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The Country Music Association Announces the THE 52ND ANNUAL CMA AWARDS Nominees
By: Kaitlin Milligan Aug. 28, 2018
The Country Music Association has announced the final nominees for "The 52nd Annual CMA Awards," as Chris Stapleton tops the list of finalists with five nominations. Producer and musician Dann Huff receives four nominations, the second most nominations this year, while nine artists garner three each-Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line, Chris Janson, Miranda Lambert, Midland, Thomas Rhett and Keith Urban.
Luke Bryan, Dan + Shay and Sugarland appeared on ABC's "Good Morning America" today, live from Luke's 32 Bridge Food + Drink, Bryan's new restaurant and bar in downtown Nashville, to reveal six of the 12 categories on air. Immediately following the broadcast, Dan + Shay and Sugarland announced the remaining six categories in addition to the CMA Broadcast Awards nominees on GoodMorningAmerica.com as well as "Good Morning America's" Facebook Live and simulcast on the top-rated show's YouTube channel. The livestream was also viewed on CMA's Facebook page.
"Today kicks off CMA Awards season where we get to honor the best of the best in our outstanding format," said CMA Chief Executive Officer Sarah Trahern. "There were some great breakout performances this year and the diversity of the nominations honors new faces and some favorite returning names."
Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood return for an 11th year to host "The 52nd Annual CMA Awards," Country Music's Biggest Night™, broadcasting live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 8/7c on the ABC Television Network. Media and publicist credential applications for "The 52nd Annual CMA Awards" are located at CMAPress.com. The deadline to apply is Friday, September 28 at 5:00 PM/CT.
CHRIS STAPLETON - FIVE NOMINATIONS
Entertainer of the Year, Single of the Year ("Broken Halos"), Album of the Year (From A Room: Volume 2), Song of the Year ("Broken Halos"), Male Vocalist of the Year
Stapleton leads this year's CMA Awards nominations with five, adding to his previous 11 nominations and seven wins. He lands his third consecutive nod for Entertainer of the Year in addition to nominations in the Single and Song of the Year categories for "Broken Halos," produced by Dave Cobb and Stapleton, mixed by Vance Powell, and written by Mike Henderson and Stapleton. Stapleton earns his third nomination for Album of the Year for From A Room: Volume 2, produced by Cobb and Stapleton. He previously won Album for his first two solo albums, Traveller, awarded in 2015, and From A Room: Volume 1, awarded in 2017. Stapleton also receives his fourth consecutive nomination for Male Vocalist of the Year, a category he remains undefeated in, having won the past three years.
DANN HUFF - FOUR NOMINATIONS
Single of the Year ("Drinkin' Problem"), Album of the Year (Graffiti U), Album of the Year (Life Changes), Musician of the Year (Guitar)
Producer and musician Dann Huff garners the second most nominations, receiving four nominations for his behind-the-scenes work with multiple artists. Huff is a 31-time nominee with three previous wins for Musician of the Year and two previous wins for Single of the Year. This year, he's once again nominated in both of these categories. His Single nomination for producing Midland's "Drinkin' Problem" earns Huff his sixth nomination in the category. He also lands two Album of the Year nods for his production work on Keith Urban's Graffiti U and Thomas Rhett's Life Changes. Huff earns his 18th nomination in the Musician of the Year category, which he last won in 2016.
JASON ALDEAN - THREE NOMINATIONS
Entertainer of the Year, Single of the Year ("Drowns the Whiskey"), Musical Event of the Year ("Drowns the Whiskey")
Jason Aldean adds three nominations to his 14 career nominations. His Entertainer of the Year nomination is his first since 2015 and his fourth nomination in the category. This year, Aldean lands two nominations alongside Miranda Lambert for Single of the Year, along with producer Michael Knox and mix engineer Jeff Braun, and Musical Event of the Year for their collaboration "Drowns the Whiskey." Aldean has two previous nominations for Musical Event, having won in 2011 for his song "Don't You Wanna Stay" with Kelly Clarkson, as well as two nominations for Single.
DIERKS BENTLEY - THREE NOMINATIONS
Album of the Year (The Mountain), Male Vocalist of the Year, Musical Event of the Year ("Burning Man")
Dierks Bentley earns his sixth career nomination for Album of the Year, alongside producers Ross Copperman, Jon Randall Stewart, and Arturo Buenahora Jr., while also marking his fifth consecutive nomination for Male Vocalist of the Year. He also lands a nod alongside Brothers Osborne for Musical Event of the Year for their collaboration "Burning Man," Bentley's third nomination in the category. He won Musical Event in 2016 for his song "Different For Girls" (Feat. Elle King). With this year's nominations, Bentley collects 24 total career nominations.
DAN + SHAY - THREE NOMINATIONS
Single of the Year ("Tequila"), Vocal Duo of the Year, Music Video of the Year ("Tequila")
Adding to their four career nominations, Dan + Shay receive three nominations this year, with two first-time nominations for "Tequila" in the Single of the Year and Music Video of the Year categories. "Tequila" lands the song's producers, Dan + Shay's Dan Smyers along with Scott Hendricks, as well as mix engineer Jeff Juliano, nominations for Single, while director Patrick Tracy earns his first nomination for Music Video. Dan + Shay also land a nomination for Vocal Duo of the Year, their fifth consecutive nomination in the category. Smyers earns a second nomination for Song of the Year for co-writing "Tequila" alongside Nicolle Galyon and Jordan Reynolds. A win in any category this year would mark Dan + Shay's first-ever CMA Award.
FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE - THREE NOMINATIONS
Single of the Year ("Meant to Be"), Vocal Duo of the Year, Musical Event of the Year ("Meant to Be")
Florida Georgia Line becomes six-time Vocal Duo of the Year nominees this year in addition to landing nominations for Single of the Year and Musical Event of the Year for "Meant to Be," their collaboration with Bebe Rexha. "Meant to Be" also earns Single nominations for producer Willshire and mix engineer Serban Ghenea. Florida Georgia Line previously won in the Single category in 2013 for their song "Cruise." This year marks Rexha's first-ever CMA Awards nominations.
CHRIS JANSON - THREE NOMINATIONS
Song of the Year ("Drunk Girl"), Music Video of the Year ("Drunk Girl"), New Artist of the Year
With three nominations this year, Chris Janson ties Midland for the top earning first-time nominee. His song "Drunk Girl" lands nods for Song of the Year, alongside co-writers Scooter Carusoe and Tom Douglas, and Music Video of the Year, directed by Jeff Venable. Janson is also up for New Artist of the Year.
MIRANDA LAMBERT - THREE NOMINATIONS
Single of the Year ("Drowns the Whiskey"), Female Vocalist of the Year, Musical Event of the Year ("Drowns the Whiskey")
Not only is Miranda Lambert the most-awarded female in CMA Awards history with 13 total wins, but she's also the reigning Female Vocalist of the Year, earning her 12th consecutive nomination in the category this year. Lambert collects two nominations with her Jason Aldean collaboration "Drowns the Whiskey" for Single of the Year, along with producer Michael Knox and mix engineer Jeff Braun, as well as for Musical Event of the Year, bringing her total career nominations to 47.
MIDLAND - THREE NOMINATIONS
Single of the Year ("Drinkin' Problem"), Vocal Group of the Year, New Artist of the Year
Midland ties for the top earning first-time nominees, matching Chris Janson's three nominations this year. The trio lands a Single of the Year nomination for "Drinkin' Problem" along with producers Huff, Shane McAnally, and Josh Osborne, and mix engineer Justin Niebank. Midland also receives nominations for Vocal Group of the Year and New Artist of the Year.
THOMAS RHETT - THREE NOMINATIONS
Album of the Year (Life Changes), Male Vocalist of the Year, Music Video of the Year ("Marry Me")
Thomas Rhett collects his second consecutive nomination in the Male Vocalist of the Year category this year. His album Life Changes earns his first-ever Album of the Year nomination, which he shares with producers Julian Bunetta, Jesse Frasure, Huff, and Joe London. Thomas Rhett also receives a nomination for Music Video of the Year for his song "Marry Me," directed by TK McKamy.
KEITH URBAN - THREE NOMINATIONS
Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year (Graffiti U), Male Vocalist of the Year
This year marks Keith Urban's 14th nomination for Male Vocalist of the Year, 11th nomination in the Entertainer of the Year category, and his sixth nomination in the Album of the Year category for Graffiti U, bringing his career nominations to 45 with 11 total wins. Urban shares the nomination with the album's producers Dan McCarroll, J.R. Rotem, Josh Kerr, Jason Evigan, Greg Wells, Benny Blanco, Ed Sheeran, Johnny McDaid, Jesse Shatkin, Jimmy Robbins, Oscar Holter, Matt Rad, Eric Valentine, Ian Kirkpatrick, Mike Elizondo, Captain Cuts, Copperman, Huff, and Peter Karlsson. Urban is the reigning Single of the Year winner for his song "Blue Ain't Your Color," which he also produced.
Winners of "The 52nd 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. 1. Voting for the CMA Awards final ballot ends Tuesday, Oct. 23 (6:00 PM/CT). All balloting is tabulated by the professional services firm Deloitte & Touche LLP.
"The 52nd Annual CMA Awards" is a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton is the Executive Producer, Gary Halvorson is the Director, and David Wild is the Head Writer.
**SUGGESTED TWEET**: #CMAawards NOMINEES JUST ANNOUNCED! @ChrisStapleton tops the list of finalists with five nominations. See the full list of nominees on CMAawards.com now. Winners will be revealed live on Wed, Nov. 14 at 8|7c on @ABCNetwork.
"THE 52ND ANNUAL CMA AWARDS" - FINAL NOMINEES (by ballot category order):
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Kenny Chesney
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to Artist, Producer(s), and Mix Engineer(s))
"Broken Halos" - Chris Stapleton
Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
Mix Engineer: Vance Powell
"Drinkin' Problem" - Midland
Producers: Dann Huff, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
Mix Engineer: Justin Niebank
"Drowns the Whiskey" - Jason Aldean (Feat. Miranda Lambert)
Producer: Michael Knox
Mix Engineer: Jeff Braun
"Meant to Be" - Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line
Producer: Willshire
Mix Engineer: Serban Ghenea
"Tequila" - Dan + Shay
Producers: Scott Hendricks, Dan Smyers
Mix Engineer: Jeff Juliano
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to Artist and Producer(s))
From A Room: Volume 2 - Chris Stapleton
Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
Golden Hour - Kacey Musgraves
Producers: Ian Fitchuk, Daniel Tashian, Kacey Musgraves
Graffiti U - Keith Urban
Producers: Keith Urban, Dan McCarroll, J.R. Rotem, Josh Kerr, Jason Evigan, Greg Wells, Benny Blanco, Ed Sheeran, Johnny McDaid, Jesse Shatkin, Jimmy Robbins, Oscar Holter, Matt Rad, Eric Valentine, Ian Kirkpatrick, Mike Elizondo, Captain Cuts, Ross Copperman, Dann Huff, Peter Karlsson
Life Changes - Thomas Rhett
Producers: Julian Bunetta, Jesse Frasure, Dann Huff, Joe London, Thomas Rhett
The Mountain - Dierks Bentley
Producers: Ross Copperman, Jon Randall Stewart, Arturo Buenahora Jr.
SONG OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to Songwriter(s))
"Body Like A Back Road"
Songwriters: Zach Crowell, Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
"Broken Halos"
Songwriters: Mike Henderson, Chris Stapleton
"Drowns the Whiskey"
Songwriter: Brandon Kinney, Jeff Middleton, Josh Thompson
"Drunk Girl"
Songwriter: Scooter Carusoe, Tom Douglas, Chris Janson
"Tequila"
Songwriter: Nicolle Galyon, Jordan Reynolds, Dan Smyers
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
LANCO
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Maddie & Tae
Sugarland
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to each Artist)
"Burning Man" - Dierks Bentley Feat. Brothers Osborne
"Dear Hate" - Maren Morris (Feat. Vince Gill)
"Drowns the Whiskey" - Jason Aldean (Feat. Miranda Lambert)
"Everything's Gonna Be Alright" - David Lee Murphy (with Kenny Chesney)
"Meant to Be" - Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line
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))
"Babe" - Sugarland (Featuring Taylor Swift)
Director: Anthony Mandler
"Cry Pretty" - Carrie Underwood
Director: Randee St. Nicholas
"Drunk Girl" - Chris Janson
Director: Jeff Venable
"Marry Me" - Thomas Rhett
Director: TK McKamy
"Tequila" - Dan + Shay
Director: Patrick Tracy
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Lauren Alaina
Luke Combs
Chris Janson
Midland
Brett Young
"THE 52ND ANNUAL CMA AWARDS" - FINAL NOMINEES FOR BROADCAST PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR (by market size):
NATIONAL
"American Country Countdown" (Kix Brooks) - Westwood One
"Bob Kingsley's Country Top 40" (Bob Kingsley) - Westwood One
"Country Countdown USA" (Lon Helton) - Westwood One
"The Mayor of Music Row" (Charlie Monk) - Sirius XM Satellite Radio
"The Music Row Happy Hour" (Buzz Brainard) - Sirius XM Satellite Radio
MAJOR MARKET
"Bud and Broadway" (Bud Ford, Jerry Broadway, Kelly Rebal, "Captain Mac Douglas" Gregory Paul Ford, "T.Wall" Tom Wall, and "Sweet Becca" Walls) - WIL, St. Louis, Mo.
"Double-L" (Lois Lewis) - KNIX, Phoenix, Ariz.
"Hawkeye in the Morning" ("Hawkeye" Mark Louis Rybczyk, Jasmine Sadry, and "Connected K" Katelyn Maida) - KSCS, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas
"KYGO Morning Show" (Tracy Dixon, Guy David, and Patrick Knight) - KYGO, Denver-Boulder, Colo.
"Tim, Ben and Brooke" (Tim Hattrick, Ben Campbell, and Brooke Hoover) - KNIX, Phoenix, Ariz.
LARGE MARKET
"Jim, Deb & Kevin" (Jim Denny, Deborah Honeycutt, and Kevin Freeman) - WFMS, Indianapolis, Ind.
"Obie & Ashley In The Morning" (Obie Diaz and Ashley Stegbauer) - WWKA, Orlando, Fla.
"Q Morning Crew" (Mike Wheless and Janie Carothers) - WQDR, Raleigh-Durham, N.C.
"The Randy, Jamie, and Jojo Show" (Randy Carroll, Jamie Martin, and Jojo Meza) - KAJA, San Antonio, Texas
"Ridder, Scott and Shannen" ("Ridder" Shaun Ridderbush, Scott Dolphin, and Shannen Oesterreich) - WMIL, Milwaukee-Racine, WI
MEDIUM MARKET
"The 97.5 WPCV Breakfast Club" (Roger Todd, "Julie K." Kansy, and "D.J. Thee Trucker" Dale Sellers) - WPCV, Lakeland-Winter Haven, Fla.
Brent Michaels - KUZZ, Bakersfield, Calif.
"Ken, Kelley, and Daniel" (Ken Hicks, Kelley Bradshaw, and Daniel Wyatt) - WUSY, Chattanooga, Tenn.
"The Odd Squad" (Roger Rhodes, Robyn Adair, and Dan Carson) - CKRY, Calgary, Alta.
"Scott and Sarah in the Morning" (Scott Wynn and Sarah Kay) - WQMX, Akron, Ohio
SMALL MARKET
"Barrett, Fox & Berry" (Bill Barrett, Tim Fox, and Tracy Berry) - KKNU, Eugene-Springfield, Ore.
"The Cat Pak Morning Show" (Brent Lane and Candy Cullerton) - WYCT, Pensacola, Fla.
"The Eddie Foxx Show" (Eddie Foxx and Sharon Green) - WKSF, Asheville, N.C.
"The Good Morning Guys" (Todd Harding, Susan Moore, and Brian Gary) - KUAD, Ft. Collins-Greeley, Colo.
"Steve and Jessica Mornings" (Steve Waters and Jessica Cash) - WFLS, Fredericksburg, Va.
"THE 52ND ANNUAL CMA AWARDS" - FINAL NOMINEES FOR RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (by market size):
MAJOR MARKET
KKBQ- Houston-Galveston, Texas
KNIX - Phoenix, Ariz.
KUPL - Portland, Ore.
WKKT - Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, N.C.-S.C.
WSOC - Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, N.C.-S.C.
LARGE MARKET
KCYY - San Antonio, Texas
KUBL - Salt Lake City-Ogden-Provo, Utah
WQIK - Jacksonville, Fla.
WUBE - Cincinnati, Ohio
WWKA - Orlando, Fla.
MEDIUM MARKET
KUZZ - Bakersfield, Calif.
WBBS - Syracuse, N.Y.
WHKO - Dayton, Ohio
WUSY - Chattanooga, Tenn.
WYRK - Buffalo-Niagara Falls, N.Y.
SMALL MARKET
KCLR - Columbia, Mo.
KKNU - Eugene-Springfield, Ore.
KTTS - Springfield, Mo.
WCOW - La Crosse, Wis.
WKSF - Asheville, N.C.
About the CMA Awards
The first "CMA Awards Banquet and Show" was held in 1967. The following year, the CMA Awards was broadcast for the first time - making it the longest running, annual music awards program on network television. The CMA Awards have aired on ABC since 2006. ABC is the network home of the CMA Awards and CMA's other two television properties, "CMA Fest" and "CMA Country Christmas."
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