We’re just a few weeks away from the 57th Annual CMA Awards, and it’s time to take a look back through some of the biggest moments in the history of country music.
These days, the CMA Awards always seem a little… vanilla. And granted, all awards shows are always a little corny, that’s just the nature of the beast, but the CMA Awards always come off pretty watered down, overly scripted, and just… bland.
Not to mention the whole lack of actual country music issue… we won’t even get into that right now. But, over the years, they’ve definitely had their fair share of controversial moments.
We saw Charlie Rich light the envelope on fire as he declared John Denver the Entertainer of the Year in 1975. We saw Alan Jackson play a George Jones song in protest at the 1999 CMA Awards and we saw Mary Chapin Carpenter play a protest song (perhaps an F you to Dwight Yoakam) of her own in 1990.
And there’s been a handful of others. But one of the most talked about, maybe for a good reason and maybe not, came in 2006.
It was the breakout year for Carrie Underwood at the 40th Annual CMA Awards, shortly after winning American Idol in 2005. She secured the first nominations of her career, and she did more than just get nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year, she won.
Nominated alongside Gretchen Wilson, Martina McBride, Sara Evans, and Faith Hill, one of the nominees was visibly PISSED that young Carrie took home the win. Faith Hill was backstage when the nominees got read, and as Carrie was announced as the winner, Faith screamed “WHAT!?” and threw her hands up.
It almost seemed like she was expecting to win, perhaps even told ahead of time that she won, but either way, folks called her out for the poor reaction and it was front page news the next morning.
Faith and her team quickly released a statement to clarify that there was no ill-intent, and that she was just trying to be funny, but to this day, some country music fans aren’t so sure.
According to a press release, she said:
“The idea that I would act disrespectful towards a fellow musician is unimaginable to me. For this to become a focus of attention, given the talent gathered, is utterly ridiculous. Carrie is a talented and deserving female vocalist of the year.”
Her longtime manager, Gary Borman, also released a statement:
“I’ve worked with Faith for many years now, and the idea that she would ever insult or undermine another artist, let alone another human being’s success, is absolutely preposterous.
Those who know her know that she’s incapable of such actions. She was being playful while the nominations were being read and playful after.”
Still hard to tell for sure if she was joking or not… what do you think?
CMA Awards Nominees
This year, Lainey Wilson is leading the pack with a monsterous nine nominations, and first-time nominee Jelly Roll leads all male artists with five nominations. Luke Combs and HARDY have four nominations each.
The 57th Annual CMA Awards will once again be hosted by Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning as the ceremony broadcasts live from Nashville Wednesday, November 8th.
And the nominees are…
Entertainer
Luke Combs
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood
Morgan Wallen
Lainey Wilson
Female
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Ashley McBryde
Carly Pearce
Lainey Wilson
Male
Luke Combs
Jelly Roll
Cody Johnson
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen
New Artist
Zach Bryan
Jelly Roll
Parker McCollum
Megan Moroney
Group
Lady A
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion
Zac Brown Band
Duo
Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Maddie & Tae
The War And Treaty
Single
“Fast Car”; Luke Combs; Producer: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathon 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
Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville; 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
“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
Event
“Save Me”; Jelly Roll w/Lainey Wilson; Producers: Zach Crowell, David Ray Stevens
“She Had Me At Heads Carolina (Remix)” Cole Swindell & Jo Dee Messina; Producer: Zach Crowell
“Thank God”; Kane Brown w/Katelyn Brown; Producer: Dann Huff
“Wait In The Truck”; Hardy f/Lainey Wilson; Producers: Hardy, Joey Moi, Jordan Schmidt, Derek Wells
“We Don’t Fight Anymore”; Carly Pearce f/Chris Stapleton; Producers: Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Carly Pearce
Musician
Jenee Fleenor
Paul Franklin
Rob McNelley
Derek Wells
Charlie Worsham
Video
“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
