Thursday, September 7, 2023
Lainey Wilson leads the nominations for the 57th Country Music Association Awards with nine, becoming the only artist to top the noms in their first two appearances on the final ballot (she had six in 2022). Jelly Roll earns five nods, while Luke Combs and HARDY rack up four apiece.
Morgan Wallen, Chris Stapleton, Jordan Davis, Ashley McBryde, Joey Moi, Jordan Schmidt and Derek Wells each have three nominations.
Competing for Entertainer of the Year are Combs—the back-to-back reigning champ—Stapleton, Carrie Underwood, Wallen and Wilson.
This year's batch of nominees includes a great many first-timers: in addition to Jelly, Zach Bryan, Megan Moroney, The War and Treaty, Hailey Whitters, John Osborne and Katelyn Brown (to name just a few).
The 57th CMA Awards will be handed out 11/8 in Nashville, with Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning as hosts. ABC will broadcast the show.
The final ballot will be emailed to CMA members on 10/2 and must be returned by the evening of 10/27.
Winners of the CMA Broadcast Awards will be determined by a final round of judging this month.
Check out Holly Gleason's coverage:
Lainey! Lainey! Lainey!
Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing
NOMINATIONS FOR THE 57th ANNUAL CMA AWARDS
Entertainer of the Year
- Luke Combs
- Chris Stapleton
- Carrie Underwood
- Morgan Wallen
- Lainey Wilson
Single of the Year
Award goes to artist(s), producer(s) and mix engineer(s)
- “Fast Car,” Luke Combs; producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton; mix engineer: Chip Matthews
- “Heart Like a Truck,” Lainey Wilson; producer: Jay Joyce; mix engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
- “Need a Favor,” Jelly Roll; producer: Austin Nivarel; mix engineer: Jeff Braun
- “Next Thing You Know,” Jordan Davis; producer: Paul DiGiovanni; mix engineer: Jim Cooley
- “wait in the truck,” HARDY f/Lainey Wilson; producers: HARDY, Joey Moi, Jordan Schmidt, Derek Wells; mix engineer: Joey Moi
Album of the Year
Award goes to artist, producer(s) and mix engineer(s)
- Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville, Ashley McBryde; producers: John Osborne, John Peets; mix engineers: Gena Johnson, John Osborne
- Bell Bottom Country, Lainey Wilson; producer: Jay Joyce; mix engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
- Gettin' Old, Luke Combs; producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton; mix engineers: Michael H. Brauer, Jim Cooley, Chip Matthews
- One Thing at a Time, Morgan Wallen; producers: Jacob Durrett, Charlie Handsome, Joey Moi, Cameron Montgomery; mix engineers: Josh Ditty, Joey Moi, Eivind Nordland
- Rolling up the Welcome Mat, Kelsea Ballerini; producers: Kelsea Ballerini, Alysa Vanderheym; mix engineers: Dan Grech-Marguerat, Alysa Vanderheym
Song of the Year
Award goes to songwriter(s)
- “Fast Car,” songwriter: Tracy Chapman
- “Heart Like a Truck, songwriters: Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson, Lainey Wilson
- “Next Thing You Know," songwriters: Jordan Davis, Greylan James, Chase McGill, Josh Osborne
- “Tennessee Orange,” songwriters: David Fanning, Paul Jenkins, Megan Moroney, Ben Williams
- “wait in the truck," songwriters: Renee Blair, Michael Hardy, Hunter Phelps, Jordan Schmidt
Female Vocalist of the Year
- Kelsea Ballerini
- Miranda Lambert
- Ashley McBryde
- Carly Pearce
- 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
- Midland
- Old Dominion
- 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)
- “Save Me,” Jelly Roll and Lainey Wilson; producers: Zach Crowell, David Ray Stevens
- “She Had Me at Heads Carolina (Remix),” Cole Swindell and Jo Dee Messina; producer: Zach Crowell
- “Thank God,” Kane Brown and Katelyn Brown; producer: Dann Huff
- “wait in the truck,” HARDY and Lainey Wilson; producers: HARDY, Joey Moi, Jordan Schmidt, Derek Wells
- “We Don't Fight Anymore,” Carly Pearce and Chris Stapleton; producers: Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Carly Pearce
Musician of the Year
- Jenee Fleenor
- Paul Franklin
- Rob McNelley
- Derek Wells
- Charlie Worsham
Music Video of the Year
Award goes to artist(s) and director(s)
- “Light on in the Kitchen,” Ashley McBryde; director: Reid Long
- “Memory Lane,” Old Dominion; directors: Mason Allen, Nicki Fletcher
- “Need a Favor,” Jelly Roll; director: Patrick Tohill
- “Next Thing You Know," Jordan Davis; director: Running Bear
- “wait in the truck,” HARDY f/Lainey Wilson; director: Justin Clough
New Artist of the Year
- Zach Bryan
- Jelly Roll
- Parker McCollum
- Megan Moroney
- Hailey Whitters
Photo credits
Lainey Wilson: Alysse Gafkjen
Luke Combs: Jeremy Cowart
Ashley McBryde: Katie Kauss
Jordan Davis: Harper Smith
Jelly Roll: Ashley Osborn
HARDY: Ryan Smith