The 57th Annual Country Music Awards are happening tonight and while there’s a few things I’m excited for, there’s no doubt going to be a whole lot that’s going to take some alcohol to get through.
Lainey Wilson is leading the pack with 9 total nominations and Jelly Roll leads all the dudes with 5, while Luke Combs and HARDY have four each.
Zach Bryan, arguably the biggest act in all of country music, is up for New Artist of the Year while Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton, Carrie Underwood, Morgan Wallen, and Lainey Wilson duke it out for the granddaddy of them all, the Entertainer of the Year award.
Honestly, it’s a pretty solid field of nominees and you can get all of the details HERE.
Sure, we’ve still got some duds like the Group of the Year nominees (how Mike and the Moonpies, Flatland Cavalry, and Shane Smith & The Saints aren’t there is beyond me), but it would be pure fibbery if I said we were still in the midst of hell like we were during the bro-country era of the mid 2010s.
The awards will again be hosted by Peyton Manning and Luke Bryan, which is fine I guess, I mean Peyton is a southern guy who likes himself some country music and Luke Bryan is a really great guy with a mix of alright and downright bad music, but I don’t really have a suggestion for who should host (other than Koe Wetzel) so it might as well be them.
As always, we’ll be live tweeting the event to be sure to tune in for some laughs, head scratches, and (hopefully) a few celebrations as we take in the spectacle that is the Country Music Awards, so be sure to follow along on X (@whiskeyriff) for all of the fun.
But, if you’re anything like us, and since you’re reading this I’d bet you are, you’re going to be popping a top or pouring something nice on the rocks for the occasion, so why not make things a bit more interesting with a drinking game, shall we?
Here’s the rules.
Take a sip when…
Luke tells a football joke to Peyton
Peyton teases Luke for his skinny jeans
Luke makes fun of Peyton’s forehead
Luke makes a Brad Paisley joke to the tune of “Nationwide is on your side”
The camera cuts to someone not laughing
You say “dang, I haven’t heard of them in forever” or “I almost forgot about them”
Someone tries to make a political joke about Jason Aldean
The camera cuts to someone smiling way too hard
Someone is wearing sunglasses inside
Finish your drink when…
A random pop artist shows up on stage for absolutely no reason
An artist says “Wow, I really never expected to be up here.”
You spot an artist sneaking liquor in the crowd (hello Miranda Lambert)
Morgan Wallen goes on stage and the camera cuts to someone with a snarky look on their face
A country legend walks on stage
Someone defends Jason Aldean in their acceptance speech
Luke Bryan or Peyton Manning make an outfit change
Someone is wearing a cowboy hat but really shouldn’t be
The artist you were rooting for wins an award
Someone announces new music coming soon
Take a shot when…
Old Dominion inevitably wins Group of the Year for what feels like the 4964 time (to ease the pain)
Dan + Shay start screaming high notes
Post Malone covers traditional country better than most artists in the crowd
Zach Bryan’s name is announced as New Artist of the Year and no one claims the award because he isn’t in the building
You’ve never heard of the person presenting an award
Someone says that the stage hasn’t been this country since the last time it was this country
Jimmy Buffett, Gordon Lightfoot, Lisa Marie Presley, Garry Rossington, Charlie Robinson, or Tina Turner are honored (in remembrance of those icons)
The artist you were rooting against wins an award
You realize that Maren Morris isn’t there because she stopped pretending to be country
