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Country Music Association Awards

Megan Moroney is just 27, but she already knows all about the ups and downs of awards shows. On Nov. 8, she learned that she had been passed over for a Grammy nomination for best new artist. Just 12 days later, she won the CMA Award for new artist of the year.
Moroney’s situation isn’t unique. Since 1981, when the Country Music Association introduced its horizon award (renamed new artist of the year in 2008), most of their winners haven’t received Grammy nods for best new artist. Even such giants as Randy Travis, Garth Brooks, Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts and Morgan Wallen were passed over for Grammy best new artist nods.

The situation has improved markedly in recent years, as the graphic below shows. But the Recording Academy still has work to do to make sure that country artists are getting a fair shake in the marquee categories.

Here is every CMA winner for the horizon award and new artist of the year, divided into four categories – those who also won the Grammy for best new artist; those who were nominated for the Grammy for best new artist but didn’t win (and who won in that category!); those who were not eligible for a new artist Grammy nomination that year (because of prior Grammy nods or wins); and those who were eligible for the Grammy, but were simply not nominated. The year shown is the year of the CMA ceremony where the artist won.

We cap this discussion by showing the four CMA winners for the horizon award/new artist of the year who have yet to win a Grammy in any category. (Moroney has lots of time to move off this last list.)

One lesson from this list is that we need a variety of awards shows – all-genre shows like the Grammys and genre-specific shows like the CMA Awards and their country brethren. What one show misses, hopefully, the other catches.

Won CMA Award; Won Best New Artist Grammy

1997:   LeAnn Rimes 2006:   Carrie Underwood2010:   Zac Brown Band        

Won CMA Award; Nominated for Best New Artist Grammy, But Lost

1984:   The Judds (lost to Cyndi Lauper)1998:   Dixie Chicks (lost to Lauryn Hill)2000:   Brad Paisley (lost to Shelby Lynne)2004:   Gretchen Wilson (lost to Maroon 5)  2007:   Taylor Swift (lost to Amy Winehouse)2008:   Lady A (lost to Adele)2011:   The Band Perry (lost to Bon Iver)     2012:   Hunter Hayes (lost to fun.)2013:   Kacey Musgraves (lost to Macklemore & Ryan Lewis)2016:   Maren Morris (lost to Chance the Rapper)    2018:   Luke Combs (lost to Dua Lipa)         2021:   Jimmie Allen   (lost to Olivia Rodrigo)2023:   Jelly Roll (lost to Victoria Monét)     

Won CMA Award; Not Eligible for Best New Artist Grammy That Year

1983:  John Anderson (had been nominated for an early solo hit at the 1982 ceremony)     2009:   Darius Rucker (had won two Grammys with Hootie & the Blowfish)         1995:  Alison Krauss (had won three Grammys – one solo and one each with The Union Station and The Cox Family)2015:  Chris Stapleton (had received three previous Grammy nods with his group, The SteelDrivers)

Won CMA Award; Not Nominated for Best New Artist Grammy

1981:  Terri Gibbs      1982:  Ricky Skaggs  1985:  Sawyer Brown1986:  Randy Travis   1987:  Holly Dunn     1988:  Ricky Van Shelton      1989:  Clint Black      1990:  Garth Brooks  1991:  Travis Tritt       1992:  Suzy Bogguss 1993:  Mark Chesnutt1994:  John Michael Montgomery     1996:  Bryan White    1999:  Jo Dee Messina           2001:  Keith Urban    2002:  Rascal Flatts    2003:  Joe Nichols     2005:  Dierks Bentley2014:  Brett Eldredge 2017:  Jon Pardi         2019:  Ashley McBryde         2020:  Morgan Wallen2022:  Lainey Wilson 2024:  Megan Moroney

Won CMA Award; Has Yet to Be Nominated for a Grammy in Any Category

1993:  Mark Chesnutt2014:  Brett Eldredge 2017:  Jon Pardi         2024:  Megan Moroney

The 2024 CMA Awards, held on Wednesday (Nov. 20) at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, had its fair share of snubs and surprises. To be sure, many races went exactly as expected. Old Dominion won vocal group of the year for the seventh year in a row, the longest continuous winning streak in that category’s history. […]

Morgan Wallen was crowned entertainer of the year at the 2024 CMA Awards, which were held on Wednesday (Nov. 20) at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Wallen’s coronation comes less than four years after a career-imperiling moment where he was caught on video using a racial slur, and suggests that he is now back in Nashville’s good graces. (He did come up short in his other six categories this year, so he’s perhaps still not all the way back.) Wallen was a no-show, perhaps sensing that he was still persona non grata.
Wallen’s win for entertainer of the year means that Chris Stapleton has now lost in that category eight times without winning. That’s the most nominations for entertainer of the year without a win. Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood are currently tied for second place on the list of artists with the most nominations without a win (six).

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But Stapleton won three awards on the night, more than any other artist. This brings his career total of CMA wins to 18. Only two other artists have won 18 or more CMA Awards. Brooks & Dunn, who won another award this year, lead with 19 awards. Vince Gill, like Stapleton, has won 18 awards. At this year’s show, Stapleton pulled ahead of George Strait (17 wins) and Alan Jackson (16).

Stapleton won male vocalist of the year for a record-extending eighth time. He’s far ahead of the pack in terms of most wins in the category. Runners-up, with five wins each, are Gill, Strait and Blake Shelton. (By way of comparison, the top winner in the female vocalist of the year category, Lambert, has won it seven times.)

Stapleton also won single and song of the year for “White Horse.” It’s the third time he has doubled up and won both awards on the same night. He also won both awards for “Broken Halos” in 2018 and “Starting Over” in 2021. Stapleton is the first artist in CMA history to win single of the year three times. Stapleton’s single beat a pair of long-running No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100: “A  Bar Song (Tipsy)” by Shaboozey and “I Had Some Help” by Post Malone featuring Wallen.

This was also Stapleton’s third win for song of the year. Only two other songwriters have won three or more times in this category. Gill leads with four song of the year wins. Don Schlitz also won it three times.

Lainey Wilson won two awards, second only to Stapleton. She took female vocalist of the year for the third year in a row. She’s the sixth woman to win in this category three or more years in a row. Tammy Wynette was the first singer to accomplish the feat (1968-70), followed by Reba McEntire (1984-87), Martina McBride (2002-04), Underwood (2006-08) and Lambert (2010-15). Wilson also won music video of the year for “Wildflowers and Wild Horses.” This ups her CMA tally to nine wins, all in just three years.

Old Dominion won vocal group of the year for the seventh consecutive year. They’re the first group ever to win in this category seven years running, though they still have a ways to go to catch up to The Statler Brothers for most total wins in the category (nine).

Brooks & Dunn won vocal duo of the year for the 15th time; the first time since 2006. Everyone was wondering if Brothers Osborne or Dan + Shay would win this time, or could The War and Treaty possibly win in an upset? Few thought Brooks & Dunn would reclaim the award they won 14 times between 1992 and 2006. When Brooks & Dunn first won the award, they beat reigning champs The Judds. With this latest win, they beat reigning champs Brothers Osborne.

Megan Moroney won new artist of the year on her second nomination. She lost to Jelly Roll last year. (Artists are allowed two nominations in this category.)

Cody Johnson’s ninth studio album, Leather, won album of the year. Its win was considered a surprise given the strong competition, including Stapleton’s Higher and Jelly Roll’s Whitsitt Chapel.

Guitar player Charlie Worsham won musician of the year for the first time, ending Jenee Fleenor’s five-year hold on the award. With Worsham’s win, steel guitarist Paul Franklin lost in the category for the 32nd time. That’s not a typo – Franklin has been nominated, and lost, in the category 32 times.

The 58th annual CMA Awards are set for Wednesday, Nov. 20 at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Two-time CMA Award entertainer of the year winner Luke Bryan returns to co-host with NFL hall of famer Peyton Manning and reigning CMA entertainer of the year Lainey Wilson. Morgan Wallen leads this year’s nominees with seven nominations, including for entertainer of the year, followed by Cody Johnson and Chris Stapleton with five nominations, and Post Malone and Lainey Wilson with four nominations.

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The eligibility period for the 2024 show, which will air live on ABC at 8 p.m. ET, is July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. The 58th Annual CMA Awards is set to broadcast live on Wednesday (8:00–11:00 p.m. ET) on ABC and next day on Hulu. 

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” to qualify. More than 7,000 members of the country music industry vote for the nominees and winners through three rounds of voting.

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Here are Billboard’s predictions on who will emerge victorious in select categories, from Melinda Newman (executive editor, West Coast and Nashville) and Jessica Nicholson (staff writer, Nashville).

Entertainer of the year

Luke Combs

Jelly Roll

Chris Stapleton

Morgan Wallen

Lainey Wilson

Newman: Jelly Roll replaces Carrie Underwood in what otherwise is a replay of last year. Wilson, who won in 2023, continues to have a strong streak, but she faces steep competition from label mate Jelly Roll, who has smashed it on his first headlining arena tour. Stapleton is looking for his first win here in eight nominations, but it’s also hard to deny two-time winner Combs and Wallen, both of whom had sold-out stadium tours this year. An extremely tough and competitive category. It also shows what a good job country music has done in building the next generation of superstars: Stapleton is the most seasoned veteran in this category, and his first solo album only came out nine years ago.

Will win: Morgan Wallen

Nicholson: Each artist nominated here has had a stellar year, with album releases and/or massive tours. Wilson won this category last year, and could very well take it home a second time. Meanwhile, her labelmate Jelly Roll has been seemingly ubiquitous this year, thanks to his Billboard 200-topping album Beautifully Broken and its corresponding headlining arena tour. Combs has previously won twice in the category, while Morgan Wallen looks to take home his first EOY win. Both have both led massive stadium tours and logged chart-topping hits. Stapleton earns his eighth nomination in the category, on the strength of recent hits such as “White Horse” and this year continued his All-American Road Show Tour. Given Wallen’s stadium-headlining status and massive all-genre chart hits this year, it seems likely that he will earn the EOY win.

Will win: Morgan Wallen

Male vocalist of the year

Luke Combs

Jelly Roll

Cody Johnson

Chris Stapleton

Morgan Wallen

Newman: The line-up repeats from last year, when Stapleton took home his seventh trophy, extending his record for most wins in the category. With his bluesy, rangy growl, Stapleton has a once-in-a-generation voice and Combs has been the only male vocalist who has been able to break his strangle-hold on the category, winning in 2019 and 2020. Stapleton faces stiff competition again, but just throw on “White Horse” or any other song from Higher and it feels like Stapleton will win again.

Will win: Chris Stapleton

Nicholson: Stapleton has taken home this category for the past three consecutive years, and given his pair of chart hits this year (the top 5 Country Airplay hit “White Horse” and top 20 hit “Think I’m in Love With You”), he’s in a good position to take home the honor again this year. However, he has quite the battle ahead of him — particularly from stadium headliner Wallen, whose collab with Post Malone was a six-week Billboard Hot 100-topper. Meanwhile, Combs has continued his own headlining stadium tour and took successful creative risks on his concept album Fathers & Sons. Johnson has shown himself a torchbearer for traditional country, with two songs he recorded earning song of the year nominations. Jelly Roll was named new artist of the year last year and his career has only skyrocketed since, with a headlining arena tour, a No. 1 Billboard 200 debut album and his joyous, megawatt personality garnering loads of media attention.

Will win: Jelly Roll

Female vocalist of the year 

Kelsea Ballerini

Ashley McBryde

Megan Moroney

Kacey Musgraves

Lainey Wilson

Newman: McBryde, who has been nominated five times, and Ballerini, who has been nominated seven, are both going for their first wins here, as is Moroney, who received her first nom this year. Wilson won the past two years, while Musgraves — who took home the trophy in 2019, received her first nomination since 2020. All are deserving, but it feels like Wilson is building a dynasty that could rival that of Miranda Lambert — who won six years in a row, and then, after losing to Carrie Underwood, came back and won again. (Underwood is no slouch here, having been nominated 13 times and winning five times).

Winner: Lainey Wilson

Nicholson: Each artist has had a strong year, with headlining tours and/or album releases. McBryde, who picks up a fifth nomination in this category, released The Devil I Know. Musgraves, who previously won this category in 2019, released Deeper Well. Moroney, who headlined her own tour and opened for Kenny Chesney this year, earns her first female vocalist of the year nomination this year on the strength of releases including “No Caller ID.” Wilson, the reigning CMA entertainer of the year, also won in this category the past two years, and has been headlining her Country’s Cool Again Tour and earned a top 20 Hot Country Songs hit with “Hang Tight Honey,” ahead of her August-released album Whirlwind. Ballerini picks up her seventh nomination in the category. This past year, she earned a top 20 Country Songs hit with her Noah Kahan collaboration “Cowboys Cry Too,” an early look at her October-released new album Patterns. Still, this looks like Wilson’s to lose.

Will win: Lainey Wilson

Vocal group of the year

Lady A

Little Big Town

Old Dominion

The Red Clay Strays

Zac Brown Band

Newman: This category has remained largely static—this year, The Red Clay Strays replace Midland, but the other four nominees remain the same as they have largely for the past five years. Old Dominion has won for the past six years… and Little Big Town for the six consecutive years before that and Lady A for three years in a row before that. You get the idea. Zac Brown Band has been nominated 13 times and not taken home the crown. Hot (relative) newcomers Red Clay Strays could pull off some kind of miraculous upset, but they haven’t broken through significantly yet. It’s another year for Old Dominion, who will try to look surprised when they win.

Will win: Old Dominion

Nicholson: The past year was fairly quiet for some of the nominees. Three of the nominated groups — Little Big Town, Zac Brown Band and Lady A — did not release an album during the eligibility period, though Old Dominion released the album Memory Lane, spearheaded by the title track and the Megan Moroney collab “Can’t Break Up Now.” However, ZBB joined Kenny Chesney on his 2024 tour, while Little Big Town revealed a co-headlining tour with Sugarland. New to the category this year is The Red Clay Strays, who earned a breakthrough hit with Hot 100 hit “Wondering Why” and followed with a sterling album Made By These Moments. Still, look for six-time vocal group of the year winners Old Dominion to extend their winning streak here.

Will win: Old Dominion

Vocal duo of the year  

Brooks & Dunn

Brothers Osborne

Dan + Shay

Maddie & Tae

The War and Treaty

Newman: It’s the exact same duos competing this year as last year. In the last eight years, the award has gone to reigning champs Brothers Osborne six times and Dan + Shay two times. Brooks & Dunn hold the record for 14 non-consecutive wins spanning 1992-2006. The War & Treaty could score their first win here given the love Nashville feels for them and their immense talent, but we thought that last year. Dan + Shay have had a stellar year with a sold-out arena tour and hits from their album, Bigger Houses, and a holiday album. Feels like time for the pair to follow up its ACM Awards top duo win earlier this year with another CMA.

Will win: Dan + Shay

Nicholson: This year’s category features several previous nominees and winners. Brooks & Dunn, who have won in the category 14 previous times, are again nominated, thanks to their headlining Reboot 2024 tour (the duo also recently released the Reboot II album). Meanwhile, Dan + Shay released Bigger Houses, spearheaded by the single “Save Me The Trouble.” Brothers Osborne released “Break Mine” and issued a self-titled album, while The War and Treaty issued “Called Me By Your Name” and made several high-profile appearances this year. Maddie & Tae released “Heart They Didn’t Break” ahead of their 2024 EP What a Woman Can Do. Look for Dan + Shay to return to the winner’s circle here.

Will win: Dan + Shay

New artist of the year

Megan Moroney

Shaboozey

Nate Smith

Mitchell Tenpenny

Zach Top

Bailey Zimmerman

Newman: No offense to Mitchell Tenpenny, but given that he’s been having hits since 2018, it seems odd that he was nominated this year. Zimmerman should have been nominated last year but wasn’t. Zach Top is breaking through now and his star is shining brightly, but he hasn’t had the kind of year that Moroney, Shaboozey or Smith have, in part because he started later. Artists can be nominated twice for this award, and Moroney repeats her nomination from last year. It’s a solid crop of artists — and the category is loaded with acts that seem like they have long futures ahead of them. It’s a bit of a coin toss between Moroney, Smith and Shaboozey and it’s hard to bet against someone who dominated this summer’s country and pop charts like Shaboozey, but it feels like Moroney has the wind at her back.

Will win: Megan Moroney

Nicholson: Several of the artists nominated for new artist of the year reached new heights this year. Shaboozey scored a massive hit on several charts including 18 weeks (and counting) atop the Hot 100 with “A Bar Song (Tipsy).” Megan Moroney notched multiple Hot 100 hits, including “No Caller ID” and “Am I Okay?,” while Zach Top has garnered considerable buzz since releasing his debut country album Cold Beer & Country Music earlier this year, and has two songs on the Country Airplay chart at present. Nate Smith earned a multi-week No. 1 with “World on Fire,” and followed with another hit “Bulletproof.” Meanwhile, Tenpenny released his new album, The 3rd, in September. Zimmerman earned a No. 1 Country Airplay hit with “Where It Ends,” and had opening slots on tours for Wallen, Luke Bryan and Kane Brown. Still, Shaboozey’s cross-genre hit is tough to deny here.

Will win: Shaboozey

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

Newman: Last year, Wilson’s Bell Bottom Country won, but her follow-up, Whirlwind, won’t be eligible until next year because of the qualifying dates (July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024). Those dates are somewhat flexible and adjusted for when an album had its greatest impact — which is how Whitsitt Chapel, which came out June 2, 2023, finds itself here. Musgraves, Combs and Stapleton have all won before, and every solo album released by Stapleton has received a nomination, so it’s impossible to bet against him. But I’m going to anyway: An album like Whitsitt Chapel doesn’t come along very often, and it is only going to grow in importance as time passes. An album about salvation and redemption with bonafide radio hits like “Need a Favor” and “Save Me,” Whitsitt Chapel changed the tenor of country radio.

Will win: Whitsitt Chapel

Nicholson: Musgraves’ Deeper Well and Stapleton’s Higher are both up for Grammy best country album nominations as well the CMA album of the year honor, further heightening their credentials here. Combs crafted his familial-focused project Fathers & Sons to great acclaim, while Johnson’s Leather included hits including “Dirt Cheap” and “The Painter,” both of which are up for song of the year. Jelly Roll’s breakthrough album Whitsitt Chapel launched multiple hits for the Tennessee native, including “Halfway to Hell” and “Need a Favor.” Musgraves, Stapleton and Combs have all won in the category, but look for awards-show favorite Stapleton to take home the win.

Will win: Higher

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

Newman: After Wallen’s “Last Night” wasn’t nominated last year despite spending 16 weeks at No. 1, it feels like his and Post Malone’s insanely catchy “I Had Some Help,” which was Billboard’s Song of the Summer, will take the prize here. But “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” has insinuated its way into listeners’ hearts and set the record for the most weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for an artist with no accompanying acts at 17 weeks. Some voters may want to go more traditional Nashville, and could go for Stapleton or Johnson, both of whom have won before — but we think we’re going to be raising a glass to Post Malone and Wallen.

Will win: “I Had Some Help”

Nicholson: The single of the year nominees for 2024 are an array of sounds, from pop-entrenched smashes, blistering country-rock tracks and staunchly country entries. All five nominated singles connected with fans this year, but the double star power of Post Malone and Morgan Wallen could be enough to earn the win.

Will win: “I Had Some Help”

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

Newman: These are all strong selections, and all reached the top 10 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart. Though this is a songwriter’s award, credit to Cody Johnson for having an unerring song sense with both “Dirt Cheap” and “The Painter.” “I Had Some Help” is a bit of an outlier here, given its bouncy, lightweight nature, which contrasts with the more serious nature of the other songs. That — and the fact that it was an enduring crossover smash — may play in its favor, but we like it more for single of the year than song. The intensity of “Burn It Down” and “White Horse” still hit every time we hear either, and a great song should continue to wear well. A very slight nod here to “White Horse” and its driving, western swagger. 

Will win: “White Horse”

Nicholson: Cody Johnson seems to be a songwriter’s not-so-secret weapon in this category, as two Johnson-recorded songs made the final nominees: “Dirt Cheap,” a solo write from Josh Phillips, and “The Painter,” written by Benjy Davis, Ryan Larkins and Kat Higgins. The song of the year category generally goes to songs with detailed storylines and/or heartfelt sentiments, and while this year’s nominated songs ranged from rock-fueled heartbreakers (“White Horse,” “Burn It Down”) to smash radio hits (“I Had Some Help”), the sentimental fan-favorite “Dirt Cheap” could take home the win.

Will win: “Dirt Cheap”

Four of the five nominees for entertainer of the year – Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Chris Stapleton and Lainey Wilson – are set to perform on the 2024 CMA Awards, which will air live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Wednesday (Nov. 20). Of the nominees for entertainer of the year, only Morgan Wallen has not been announced as a performer on the broadcast.

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The show will be hosted by Luke Bryan, Peyton Manning and Wilson.

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Combs will perform “Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma,” the opening track on Twisters: The Album. The song topped Billboard’s Country Airplay chart for two weeks in September and October. Jelly Roll will join Brooks & Dunn on a performance of their 2006 classic, “Believe.” The hit won both single and song of the year at the 2006 CMAs.

Stapleton will perform twice on the show. He will sing “What Am I Gonna Do,” the opening track from his album Higher. He will also team with Post Malone to perform their “California Sober” collaboration from Posty’s album F-1 Trillion LP. (For his part, Post will also perform “Yours,” the closing track from F-1 Trillion.)

Wilson will perform her single “4x4xU,” which is currently up to No. 21 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart. Her co-host, Bryan, will take the stage for “Love You, Miss You, Mean It,” which reached No. 2 on Country Airplay last month, becoming his 36th top 10 hit on that chart.

Shaboozey, a first-time nominee this year with two nods, will perform a medley of his breakthrough smash “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” — which has logged 17 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 — and his new single, “Highway.”

Performing together for the first time, Thomas Rhett and Teddy Swims will offer a mash-up of Rhett’s “Somethin’ ’Bout a Woman,” from his new album About a Woman, and Swims’ “Lose Control,” a recent No. 1 hit on the Hot 100.

Dierks Bentley will be joined by Molly Tuttle, Sierra Hull and Bronwyn Keith-Hynes for a performance of Tom Petty’s 1976 classic, “American Girl.” Bentley performed the rock classic on this year’s Petty Country: A Country Music Celebration ofTom Petty.

There will also be a star-studded tribute in honor of George Strait, this year’s recipient of the CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award.

This year’s CMAs will include performances of two of this year’s nominees for musical event of the year. Langley and Green will perform “you look like you love me,” which is currently No. 7 on the Country Airplay chart. Ballerini and Kahan will perform “Cowboys Cry Too,” which reached No. 27 on that chart in July.

Other performances set for the show include Moroney’s “Am I Okay?” Musgraves’ “The Architect” and Zimmerman’s “New to Country.”

Presenters on the show include a wide range of artists, actors and athletes. The Oak Ridge Boys will appear, just four months after the death of longtime member Joe Bonsall at age 76. Two nominees for new artist of the year, Nate Smith and Mitchell Tenpenny, are also set to present. Other country artists lined up to present include Clint Black, Jordan Davis, Little Big Town, Dustin Lynch and Carly Pearce. Pop singer and entertainer Katharine McPhee will also be on hand to present during the show.

Actors set to take the stage include Jeff Bridges, Mark Collie, Don Johnson, Taylor Frankie Paul, Daniel Sunjata and Billy Bob Thornton. Olympic Gymnast Simone Biles and first baseman for the world champion Los Angeles Dodgers Freddie Freeman will also present.

Country Music’s Biggest Night is set to air live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Wednesday from 8:00-11:00 p.m./ET. It will air on ABC be available for streaming the next day on Hulu.

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.

Check out a complete list of performers and presenters below. If any additional names are announced, they will be added to this report.

Performers

Kelsea Ballerini

Dierks Bentley

Brooks & Dunn

Luke Bryan

Eric Church

Luke Combs

Riley Green

Sierra Hull

Jelly Roll

Cody Johnson

Noah Kahan

Bronwyn Keith-Hynes

Ella Langley

Ashley McBryde

Megan Moroney

Kacey Musgraves

Post Malone

Thomas Rhett

Shaboozey

Chris Stapleton

Teddy Swims

Molly Tuttle

Lainey Wilson

Bailey Zimmerman

Presenters

Simone Biles

Clint Black

Jeff Bridges

Mark Collie

Jordan Davis

Freddie Freeman

Don Johnson

Jackson Laux

Little Big Town

Dustin Lynch

Katharine McPhee

The Oak Ridge Boys

Taylor Frankie Paul

Carly Pearce

Caleb Pressley

Nate Smith

Daniel Sunjata

Mitchell Tenpenny

Billy Bob Thornton

11/14/2024

Hearing your name called even once is a thrill, but repeating is the ultimate goal.

11/14/2024

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.

If you’re a voting member in good standing of the Country Music Association, check your email today, Monday (July 8). You should find your nomination ballot to vote in the first round for the 58th annual CMA Awards. For the rest of us, the countdown begins to what is always one of the year’s most […]

Lainey Wilson’s Bell Bottom Blues has been an awards magnet in the past year. The collection won album of the year at the Academy of Country Music Awards on May 11 and at the Country Music Awards on Nov. 8. On Feb. 4, we’ll find out if it becomes the eighth album to complete country […]

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 […]