The CMA Awards Have Announced Their List Of 2021 Nominees
By Ariel King
September 9, 2021
The Country Music Awards are returning this year, and have revealed their list of nominees. Eric Church and Chris Stapleton lead the nominees, with five nominations each. The two will be going head-to-head in several categories, including Entertainer of the Year. Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, and Carrie Underwood have also been nominated as Entertainers of the Year.
Church is the only artist nominated in this year's Entertainer of the Year to have previously won in the category, the singer taking home the award in 2020. Male Vocalist of the Year includes many of the same artists nominated over the past five years, the category containing Dierks Bentley, Church, Luke Combs, Thomas Rhett, and Stapleton.
Meanwhile, the Female Vocalist of the Year category has opted to switch things up. Gabby Barrett and Carly Pearce join the category as first-time nominees, while Underwood is completely absent from the category. Lambert, Ashley McBryde, and Maren Morris round out the category's nominees.
New Artist of the Year is also making CMA Awards history by having two Black artists nominated in the category simultaneously. Mickey Guyton and Jimmie Allen will be going head-to-head in the category, alongside HARDY, Ingrid Andress, and Barrett.
Lady A, Little Big Town, Midland, Old Dominion, and Zac Brown Band will all be making bids for Vocal Group of the Year. Vocal Duo of the Year contains Brooks & Dunn, Brothers Osborne, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line, and Maddie & Tae.
Album of the Year nominations include Pearce's 29, Morgan Wallen's Dangerous: The Double Album, Church's Heart, Brothers Osbourne's Skeletons, and Chris Stapleton's Starting Over. Single of the Year sees Chris Young and Kane Brown's "Famous Friends," Barrett's "The Good Ones," Church's "Hell Of A View," McBryde's "One Night Standards," and Stapleton's "Starting Over." Song of the Year sees Combs' "Forever After All," Barrett's "The Good Ones," Church's "Hell Of A View," McBryde's "One Night Standards," and Stapelton's "Starting Over."
The CMA Awards are scheduled to take place in Nashville on Wednesday, November 10 on ABC, and is sure to be a night to remember.
Here is a list of this year's nominees:
Entertainer of the Year
Eric Church
Luke Combs
Miranda Lambert
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood
Female Vocalist of the Year
Gabby Barrett
Miranda Lambert
Ashley McBryde
Maren Morris
Carly Pearce
Male Vocalist of the Year
Dierks Bently
Eric Church
Luke Combs
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
Vocal Group of the Year
Lady A
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion
Zac Brown Band
Vocal Duo of the Year
Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Maddie & Tae
New Artist of the Year
Jimmie Allen
Ingrid Andress
Gabby Barrett
Mickey Guyton
HARDY
Album of the Year
29, Carly Pearce
Dangerous: The Double Album, Morgan Wallen
Heart, Eric Church
Skeletons, Brothers Osbourne
Starting Over, Chris Stapleton
Single of the Year
"Famous Friends," Chris Young with Kane Brown
"The Good Ones," Gabby Barrett
"Hell of a View," Eric Church
"One Night Standards," Ashley McBryde
"Starting Over," Chris Stapleton
Song of the Year
"Forever After All," recorded by Luke Combs
"The Good Ones," recorded by Gabby Barrett
"Hell of a View," recorded by Eric Church
"One Night Standards," recorded by Ashley McBryde
"Starting Over," recorded by Chris Stapleton
Musical Event of the Year
“Buy Dirt,” Jordan Davis and Luke Bryan
“Chasing After You,” Ryan Hurd with Maren Morris
“Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home),” Elle King and Miranda Lambert
“Famous Friends,” Chris Young with Kane Brown
“Half of My Hometown,” Kelsea Ballerini (featuring Kenny Chesney)
Musician of the Year
Jenee Fleenor – Fiddle
Paul Franklin – Steel Guitar
Aaron Sterling – Drums
Ilya Toshinskiy – Banjo
Derek Wells – Guitar
Music Video of the Year
“Chasing After You,” Ryan Hurd with Maren Morris
“Famous Friends,” Chris Young with Kane Brown
“Gone,” Dierks Bentley
“Half of My Hometown,” Kelsea Ballerini (featuring Kenny Chesney)
“Younger Me,” Brothers Osborne