CMAs
The nominees have been announced for the Country Music Association’s CMA Touring Awards, which honor behind-the-scenes industry members within country music’s touring industry in categories including crew of the year, coach/truck driver of the year, manager of the year, touring musician of the year, and many more.
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The CMA Touring Awards ceremony will be held Monday, March 3, in Nashville, with final-round voting opening Monday, Jan. 6, and closing Thursday, Jan. 16. All balloting is tabulated by the professional services organization Deloitte.
Keith Urban will return for a third year as host of the ceremony. Longtime country music concert promoter Ben Farrell will be posthumously celebrated with the CMA touring lifetime achievement award, which is given to an individual who has positively impacted and contributed to the growth of touring throughout the years.
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“Taking the time to honor the outstanding work of our touring community is one of our most proud nights of the year,” Sarah Trahern, CMA chief executive officer, said in a statement. “Our road warriors are the ones who take the soul of Nashville on the road and share it with the rest of the world in creative and exciting ways. Country music’s growth simply would not be possible without each and every one of our nominees and we are so excited to celebrate them this coming March.”
The CMA Touring Awards were originally known as the SRO (Standing Room Only) Awards and were launched by the CMA’s board of directors in 1990 to honor professional achievement within the touring industry. The first awards were presented at a black-tie gala hosted by K.T. Oslin and Roger Miller during CMA’s Entertainment Expo, also known as the Talent Buyers Entertainment Marketplace. Ten awards were presented at the first gala, and the number has grown over the years to its current 20 categories. The SRO Awards were renamed the CMA Touring Awards in 2016.
See the full list of nominees below:
Crew of the year
The Beautifully Broken Tour Crew – Jelly RollCountry’s Cool Again Tour Crew – Lainey WilsonGravel & Gold Tour Crew – Dierks BentleyGrowin’ Up And Gettin’ Old Tour Crew – Luke CombsNo Bad Vibes Tour Crew – Old DominionOne Night At a Time Tour Crew – Morgan WallenQuit!! Tour Crew – HardySun Goes Down Tour Crew – Kenny Chesney
Backline technician of the yearDerek Benitez – Chris StapletonDalton Brown – Lainey WilsonWilliam Coats – Eric ChurchAllen Cothran – Jason AldeanTerry Fox – Kenny ChesneyDave Graef – Tim McGrawHunter Lamb – HardyBrian Love – Luke Combs
Business manager of the year
Stephanie Alderman – Farris, Self & Moore, LLCRenee Allen – Arnie Barn, Inc.Julie Boos – Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Inc.Kris Wiatr – Wiatr & Associates, LLCDwight Wiles – Wiles + Taylor & Co., PC
Coach/truck driver of the year
Chad Allison – HardyJosh Easter – Morgan WallenToby Eaton – Old DominionRhett Evens – Thomas RhettTerry Ford – Kenny ChesneyCaleb Garrett – Luke BryanWendy Holt – Lainey WilsonChris Sims – Jelly Roll
FOH (front of house) engineer of the year
Ryan Dell – Lainey WilsonRon Gardner – Jelly RollTodd Lewis – Luke CombsDavid Loy – Kane BrownEvan Owen – HardyJeff Parsons – Blake SheltonRobert Scovill – Kenny ChesneyIan Zorbaugh – Old Dominion
Lighting director of the year
Zac Coren – Morgan WallenTrevor Drawdy – HardyPhilip Ealy – Kenny ChesneyAndy Knighton – Jason AldeanMitch Mueller – Lainey WilsonKevin Northrup – Luke CombsChris Reade – Dierks BentleyAlec Takahashi – Thomas Rhett
Manager of the year
Elisabeth Ashley – Borman EntertainmentEnzo DeVincenzo – 377 ManagementMartha Earls – Neon CoastKerri Edwards – KP EntertainmentClint Higham – Morris Higham ManagementTroy “Tracker” Johnson – Big Loud Mountain ManagementChris Kappy – Make Wake Artists
Monitor engineer of the year
Beau Alexander – Morgan WallenBrad Baisley – Blake SheltonCory Benson – Tyler ChildersSamuel Ferry – HardyLogan Hanna – Brothers OsborneJimmy Nicholson – Thomas RhettDean Studebaker – Old DominionMichael Zuehsow – Luke Combs
Production manager of the year
Chris Alderman – Blake SheltonJeff Greeninger – Jon PardiChad Guy – Morgan WallenMeesha Koscioleck – Eric ChurchEarl Neal – Jason AldeanJerry Slone – Luke CombsEmily Waller – Lainey WilsonEd Wannebo – Kenny Chesney
Publicist of the year
Janet Buck – Essential Broadcast MediaCarla Sacks – Sacks & Co.Jessie Schmidt – Schmidt RelationsJensen Sussman – Sweet Talk PublicityWes Vause – Press On PublicityJennifer Vessio – 1220 Entertainment Publicity
Stage manager of the year
Sam “Sambo” Coats – Eric ChurchDonnie Floyd – Morgan WallenMatt Hornbeck – Luke CombsJosh “Dude” Marcus – Jason AldeanTom Nisun – Kenny ChesneyAllison Noah – Carly PearceRichard Rossey – Old DominionFred Yanda – Dan + Shay
Support services company of the year
Bandit LitesDega CateringMaster Tour By EventricMoo TVPioneer CoachRichards & SouthernRising Star TravelSpectrum Sound
Talent agent of the year
Mike Betterton – Wasserman MusicRod Essig – CAABecky Gardenhire – WMEMeredith Jones – CAAAustin Neal – The Neal AgencyBraeden Rountree – WMEAdi Sharma – The Neal AgencyElisa Vazzana – UTA
Talent buyer/promoter of the year
Todd Boltin – Variety AttractionsBrad Garrett – Police ProductionsBradley Jordan – Peachtree EntertainmentBrian O’Connell – Live Nation NashvilleAaron Spalding – Live Nation NashvilleEd Warm – Joe’s BarAdam Weiser – AEG Presents
Tour manager of the yearMatt Anderson – Old DominionDavid Farmer – Kenny ChesneyJeff Gossett – Morgan WallenJason Hecht – Chris StapletonMike McGrath – Tim McGrawEthan Strunk – Luke CombsTaylor Watson – Hardy
Touring musician of the year
Kurt Allison (Guitar) – Jason AldeanNick Buda (Drums) – Kenny ChesneyJerry Flowers (Bass Guitar) – Keith UrbanAslan Freeman (Guitar) – Lainey WilsonKurt Ozan (Guitar) – Luke CombsMickey Raphael (Harmonica) – Chris StapletonTyler Tomlinson (Guitar) – Morgan WallenCharlie Worsham (Guitar) – Dierks Bentley
Tour videographer/photographer of the year
Mason Allen – Old DominionAlex Alvga – Kane BrownAndy Barron – Chris StapletonBecky Fluke – Little Big TownTanner Gallagher – HardyJeff Johnson – Carrie UnderwoodDavid Lehr – Morgan WallenJill Trunnell – Kenny Chesney
Tour video director of the year
Josh Clark – Miranda LambertJay Cooper – Kenny ChesneyHouston Creswell – Dierks BentleyRon Etters – Chris StapletonTyler Hutcheson – Luke CombsJordan Karow – HardyMike Tinsley – Tim McGrawJake Zobrist – Cody Johnson
Venue of the year
Ascend Amphitheater – NashvilleBankNH Pavilion – Gilford, N.H.Billy Bob’s Texas – Fort Worth, TexasBridgestone Arena – NashvilleGrand Ole Opry House – NashvilleJoe’s on Weed St. – ChicagoRyman Auditorium – Nashville
Unsung hero of the year
Holly Atherton – Chris StapletonKayla Carter Greear – Luke BryanMindy Grabowski – Live Nation EntertainmentJeff “Bean” Griffin – HardyLolo Kinser – Tim McGrawRobin Majors – Kenny ChesneyMel Murphy – Live Nation NashvilleKatie Wilkinson – Chris Stapleton
ΩBillboard staff writer Jessica Nicholson is the recipient of the 2024 CMA Media Achievement Award, presented by the Country Music Association on Tuesday (Nov. 19) in Nashville.
Nicholson was surprised with news of her win backstage at Bridgestone Arena during rehearsals for the 58th Annual CMA Awards by two-time CMA Awards winner and performer this year Thomas Rhett.
Voted on by the publicist members of the CMA, the award recognizes the outstanding achievements of print and online journalists, columnists, authors, editors, television writers, producers and bookers and syndicated radio reporters in the media as they relate to country music.
In making its announcement, the CMA said, “Nicholson has been a consistent and valuable voice in amplifying the extensive growth of country music around the world since joining Billboard full time in 2021. With a rich history in country music journalism, prior to joining Billboard, Nicholson wrote for various publications including American Songwriter, CMT, Forbes, and more. She previously served as managing editor for music industry trade publication MusicRow Magazine and as a staff writer for Country Music publication Country Weekly.”
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“Country music has been a lifelong passion, and I feel very fortunate and humbled to join the lineage of journalists who have won this honor. Thank you to the Country Music Association, to everyone who voted and to Billboard for its unwavering support of country music coverage,” Nicholson says. “Thank you to everyone who has allowed me to be part of Nashville’s country music community, to help share the stories of this industry and its talented artists.”
“In her time at Billboard, Jessica’s love for and her vast knowledge of country music has been evident in every story she writes. She dives deep into each story, eager to shine a light on and amplify country music from both the artistic and business sides,” says Melinda Newman, Billboard’s executive editor, West Coast and Nashville. “She has greatly enriched Billboard’s coverage of country music from all facets.”
Four other Billboard writers have been presented with the CMA media achievement award — contributors Deborah Evans Price in 2013, the late Chuck Dauphin in 2014, Billboard Country Update editor Tom Roland in 2018 and Newman in 2020.
The 58th annual CMA Awards, hosted by Luke Bryan, Peyton Manning and Lainey Wilson, airs Wednesday (Nov. 20) on ABC and Nov. 21 on Hulu.
When the Country Music Association presents the 58th annual CMA Awards on Nov. 20, it will mark the latest date on the calendar that the organization’s trophy event has ever been convened.
The late date set up a precedent when the Recording Academy unveiled the nominees for the 67thannual Grammy Awards on Nov. 8, the earliest announcement date in the history of that show’s cycle. It marks the first time that both the Grammy and CMA contests have simultaneously aligned: Each has announced its final ballot, but neither has revealed any of its winners.
As a result, the differences in the two institutions’ approaches to country are even more glaring than in previous years. Houston native Beyoncè is the clearest example of the dichotomy. Her country-hybrid album, Cowboy Carter, and seven of its tracks amassed 11 Grammy nominations, making her the leading finalist in the entire contest. Her portfolio includes entries in each of the four country-specific categories: best country song (“Texas Hold ’Em”), best country album (Cowboy Carter), best country solo performance (“16 Carriages”) and best country duo/group performance (“II Most Wanted,” featuring Miley Cyrus).
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But Beyoncè’s crossover material was entirely absent from the CMA ballot.
Cody Johnson I Credit: Chris Douglas
Conversely, fellow Texan Cody Johnson tied for second in the CMA hardware royale with five nominations, including slots among the finalists for male vocalist and album of the year (Leather). But his big-voiced traditionalism was left off the Grammy list.
The disparities between the two awards shows were built into their missions. The CMA is a Nashville-based trade organization devoted to promoting the country format, and it counts plenty of marketers, media and executives among its membership. Its origins date back to the late 1950s when Music City’s leaders united out of fear that the emergence of youthful rock’n’roll could destroy country’s very existence.
The Recording Academy is a multigenre institution centered in Santa Monica, Calif., that is primarily focused on the creatives in the business.
The academy and the CMA hold many common values and purposes, which means that they share plenty of nominees. This year, 10 artists appear on the CMA list and in the Grammy country field, including Lainey Wilson, Morgan Wallen, Shaboozey, Jelly Roll and Chris Stapleton.
But the organizations’ history and structures create some specific differences, too, and the ways in which they diverge have the greatest influence on the contrasts in their ballots. CMA voters, who represent a single format with a large bloc of members in the genre’s home city, operate with an air of protectionism.They tend to reward artists and projects that maintain country’s identity, even as they help the genre progress. They’re also prone to honor people they see on a regular basis, meaning the nominees mostly live in Music City or visit and mingle often. As a result, Megan Moroney, Parker McCollum, Lady A, Maddie & Tae, Brooks & Dunn and Old Dominion are all CMA contenders, though they didn’t quite make the Grammy ballot.
Grammy voters, following the dictates of creativity, are more likely to celebrate songs and artists that color outside the lines. The academy tends to champion specific artists for long periods of time, but even those Grammy favorites who have strong traditional roots — such as Willie Nelson and Kacey Musgraves, both of whom appear on the current ballot — arrived as rebel spirits. Likewise, the CMA has often celebrated country acts whose style straddles mainstream commercialism and left-of-center sounds, such as eclectic red-dirt artist Lyle Lovett, folky Mary Chapin Carpenter and honky-tonk firebrand Dwight Yoakam.
Traditional country icons George Strait and Alan Jackson further underscore the differences between the Grammys and the CMAs. They rank third and fourth on the all-time list of CMA winners, with 17 and 16 victories, respectively. But they have won only three Grammys between them.
Much was made about Beyoncè’s absence from this year’s CMAs, with a number of critics implying the snub was cold-stone racism in action. No doubt that played a role in some votes, but if that was the sole factor, it’s likely that neither Shaboozey -— who’s up for new artist and single of the year, with “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” — nor vocal duo nominees The War and Treaty would be on the ballot in the Nov. 20 ceremony.
To be certain, country has made a greater effort to support Black artists and executives in recent years. And many in the space were excited about the prospects of Beyoncè entering the country realm and perhaps expanding the genre’s audience.
But she announced quite pointedly that Cowboy Carter was a “Beyoncè album,” not solely a country release, and to many insiders, it sounds more like an artist playing with the sound than immersing herself in it. Given the choice, CMA voters — with their interest in maintaining country’s identity — were always likely to choose talents who seem like they’re committed to country over an artist dipping their toe in the water for one album. And in the fields where she seemed most likely to have a shot — album, single, song, musical event or female vocalist — it’s not like there’s a dud who doesn’t belong on the ballot.
By contrast, Post Malone spent plenty of face time with country creatives while making F-1 Trillion, investing himself in the culture and snagging four CMA nods in the process.
Ultimately, with CMA and Grammy nominees both waiting for the final results, the awards events’ differing views seem to embody the tug between tradition and progressiveness. The desire to protect the sound of the format is valid, as is the artful interest in pushing its limits and mixing it with other sounds and traditions.
The two awards shows, taken in combination, validate both viewpoints on the genre. Both shows, and both approaches to the music, are necessary. And welcome.
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Heading into this year’s CMA Awards, Morgan Wallen was among the frontrunners in key categories including entertainer of the year, album of the year (for his album One Thing at a Time) and male vocalist of the year. But he walked away empty handed after the Wednesday (Nov. 8) ceremony held at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. […]
Wynonna Judd addressed fans’ worries about her health after the country star opened the 2023 CMA Awards alongside Jelly Roll to perform his hit “Need a Favor” on Wednesday (Nov. 8) at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. During the set — which Judd was previously not announced for — she delivered powerful vocals alongside the […]
The 2023 CMA Awards are in the books. Lainey Wilson was the big winner, with wins in five categories. That ties the one-year record, first set by Johnny Cash in 1969 and later matched by Vince Gill (1993) and Alan Jackson (2002). This also sets a new, one-year record for a female artist. Just one […]
Lainey Wilson was the big winner at the 2023 CMA Awards, which were held at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Wednesday (Nov 8). Wilson won in five categories, which ties the one-year record, first set by Johnny Cash in 1969 and later matched by Vince Gill (1993) and Alan Jackson (2002). This also sets a new, one-year record for a female artist. Alison Krauss, Taylor Swift and Miranda Lambert each won in four categories in one night.
Just one year after winning new artist of the year, Wilson won entertainer of the year. That ties Garth Brooks’ quick sprint from the horizon award (as new artist of the year was then called) in 1990 to his first entertainer of the year award in 1991. No other artist in CMA history has made this leap that quickly. Just the fact that a woman has won entertainer of the year is newsworthy. Wilson is the first woman to prevail in that top category since Taylor Swift in 2011.
Wilson also won album of the year, female vocalist of the year and two awards shared with HARDY – musical event of the year and music video of the year. This was the second year in a row that Wilson won female vocalist of the year. She’s the first artist to win consecutive awards in that category since Miranda Lambert won six in a row from 2010-15.
And Wilson’s Bell Bottom Country won album of the year. The album peaked at No. 9 on Top Country Albums. It’s just the fourth album that didn’t reach the top five on that chart to win this award. The three previous ones that didn’t were Merle Haggard’s Let Me Tell You About a Song (1972, No. 7), Anne Murray’s A Little Good News (1984, No. 9) and Patty Loveless’ When Fallen Angels Fly (1995, No. 8). (Of course, it’s possible the album will surpass its original No. 9 peak in the wake of the awards. Stay tuned.)
Luke Combs won single of the year for his hit remake of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car.” The smash topped Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart for four weeks. In addition, “Fast Car” logged eight weeks at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. It’s just the fifth CMA single of the year winner to reach No. 1 or No. 2 on the all-genre Hot 100. It follows Jeannie C. Riley’s “Harper Valley P.T.A.” (1968, No. 1), Johnny Cash’s “A Boy Named Sue” (1969, No. 2), Freddy Fender’s “Before the Next Teardrop Falls” (1975, No. 1) and Lady A’s “Need You Now” (2010, No. 2).
“Fast Car” also won song of the year for its songwriter, Tracy Chapman (who was not in attendance). Chapman’s original version of “Fast Car” reached No. 6 on the Hot 100 in 1988. It’s the third CMA song of the year winner that was widely known before the version that prompted the CMA to award the song. “Always on My Mind” won in both 1982 and 1983, tied to Willie Nelson’s hit version, but many knew the song from previous versions by Elvis Presley and Brenda Lee. “The Wind Beneath My Wings, which won in 1984, was known for other versions by Sheena Easton and Gladys Knight & the Pips.
“Fast Car” is the first song written by a solitary writer to win song of the year since Taylor Swift’s “Better Man” took the award six years ago. Four other CMA song of the year winners in this century were written by solitary writers – “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)” (2002, Alan Jackson), “Stay” (2008, Jennifer Nettles), “If I Die Young” (2011, Kimberly Perry) and “Humble and Kind” (2016, Lori McKenna).
Chapman is the first Black songwriter to win for song of the year, and joins a short list of Black CMA winners. Charley Pride won entertainer of the year and male vocalist of the year in 1971 and repeated in the latter category in 1972. Darius Rucker won new artist of the year in 2009. Jimmie Allen won in that same category in 2021. (We might have seen two Black acts win CMA Awards for the first time this year. The highly-regarded The War and Treaty were nominated for vocal duo of the year, but Brothers Osborne prevailed again.)
Jelly Roll won new artist of the year. Jelly Roll, 38, is the second-oldest solo artist to win in this category (or its predecessor category, the horizon award). Darius Rucker was 43 when he won in 2009. Other solo artists who were 35 plus when they won are Ricky Van Shelton (36 in 1988), Suzy Bogguss (35 in 1992), Chris Stapleton (37 in 2015), Ashley McBryde (36 in 2019) and Jimmie Allen (36 in 2021).
Jelly Roll said he was 39 in his acceptance speech, which he delivered with the zeal of an evangelical preacher. It’s unusual in this youth-focused business for an artist to make himself out to be older than he actually is. Jelly Roll turns 39 next month.
Jelly Roll opened the telecast with his breakthrough smash “Need a Favor,” on which he was backed by Wynonna. Wynonna won the horizon award, the forerunner of new artist of the year, in 1984 with her mother Naomi as The Judds.
Brothers Osborne won vocal duo of the year for the sixth time. Only two other duos in CMA history have won six or more awards in this category. Brooks & Dunn lead with 14 wins. The Judds won seven times (counting three wins in the group category). The Judds’ seven wins were consecutive. Brooks & Dunn’s long streak was interrupted in 2000 by Montgomery Gentry. Brothers Osborne’s run was interrupted in 2017-18 by Dan + Shay.
Old Dominion won vocal group of the year for the sixth year in a row. Old Dominion is just the fourth group to win six years in a row in this category. They follow The Statler Brothers (1972-77), Rascal Flatts (2003-08) and Little Big Town (2012-17). The Statlers won nine times total, more than any other group in the history of the category.
Fiddler Jenee Fleenor won musician of the year for the fifth year in a row. That’s the longest winning streak in that category since guitarist Mac McAnally won eight years in a row (2008-15). With Fleenor’s win, steel guitarist Paul Franklin lost in the category for the 31st time. That’s not a typo – he has been nominated, and lost, in the category 31 times.
After opening the 2023 CMA Awards alongside Wynonna Judd, Jelly Roll closed out the awards show at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday (Nov. 8) night with another duet. And while Judd wasn’t by his side this time, he was singing one of her group’s most covered songs – the Judds’ “Love Can Build a Bridge,” […]
When singer-songwriter Joe Diffie died in early 2020, he left behind some of ’90s country music’s most enduring songs — “Home,” “If the Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets),” “Third Rock From the Sun,” “Bigger Than the Beatles,” and more.
During the 2023 CMA Awards on Wednesday (Nov. 8), a multi-genre collaboration brought together Post Malone, Morgan Wallen and HARDY to honor the late artist. Diffie earned three CMA Awards nominations (including one win) during his career.
CMA Awards host Luke Bryan and Joe Diffie’s son Parker Diffie introduced the tribute, also revealing that the songs performed will be included on HARDY’s upcoming third edition of his “Hixtape” series, with a project called Hixtape Volume 3: Difftape. It arrives March 29.
Wallen and HARDY launched with Diffie’s 1993 hit “John Deere Green.” Their voices may not have been pitch perfect at every second of the performance, but it was clear they were having a blast taking on a childhood favorite song before a packed arena crowd.
Post Malone, who will perform during the 2024 Stagecoach Music Festival, has previously delved into country, posting a cover of Brad Paisley’s “I’m Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin’ Song)” and Hank Williams’ “There’s a Tear in My Beer.”
He joined Wallen and HARDY for Diffie’s 1994 hit “Pickup Man,” offering up a solid take on the song. The trio’s versions of both songs are already available.
Post Malone recently teamed up with Noah Kahan for “Dial Drunk,” which reached No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100. Wallen was nominated that evening for accolades including album of the year and male vocalist of the year.
Wallen is also a finalist at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards. He’s nominated for 17 awards, tied with SZA. (Taylor Swift is the lead finalist with nods in 20 categories.) HARDY is a finalist in the top rock album category. The awards stream Nov. 19 at BBMAs.watch and via Billboard and the BBMAs social channels.
Watch Post Malone, Morgan Wallen and HARDY’s tribute to Joe Diffie at the 2023 CMA Awards below:
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Jelly Roll needs a favor — he wants fans to keep going for their dreams, regardless of their age. The country singer gave a rousing speech after winning the new artist of the year award at the 2023 CMA Awards, held at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday (Nov. 8).
As his name was announced by Lady A, the artist gave wife Bunnie Xo a kiss, then hugged fellow nominee Zach Bryan before making his way up to the stage as his song “Need a Favor” — which he performed with Wynonna Judd to kick off the ceremony — played to accept the award.
“I got a thousand people to thank, but most importantly my lord and my wife — I love you so much, you changed my life, baby. Megan, Parker, Hailey I love all of you all — we’re friends,” he said, shouting out the category’s other nominees — Parker McCollum, Megan Moroney, and Hailey Whitters. “And Zach Bryan, I think you’re one of the hottest things on Earth, not just country music! You deserve this just as anybody else! I love you, I’m glad we’re sitting there partying the rest of the night, baby.”
Then, Jelly Roll kicked his speech into high gear and addressed his fans with an inspirational message.
“Most importantly, there’s something poetic about a 39-year-old man winning new artist of the year. I don’t know where you’re at in your life or what you’re going through, but I want to tell you to keep going, baby. I want to tell you, ‘Success is on the other side,’” he declared passionately, his voice getting louder with each line, the live crowd cheering him along. “I want to tell you, ‘It’s going to be OK!’ I want to tell you that the windshield is bigger than the rearview mirror for a reason, because what’s in front of you is so much more important than what’s behind you!”
He concluded his speech by yelling, “Let’s party, Nashville!” raising his trophy in triumph as the arena’s audience gave him a standing ovation.
New artist of the year was just one of the five awards that Jelly Roll was nominated for. He also received nods for single of the year and music video of the year for “Need a Favor,” male vocalist of the year and musical event of the year. The country star is also a finalist in several categories at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards, including the top new artist and top rock artist categories. The BBMAs will stream on BBMAs.watch and the Billboard and BBMAs social channels on Nov. 19.
The 2023 CMA Awards were hosted once again by Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning. The show aired live on ABC.
Watch Jelly Roll’s acceptance speech for new artist of the year below:
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