The CMA Awards are TONIGHT! Here’s my predictions
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR: Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Chris Stapleton and Keith Urban.
MY PICK: Every year I say that it’s finally Keith Urban’s year, and every year someone else wins it. Maybe if I pick someone else, Keith will win? Either way I’m picking Jason Aldean to win.
ALBUM OF THE YEAR: “From A Room: Volume 2,” Chris Stapleton; “Golden Hour,” Kacey Musgraves; “Graffiti U,” Keith Urban; “Life Changes,” Thomas Rhett; and “The Mountain,” Dierks Bentley.
MY PICK: So many great albums over the last year. I actually own all of these except for Golden Hour, and have listened to all of them more than once. My personal pick would probably be Life Changes, but I have a feeling that Chris Stapleton will win for From A Room: Volume 2.
SINGLE OF THE YEAR: “Broken Halos,” by Chris Stapleton; “Drinkin’ Problem,” by Midland; “Drowns the Whiskey,” by Jason Aldean featuring Miranda Lambert; “Meant to Be” by Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line; and “Tequila” by Dan + Shay.
MY PICK: I love them all, but I narrowed it down to either Mean tto Be or Tequila, and finally decided to pick Dan + Shay. Tequila was so huge.
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR: Dierks Bentley, Luke Combs, Thomas Rhett, Chris Stapleton and Keith Urban.
MY PICK: My brain says to pick Chris Stapleton, but my gut tells me Thomas Rhett will pull off the upset here. My gut is much bigger than my brain so I’ll go with Thomas Rhett.
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR: Kelsea Ballerini, Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves and Carrie Underwood.
MY PICK: For the last decade this has pretty much been the battle of Miranda and Carrie, but I’m thinking this is the year that changes. I’m predicting Maren Morris wins in an upset.
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR: Brothers Osborne, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line, Maddie & Tae and Sugarland.
MY PICK: Brothers Osborne won this award at the ACM’s in the Spring, and at last years CMA Awards, but something tells me they won’t repeat. I feel like it’s either Dan + Shay or Florida Georgia Line, and I’ll pick FGL.
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR: Lady Antebellum, LANCO, Little Big Town, Midland and Old Dominion.
MY PICK: I’m going to pick Old Dominion. Wouldn’t surprise me if Little Big Town won this, but I think Old Dominion had the bigger year.
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Lauren Alaina, Luke Combs, Chris Janson, Midland and Brett Young.
MY PICK: I think this award is a slam dunk. No offense to the other nominees, but I’ll be SHOCKED if Luke Combs doesn’t win.
SONG OF THE YEAR (awarded to songwriters): “Body Like A Back Road” – Zach Crowell, Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne; “Broken Halos” – Songwriters: Mike Henderson, Chris Stapleton; “Drowns the Whiskey” – Songwriter: Brandon Kinney, Jeff Middleton, Josh Thompson; “Drunk Girl” – Songwriter: Scooter Carusoe, Tom Douglas, Chris Janson; “Tequila” – Songwriter: Nicolle Galyon, Jordan Reynolds, Dan Smyers.
MY PICK: Since I picked Tequila for single of the year, I’ll mix it up and go with Broken Halos for song.