The 2021 American Music Awards announced their nominees this morning, and much like a number of awards shows in the past year, Morgan Wallen has found himself banned from participating.
However, unlike the ACMs, he did get nominated.
Similar to the Billboard Music Awards, the AMAs consider nominees based on hard data and chart performance. With the Dangerous: The Double Album still highest selling album in any genre this year, he was nominated in a couple country music categories.
However, he will not be able to attend the ceremony, perform, present, or accept an award.
They clarified their position on Morgan Wallen in the following statement:
“Unique among awards shows, American Music Awards (AMA) nominees are determined by performance on the Billboard Charts and are not chosen by a voting committee or membership organization.
AMA nominees are based on key fan interactions with music (including streaming, album sales, song sales, radio airplay, social engagement), tracked by Billboard and its data partner MRC Data. The AMA winners are voted entirely by fans.
Morgan Wallen is a nominee this year based on charting. As his conduct does not align with our core values, we will not be including him on the show in any capacity (performing, presenting, accepting).
We plan to evaluate his progress in doing meaningful work as an ally to the Black community and will consider his participation in future shows.”
The AMAs are set to air live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, November 21st.
Of course, nobody really gives a shit about the American Music Awards, but with the 2022 Grammy nominees being revealed next month, the AMA decision doesn’t necessarily bode well for his chances to be nominated for a Grammy.
Big Loud has confirmed that they submitted Morgan and/or his music for 8 Grammy categories… the nominees will be revealed on November 23rd.
Morgan was also deemed ineligible to participate in next month’s Country Music Association Awards, however the CMAs allowed him to be nominated in categories where the praise wasn’t solely on him. The decision was made in an effort to not punish his collaborators.
He secured a CMA nomination for Album of the Year.
Anyways… and the AMA nominees are:
Favorite Male Country Artist
Chris Stapleton
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
Favorite Female Country Artist
Carrie Underwood
Gabby Barrett
Kacey Musgraves
Maren Morris
Miranda Lambert
Favorite Country Duo or Group
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Lady A
Old Dominion
Zac Brown Band
Favorite Country Album
Chris Stapleton “Starting Over”
Gabby Barrett “Goldmine”
Lee Brice “Hey World”
Luke Bryan “Born Here Live Here Die Here”
Morgan Wallen “Dangerous: The Double Album”
Favorite Country Song
Chris Stapleton “Starting Over”
Chris Young & Kane Brown “Famous Friends” Gabby Barrett “The Good Ones”
Luke Combs “Forever After All”
Walker Hayes “Fancy Like”
