The Country Music Association announced the nominees of the 47th Annual CMA Awards this morning, and they hold some surprises. Leading the pack are Taylor Swift and Kacey Musgraves, each with six nominations. The former is now by only the most generous still considered to be a country artist, and the former achieved critical acclaim but only moderate commercial success. While the usual suspects line up in the Entertainer of the year category, it also includes George Strait, no doubt as a result of currently touring the country with his farewell tour.
You can check out the full list of nominees below.
The final nominees for the 47th Annual CMA Awards:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Blake Shelton
George Strait
Taylor Swift
SINGLE OF THE YEAR (Award goes to Artist and Producer(s))
‘Cruise’ – Florida Georgia Line – Produced by Joey Moi – Republic Nashville
‘Highway Don’t Care’ – Tim McGraw with Taylor Swift and Keith Urban – Produced by Byron Gallimore and Tim McGraw – Big Machine Records
‘Mama’s Broken Heart’ Miranda Lambert – Produced by Frank Liddell, Glenn Worf, and Chuck Ainlay – RCA Nashville
‘Merry Go ‘Round’ – Kacey Musgraves – Produced by Luke Laird, Shane McAnally, and Kacey Musgraves – Mercury Records
‘Wagon Wheel’ – Darius Rucker – Produced by Frank Rogers – Capitol Records Nashville
ALBUM OF THE YEAR (Award goes to Artist and Producer(s))
Based on a True Story – Blake Shelton – Produced by Scott Hendricks – Warner Bros. Records
Blown Away – Carrie Underwood – Produced by Mark Bright – 19 Recordings/Arista Nashville
Red – Taylor Swift – Produced by Jeff Bhasker, Scott Borchetta, Nathan Chapman, Dann Huff, Jacknife Lee, Max Martin, Shellback, Taylor Swift, Butch Walker, and Dan Wilson – Big Machine Records
Same Trailer Different Park – Kacey Musgraves – Produced by Luke Laird, Shane McAnally, and Kacey Musgraves – Mercury Records
Tornado – Little Big Town – Produced by Jay Joyce – Capitol Records Nashville
SONG OF THE YEAR (Award goes to Songwriter(s))
‘I Drive Your Truck’ – Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington, and Jimmy Yeary
‘Mama’s Broken Heart’ - Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally, and Kacey Musgraves
‘Merry Go ‘Round’ – Kacey Musgraves, Josh Osborne, and Shane McAnally
‘Pontoon’ - Natalie Hemby, Luke Laird, and Barry Dean
‘Wagon Wheel’ – Bob Dylan and Ketch Secor
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Kelly Clarkson
Miranda Lambert
Kacey Musgraves
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Blake Shelton
Keith Urban
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Eli Young Band
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
The Band Perry
Zac Brown Band
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Big & Rich
Florida Georgia Line
Love and Theft
Sugarland
The Civil Wars
Thompson Square
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR (Award goes to each artist)
‘Boys ‘Round Here’ – Blake Shelton (featuring Pistol Annies) – Warner Bros. Records
‘Cruise’ – Florida Georgia Line (with Nelly) – Republic Nashville
‘Don’t Rush’ – Kelly Clarkson (featuring Vince Gill) – 19 Recordings/RCA Nashville
‘Highway Don’t Care’ – Tim McGraw (with Taylor Swift and Keith Urban) – Big Machine Records
‘The Only Way I Know’ – Jason Aldean with Luke Bryan and Eric Church – Broken Bow Records
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Sam Bush (Mandolin)
Paul Franklin (Steel Guitar)
Dann Huff (Guitar)
Brent Mason (Guitar)
Mac McAnally (Guitar)
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
‘Blown Away’ – Carrie Underwood – Directed by Randee St. Nicholas
‘Boys ‘Round Here’ – Blake Shelton featuring Pistol Annies – Directed by Trey Fanjoy
‘Downtown’ – Lady Antebellum – Directed by Peter Zavadil
‘Highway Don’t Care’ – Tim McGraw with Taylor Swift and Keith Urban – Directed by Shane Drake
‘Mama’s Broken Heart’ – Miranda Lambert – Directed by Trey Fanjoy
‘Tornado’ – Little Big Town – Directed by Shane Drake
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Lee Brice
Brett Eldredge
Florida Georgia Line
Kip Moore
Kacey Musgraves
