CMAs
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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Tracy Chapman is officially a CMAs winner. The folk singer-songwriter, whose signature hit “Fast Car” came out in 1988 and reached a No. 6 peak on the Billboard Hot 100, nabbed a 2023 Country Music Association Award on Wednesday (Nov. 8) thanks to Luke Combs’ smash hit cover version, which reached No. 2 on the […]
The Country Music Association has launched two new membership tiers in an effort to attract a younger and broader membership body.
In addition to the already-established professional membership tier, the CMA is introducing an industry membership tier for current and prospective music industry professionals who do not work fulltime in country music, such as many touring personnel. It is also adding a student membership tier for high school and college students.
The COVID-19 pandemic became a catalyst for strategic planning initiatives to serve the existing 6,300-person membership, as well as extend to the next generation of the music industry.
“We asked ourselves, ‘How are we meeting the needs of our industry today as well as our industry tomorrow?’” CMA CEO Sarah Trahern tells Billboard via email. “Of course, we always want to ensure the integrity of the CMA Awards process, but we also want to provide a larger platform for dialogue and issues important to the music business as a whole. Our experience during the pandemic certainly helped us realize that a lot of people in our larger music community didn’t qualify for CMA membership, even if they were doing significant work in the country music space.”
The changes allow for “an easier pipeline for young people to enter our business, an opportunity to work with music industry personnel who may not work in country music 24/7, and an open door for country music professionals at large organizations who might not have had the chance to engage closely with CMA based on our membership criteria and how it was closely connected to awards voting,” she continues.
The student tier is free to high school and college students, age 16 or older, who are interested in working in the music industry. Student members will receive access to internships and apprenticeships, as well as access to programming from CMA’s collegiate professional development program, CMA EDU.
Dues for the industry tier are $25 annually and includes access to a number of membership benefits, including professional development opportunities, as well as healthcare and mental health resources.
These two new tiers will be added to the existing professional tier, which costs $100 annually and is available to full-time professionals whose work is primarily focused within the country music industry in one of 16 categories including consumption (satellite, digital streaming, radio), musician, personal manager, producer/engineer/studio, talent agent, and publisher/PRO. Professional tier members can access CMA research, professional development opportunities, mentoring, healthcare guidance, CMA’s member directory and opportunities to purchase event tickets. Only professional tier members are considered to join the voting body provided they meet the criteria.
“This new structure gives us the ability to welcome a younger generation in,” Trahern says. “I’m a perfect example. Years ago when I was at TNN, I wasn’t able to become a CMA member because of limitations for larger companies, even though my job was 100% in country music. And all of that makes sense, because CMA membership was previously tied to voting rights, and the integrity of the CMA Awards is extremely important. It took more than five years until someone left the company that I was able to become a CMA member. Now, with this new structure, young people can become members and take advantage of networking opportunities, or healthcare resources. They can attend our events and further become a vibrant and vital part of the CMA community.”
Along with the new membership tiers, a revamped CMA membership website will launch March 20, offering improved website navigation and professional and personal development resources.
“We will continue to evolve and we have to be able to be agile to the needs of our members,” Tiffany Kerns, executive director of the CMA Foundation and vp, community outreach, tells Billboard. “The changes allow us to be more inclusive and allow us to broaden our reach. We want to make sure we are hearing their needs loud and clear.”
The new membership tiers are among the latest initiatives from the CMA, which earlier this year launched a diversity and inclusion fellowship, and last year debuted the Women’s Leadership Academy.
The Country Music Association has revealed the honorees for the 13th CMA Triple Play Awards, which celebrate songwriters who have earned three No. 1 songs within a 12-month period based on the Billboard Country Airplay, Billboard Hot Country Songs, and Country Aircheck charts.
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This year’s 16 honorees are Rhett Akins, Kurt Allison, Luke Combs, Jesse Frasure, Nicolle Galyon, Ashley Gorley (who contributed to six chart-topping hits during the 12-month period), Charlie Handsome, Michael Hardy, Ben Johnson, Tully Kennedy, Shane McAnally, Chase McGill, Thomas Rhett, Ernest Keith Smith, Josh Thompson and Morgan Wallen.
All of this year’s honorees will be feted during a ceremony to be held Wednesday, March 1 at Saint Elle in Nashville, and hosted by CMA Board member Jim Beavers.
Gorley will receive his 19th and 20th CMA Triple Play awards during the upcoming ceremony, while first-time CMA Triple Play award recipients this year are Allison, Handsome, Johnson and Kennedy.
In addition to honoring songwriters for crafting some of the year’s most-popular compositions, the CMA Triple Play Awards ceremony will honor longtime songwriter champion and Jody Williams Songs founder Jody Williams with the CMA Songwriter Advocate award.
This accolade recognizes an individual who has dedicated their life to supporting and advancing the art of songwriting and the careers of songwriters. The honoree accepting this award must have positively impacted and contributed to the growth of songwriting in country music over the course of several years, and has proven their unprecedented historical impact on the songwriting community.
“Being honored by the CMA with this award is the cherry on top of the incredible experience I have had serving on the CMA board,” Williams said via a statement. “Nashville’s songwriters have blessed me with a fulfilling career. I’m extremely grateful.”
For more than four decades, Williams has supported, uplifted and aided numerous songwriters, both during his tenure as the head of creative at BMI, as well as his time spent with both major publishers and at his own companies. Just a few of the songwriters and writer-artists Williams has supported over the years are Liz Rose, Ashley McBryde, Eric Church, Vince Gill, Maren Morris, Jeffrey Steele, Josh Turner, Carrie Underwood, Brooks & Dunn, Taylor Swift, Natalie Hemby and Alison Krauss.
See the honorees for this year’s CMA Triple Play Awards, as well as the songs they are being honored for, below:
Rhett Akins“To Be Loved By You,” recorded by Parker McCollum“Slow Down Summer,” recorded by Thomas Rhett“Half Of Me,” recorded by Thomas Rhett featuring Riley Green
Kurt Allison“Blame It On You,” recorded by Jason Aldean“If I Didn’t Love You,” recorded by Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood“Trouble With A Heartbreak,” recorded by Jason Aldean
Luke Combs“Cold As You,” recorded by Combs“Doin’ This,” recorded by Combs“The Kind Of Love We Make,” recorded by Combs
Jesse Frasure“Whiskey And Rain,” recorded by Michael Ray“One Mississippi,” recorded by Kane Brown“Slow Down Summer,” recorded by Thomas Rhett
Nicolle Galyon“Gone,” recorded by Dierks Bentley“half of my hometown,” recorded by Kelsea Ballerini“Thought You Should Know,” recorded by Morgan Wallen
Ashley Gorley“Sand In My Boots,” recorded by Morgan Wallen“Beers On Me,” recorded by Dierks Bentley featuring BRELAND and HARDY“You Proof,” recorded by Morgan Wallen“Slow Down Summer,” recorded by Thomas Rhett“Take My Name,” recorded by Parmalee“New Truck,” recorded by Dylan Scott
Charlie Handsome“I Love My Country,” recorded by Florida Georgia Line“More Than My Hometown,” recorded by Morgan Wallen“Wasted On You,” recorded by Morgan Wallen
Michael Hardy“Single Saturday Night,” recorded by Cole Swindell“Sand In My Boots,” recorded by Morgan Wallen“Beers On Me,” recorded by Dierks Bentley featuring BRELAND and HARDY
Ben Johnson“Take My Name,” recorded by Parmalee“Best Thing Since Backroads,” recorded by Jake Owen“New Truck,” recorded by Dylan Scott
Tully Kennedy“Blame It On You,” recorded by Jason Aldean“If I Didn’t Love You,” recorded by Jason Aldean“Trouble With A Heartbreak,” recorded by Jason Aldean
Shane McAnally“half of my hometown,” recorded by Kelsea Ballerini“23,” recorded by Sam Hunt“Never Wanted To Be That Girl,” recorded by Ashley McBryde and Carly Pearce
Chase McGill“Waves,” recorded by Luke Bryan“Never Say Never,” recorded by Cole Swindell and Lainey Wilson“Don’t Think Jesus,” recorded by Morgan Wallen
Thomas Rhett“Country Again,” recorded by Thomas Rhett“Slow Down Summer,” recorded by Thomas Rhett“She Had Me At Heads Carolina,” recorded by Cole Swindell
Ernest Keith Smith“Breaking Up Was Easy In The 90’s,” recorded by Sam Hunt“One Mississippi,” recorded by Kane Brown“Wasted On You,” recorded by Morgan Wallen
Josh Thompson“Whiskey And Rain,” recorded by Michael Ray“Wasted On You,” recorded by Morgan Wallen“Half Of Me,” recorded by Thomas Rhett
Morgan Wallen“Wasted On You,” recorded by Wallen“Thought You Should Know,” recorded by Wallen“You Proof,” recorded by Wallen