JUST IN: CMA Nominations Announced With Lainey Wilson Leading The Pack See The Full List & Reactions
Country music's historic year will be celebrated in a BIG way at this year's CMA Awards.
Getty for CMA/Getty and Matt Paskert
The Country Music Association has announced nominees for “The 57th Annual CMA Awards,” with Lainey Wilson topping the list at nine nominations. Other top nominees include first-time nominee Jelly Roll with five nominations, while Luke Combs and HARDY collect four nominations each. Jordan Davis, Ashley McBryde, producer/mix engineer Joey Moi, songwriter/producer Jordan Schmidt, Chris Stapleton, Morgan Wallen and musician/producer Derek Wells secure three nominations apiece.
Louisiana native and reigning Female Vocalist and New Artist of the Year Lainey Wilson makes CMA Awards history yet again, becoming the only artist to top the nominations list in her first two appearances on the Final Ballot.
"Someone pinch me, I can't believe my eyes," Lainey said on her Instagram responding to the news. "Being nominated in each of these categories amongst my friends means the world to me. And the coveted Entertainer Of The Year category?! It’s absolutely surreal. We bust our butts out there on the road every dang night to give y’all the best show possible and I have the time of my life doing it. All I gotta say is thank y’all. I love country music." She also goes on to thank friends and collaborators HARDY and Jelly Roll for their part in her career.
Lainey Wilson topped the nominations list with six nods as a first-time nominee. She now ties Merle Haggard and Miranda Lambert with nine nominations in a single year (Alan Jackson holds the record with 10 nominations in 2002).
Local legend and breakout star Jelly Roll lands five nominations as a first-time nominee, joining artists including Garth Brooks, Johnny Cash, Maren Morris, Willie Nelson and Gretchen Wilson with five nods in a first appearance on the Final Ballot. The record for most nominations in a debut year is six, with Glen Campbell, Kacey Musgraves, Brad Paisley and Lainey Wilson holding the current record.
Jelly weighed in with his reaction on his socials. "It is known as Country Musics biggest night. It literally doesn’t get any bigger than this and I have 5 nominations . I couldn’t control myself when I got the news .. everything about this is unreal. The truth is being nominated is already a win for me."
Superstar Morgan Wallen is also on the final ballot for Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year (One Thing At A Time), Male Vocalist of the Year . Wallen earns his second consecutive nomination in both the Entertainer and Male Vocalist categories this year. He also earns a second nomination for Album with One Thing At A Time, which was produced by Jacob Durrett, Charlie Handsome, Joey Moi and Cameron Montgomery, and mixed by Josh Ditty, Moi and Eivind Nordland. Wallen’s career nominations now total eight.
The iconic Chris Stapleton is up for three awards this year including Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Musical Event of the Year (“We Don’t Fight Anymore”)
Back-to-back reigning Male Vocalist Chris Stapleton returns to both the Entertainer and Male Vocalist categories this year, marking his seventh Entertainer nomination and ninth Male Vocalist nomination. He adds a nomination for Musical Event for his feature on Carly Pearce’s “We Don’t Fight Anymore,” which was produced by Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne and Pearce. Stapleton’s career nominations now total 34.
Breakout star Zach Bryan is also up for his first CMA Award for New Artist of the year. To us this is a no brainer win.
Back-to-back reigning Entertainer of the Year Luke Combs returns with his fourth consecutive nomination for the night’s highest honor. His chart-topping cover of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car,” produced by Combs, Chip Matthews and Jonathan Singleton, and mixed by Matthews, earns a Single of the Year nomination. In addition, Chapman also earns her first-ever CMA Award nomination for Song of the Year as the song’s sole writer. Combs’ Album of the Year nomination for Gettin’ Old earns him a third nomination in the category. Gettin’ Old was produced by Combs, Matthews and Singleton, and mixed by Michael H. Brauer, Jim Cooley and Matthews. With this year’s nods, Combs has received 22 total nominations since 2017.
The 57th Annual CMA Awards,” hosted by Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning broadcasts LIVE from Nashville Wednesday, Nov. 8 (8:00 – 11:00 PM/EST) on ABC.
“THE 57th ANNUAL CMA AWARDS” – FINAL NOMINEES (by ballot category order):
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Luke Combs
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood
Morgan Wallen
Lainey Wilson
SINGLE OF THE YEAR Award goes to Artist(s), Producer(s) and Mix Engineer(s)
“Fast Car” – Luke Combs Producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton Mix Engineer: Chip Matthews
“Heart Like A Truck” – Lainey Wilson Producer: Jay Joyce Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
“Need A Favor” – Jelly Roll Producer: Austin Nivarel Mix Engineer: Jeff Braun
“Next Thing You Know” – Jordan Davis Producer: Paul DiGiovanni Mix Engineer: Jim Cooley
“wait in the truck” – HARDY (feat. Lainey Wilson) Producers: HARDY, Joey Moi, Jordan Schmidt, Derek Wells Mix Engineer: Joey Moi
ALBUM OF THE YEAR Award goes to Artist, Producer(s) and Mix Engineer(s)
Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville – Ashley McBryde Producers: John Osborne, John Peets Mix Engineers: Gena Johnson, John Osborne
Bell Bottom Country – Lainey Wilson Producer: Jay Joyce Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
Gettin' Old – Luke Combs Producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton Mix Engineers: Michael H. Brauer, Jim Cooley, Chip Matthews
One Thing At A Time – Morgan Wallen Producers: Jacob Durrett, Charlie Handsome, Joey Moi, Cameron Montgomery Mix Engineers: Josh Ditty, Joey Moi, Eivind Nordland
Rolling Up the Welcome Mat – Kelsea Ballerini Producers: Kelsea Ballerini, Alysa Vanderheym Mix Engineers: Dan Grech-Marguerat, Alysa Vanderheym
SONG OF THE YEAR Award goes to Songwriter(s)
“Fast Car” Songwriter: Tracy Chapman
“Heart Like A Truck” Songwriters: Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson, Lainey Wilson
“Next Thing You Know” Songwriters: Jordan Davis, Greylan James, Chase McGill, Josh Osborne
“Tennessee Orange” Songwriters: David Fanning, Paul Jenkins, Megan Moroney, Ben Williams
“wait in the truck” Songwriters: Renee Blair, Michael Hardy, Hunter Phelps, Jordan Schmidt
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Ashley McBryde
Carly Pearce
Lainey Wilson
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Luke Combs
Jelly Roll
Cody Johnson
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Lady A
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion
Zac Brown Band
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Maddie & Tae
The War And Treaty
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR Award goes to Artists and Producer(s)
“Save Me” – Jelly Roll (with Lainey Wilson) Producers: Zach Crowell, David Ray Stevens
“She Had Me At Heads Carolina (Remix)” – Cole Swindell & Jo Dee Messina Producer: Zach Crowell
“Thank God” – Kane Brown (with Katelyn Brown) Producer: Dann Huff
“wait in the truck” – HARDY (feat. Lainey Wilson) Producers: HARDY, Joey Moi, Jordan Schmidt, Derek Wells
“We Don't Fight Anymore” – Carly Pearce (featuring Chris Stapleton) Producers: Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Carly Pearce
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Jenee Fleenor
Paul Franklin
Rob McNelley
Derek Wells
Charlie Worsham
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR Award goes to Artist(s) and Director(s)
“Light On In The Kitchen” – Ashley McBryde Director: Reid Long
“Memory Lane” – Old Dominion Directors: Mason Allen, Nicki Fletcher
“Need A Favor” – Jelly Roll Director: Patrick Tohill
“Next Thing You Know” – Jordan Davis Director: Running Bear
“wait in the truck” – HARDY (feat. Lainey Wilson) Director: Justin Clough
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Zach Bryan
Jelly Roll
Parker McCollum
Megan Moroney
Hailey Whitters