45th Annual CMAs Announce Nominations

Country music for much of America is the ignored genre compared to pop, R&B, and hip hop, but I have always had a soft spot for it. It is perhaps one of the last genres not touched by the unstoppable autotune/danceified juggernaut, and relies heavily on strong songwriting and even stronger talent. I may not cover it very much, but I am a fan! So I am excited to see most of my favorites from the last year get the nominations they deserve in the upcoming Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley hosted Country Music  Association Awards, which will air on November 9th. See the nominees below!

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Jason Aldean
Brad Paisley
Blake Shelton
Taylor Swift
Keith Urban

SINGLE OF THE YEAR
"A Little Bit Stronger"
Sara Evans
Produced by Tony Brown
RCA Nashville

"Colder Weather"
Zac Brown Band
Produced by Keith Stegall and Zac Brown
Southern Ground Artists/Atlantic Records

"Don't You Wanna Stay"
Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson
Produced by Michael Knox
Broken Bow Records

"Honey Bee"
Blake Shelton
Produced by Scott Hendricks
Warner Bros. Nashville

"If I Die Young"
The Band Perry
Produced by Paul Worley
Republic Nashville

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
All About Tonight
Blake Shelton
Produced by Scott Hendricks
Warner Bros. Nashville

My Kinda Party
Jason Aldean
Produced by Michael Knox
Broken Bow Records

Speak Now
Taylor Swift
Produced by Nathan Chapman and Taylor Swift
Big Machine Records
This Is Country Music
Brad Paisley
Produced by Frank Rogers
Arista Nashville

You Get What You Give
Zac Brown Band
Produced by Keith Stegall and Zac Brown
Southern Ground Artists/Atlantic Records

SONG OF THE YEAR
"Colder Weather"
Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette, Levi Lowrey, and Coy Bowles - songwriters

"Dirt Road Anthem"
Brantley Gilbert and Colt Ford - songwriters

"If I Die Young"
Kimberly Perry - songwriter

"Mean"
Taylor Swift - songwriter

"You and Tequila"
Matraca Berg and Deana Carter - songwriters

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Sara Evans
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Jason Aldean
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
Blake Shelton
Keith Urban

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
The Band Perry
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts
Zac Brown Band

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
The Civil Wars
Montgomery Gentry
Steel Magnolia
Sugarland
Thompson Square

MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
"As She's Walking Away"
Zac Brown Band featuring Alan Jackson
Southern Ground Artists/Atlantic Records

"Coal Miner's Daughter"
Loretta Lynn, Sheryl Crow, and Miranda Lambert
Columbia Records Nashville

"Don't You Wanna Stay"
Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson
Broken Bow Records

"Old Alabama"
Brad Paisley featuring Alabama
Arista Nashville

"You and Tequila"
Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter
BNA Records

MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Sam Bush – Mandolin
Jerry Douglas – Dobro
Paul Franklin – Steel Guitar
Dann Huff – Guitar
Mac McAnally – Guitar