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Heads Up to the 54th CMA Awards!

CMA Awards
by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.

Get your favourite cowboy boots and buckle up for the 54th CMA Awards!

It would be a night of country music festivities and a night of honor as we witness our favorite country music artists perform and get recognized for the work that they have done over the past year.

Reba McEntire and Darius Rucker are Your Hosts for the Night

With all the glitz and glamour of the country music scene, to host one of its most prestigious events in a year is no small deal. Country music legend Reba McEntire and country music star Darius Rucker were tapped to be the hosts of this year’s CMA Awards.

McEntire is thrilled for the opportunity given to be the host once again. Experience-wise, McEntire has been on the CMA Awards hosting pool since the early ‘90s as she co-hosted 5 CMA Awards which include the ones in the year 1990 (with Randy Travis), 1992 with Vince Gill, and the most recent one in 2019 with Carrie Underwood and Dolly Parton. McEntire did also hosting with the rival ACM Awards for 16 times from 1993-2019.

For Darius Rucker, he will be making history for he will be the first black to co-host the event since Charlie Pride in 1975 with Glen Campbell. Rucker added that to be invited to host this year’s awards night and to be there with Reba McEntire is truly an honor.

Sarah Trahern, the CMA CEO, is thrilled to have Rucker and McEntire share the same stage as hosts. The playful chemistry between the two is surely something we should all wait for. She added that their team is excited to bring the CMA festivities at home and to the fans. More details will be released in the coming days leading to the awards night.

Here are this year’s CMA Awards Nominees:

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

  1. Eric Church
  2. Luke Combs
  3. Miranda Lambert
  4. Carrie Underwood
  5. Keith Urban

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR

  1. Brooks & Dunn
  2. Brothers Osborne
  3. Dan + Shay
  4. Florida Georgia Line
  5. Maddie & Tae

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR

  1. Lady A
  2. Little Big Town
  3. Midland
  4. Old Dominion
  5. Rascal Flatts

MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR

  1. Jenee Fleenor, Fiddle
  2. Paul Franklin, Steel Guitar
  3. Rob McNelley, Guitar
  4. Ilya Toshinskiy, Guitar
  5. Derek Wells, Guitar

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

  1. Eric Church
  2. Luke Combs
  3. Thomas Rhett
  4. Chris Stapleton
  5. Keith Urban

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

  1. Miranda Lambert
  2. Ashley McBryde
  3. Maren Morris
  4. Kacey Musgraves
  5. Carrie Underwood

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR

  1. Jimmie Allen
  2. Ingrid Andress
  3. Gabby Barrett
  4. Carly Pearce
  5. Morgan Wallen

SINGLE OF THE YEAR

  1. “10,000 Hours” – Dan + Shay (with Justin Bieber) / Producer: Dan Smyers, Mix Engineer: Jeff Juliano
  2. “Beer Never Broke My Heart” – Luke Combs / Producer: Scott Moffatt, Mix Engineer: Jim Cooley
  3. “Bluebird” – Miranda Lambert / Producer: Jay Joyce, Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
  4. “The Bones” – Maren Morris / Producer: Greg Kurstin, Mix Engineer: Greg Kurstin
  5. “I Hope” – Gabby Barrett / Producers: Ross Copperman, Zach Kale, Mix Engineer: Buckley Miller

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

  1. Heartache Medication – Jon Pardi / Producers: Bart Butler, Ryan Gore, Jon Pardi
  2. Never Will – Ashley McBryde / Producers: Jay Joyce, John Peets
  3. Old Dominion – Old Dominion / Producers: Shane McAnally, Old Dominion
  4. What You See Is What You Get – Luke Combs / Producer: Scott Moffatt
  5. Wildcard – Miranda Lambert / Producer: Jay Joyce

MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR

  1. “10,000 Hours” – Dan + Shay (with Justin Bieber) / Producer: Dan Smyers
  2. “Be A Light” – Thomas Rhett featuring Reba McEntire, Hillary Scott, Chris Tomlin, Keith Urban / Producer: Dann Huff
  3. “The Bones” – Maren Morris with Hozier / Producer: Greg Kurstin
  4. “Fooled Around And Fell In Love” – Miranda Lambert (feat. Maren Morris, Elle King, Ashley McBryde, Tenille Townes & Caylee Hammack) / Producer: Jay Joyce
  5. “I Hope You’re Happy Now” – Carly Pearce and Lee Brice / Producer: Busbee

SONG OF THE YEAR

  1. “Bluebird” / Songwriters: Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby, Miranda Lambert
  2. “The Bones” / Songwriters: Maren Morris, Jimmy Robbins, Laura Veltz
  3. “Even Though I’m Leaving” / Songwriters: Luke Combs, Wyatt B. Durrette III, Ray Fulcher
  4. “I Hope You’re Happy Now” / Songwriters: Luke Combs, Randy Montana, Carly Pearce, Jonathan Singleton
  5. “More Hearts Than Mine” / Songwriters: Ingrid Andress, Sam Ellis, Derrick Southerland

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR

  1. “10,000 Hours” – Dan + Shay (with Justin Bieber) / Director: Patrick Tracy
  2. “Bluebird” – Miranda Lambert / Director: Trey Fanjoy
  3. “Homemade” – Jake Owen / Director: Justin Clough
  4. “I Hope You’re Happy Now” – Carly Pearce and Lee Brice / Director: Sam Siske
  5. “Second One To Know” – Chris Stapleton / Director: David Coleman

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