Every year we love to bring you our predictions for the various categories for the annual Country Music Awards program. And while we’ve been pretty good at predicting them in the past, it’s still always fun to share our quick thoughts on a Who Should Win, Who Will Win basis. Below you’ll see our thoughts for every category and our CMA Awards Predictions for the 48th annual gala.
Entertainer of the Year
- Luke Bryan
- Miranda Lambert
- Blake Shelton
- George Strait
- Keith Urban
It reads like a who’s who of the genre’s top entertainers and torch bearers for the world inside and outside of popular country music. But let’s get real honest here. Who doesn’t think that last year’s winner, George Strait, will take this home for the fourth time? I mean, if he doesn’t, it’s likely a toss up between Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan. Both had massive tours and are well known inside and outside of the country music genre. But George Strait is who everyone will vote for as it’s his final chance before retirement to win this award (as many thought last year was).
Will win: George Strait
Should win: Luke Bryan
Male Vocalist of the Year
- Dierks Bentley
- Luke Bryan
- Eric Church
- Blake Shelton
- Keith Urban
It’s possible that someone other than Blake Shelton takes this one home but, really, we have to think that Blake will once again ride off into the sunset with his fifth-consecutive CMA Male Vocalist of the Year award. That being said, it really is time for Luke Bryan to take this award home, don’t ya think? Really, if he doesn’t win this this year, he’ll never win one of these awards.
Will win: Blake Shelton
Should win: Luke Bryan
Female Vocalist of the Year
- Miranda Lambert
- Martina McBride
- Kacey Musgraves
- Carrie Underwood
- Taylor Swift
We can write off Taylor and Martina right away. Neither will win. Taylor because of her new album and singles being “pop,” and Martina for releasing a “Soul” covers record (no matter how awesome it is). So that leaves Miranda, Carrie and Kacey, the top 3 female country singers from 2013/2014. Carrie’s really been quiet this year outside of her duet with Miranda and the new single “Something In The Water” but it’d be fun to see her break Miranda’s reign of 4 years. That being said, we think Miranda will take the trophy for the fifth time in five years and that Carrie or Kacey takes the award in 2015.
Will win: Miranda Lambert
Should win: Miranda Lambert
Album of the Year
- Crash My Party – Luke Bryan
- Fuse – Keith Urban
- Platinum – Miranda Lambert
- Riser – Dierks Bentley
- The Outsiders – Eric Church
Every one of these except Platinum is from UMG Nashville’s stable of labels and we’re fond of each of these records for different reasons. There’s the virtuosity and experimental nature of The Outsiders, there’s the consistent and well-written Riser, there’s the comeback powerhouse (and originality) of Fuse and of course the juggernaut that is the Double Platinum and still going strong sales that is Crash My Party. This feels like the right time for Luke Bryan to win something, I mean the album just shipped a SIXTH single to country radio, something albums rarely do and if “I See You” goes #1 like all the other tracks did, Luke will set a record with Crash My Party. Lambert’s Platinum is probably the top contender (and if it were the ACM, we would definitely pick that one) outside of Crash My Party here, but it really is up to the 6,000 voters to choose which one they like more and, we’re thinking, they’ll go with Crash My Party.
Will win: Crash My Party
Should win: Crash My Party
Vocal Group of the Year
- Eli Young Band
- Lady Antebellum
- Little Big Town
- The Band Perry
- Zac Brown Band
We love all five acts here. Last year, Little Big Town took the award home and we think they have a great shot to take it home again. But, we can’t help but think that at some point the CMA voters will finally give Zac Brown Band the award, especially since they’re the most “traditional-leaning” of the bunch. Lady Antebellum had a nice rebound year and EYB and The Band Perry are as consistent as ever. Still, we think this is a three horse race between ZBB, Lady A and Little Big Town. In the end, it’s hard to vote against the two time champs.
Will win: Little Big Town
Should win: Zac Brown Band
New Artist of the Year
- Brandy Clark
- Brett Eldredge
- Kip Moore
- Thomas Rhett
- Cole Swindell
This one’s gonna come down to label voting blocks. You’ll have Warner voting for Swindell and Eldredge, you’ll have UMG going for Kip Moore and Big Machine going for Thomas Rhett. But if there’s any sort of left field vote to be had this year it’s for the formerly indie artist Brandy Clark to take home the award giving her a CMA Award not unlike the way the CMA once gave the much-loved Allison Krauss the same award (though it was called the Horizon Award back then). Also, it is NICE to see this “new artist of the Year” award actually featuring artists still on their first album projects, even if a few of them have been around for a long while (Rhett, Eldredge and Moore). In the end we think this’ll come down to Eldredge, Rhett and Clark. as Moore’s star is still strong on the touring front but radio (a large block of voters) has seemingly cooled to his charms. Thomas Rhett has a few #1 hits as does Swindell but both could be victims of a ‘bro backlash” and that means it’ll come down to Brett Eldredge and Brandy Clark. In the end, we think Eldredge takes the award home as of these five, he has the biggest potential for longterm superstar-level success, even if we think Brandy Clark winning would be awesome for country music.
Will win: Brett Eldredge
Should win: Brandy Clark
Vocal Duo of the Year
- Dan + Shay
- Florida Georgia Line
- Love and Theft
- The Swon Brothers
- Thompson Square
If anyone thinks any of these duos besides Florida Georgia Line is going to win this award, they’re clearly not paying attention.
Will win: Florida Georgia Line
Should win: Florida Georgia Line
Single of the Year (Award goes to artist and producer)
- "Automatic," Miranda Lambert
- "Drunk on a Plane," Dierks Bentley
- "Give Me Back My Hometown," Eric Church
- "Meanwhile Back at Mama's," Tim McGraw featuring Faith Hill
- "Mine Would Be You," Blake Shelton
It’s really ODD that “Meanwhile, Back At Mama’s” isn’t on both Single and Song of the Year categories. It’s even MORE odd that only two of these songs are also in the songwriter “Song of the Year” categories. This means to me that “Automatic” or “Give Me Back My Hometown” are frontrunners for both awards but that neither will win both (this has only happened three times in the past decade: In 2004, 2006 and 2011). So for this one, it’s trying to pick out the biggest actual radio and/or retail hit of the year. I’m going to go with my gut and say Eric Church (one of the most-nominated) will take the award for “Give Me Back My Hometown” here.
Will win: “Give Me Back My Hometown”
Should win: “Meanwhile Back At Mama’s”
Song of the Year (Award goes to songwriters)
- "Automatic," written by Nicolle Galyon, Natalie Hemby and Miranda Lambert
- "Follow Your Arrow," written by Kacey Musgraves, Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally
- "Give Me Back My Hometown," written by Eric Church and Luke Laird
- "I Don't Dance," written by Lee Brice, Rob Hatch, and Dallas Davidson
- "I Hold On," written by Brett James and Dierks Bentley
As I said above, it’s been rare for the same song to win both single and song of the year in the past decade of voting so it seems likely we’ll see a split nomination again. Each song here is deserving of the songwriter award but it’d be a surprise if nostalgia or romance doesn’t win. So for that sake we think “Automatic” or “I Don’t Dance” will be the front-runners (Brice’s “I Drive Your Truck” won last year), even if the best-written song “Follow Your Arrow,” deserves to win more.
Will win: “Automatic”
Should win: “Follow Your Arrow”
Musical Event of the Year
- "Bakersfield," Vince Gill and Paul Franklin
- "Meanwhile Back at Mama's," Tim McGraw and Faith Hill
- "Something Bad," Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood
- "We Were Us," Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert
- "You Can't Make Old Friends," Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton
If this were The Grammy Awards, “Bakersfield” and “You Can’t Make Old Friends” would be the front-runners with Vince Gill and Paul Franklin likely the winners. Yeah, I know the CMAs love them some Vince Gill but it’s hard to see anything but “Something Bad” and “We Were Us” taking home the award. And since Carrie’s hosting with Brad Paisley again, we think that they’ll give Miranda and Carrie this award.
Will win: “Something Bad” or "We Were Us"
Should Win: “Bakersfield”
DID WIN: "We Were Us"
Music Video of the Year
- "Automatic," Miranda Lambert
- "Bartender," Lady Antebellum
- "Drunk on a Plane," Dierks Bentley
- "Follow Your Arrow," Kacey Musgraves
- "Something Bad," Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood
This one’s a total crap-shoot. It’s either going to be Miranda and Carrie or Dierks Bentley. Given that “Plane” was also up for Single of the Year (as was “Automatic”), I think they’ll give the fun song of the summer a CMA Award here.
Will win: “Drunk On A Plane”
Should win: “Drunk On A Plane”
Did Win: "Drunk On A Plane"
Musician of the Year
- Sam Bush
- Jerry Douglas
- Paul Franklin
- Dann Huff
- Mac McAnally
If anyone other than Mac McAnally wins, we’d be shocked. That being said. Given that Paul Franklin is nominated as an Artist too, for the Musical Event Of The Year, we think there’s a good chance he’ll steal this award from McAnally, the six time reigning champion in the category who is tied with Mark O’Connor for winning the award six times.
Will win: Mac McAnally
Should win: Paul Franklin
What do you think of our predictions? We'd love to see if you agree or disagree with us! Leave your predictions in our comment section below!
0 Comments