2023 CMA Awards: Lainey Wilson, Jelly Roll, Luke Combs, & HARDY Dominate Nominations

Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning will host the 57th Annual CMA Awards on Wednesday, Nov. 8.

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Lauren Jo Black

| Posted on

September 7, 2023

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7:14 am

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Lainey Wilson; Photo by Andrew Wendowski , Jelly Roll; Photo by CMA, Luke Combs; Photo by Andrew Wendowski, HARDY; Photo by Tanner Gallagher

Nominees for the 57th Annual CMA Awards were revealed on Thursday (Sept. 7) and Lainey Wilson, Jelly Roll, Luke Combs, HARDY and more are among the most nominated.

Wilson leads the pack with a whopping nine nominations, including the coveted Entertainer Of The Year, Single Of The Year (“Wait In The Truck” with HARDY & “Heart Like A Truck”), Album Of The Year (‘Bell Bottom Country’), Song Of The Year (“Heart Like A Truck”), Female Vocalist Of The Year, Musical Event Of The Year (“Save Me” with Jelly Roll and “Wait In The Truck” with HARDY) and Music Video Of The Year (“Wait In The Truck” with HARDY).

First-time nominee Jelly Roll follows behind Wilson with five nominations. Jelly Roll is up for Single Of The Year (“NEED A FAVOR”), Male Vocalist Of The Year, Musical Event Of The Year (“Save Me” with Lainey Wilson) and Music Video Of The Year (“NEED A FAVOR”).

While Luke Combs and HARDY each collect four nods. 

Combs, the reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year, is once again crying for the night’s top honor. He’s also nominated for Single of the Year (“Fast Car”), Album of the Year (Gettin’ Old), and Male Vocalist of the Year. 

Meanwhile, HARDY is up for Single of the Year (“wait in the truck”), Song of the Year (“wait in the truck”), Musical Event of the Year (“wait in the truck”), and Music Video of the Year (“wait in the truck”).

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. 

This year’s batch of nominations includes several first-time nominees: Mason Allen, Trannie Anderson, Renee Blair, Michael H. Brauer, Katelyn Brown, Zach Bryan, Tracy Chapman, Josh Ditty, David Fanning, Nicki Fletcher, Greylan James, Jelly Roll, Paul Jenkins, Gena Johnson, Chase McGill, Cameron Montgomery, Megan Moroney, Austin Nivarel, Eivind Nordland, John Osborne, Hunter Phelps, David Ray Stevens, Patrick Tohill, Alysa Vanderheym, The War And Treaty, Hailey Whitters, Ben Williams, Dallas Wilson, and Charlie Worsham.

Luke Bryan, Peyton Manning; Photo Courtesy CMA
Luke Bryan, Peyton Manning; Photo Courtesy CMA

Co-hosted by country superstar Luke Bryan and National Football League Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning, the 57th Annual CMA Awards will air live from Nashville on Wednesday, November 8 at 8/7c on ABC.

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

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Lauren Jo Black

Written by

Lauren Jo Black

Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.