Awards
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When Beyoncé was not among the artists nominated for a CMA Award on Monday (Sept. 9), despite being the first Black woman to top Billboard’s Top Country Albums with Cowboy Carter and Hot Country Songs chart with “Texas Hold ‘Em,” it immediately raised questions about country music’s ongoing troubled relationship with Black artists, the CMA Awards’ nominating process and whether or not Beyoncé’s team had even submitted her music, given her complicated history with the country community and the CMA Awards.
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Let’s answer the last question first: It turns out they didn’t need to submit.
Unlike many other awards shows, labels, artists and their teams do not submit entries for the CMA Awards. Instead, the roughly 6,600 voting members each receive a write-in ballot to list their choices. Each member can make one nomination per award category. Therefore, Beyoncé’s label or team did not need to submit her to be eligible. The exception is the single of the year category, which is a pre-populated drop-down list of all qualifying top 10 singles from the country charts noted in the criteria. The write-in ballots are tabulated and the top 20 vote recipients in each category end up on the second ballot, with the exception of entertainer of the year, which consists of the Top 15 vote recipients.
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Additionally, all second-ballot candidates are reviewed by CMA, record label representatives, and the CMA Awards & Recognition committee to ensure that all they meet the criteria for each award. The award criteria is based on release dates, chart activity, and consumption peaks that occurred during the eligibility period (July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024). The second ballot is sent to the CMA voters, and each member can vote for up to 5 candidates in each category. CMA does not reveal the write-in ballot nominations or confirm whether any specific artist or work appeared on the second ballot.
Though Billboard has not yet viewed a full second-round ballot, Billboard viewed a screen shot for the second ballot for song of the year that does not include “Texas Hold ‘Em.”
Beyoncé’s exclusion “doesn’t surprise me,” says one Nashville executive, who wished to remain anonymous. “There was really only one single from the album that did anything. She really didn’t embrace the genre, unlike what Post Malone has done with his album.” “Texas Hold ‘Em” peaked at No. 33 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart.
Post Malone received four nominations for “I Had Some Help,” his duet with Morgan Wallen, that was a four-week No. 1 on Billboard‘s Country Airplay chart and is featured on his Top 200 and Top Country Albums chart-topping album, F-1 Trillion. Post Malone infiltrated the local music scene, spending months in Nashville working with top songwriters, recording the album in Nashville and popping up at many venues to play live.
However, another Nashville executive, who also asked to remain anonymous, said they were “shocked” that Beyoncé’s work received no nominations, “given the credit to new Black creators and Linda Martell.” Cowboy Carter, in addition to Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson, featured Martell, the first Black woman to play the Grand Ole Opry in 1969, and a number of rising Black artists, including Brittney Spencer, Tanner Adell, Reyna Reynolds, Tiera Kennedy, Willie Jones and Shaboozey.
Shaboozey, who received two nominations for new artist of the year and single of the year for “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” took to Instagram and X to express his thanks for being nominated, but also thanked Beyoncé, posting “Thank you @Beyonce for opening a door for us, starting a conversation, and giving us one of the most innovative country albums of all time!”
Country artist Rissi Palmer, who also hosts Apple Music’s “Color Me Country” radio show, said what many others expressed on social media when she posted on X, “Well… these noms set a really interesting precedent. The message is extremely loud.” She later posted, “I think that a larger conversation should be had about the fact that no other Black woman or woman of color could even qualify for certain CMA awards, and why that is.” The single of the year category is the only category that requires reaching a certain chart position in order to be eligible. Earlier this year, the CMA Awards eliminated the requirement for song of the year.
In June, three months after the March 29 release of Cowboy Carter, Beyoncé provided a lengthy statement to The Hollywood Reporter about the project and its reception. “When you are breaking down barriers, not everyone is ready and open for a shift. But when I see Shaboozey tearing the charts up and all the beautiful female country singers flying to new heights, inspiring the world, that is exactly what motivates me,” she said. ““I’m honored to introduce so many people to the roots of so many genres. I’m so thrilled that my fans trusted me. The music industry gatekeepers are not happy about the idea of bending genres, especially coming from a Black artist and definitely not a woman.”
In 2016, Beyoncé’s performance of “Daddy Issues” at the CMA Awards with The Chicks (then still the Dixie Chicks), a number of commenters on social media supported the appearance, while others made unwelcoming comments.
In March, shortly before Cowboy Carter’s release, Beyoncé posted on Instagram that the album was “born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed… and it was very clear that I wasn’t,” she said, although she did not specifically cite the CMA Awards appearance. “But, because of that experience, I did a deeper dive into the history of Country music and studied our rich musical archive.”
Beyoncé’s representative did not respond to a request for comment and the CMA declined to comment.
It’s late Monday (Sept. 9) night at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, and Bruce Gillmer, who is executive producing the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards alongside Jesse Ignjatovic, is hustling from one rehearsal to another.
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“We’ve been going since Saturday,” says Gillmer of the preparations to throw what will be the 40th anniversary of MTV’s signature award show on Wednesday (Sept 11). On Monday, Gillmer and his team rehearsed with the rapper LL COOL J. “He’s a legendary MTV artist returning to the stage to celebrate a milestone of one of hip-hop’s most groundbreaking labels: Def Jam,” he reveals of the tribute to the label which also celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, before teasing: “He may even bring some friends along.”
In the past four decades, the VMAs have stayed steady as a culture-moving, irreverent event, frequently sending shockwaves around the music world. (Kanye West interrupts Taylor Swift! Miley Cyrus twerks! Britney Spears and Madonna kiss!) But while music videos used to be in heavy rotation on the network, these days the only time a video may air on MTV is during the annual show. Nevertheless, the ceremony has managed to soldier on despite changing consumption habits (certain award categories have dropped the keyword “video,” and some voting takes place over Instagram Stories) and societal norms (its signature trophy the Moon Man is now the Moon Person).
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“This might be the biggest scale production we’ve ever done,” says Gillmer of 2024’s iteration, which will acknowledge the four-decade milestone. “We’re going to be revisiting some of the show’s most iconic moments that made the VMAs the pop culture beast it is today,” he explains. That includes harkening back to its debut on Sept. 14th, 1984. (Hosts: Dan Aykroyd and Bette Midler; video of the year: “You Might Think” by The Cars). “One of the look backs will be at that first show from Radio City Music Hall,” says Gillmer. “It’s a homecoming of sorts, so we’ll celebrate turning 40 by flashing back to moments on stage and screen.”
The homecoming comes in the form of the production setting up shop at UBS Arena after a stint in New Jersey last year, which marks the seventh overall VMAs in the tri-state area. (For those counting, its last west coast production occurred in 2017 when Katy Perry hosted from The Forum in Inglewood, Calif.)
Straddling the border of New York City and Long Island, UBS opened in November 2021 (Harry Styles was its first musical performer). According to Gillmer, UBS was a natural choice. “It has top notch acoustics, world class tech capabilities and excellent sightlines,” he says of the arena which normally hosts NHL’s New York Islanders. “It really is built for music and allowed us to create one of our most ambitious set-ups yet.” In addition to the main stage, there will be four performance stages including what they’re dubbing a ‘fandom’ stage built into the audience. “Wait until you see how we used the Moon Person as part of our set design,” he teases. “It’s literally busting out of the screen, into the audience.” Ever the production aficionado, Gillmer can’t help but gush about the stage rigging. “I’m told we’re up to 400,000 lbs.,” he says. “The heaviest VMAs yet! I’m blown away every time I walk into the room and can’t wait for everyone to see all the ‘wow’ factors we packed into the live show.”
Much like an eclectic playlist meant to please everybody at the party, this year’s roster of performers zigzags between past and present names. In one corner, you have your MTV legends: the aforementioned LL COOL J, as well as Katy Perry who is set to take the stage to accept the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award (the show’s version of the lifetime achievement award). “We also just announced Eminem will be our show opener,” says Gillmer of the legendary rapper.
But it wouldn’t be the VMAs without tapping into buzzy newcomers for possible superstar-making performances. Luckily for the producers, the past year has minted a variety of fresh talent. “(Since) the show always spotlights artists with the biggest impact over the last 12 months, Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter were two names we unquestionably had to have this year,” Gillmer says of snagging two of 2024’s biggest breakouts (the former had to shake up her schedule to facilitate her VMA debut). “Sabrina blew us all away with last year’s pre-show performance.”
Other first-time VMA performers this year include two artists riding breakout singles, Benson Boone (“Beautiful Things,” which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100) and Teddy Swims (“Lose Control,” which topped the Hot 100), as well as VMA stalwarts with new albums, including Shawn Mendes (his fifth album, Shawn, drops Oct. 18) and Camila Cabello (promoting C,XOXO which came out this summer). K-pop superstar Lisa, Brazil’s Anitta and Puerto Rico’s Rauw Alejandro will also perform.
There’s also Megan Thee Stallion, who this year serves as the ceremony’s host and continues the trend of recruiting an artist to host the ceremony (Nicki Minaj and Doja Cat have both enjoyed recent honors). According to Gillmer, the gig came after plans for a more traditional role for the star. “We actually started talking about her performance on 2024’s show first after her VMAs debut alongside Cardi B last year,” recalls Gillmer. “Our conversation evolved from there. It was easy to see she was a perfect fit: she’s quintessential MTV and is leading (her) genre. Megan is this rare artist who has an unmatched presence and dynamic personality that allows you to dominate a performance and then carry on an extraordinary event like this.”
For months, everything was booked, set and scheduled for the show to kick off Tuesday, Sept. 10. Then, a curveball: in August, the date of the first (and possibly only) Presidential Debate of the 2024 election cycle between Vice President Harris and former President Trump was announced to take place that same night. Gillmer and his team knew they wanted to steer clear.
“With our brand’s decades-long history of leading non-partisan civic engagement, it was important to encourage our fans to tune in to the debate to help make educated decisions ahead of a historic election,” he says. With that, the team went into overdrive shifting their plans by a full 24 hours, with this year’s show moving to Sept. 11. “With the date shift, it again gave us the opportunity to partner with our friends at 9/11 Day to amplify their September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance with tickets to Tuesday’s Children,” says Gillmer of the long-standing association with the charity.
Aside from streaming on Paramount+, the VMAs air on BET, BET Her, CMT, Comedy Central, Logo, MTV, MTV2, Nick at Nite, Paramount Network, Pop, TV Land and VH1, with a rebroadcast to follow. “We’re also airing a live, hosted simulcast on Univision with entertainment reporter Alejandra Espinoza who is bringing audiences in on exclusive show access and rehearsal features from some of the top Latin talent,” Gillmer says.
In any case, Gillmer is bracing for the unexpected: “Anything can happen live on Wednesday.”
Keith Urban, Kelsea Ballerini, Lady A, Parker McCollum and The War and Treaty have been added as performers for the 2024 People’s Choice Country Awards, which will air Thursday, Sept. 26, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC and Peacock. Kane Brown, who is set to receive the Country Champion Award, and Miranda Lambert, who is set to receive the Country Icon Award, had already been announced as performers.
The two-hour show, hosted by Shania Twain, will air live from the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. A two-hour red-carpet pre-show, Live From E!: People’s Choice Country Awards, will kick off the night at 6 p.m. ET/PT on E!.
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Ballerini, Lady A and The War and Treaty received CMA Awards nominations in key categories on Monday (Sept. 9). Ballerini is nominated for female vocalist of the year, Lady A for vocal group of the year, and The War and Treaty for vocal duo of the year. A strong performance on the People’s Choice Country Awards could conceivably help them in the CMA voting. (CMA final-round voting opens on Tuesday, Oct. 1, five days after the People’s Choice Country Awards, and extends for four weeks.)
Additionally, Carly Pearce, Dan + Shay, Little Big Town and comedian Nate Bargatze have been announced as presenters. Additional names will be announced.
A limited number of show tickets and VIP packages are available now at Opry.com.
People’s Choice Country Awards is produced by Den of Thieves. Jesse Ignjatovic, Evan Prager and Barb Bialkowski will executive produce along with RAC Clark as executive producer and showrunner.
The pre-show is produced by Den of Thieves with executive producers Ignjatovic, Prager and Bialkowski.
Here are all the performers and presenters that have been announced. This will be updated when additional names are announced.
Performers
Kane Brown
Keith Urban
Kelsea Ballerini
Lady A
Miranda Lambert
Parker McCollum
The War and Treaty
Presenters
Carly Pearce
Dan + Shay
Little Big Town
Nat Bargatze
The first edition of the Billboard Arabia Music Awards (BBAMAs) is set for Dec. 11 at the iconic KAFD in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The awards show is part of the first-ever Riyadh Music Week, an initiative bringing together the global music community for a series of music festivals and events.
Billboard Arabia has become the ultimate destination for discovering Arab artists, with the awards show celebrating a year of music milestones and achievements, including the launch of its flagship charts and other initiatives. The BBAMAs will honor trailblazers and rising stars with awards across a wide range of categories, including top artist, female artist and male artist, along with the year’s hottest songs and more.
Unlike other music award shows, BBAMA winners will be selected based on their ranking on Billboard Arabia’s flagship charts, including the Hot 100 and Artist 100, as well as the newly launched dialect charts – Khaleeji, Egyptian, Levantine and Magharebi – and genre-specific charts – Arabic Hip-Hop, Arabic Indie, Shelat and Mahraganat. Billboard Arabia’s Charts follow the well-established parameters set by the Billboard brand over the last eight decades.
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In addition to recognizing the top artists and music of the year, the BBAMAs will showcase Saudi Arabia and the region’s diverse talent through live performances and surprise collaborations, featuring both established and emerging artists. It will also include performances from some of the biggest international artists.
“In just one year, Billboard Arabia has become the fastest-growing music platform that truly reflects the preferences of millions of music fans and followers across the globe,” Jomana R. Alrashid, CEO of SRMG, said in a statement. “Through the support of the Saudi Music Commission, part of the Ministry of Culture, and SRMG’s strategic partnership with Billboard, this significantly strengthens our ability to spotlight Arab artists to bring their work to global audiences and grow the region’s vibrant music industry.”
Rami M. Zeidan, managing director of Billboard Arabia, said: “I am proud to announce the first edition of the Billboard Arabia Music Awards. As one of the fastest growing music hubs, Riyadh is the perfect location to celebrate the achievements of Arab artists around the world. Audiences will experience the diversity of Arab music firsthand through live performances. They will see their favorite artists like never before. This is what BBAMAs are all about: ensuring that Arab artists, their music and their stories receive the well-deserved recognition both regionally and globally.”
Billboard Arabia, a pioneering platform at the intersection of culture and music, celebrates the artistry and diversity of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Launched as a partnership between SRMG, the largest integrated media group from the MENA region, and Billboard, the world’s most influential music media brand, its mission is to redefine the global music landscape.
Mike Van, president of Billboard, stated: “We are proud to bring the Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs) to Riyadh. The show remains the preeminent music event worldwide. The BBMAs celebrate and recognize musical talent and chart achievements and we’re thrilled to extend this legacy and vision to the MENA region, highlighting the musical excellence of Arab artists. This show will not only celebrate artists’ commercial success, but also highlight their real impact on the music industry. The focus is on spotlighting artists and the evolving music landscape. Winning at the Billboard Music Awards is not just about one night; it represents an important moment elevating artists toward sustained success in their careers. This year, with the launch of the Billboard Arabia Music Awards, we are applying the same metric-based methodology to showcase Arab artists who have resonated most with music fans worldwide.”
Billboard Arabia was launched in June 2023 to spotlight Arab artists and their stories on a global stage. Since then, it has introduced several iconic Billboard franchises to the MENA region, including Billboard Arabia News, Women in Music and Charts. These initiatives have established the necessary infrastructure to help both established and new artists reach wider audiences. Billboard Arabia has also developed several unique IPs that further highlight the Arab voices, including its exclusive studio session series, Jalsat Billboard Arabia, and its groundbreaking initiative, Sounds of the Land.
Performances and ticket information will be announced in the coming weeks. For more updates and news, visit billboardarabia.com.
As Shaboozey celebrated his first two CMA Awards nominations on Monday (Sept. 9), he took a moment to recognize an artist who didn’t score any nods at the country awards show: Beyoncé. The country newcomer shared his excitement on social media over scoring two nods at the Nov. 20 show — new artist of the […]
Jennifer Hudson will accept the first-ever Elizabeth Taylor Rowdy Activist Award for her ongoing support for people living with HIV, and for the LGBTQ+ community. The award will be presented at The Elizabeth Taylor Ball to End AIDS fundraising gala on Sept. 26 at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. Hudson, who will […]
In addition to being a double nominee at the Primetime Emmys on Sunday, Sept. 15, Selena Gomez is slated to present on the show. Gomez is nominated for outstanding actress in a comedy series for the first time for her role in Only Murders in the Building. She is also nominated as an executive producer of the show, which is up for outstanding comedy series for the third year in a row. Her co-stars Steve Martin and Martin Short, who are also double Emmy nominees this year, are also slated to present on the show.
Another music superstar, Reba McEntire, is also a presenter. McEntire’s new sitcom, Happy’s Place, is set to premiere on NBC on Friday, Oct. 18. McEntire’s first sitcom, Reba, ran from 2001 to 2007.
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The 76th Emmy Awards, hosted by the father-and-son team of Eugene Levy and Dan Levy, will broadcast live on ABC Sunday, Sept. 15 (8-11 p.m. ET/5-8 p.m. PT) from the Peacock Theater at L.A. LIVE in downtown Los Angeles, and will be available for streaming on Hulu Sept. 16-22. Jesse Collins Entertainment is producing the show.
Both father and son won multiple Primetime Emmys four years ago for Schitt’s Creek. Dan won four; Eugene won two.
Jimmy Kimmel, who won his third Primetime Emmy at the Creative Arts Emmys over the weekend as host of the 2024 Oscars and is also nominated for outstanding talk series, is also set to present. Kimmel had hosted the Primetime Emmys the last three times it aired on ABC (in 2012, 2016, 2020), but is not hosting this year. (The show rotates among the three legacy networks and Fox.)
TV legend Dick Van Dyke, whose legacy was saluted when Dick Van Dyke: 98 Years of Magic won outstanding variety special (pre-recorded) at the Creative Arts Emmys, will also present.
In addition, there will be special appearances from Olympic gold medalist swimmer Caeleb Dressel and Olympic bronze medalist rugby player Ilona Maher.
Here’s a complete list of the presenters for the 2024 Primetime Emmys
Christine Baranski
Kathy Bates
Meredith Baxter
Candice Bergen
Gael Garcia Bernal
Matt Bomer
Zach Braff
Connie Britton
Nicola Coughlan
Billy Crystal
Viola Davis
Giancarlo Esposito
Colin Farrell
Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Lily Gladstone
Selena Gomez
Dulé Hill
Ron Howard
Brendan Hunt
Joshua Jackson
Allison Janney
Don Johnson
Mindy Kaling
Jimmy Kimmel
Padma Lakshmi
Greta Lee
John Leguizamo
George Lopez
Diego Luna
Jane Lynch
Steve Martin
Nava Mau
Reba McEntire
Janel Moloney
Ebon Moss-Bachrach
Niecy Nash-Betts
Taylor Zakhar Perez
Mekhi Phifer
Melissa Peterman
Da’Vine Joy Randolph
Sam Richardson
Maya Rudolph
Richard Schiff
Martin Sheen
Martin Short
Jean Smart
Jimmy Smits
Antony Starr
Gina Torres
Dick Van Dyke
Susan Kelechi Watson
Damon Wayans
Kristen Wiig
Henry Winkler
Bowen Yang
Steven Yeun
The final nominees for the 58th annual CMA Awards were revealed Monday morning (Sept. 9), and this year’s nominations highlighted both established hitmakers, touring kingpins and those who have made initial surges in the genre over the past year, including Post Malone, The Red Clay Strays, Shaboozey and Zach Top.
Morgan Wallen leads this year’s nominees with seven nominations, followed by Cody Johnson and Chris Stapleton (five nominations each), while Post Malone and Lainey Wilson garnered four nominations apiece. Earning a trio of nominations each are Louis Bell, Luke Combs, Charlie Handsome, Hoskins, Jelly Roll, Megan Moroney and Kacey Musgraves.
This year, vying for the coveted entertainer of the year trophy are Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Stapleton, Wallen and reigning CMA entertainer of the year winner Wilson. Those nominated for album of the year are Musgraves (Deeper Well), Combs (Fathers & Sons), Stapleton (Higher), Johnson (Leather) and Jelly Roll (Whitsitt Chapel).
The eligibility period for the 2024 show is eligibility period is July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024. According to CMA rules, “singles, albums, music videos and qualified music products for the annual show must have been released or reached peak national prominence during the eligibility period.” The finalists were determined by eligible voting CMA members comprised of professionals within the country music industry
“The 58th Annual CMA Awards,” broadcasts live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena Wednesday, Nov. 20 (8:00 – 11:00 PM/EST) on ABC and next day on Hulu.
Below, we look at some of the largest snubs and surprises from Monday’s nominations.
Snub: Beyonce
Eminem is set to open the 2024 VMAs live on Wednesday (Sept. 11) at 8 p.m. ET/PT from New York’s UBS Arena. The rap icon will treat fans to the first TV show performance from his 12th studio LP, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grace), which recently became his 11th album to enter the Billboard 200 at No. 1.
Eminem last performed on the VMAs in 2022 with Snoop Dogg for a first-of-its-kind performance of “From the D 2 The LBC” inspired by the world of the Otherside metaverse. In 2012, Eminem made a surprise appearance during Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg’s performance of “Forgot About Dre” and “Still D.R.E.”
Eminem last opened the VMAs in 2010 with “Not Afraid,” followed by a duet performance with Rihanna of “Love the Way You Lie.” In 2000, Eminem performed a medley of “The Real Slim Shady” and “The Way I Am,” which famously included a procession of 100+ Eminem look-alikes.
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During his debut year of 1999, Eminem performed a medley of “Guilty Conscience” and “My Name Is.”
Eminem landed eight nominations this year. His smash “Houdini,” which reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, is up for video of the year, best hip-hop, best direction, best editing, best visual effects and song of the summer. In addition, Eminem is nominated for artist of the year, and VMAs most iconic performance for his aforementioned 2000 performance.
If he wins in just one of the eight categories, Marshall will break out of a tie with Peter Gabriel for the most wins by a male artist in the show’s history (13). Four superstar women have amassed even more VMA wins. Beyoncé leads with 27, followed by Taylor Swift (23), Madonna (20) and Lady Gaga (18).
Eminem’s 13 wins are the most by a hip-hop artist. With 67 total nods, he is the second-most nominated artist in VMAs history, trailing only Madonna (71).
Megan Thee Stallion is set to host and perform on the VMAs. Katy Perry will receive the Video Vanguard Award and perform a hit medley. Other performers include Anitta (feat. Fat Joe, DJ Khaled + Tiago PZK), Benson Boone, Camila Cabello, Chappell Roan, GloRilla, Halsey, KAROL G, Lenny Kravitz, LISA, LL COOL J, Rauw Alejandro, Sabrina Carpenter and Shawn Mendes.
Cyndi Lauper, who won and appeared on the very first VMAs in September 1984, is set to present, along with former MTV host Carson Daly. Other presenters set for this year’s show are Addison Rae, Alessandra Ambrosio, Amelia Dimoldenberg, Big Sean, Busta Rhymes, Damiano David (Måneskin), DANNA, DJ Khaled, Fat Joe, Flavor Flav, French Montana, Halle Bailey, Jordan Chiles, Lil Nas X, Miranda Lambert, Naomi Scott, Paris Hilton, Suki Waterhouse, Thalía and Tinashe.
Teddy Swims and Jessie Murph are set to make their VMA debuts by performing on the Extended Play Stage.
The 2024 VMAs will air live on Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET/PT across MTV’s global footprint, including BET, BET Her, CMT, Comedy Central, Logo, MTV, MTV2, Nick at Nite, Paramount Network, Pop, TV Land, VH1 and Univision.
Le Sserafim will make their U.S. award show debut by performing on the VMAs pre-show. Hosted by Nessa, Dometi Pongo and Kevan Kenney, the 90-minute live VMAs pre-show special airs from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on MTV, MTV2, CMT and Logo.
With the addition of social categories, Taylor Swift still leads in terms of most nominations (12), followed by Post Malone (11), Eminem (eight), Ariana Grande, Megan Thee Stallion, Sabrina Carpenter + SZA (seven each); Benson Boone, Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, Charli xcx, GloRilla, LISA, Olivia Rodrigo + Teddy Swims (four each).
General fan voting closed Friday (Sept. 6) on MTV’s website. Voting for best new artist remains active through the show.
Bruce Gillmer and Den of Thieves co-founder Jesse Ignjatovic are executive producers. Barb Bialkowski is co-executive producer. Alicia Portugal and Jackie Barba are executives in charge of production. Wendy Plaut is executive in charge of celebrity talent. Lisa Lauricella is music talent executive.
Morgan Wallen is the leading nominee for the 2024 CMA Awards, as determined by eligible voting members of the Country Music Association. He received seven nods. Cody Johnson and Chris Stapleton follow with five nods each, while Post Malone and Lainey Wilson each nabbed four. Louis Bell, Luke Combs, Charlie Handsome, Hoskins, Jelly Roll, Megan Moroney and Kacey Musgraves each secured three nominations.
Wallen hasn’t won at the CMAs since he was crowned new artist of the year four years ago. Less than three months after that breakthrough moment, he was caught on video using a racial slur, an incident which almost certainly cost him some major awards.
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Stapleton received his eighth nod for entertainer of the year, an award he has yet to win. (He has amassed more nods without a win in that category than any other artist in CMA history.) Also nominated are Combs (his fifth nod in the category), Wallen (his third), Wilson (her second) and Jelly Roll (his first).
The eligibility period for the 2024 CMA Awards is July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. That means such high-profile albums as Zach Bryan’s The Great American Bar Scene, Wilson’s Whirlwind and Post Malone’s F-1 Trillion won’t be eligible until next year.
All five albums for album of the year reached the top five on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart. The biggest surprise among them is Jelly Roll’s Whitsitt Chapel, which was released on June 2, 2023, nearly a month before the close of last year’s eligibility period. CMA explains “It is eligible because the majority of its consumption occurred in the [current] eligibility period,” a rule that was introduced last year and is now in its second year.
Starting Over is Stapleton’s fifth consecutive studio album to be nominated for album of the year – his entire solo discography to date. Fathers & Sons is Combs’ fourth consecutive album to receive a nomination in that category.
Beyoncé is conspicuous by her absence on the ballot. CMA voters seemed to agree with the superstar’s statement on Instagram back in March in which she confirmed the imminent release of Cowboy Carter: “This ain’t a Country album. This is a ‘Beyoncé’ album.” In that same Instagram post, Beyonce said: “This album has been over five years in the making. It was born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed…and it was very clear that I wasn’t.” That comment was widely seen as a reference to Beyoncé’s appearance with The Chicks (then Dixie Chicks) at the CMA Awards in November 2016, where they performed “Daddy Lessons,” a song from Bey’s Lemonade album.
Both of the top two Songs of the Summer on Billboard’s recently published all-genre seasonal recap – “I Had Some Help” by Post Malone featuring Wallen and Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” – are nominated for single of the year. (The No. 2 Song of the Summer for 2023, Luke Combs’ “Fast Car,” won the CMA award for single of the year last year.)
“I Had Some Help” and Johnson’s “Dirt Cheap” are each nominated for single, song and music video of the year. Stapleton’s “White Horse” is nominated for the first two of those awards, but it wasn’t nominated for music video of the year.
The nominees for new artist of the year are Moroney, Shaboozey, Nate Smith, Mitchell Tenpenny, Zach Top and Bailey Zimmerman. Moroney was also nominated in the category last year. Zimmerman was nominated two years ago. (CMA rules allow artists to be nominated in this category twice).
Shaboozey is the fifth Black artist to be nominated in this category (or the horizon award, as the award was known from its inception in 1981 through 2007). Music legend Ray Charles was nominated in 1985 when he made a country market breakthrough, followed by Darius Rucker (2009) and Jimmie Allen and Mickey Guyton (both 2021). Rucker and Allen both won.
Miranda Lambert failed to receive a nod for female vocalist of the year, breaking a 17-year streak of nominations in that category. Carly Pearce broke a three-year string of nods in that category. Midland wasn’t nominated for vocal group of the year, breaking a six-year streak. (The Red Clay Strays took that spot.) Carrie Underwood wasn’t nominated for entertainer of the year, breaking a five-year streak of nods in that category. (Jelly Roll took that spot.)
Musgraves got her CMA mojo back. She’s up for female vocalist of the year for the first time in five years. She’s also up for album of the year after failing to get a nod in that category for her previous album, Star-Crossed.
The nominations in two key categories – male vocalist of the year and vocal duo of the year – were exactly the same as last year.
Winners of the 58th Annual CMA Awards will be determined in a final round of voting by eligible voting CMA members. The third and final ballot will be emailed to CMA professional members on Tuesday, Oct. 1. Voting for the CMA Awards final ballot ends Tuesday, Oct. 29 (6:00 p.m. CT).
CMA Broadcast Awards winners will be determined by a final round of judging this month. Entries are judged by a panel of broadcast professionals, representing all market sizes and regions. The winners will be revealed in October and recipients will be honored at the CMA Awards.
The 58th Annual CMA Awards is set to broadcast live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 20 (8:00–11:00 p.m. ET) on ABC and next day on Hulu. The CMA has yet to announce the show’s host. Luke Bryan has hosted the last three years, the last two in tandem with Peyton Manning
The 58th Annual CMA Awards is a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton is the executive producer, Alan Carter is the director and Jon Macks is the head writer.
Tickets go on sale on Friday Sept. 13th starting at 10:00 a.m. CT through Ticketmaster.
Here’s a full list of nominations for the 58th annual CMA Awards.
Entertainer of the year
Luke Combs
Jelly Roll
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen
Lainey Wilson
Single of the year
Award goes to artist(s), producer(s) and mix engineer(s)
“A Bar Song (Tipsy)” – Shaboozey; Producers: Sean Cook, Nevin Sastry; Mix Engineer: Raul Lopez
“Dirt Cheap” – Cody Johnson; Producer: Trent Willmon; Mix Engineer: Jack Clarke
“I Had Some Help” – Post Malone (Feat. Morgan Wallen); Producers: Louis Bell, Charlie Handsome, Hoskins; Mix Engineer: Ryan Gore
“Watermelon Moonshine” – Lainey Wilson; Producer: Jay Joyce; Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
“White Horse” – Chris Stapleton; Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton, Morgane Stapleton; Mix Engineer: Vance Powell
Album of the year
Award goes to artist, producer(s) and mix engineer(s)
Deeper Well – Kacey Musgraves; Producers: Ian Fitchuk, Kacey Musgraves, Daniel Tashian; Mix Engineers: Shawn Everett, Konrad Snyder
Fathers & Sons – Luke Combs; Producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton; Mix Engineer: Chip Matthews
Higher – Chris Stapleton; Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton, Morgane Stapleton; Mix Engineer: Vance Powell
Leather – Cody Johnson; Producer: Trent Willmon; Mix Engineer: Jack Clarke
Whitsitt Chapel – Jelly Roll; Producers: Andrew Baylis, Brock Berryhill, Zach Crowell, Jesse Frasure, David Garcia, Kevin “Thrasher” Gruft, Austin Nivarel, David Ray Stevens; Mix Engineers: Jeff Braun, Jim Cooley
Song of the year
Award goes to songwriter(s)
“Burn It Down”; Songwriters: Hillary Lindsey, Parker McCollum, Lori McKenna, Liz Rose
“Dirt Cheap”; Songwriter: Josh Phillips
“I Had Some Help”; Songwriters: Louis Bell, Ashley Gorley, Charlie Handsome, Hoskins, Austin Post, Ernest Keith Smith, Morgan Wallen, Chandler Paul Walters
“The Painter”; Songwriters: Benjy Davis, Kat Higgins, Ryan Larkins
“White Horse”; Songwriters: Chris Stapleton, Dan Wilson
Female vocalist of the year
Kelsea Ballerini
Ashley McBryde
Megan Moroney
Kacey Musgraves
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
Old Dominion
The Red Clay Strays
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)
“Cowboys Cry Too” – Kelsea Ballerini (with Noah Kahan); Producers: Kelsea Ballerini, Alysa Vanderheym
“I Had Some Help” – Post Malone (Feat. Morgan Wallen); Producers: Louis Bell, Charlie Handsome, Hoskins
“I Remember Everything” – Zach Bryan (ft. Kacey Musgraves); Producer: Zach Bryan
“Man Made a Bar” – Morgan Wallen (feat. Eric Church); Producer: Joey Moi
“you look like you love me” – Ella Langley (feat. Riley Green); Producer: Will Bundy
Musician of the year
Tom Bukovac – Guitar
Jenee Fleenor – Fiddle
Paul Franklin – Steel Guitar
Rob McNelley – Guitar
Charlie Worsham – Guitar
Music video of the year
Award goes to artist(s) and director(s)
“Dirt Cheap” – Cody Johnson; Director: Dustin Haney
“I Had Some Help” – Post Malone (Feat. Morgan Wallen); Director: Chris Villa
“I’m Not Pretty” – Megan Moroney; Directors: Jeff Johnson, Megan Moroney
“The Painter” – Cody Johnson; Director: Dustin Haney
“Wildflowers and Wild Horses” – Lainey Wilson; Director: Patrick Tracy
New artist of the year
Megan Moroney
Shaboozey
Nate Smith
Mitchell Tenpenny
Zach Top
Bailey Zimmerman
Weekly national
“American Country Countdown” (Kix Brooks) – Cumulus/Westwood One
“Country Gold with Terri Clark” (Terri Clark) – Westwood One
“Crook & Chase Countdown” (Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase) – Jim Owens Entertainment
“Highway Hot 30 with Buzz Brainard” (Buzz Brainard) – SiriusXM
“Honky Tonkin’ with Tracy Lawrence” (Tracy Lawrence and Patrick Thomas) – Silverfish Media
Daily national
“The Bobby Bones Show” (Bobby Bones, Amy Brown, “Lunchbox” Dan Chappell, Eddie Garcia, Morgan Huelsman, “SZN Raymundo” Ray Slater, “Mike D” Rodriguez, Abby Anderson, “Kick Off Kevin” O’Connell, and Stephen “Scuba Steve” Spradlin) – iHeartMedia
“Michael J On Air” (Michael J. Stuehler) – iHeartMedia
“Nights with Elaina” (Elaina Smith) – Westwood One / Cumulus Media
“PickleJar Up All Night with Patrick Thomas” (Patrick Thomas) – PickleJar / Cumulus Media
“Steve Harmon Show” (Steve Harmon) – Westwood One / Cumulus Media
Major market
“The Andie Summers Show” (Andie Summers, Jeff Kurkjian, Donnie Black, and Shannon Boyle) – WXTU, Philadelphia, Pa.
“Chris Carr & Company” (Chris Carr, Kia Becht, and Sam Sansevere) – KEEY, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.
“Frito & Katy” (Tucker “Frito” Young and Katy Dempsey) – KCYY, San Antonio, Texas
“The Morning Wolfpack with Matt McAllister” (Matt McAllister, Gabe Mercer, and “Captain Ron” Koons) – KKWF, Seattle, Wash.
“The Most Fun Afternoons With Scotty Kay” (Scotty Kay) – WUSN, Chicago, Ill.
Large market
“Dale Carter Morning Show” (Dale Carter) – KFKF, Kansas City, Mo.
“Heather Froglear” (Heather Froglear) – KFRG, Riverside-San Bernardino, Calif.
“Jesse & Anna” (Jesse Tack and Anna Marie) – WUBE, Cincinnati, Ohio
“Mike & Amanda” (Mike Wheless and Amanda Daughtry) – WQDR, Raleigh-Durham, N.C.
“On-Air with Anthony” (Anthony Donatelli) – KFRG, Riverside-San Bernardino, Calif.
Medium market
“Brent Michaels” (Brent Michaels) – KUZZ, Bakersfield, Calif.
“Joey & Nancy” (Joey Tack, Nancy Barger, and Karly Duggan) – WIVK, Knoxville, Tenn.
“New Country Mornings with Nancy and Woody” (Nancy Wilson and Aaron “Woody” Woods) – WHKO, Dayton, Ohio
“Scott and Sarah in the Morning” (Scott Wynn and Sarah Kay) – WQMX, Akron, Ohio
“Steve & Gina In The Morning” (Steve Lundy and Gina Melton) – KXKT, Omaha-Council Bluffs, Neb.-Iowa
Small market
“Dan Austin Show” (Dan Austin) – WQHK, Fort Wayne, Ind.
“Dave and Jenn” (Dave Roberts and Jenn Seay) – WTCR, Huntington-Ashland, W. Va.
“The Eddie Foxx Show” (Eddie Foxx and Amanda Foxx) – WKSF, Asheville, N.C.
“Hilley & Hart” (Kevin Hilley and Erin Hart) – KATI, Columbia, Mo.
“Officer Don & DeAnn” (“Officer Don” Evans and DeAnn Stephens) – WBUL, Lexington-Fayette, Ky.
Major market
KCYY – San Antonio, Texas
KKBQ – Houston, Texas
KYGO – Denver, Colo.
WXTU – Philadelphia, Pa.
WYCD – Detroit, Mich.
Large market
WIRK – West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, Fla.
WMIL – Milwaukee-Racine, Wis.
WQDR – Raleigh-Durham, N.C.
WSIX – Nashville, Tenn.
WWKA – Orlando, Fla.
Medium market
KXKT – Omaha-Council Bluffs, Neb.-Iowa
WBEE – Rochester, N.Y.
WIVK – Knoxville, Tenn.
WLFP – Memphis, Tenn.
WUSY – Chattanooga, Tenn.
Small market
WCOW – La Crosse, Wis.
WKML – Fayetteville, N.C.
WKXC – Augusta, Ga.
WXFL – Florence-Muscle Shoals, Ala.
WYCT – Pensacola, Fla.