Dierks Bentley, Cam and Keith Urban announced the nominees for the 50th Annual Country Music Association Awards live from the Grand Ole Opry stage this morning on Good Morning America and on Facebook Live.
Chris Stapleton continued his awards stretch with five more nods including: Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Single of the Year, Musical Event of the Year and Music Video of the Year.
Eric Church and Maren Morris also received five nominations a piece, while Bentley, Urban and Carrie Underwood scored four, including her well overdue Entertainer of the Year nomination.
Tim McGraw’s inspirational “Humble and Kind” earned three nominations, two for McGraw (Single and Music Video of the Year) while songwriter Lori McKenna received the other for Song of the Year.
Other noted mentions: Joey + Rory, who released Hymns That Are Important To Us prior to the loss of Joey Feek earlier this year, were nominated for Vocal Duo of the Year; Chris Young and Cassadee Pope were nominated for Musical Event of the Year for their duet “Think of You;” Luke Bryan can go for the three-peat if he wins Entertainer of the Year.
As with any awards show, there is always chatter about “who was snubbed” and fans made it known which of their favorites were left off the list.
First and foremost was Blake Shelton, who celebrated his seventeenth (yes 17!) consecutive #1 song, “Came Here To Forget,” as well as his latest album If I’m Honest going Gold just yesterday in Nashville. A case can also be made for Sam Hunt, who just became the first male solo artist in Billboard history to score four consecutive number 1’s, all from his debut album, on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart since the chart began in 1990. Kenny Chesney just earned a spot on the Top 10 Performers in the history of MetLife/Giants Stadium (NYC/NJ) that goes back five decades (and the only country artist on a list that includes Elton John and the Rolling Stones) but no EOTY nod. And then there’s Brad Paisley, who hasn’t been nominated for a CMA since 2012 despite going into his ninth awards show as co-host.
Others artists with fans fighting in their corner were: Kip Moore, Brandy Clark, Jennifer Nettles and newcomer Jon Pardi.
Underwood and Paisley will return as hosts for the 50th Annual CMA Awards, which will air on ABC on November 2.
Below is a complete list of the nominees:
Entertainer of the Year
Garth Brooks
Luke Bryan
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood
Keith Urban
Single of the Year
“Die a Happy Man,” Thomas Rhett
“Humble and Kind,” Tim McGraw
“My Church,” Maren Morris
“Nobody to Blame,” Chris Stapleton
“Record Year,” Eric Church
Album of the Year
Hero, Maren Morris
Mr. Misunderstood, Eric Church
Storyteller, Carrie Underwood
Black, Dierks Bentley
Ripcord, Keith Urban
Song of the Year (Award goes to songwriter)
“Die a Happy Man,” Sean Douglas, Thomas Rhett, Joe Spargur
“Humble and Kind,” Lori McKenna
“My Church,” busbee, Maren Morris
“Record Year,” Eric Church, Jeff Hyde
“Burning House,” Cam, Tyler Johnson, Jeff Bhasker
Female Vocalist of the Year
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Maren Morris
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood
Male Vocalist of the Year
Eric Church
Tim McGraw
Chris Stapleton
Dierks Bentley
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 Osbourne
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Joey + Rory
Maddie & Tae
Musical Event of the Year
“Different for Girls,” Dierks Bentley featuring Elle King
“Home Alone Tonight,” Luke Bryan featuring Karen Fairchild
“The Fighter,” Keith Urban featuring Carrie Underwood
“Think of You,” Chris Young (duet with Cassadee Pope)
“You Are My Sunshine,” Morgane Stapleton with Chirs Stapleton
Musician of the Year
Jerry Douglas (Dobro/Lap Steel Guitar)
Paul Franklin (Steel Guitar)
Dann Huff (Guitar)
Brent Mason (Guitar)
Derek Wells (Guitar)
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
New Artist of the Year
Kelsea Ballerini
Brothers Osbourne
Maren Morris
Old Dominion
Cole Swindell
Edited 9/1/16