The biggest names in country music celebrate their successes tonight. The CMA Awards ceremony begins at 8 p.m. on ABC.
Album of the Year:
Vincent: “Fathers & Sons” by Luke Combs
Combs has been one of the biggest stars in the genre, with “Fathers & Sons” being his fifth studio album. Released in June this year, the album has exceeded a billion streams. Combs averages over 25 million monthly listeners on Spotify, with this album going as high as sixth on the US Billboard 200.
Felix: Fathers & Sons by Luke Combs
The fifth studio album of Combs released just a few days before Father’s Day. “Fathers & Sons” shows his involvement with his two sons. The album cover shows a black and white photo of Combs, his father, and his two sons fishing at a pond. This album displays a heartfelt message out of all the albums which is of course about fatherhood.
Other nominees: “Deeper Wall” by Kacey Musgraves, “Whitsitt Chapel” by Jelly Roll, “Higher” by Chris Stapleton, “Leather” by Cody Johnson
Female Vocalists of the Year:
Vincent: Megan Moroney
Moroney has quickly cemented herself as one of the top female artists in the world, even outside the genre. She released her second studio album “Am I Okay?” in July, releasing a deluxe edition just a couple months later. The album peaked at three on the Top Country Album charts.
Felix: Lainey Wilson
Last year, Wilson had won a total of five awards and shows no signs of slowing down. This year she released her fifth studio album, “Whirlwind.” Some of the top songs include “4x4xU,” “Country’s Cool Again” and “Hang Tight Honey.” It is hard to see a world where Wilson doesn’t win another award for her work.
Other nominees: Kelsea Ballerini, Kasey Musgraves, Ashley McBride
Male Vocalists of the Year:
Vincent: Chris Stapleton
With one of the most iconic voices in modern country music, Stapleton released his fifth solo album “Higher,” while also accompanying Post Malone on one of his early country singles “California Sober.” He became a solo artist after being the lead singer for The SteelDrivers and The Jompson Brothers, before going solo in 2013.
Felix: Jelly Roll
Jelly Roll lost Male Vocalist of the Year last year but won New Artist of the Year. Now that he has established himself in country music, he definitely has a better chance this time around. Last month he released “Beautifully Broken” and a feature on Post Malone’s “F-1 Trillion.” Jelly Roll is up against some tough competition but has a good shot of winning the prestigious award.
Other nominees: Cody Johnson, Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen
Vocal Group of the Year:
Vincent: The Red Clay Strays
In the last six months, The Red Clay Strays have exploded onto the scene, thanks largely in part to the group’s second album, “Made by These Moments.” The group drew popularity from their 2022 single “Wondering Why,” before the newest album’s success. Led by Brandon Coleman, the group’s first release was a single titled “Good Godly Woman” in 2019.
Felix: The Red Clay Strays
It is no question that The Red Clays Strays is having a breakout year. As Vincent mentions, the album “Made by These Moments” has a big part of their rise in the country music world. A win tonight is going to skyrocket the group even more and have way more people listening.
Other nominees: Lady A, Zac Brown Band, Old Dominion, Little Big Town
Vocal Duo of the Year:
Vincent: Brothers Osborne
John and TJ Osborne have slowly grown in popularity since beginning their career in 2013. Late in 2023, the brothers released a self-titled album, followed by a single titled “I Won’t Back Down” and an EP “Break Mine EP.” Though Brooks & Dunn released “Reboot II” last week, I believe Brothers Osborne has been better and more consistent.
Felix: Brothers Osborne
The duo of John and TJ Osbrone have won numerous CMA awards in their career and look to add another one tonight. They have already established themselves as a great duo and worthy of awards like this. The recent work of their self-titled album should be enough to add some more hardware to their trophy collection.
Other nominees: Brooks & Dunn, Dan + Shay, The War And Treaty, Maddie & Tay
New Artist of the Year:
Vincent: Zach Top
Top has brought a style of country that the genre hasn’t seen in a while. His 80s and 90s style has given a breath of fresh air to country music, especially with many non-country artists diving into the genre. Top has had his best year as an artist, releasing his second album “Cold Beer & Country Music,” while also touring with Lainey Wilson.
Felix: Shaboozey
Shaboozey has jumped onto the scene like no one has ever done before. People question if he is a country singer as he blends hip-hop with country songs. However he is extremely deserving of this award. His hit song “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” is on the verge of breaking records. It is extremely likely that we will hear his name again tonight and in the foreseeable future.
Other nominees: Nate Smith, Bailey Zimmerman, Megan Moroney, Shaboozey
Single of the Year:
Vincent: “I Had Some Help” by Post Malone (Feat. Morgan Wallen)
Post Malone has experimented with different genres throughout his career, but made the biggest leap this year, diving into country music. After his first country performance being on “HIXTAPE: Vol. 3: DIFFTAPE,” doing a cover of Joe Diffie’s “Pickup Man,” Malone deployed the help from the biggest name in country music for his first country single. The single sat atop the US Billboard Top 100 and is up for the Grammy for Best Country Song.
Felix: A Bar Song (Tipsy)
It would come to the surprise of no one if “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” wins this award. The song has been on top of the Billboard Hot 100 for 18 weeks now. It is one week away from breaking Lil Nas X’s record for “Old Town Road.” If a single is able to break a big record like this then it has to win.
Other nominees: “Dirt Cheap” by Cody Johnson, “White Horse” by Chris Stapleton, “Watermelon Moonshine” by Lainey Wilson
Song of the Year:
Vincent: “I Had Some Help” by Post Malone (Feat. Morgan Wallen)
With the same reasoning as above, this song will add extra hardware to Post Malone’s trophy case.
Felix: “I Had Some Help” by Post Malone (Feat. Morgan Wallen)
Post Malone having a song in the genre of country and now a whole album is something most people didn’t think they would see. “I Had Some Help” showed how talented Post Malone was in a new genre and the type of people he could bring in. His song reached the top of the Billboard Top 100 which is extremely impressive for someone so new to the country music scene.
Other nominees: “White Horse” by Chris Stapleton, “Dirt Cheap” by Josh Phillips, “The Painter” by Cody Johnson, “Burn It Down” by Hillary Lindsey, Parker McCollum, Lori McKenna, Liz Rose
Musical Event of the Year:
Vincent: “Man Made A Bar” by Morgan Wallen (feat. Eric Church)
Wallen has two horses in this race, with his collaboration with Post Malone being up for this category as well. However, Church and Wallen have each been in the country music industry for a decade-plus. The success of Wallen’s album “One Night At A Time,” which has been number one on the Billboard Top Country Album for 62 weeks, will be the driving factor behind the pair winning the award.
Felix: “I Had Some Help” by Post Malone (Feat. Morgan Wallen)
As Vincent said, Wallen has a good chance of winning as he is nominated for this award twice. However, “I Had Some Help” seems to be a better choice than “Man Made A Bar.” They are some of the biggest names currently in the country and in music as a whole. This is one of the best collaborations of the year so there is no chance they fall short.
Other nominees: “You look like you love me” by Ella Langley (feat. Riley Green), Cowboys Cry Too by Kelsea Ballerini (feat. Noah Kahan), “I Remember Everything” by Zach Bryan (feat. Kasey Musgraves)
Music Video of the Year:
Vincent: “The Painter” by Cody Johnson
The song tells the story of how Cody Johnson’s wife is “the painter,” adding color to his “black and white” life. The video begins with a portal of how Johnson and his wife, Brandy, met, dancing in a bar, when he asks her to marry him. Though the rest of the video goes through the two going on the road to his shows, his official proposal, their wedding and time with their child, with each time the video cuts to Johnson in the field, the black and white effect has color fading in. There’s a shot of Johnson and his wife walking across an open field, with Johnson’s half of the screen colorless and Brandy’s full of vibrant color. The final scene of the video has Johnson introducing his wife to his friends, to which Brandy says, “Hi, I’m Brandy Johnson.”
Felix: “Dirt Cheap” by Cody Johnson
It was a toss up between the two Johnson songs but “Dirt Cheap” should be the winner. The video begins with two developers walking up to the door of an old town farmer asking if he would divide up his land. They were offering large sums of money but the farmer rejected the offer. He explains how the land has a big impact in his life. He says how his daughter used to swing and play by one of the trees, how his best friend is buried here, and this is where he proposed to his wife. One of the developers asks how he got through all the droughts and the farmers repeat the three reasons he gave. He tells the men that they can’t buy that kind of dirt cheap. His daughter, who is now an adult, surprises her father and tells the men that no matter how much they come, he will never sell the land. The video ends with the farmer playing with his granddaughter and remembering his deceased wife.
Other nominees: “Wildflowers and Wild Horses” by Lainey Wilson, “I Had Some Help” by Post Malone (feat. Morgan Wallen), “I’m Not Pretty” by Megan Moroney
Entertainer of the Year:
Vincent: Morgan Wallen
Between his album’s success and collaboration with Post Malone, Wallen has had one of the most successful years in recent memory for any artist, within or outside the genre. He was the most streamed artist last year and will most likely have the same recognition this year.
Felix: Morgan Wallen
The winner has to be who many consider the face of country music today, Wallen. Just look at his streaming numbers, number of nominations and awards he won. It all really speaks for itself and for good reason. He is extremely talented and entertaining throughout all of his work.
Other nominees: Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton, Lainey Wilson, Jelly Roll
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