Calia by Carrie Underwood
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Entertainer of the Year
Garth Brooks
Luke Bryan
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood
Keith Urban
So, this is a stacked category and always is. It has been dominated by male performers for decades. Past female winners have included icons like Loretta, Dolly, Reba, Barbra Mandrell, The Dixie Chicks, and several others. I personally would love to see Carrie take this one home. This is her first nomination for Entertainer of the Year. In my opinion Entertainer of the Year is about more than just the country music community. I think it is someone that represents the community around the world. Underwood's "Storyteller" tour added dates and is still on the road selling out shows. She came from American Idol, performed on Broadway this last year, is the face of Almay cosmetics, Calia by Carrie active wear, is the voice and face for Sunday night football once again, and will be hosting the CMA's with Brad Paisley for the 8th time. I think that she is an obvious talent and has done a lot to spread the gospel of country music while bringing new fans to the genre. I like all the other nominees in this category and to be honest, they each deserve it, but if I had a vote, this year it would go to Carrie.
Female Vocalist of the Year
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Maren Morris
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood
Let me start with saying, where the H is Cam in this category???!!! I don't know who I would replace, but I just think it is a solid question. Kelsea Ballerini is having a stellar year. "Peter Pan", her third single from, "For the First Time", hit #1 this weekend. Making Ballerini the first female to have her first three singles off of her freshman album to hit #1. She will release one more track from the album and is currently working on her sophomore album. I am a Kelsea fan, but I am not ready for her to take this one home just yet. I am actually a fan of all these ladies. I think they each have a undeniable talent, style, and are leaving a mark while blazing a trail for female artists in country music. Carrie and Miranda have both taken this one home before, Kelsea and Maren are still very new in my opinion and perhaps haven't completely "earned" it just yet. My hope is to see Kacey Musgraves take this one. She has been in Nash for a long time writing for other artists, has been nominated for and won a Grammy, spent the last year selling out shows on her "Rhinestones Revue" tour, has served as opener for greats like Willie Nelson and George Straight. I think it is her turn. That is the best way I know how to put it. She has a distinct written voice and I find her to be a breath of fresh air in the landscape of country music. I really wanna see her take this one.
Kacey Musgraves feat. Willie Nelson
"Are You Sure" fr "Pageant Material"
Male Vocalist of the Year
Eric Church
Tim McGraw
Chris Stapleton
Dierks Bentley
Keith Urban
Last year Stapleton took this one along with Best New Artist, and Best New Album for "Traveler". He returns this year in the Male Vocalist, Video, Musical Event, and Single of the year categories. It is very feasible that he could walk away once again with every category he is in, but it won't be because the competition wasn't comparable. For the last several years this award has gone to Luke Bryan at both the CMA's and the ACM's. He is indeed a touring force with a ton of personality. Each of these men have been touring for a solid decade and most of them longer. They have appeared on a variety of stages, and have represented the country music community well in a lot of different platforms. Personally, I might kinda love to see Dierks take this. It's been a long haul, but I think that he is at the place where this win would make sense and everyone would support it. So, my vote, Dierks all the way.
Album of the Year
Hero, Maren Morris
Mr. Misunderstood, Eric Church
Storyteller, Carrie Underwood
Black, Dierks Bentley
Ripcord, Keith Urban
Again, this category is totally stacked. Non one of these albums is weak in any way. I however have been saying from the get that I think this category should be Dierks Bentley with, "Black". I have loved all of his albums, "Up On the Ridge" is gorgeous and I think that this offering is a representation of all these years of winning, losing, touring, writing, and becoming the artist he is. "Black" is a beautiful album and while I adore "Hero" and "Mr. Misunderstood" is a work worthy of envy, I really want Dierks to get this.
New Artist of the Year
Kelsea Balerini
Brothers Osborne
Maren Morris
Old Dominion
Cole Swindell
I think that this one is going to go to Kelsea. I would love to see Brothers Osborne or Maren Morris win, but I think that this is just Kelsea's year. She took Best New at the ACM's, has three #1's straight out the gate, has been touring with Rascal Flatts, Billy Currington, Lady A, and is embarking on her first headlining tour this Fall. She has co-hosted the Australian version of the CMA's or ACM's, co-hosted a Summer hit with Aresnio Hall, is gracing the covers of Teen Fashion magazines and is basically everywhere you turn right now. She is a bright artist who seems to know where she wants to go with all this and everyone seems to be willing to follow. I am a Kelsea fan so I would be cool with her winning this one this year. Depending on who is in the category in 2017, I 'd like to see Maren go home with it.
Song of the Year (Awarded to Songwriters)
“Die a Happy Man,” Thomas Rhett
“Humble and Kind,” Tim McGraw
“My Church,” Maren Morris
“Record Year,” Eric Church
“Burning House,” Cam
"Die a Happy Man", has won this at basically all awards show all over the place. "Girl Crush" has been it's only real competitor when it comes to awards this last year. Seeing as "Girl Crush" isn't in the mix I think it could potentially win again. I love all of these songs, but I personally would like to see Maren's, "My Church" or Cam's, "Burning House" take the win. I think that they are such great songs especially considering they came from freshman albums and new artists. Cam's, "Untamed" album began with a Kick Starter campaign because she so desperately wanted to remain true to the music she wanted to make and to the artist she wanted to be and I think that takes so much guts that you can't help, but respect her for that. "Burning House" garnered many nominations this year, one of which was a Grammy nom. Even if Cam doesn't win this one she and her team have totally had an amazing year to be proud of.
Cam ~ "Burning House" @ Grand Ole Opry
fr "Untamed"
Single of the Year
“Die a Happy Man,” Thomas Rhett
“Humble and Kind,” Tim McGraw
“My Church,” Maren Morris
“Record Year,” Eric Church
“Nobody to Blame,” Chris Stapleton
Single of the Year......I mean, again.......how does anyone choose just one???!!!! Can we have a mix tape of the year? Yes? No? I mean, so, again, see also Song of the Year above i.e. Thomas Rett. But, if I had a vote it would go to Stapleton with "Nobody to Blame", simply because I really like that song and Stapleton. He opened for Hank Williams, Guns-N-Roses, and is doing some of his own headlining this year. He and his wife are nominated for Event of the Year and I would like to see them win that one as well. I adore that they perform and write together. I think they are an undeniable force and an amazing team.
Vocal Group of the Year
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Old Dominion
Rascal Flatts
Zac Brown Band
All artists in this category other than Old Dominion have won this award in the past. Little Big Town took this last year. The members of Lady A kind of each did their own thing this year. I feel about Old Dominion like I do Kelsea in Female of the Year. It's too soon. I'm not ready. So, with all that said, I would give my vote to Little Big Town. I know they already have multiples of this one, but they deserve them. This year with all the "Girl Crush" drama, touring with Luke Bryan, Karen putting out a clothing line, Kimberly continuing with her cooking show and a cook ware line with Cracker Barrel, Jimmy recovering from surgery on his throat, I mean, do these folks stop?!! They deserve another trophy in my opinion.
Vocal Duo of the Year
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Joey + Rory
Maddie & Tae
FGL has won this for the last several years at both the CMA's and ACM's. I would LOVEEEEE To see Maddie & Tae, Joey + Rory or Brothers Osborne win this year. I truly can't decided if I had to vote, where my vote would go out of these three duo's. I love them each for different reasons. I think that I may want to see Maddie & Tae get this win. They are writers, players, have been touring non stop, take the responsibility of being a role model seriously and are totally aware that young females are looking up to them. I just think they are just starting even with several #1's already under their belts. I just can imagine the squeals of glee if they heard their name and I would love to hear their acceptance speech. LOL!!
Musical Event of the Year
Dierks Bentley feat. Elle King, “Different For Girls”
Luke Bryan feat. Karen Fairchild, “Home Alone Tonight”
Keith Urban feat. Carrie Underwood, “The Fighter”
Chris Young with Cassadee Pope, “Think Of You”
Morgane Stapleton with Chris Stapleton, “You Are My Sunshine”
"Think of You" by Chris Young with Cassadee Pope has been unstoppable. They made for an amazing vocal duo on this one and I would love to hear another collab by this pair in the future. However, for this category I think that I want it to go to either Dierks and Elle or Morgane and Chris. I love both songs. I think that Dierks and his co-writers hit the nail on the head with "Different for Girls" and the fans are eating it up. The fan covers that have been posted to social have been truly amazing and I just think it is a great tune. I also love "You Are My Sunshine" as recorded by the Stapletons for the "Southern Family" collaboration CD produced by Dave Cobb. It's glorious and I would have no issues with this one taking the trophy.
Music Video of the Year
“Fire Away,” Chris Stapleton
“Humble and Kind,” Tim McGraw
“Record Year,” Eric Church
“Somewhere on a Beach,” Dierks Bentley
“Burning House,” Cam
I can see "Humble and Kind" win this category. It was a good video with a lot of content for consideration. It went well with the song and fans really related to it. I personally would kinda want Chris Stapleton's, "Fire Away" to win. They went big with this video and took a real risk in focusing on a issue like mental illness. I still can't watch it with out getting teary eyed if not flat out bawling. I think that it was done realistically as well as tastefully. I think it went with the song in a way that I wouldn't have expected. I just really love this video. I know it isn't a "fun" video or brain candy, but sometimes serious issues, as wrong as it is, only get properly addressed in varied artistic platforms, i.e. this video. So, my vote goes to "Fire Away".
Chris Stapleton ~ "Fire Away"
fr "Traveler"
Directed by Tim Mattia
We have just about a month and half until the ceremony so feel free to share who you would vote for and why, in the comment section. We will watch together on November 2nd and I will of course have a recap of performances, winners, etc. Happy New Music Monday and have a rockin' week!!!
A little video bonus for ya this week because I hate that they are MIA from country award shows and am excited to think forward when the "trend" has changed and the for real artists are still around and taking some of those trophies. If you don't have either of these albums I would recommend you correct that ASAP!!!! Both "Wild Ones" by Kip Moore and "Bury Me in My Boots" by The Cadillac Three are available for download or in store purchase now.
Kip Moore ~ "I'm to Blame"
fr "Wild Ones"
The Cadillac Three ~ "Graffiti"
fr "Bury Me in My Boots"
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