2019 CMA Awards Nominees

Nominees for the upcoming 53rd Annual CMA Awards were revealed Wednesday morning (Aug. 28). Rising stars Ashley McBryde and Jimmie…

Lauren Jo Black

| Posted on

August 28, 2019

Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Eric Church, Maren Morris; Photos by Andrew Wendowski

Nominees for the upcoming 53^rd Annual CMA Awards were revealed Wednesday morning (Aug. 28).

Rising stars Ashley McBryde and Jimmie Allen revealed nominees in four categories during ABC’s Good Morning America. Morgan Wallen was on hand at the GMA broadcast to perform and later joined Midland, who had just performed on NBC’s TODAY Show, to reveal the remaining nominees in the remaining eight categories in a livestream presented by Billboard.

Maren Morris leads the pack of nominees with a total of six nods, while some of her “favorite people,” Brothers Osborne, trail behind with four nominations. Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Scott Hendricks, Dann Huff, Greg Kurstin, Kacey Musgraves, Blake Shelton, Chris Stapleton and Carrie Underwood each earned three nominations.

The 53^rd Annual CMA Awards, hosted by Carrie Underwood with special guest hosts Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton, will air live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 8/7c on ABC.

2019 CMA Awards Nominees

Entertainer of the Year
Garth Brooks
Eric Church
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood
Keith Urban

Single of the Year
Award goes to Artist(s), Producer(s), and Mix Engineer

“Burning Man” – Dierks Bentley Feat. Brothers Osborne
Producers: Ross Copperman, Jon Randall, Arturo Buenahora, Jr.
Mix Engineer: F. Reid Shippen

“GIRL” – Maren Morris
Producer: Greg Kurstin
Mix Engineer: Greg Kurstin

“God’s Country” – Blake Shelton
Producer: Scott Hendricks
Mix Engineer: Justin Niebank

“Millionaire” – Chris Stapleton
Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
Mix Engineer: Vance Powell

“Speechless” – Dan + Shay
Producers: Dan Smyers, Scott Hendricks
Mix Engineer: Jeff Juliano

Album of the Year
Award goes to Artist and Producers

Center Point Road – Thomas Rhett
Producers: Dann Huff, Jesse Frasure, Thomas Rhett, Julian Bunetta, The Stereotypes, Cleve Wilson

Cry Pretty – Carrie Underwood
Producers: David Garcia, Jim Jonsin, Carrie Underwood

Dan + Shay – Dan + Shay
Producers: Dan Smyers, Scott Hendricks

Desperate Man – Eric Church
Producers: Jay Joyce, Arturo Buenahora, Jr.

GIRL – Maren Morris
Producers: busbee, Maren Morris, Greg Kurstin

Song of the Year
Award goes to Songwriters

“Beautiful Crazy”
Songwriters: Luke Combs, Wyatt B. Durrette III, Robert Williford

“GIRL”
Songwriters: Maren Morris, Sarah Aarons, Greg Kurstin

“God’s Country”
Songwriters: Devin Dawson, Jordan Schmidt, Michael Hardy

“Rainbow”
Songwriters: Natalie Hemby, Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves

“Tequila”
Songwriters: Dan Smyers, Nicolle Galyon, Jordan Reynolds

Female Vocalist of the Year
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Maren Morris
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood

Male Vocalist of the Year
Dierks Bentley
Luke Combs
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban

Vocal Group of the Year
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion
Zac Brown Band

Vocal Duo of the Year
Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Maddie & Tae

Musical Event of the Year
Award goes to Artists and Producer(s)

“All My Favorite People” – Maren Morris (feat. Brothers Osborne)
Producers: Maren Morris, busbee

“Brand New Man” – Brooks & Dunn (with Luke Combs)
Producer: Dann Huff

“Dive Bar” – Garth Brooks & Blake Shelton
Producer: Garth Brooks

“Old Town Road (Remix)” – Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus
Producers: YoungKio, Michael Trent Reznor, Atticus Matthew Ross

“What Happens In A Small Town” – Brantley Gilbert & Lindsay Ell
Producer: Dann Huff

Musician of the Year
Jenee Fleenor
Paul Franklin
Mac McAnally
Ilya Toshinsky
Derek Wells

Music Video of the Year
Award goes to Artist(s) and Director

“Burning Man” – Dierks Bentley Feat. Brothers Osborne
Director: Wes Edwards

“GIRL” – Maren Morris
Director: Dave Meyers

“God’s Country” – Blake Shelton
Director: Sophie Muller

“Rainbow” – Kacey Musgraves
Director: Hannah Lux Davis

“Some Of It” – Eric Church
Director: Reid Long

New Artist of the Year
Cody Johnson
Midland
Carly Pearce
Ashley McBryde
Morgan Wallen

Written by

Lauren Jo Black

Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.