Country Music Association Awards 2015: Nominees and Predictions For This Year's Biggest Night in Country Music
Wednesday evening, the best performers in country music come together for the Country Music Association Awards (CMA) in Nashville, Tennessee. The show kicks off at 8 p.m. Eastern time and it is hosted by Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley for the eighth straight year.
The biggest award of the night is the Entertainer of the Year Award.
The nominees are Garth Brooks, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church and Miranda Lambert.
In 2014, the award went to Luke Bryan. This is a big comeback year for Garth Brooks, finally resuming his tour after a long hiatus. This is his award to lose, but he won't lose it.
The Female Vocalist of the Year has some familiar faces and one newcomer in Kelsea Ballerini.
The nominees are Kelsea Ballerini, Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves, Carrie Underwood and Lee Ann Womack.
In 2014, the award went to Miranda Lambert, and she will win it again this year.
The Male Vocalist of the Year features two of country music's most popular superstars in Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton.
The nominees are Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Blake Shelton and Chris Stapleton.
This year Blake Shelton will be ousted by Luke Bryan for the Male Vocalist of the Year Award. Bryan's hard work and touring will pay off, along with his popularity among women.
The Vocal Group of the Year Award features all veterans for the CMAs. Last year, Little Big Town took home the award.
The nominees are Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Rascal Flatts, The Band Perry and Zac Brown Band.
Last year, Little Big Town took home this award thanks to new songs like "Girl Crush" and "Day Drinking." The group has shined in the spotlight ever since and will easily win again this year.
The Vocal Duo of the Year Award features newcomers Maddie & Tae and the ever-so-popular bro country duo of Florida Georgia Line.
The nominees are Brothers Osborne, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line, Maddie & Tae and Thompson Square.
Last year, Florida Georgia Line took home Vocal Duo of the Year. They are still too popular to be dethroned from this award and will win it again this year.
The New Artist of the Year Award is an interesting contest with between Sam Hunt and Kelsea Ballerini.
The nominees are Kelsea Ballerini, Sam Hunt, Maddie & Tae, Thomas Rhett and Chris Stapleton.
Kelsea Ballerini won't quite win this award, although she'll come close. Sam Hunt's digital song plays and album sales will allow him to steal the award from Ballerini.
The Album of the Year Award puts Kenny Chesney up against Little Big Town and it will be close.
The nominees are Jason Aldean "Old Boots, New Dirt," Kacey Musgraves "Pageant Material," Little Big Town "Pain Killer," Kenny Chesney "The Big Revival," and Chris Stapleton "Traveller."
Little Big Town's catchy tunes and fun lyrics will win them this award for "Pain Killer."
The Single of the Year Award comes with some controversy. Is Sam Hunt really country? Is "Girl Crush" inappropriate?
The nominees are "American Kids" by Kenny Chesney, "Girl Crush" by Little Big Town, "I Don't Dance" by Lee Brice, "Take Your Time" by Sam Hunt and "Talladega" by Eric Church.
"Girl Crush" was taken off the air by some country stations for "promoting the gay agenda." The controversy actually helped increase the song's popularity.
Sam Hunt has been misclassified as not country enough because his lyrics sometimes sound like rapping. He is just too new to win Single of the Year, and Little Big Town's "Girl Crush" will win this one.
The Song of the Year Award is very similar to the Single of the Year Award, except the award goes the writers of the song. Little Big Town and Sam Hunt compete in this category yet again.
The nominees are "American Kids" by Kenny Chesney, "Girl Crush" by Little Big Town, "Like a Cowboy" by Randy Houser, "Like a Wrecking Ball" by Eric Church and "Take Your Time" by Sam Hunt.
Although Hunt helped write "Take Your Time," Little Big Town's writers of "Girl Crush" helped the song gain massive airplay and digital downloads and they will be rewarded for it.
The Musical Event of the Year is a unique award that partners two solo artists for one song.
The nominees are "Django and Jimmie" by Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard, "Lonely Tonight" by Blake Shelton featuring Ashley Monroe, "Raise 'Em Up" by Keith Urban featuring Eric Church, "Smokin' and Drinkin'" by Miranda Lambert featuring Little Big Town and "Wild Child" by Kenny Chesney with Grace Potter.
Keith Urban's collaboration with Eric Church was all over country radio this year. Urban's excellent guitar play and the pairing of these two make for an excellent song and a win for this category.
The Music Video of the Year award will be decided by comedy this year.
The nominees are "Biscuits" by Kacey Musgraves, "Girl Crush" by Little Big Town, "Girl in a Country Song" by Maddie & Tae, "Little Red Wagon" by Miranda Lambert and "Something in the Water" by Carrie Underwood.
Maddie and Tae made a hilarious video for "Girl in a Country Song" featuring men in short jean shorts delivering lemonade to the girls. The video is the ultimate role reversal to "bro country" and is the year's video of the year.
Watch the video below:
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