • Ashley McBryde • Maren Morris • Carly Pearce MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR • Dierks Bentley • Eric Church • Luke Combs • Thomas Rhett • Chris 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 • Florida Georgia Line • Maddie & Tae MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR Award goes to Artist(s) and Producer(s) • “Buy Dirt” – Jordan Davis and Luke Bryan Producer: Paul DiGiovanni • “Chasing After You” – Ryan Hurd with Maren Morris Producers: Aaron Eshuis, Teddy Reimer • “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)” – Elle King & Miranda Lambert Producer: Martin Johnson • “Famous Friends” – Chris Young with Kane Brown Producers: Corey Crowder, Chris Young • “half of my hometown” – Kelsea Ballerini (featuring Kenny Chesney) Producers: Kelsea Ballerini, Ross Copperman, Jimmy Robbins MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR • Jenee Fleenor, Fiddle • Paul Franklin, Steel Guitar • Aaron Sterling, Drums • Ilya Toshinskiy, Banjo • Derek Wells, Guitar MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR Award goes to Artist(s) and Director(s) • “Chasing After You” – Ryan Hurd with Maren Morris Director: TK McKamy • “Famous Friends” – Chris Young with Kane Brown Director: Peter Zavadil • “Gone” – Dierks Bentley Directors: Wes Edwards, Travis Nicholson, Ed Pryor, Running Bear, Sam Siske • “half of my hometown” – Kelsea Ballerini (featuring Kenny Chesney) Director: Patrick Tracy • “Younger Me” – Brothers Osborne Director: Reid Long NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR • Jimmie Allen • Ingrid Andress • Gabby Barrett • Mickey Guyton • HARDY |
September 10, 2021