And the woman was too stunned to speak… is country music healing?
The CMT Music Awards just announced their list of nominations, and the diverse list of artists up for awards is giving me a glimmer of hope for the future of country music.
This year, Jelly Roll, Megan Moroney, Lainey Wilson, Cody Johnson, and Kelsea Ballerini (pretty par for the course) have a five-way tie to lead the pack of nominations (and everyone in this crew held nominations going into the CMA Awards), with three nominations for the fan-voted awards show. But what really catches my eye is the list of artists appearing for the first time on the list of first-time nominees.
Zach Bryan, Tyler Childers, Koe Wetzel, Stephen Wilson Jr., Hozier, and more make the list of the 14 first-time nominees. While it is jaw-dropping in itself to say that Tyler Childers, Zach Bryan, and Koe Wetzel are first-time nominees, as they have been an integral part of country music over the last few years, it’s also refreshing to see fans adopt the sound of newcomers like Stephen Wilson Jr. so quickly.
So, is country music healing? Is there hope for the genre’s authentic sound to shine at award shows in the future? Regardless, I am fired up this Wednesday morning to see these names on the list of nominees.
Voting for the awards begins on April 1st, and the ceremony will be live-streamed from the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, on April 7th through Sunday, April 7, on CBS. Fans can also stream live and watch the program on-demand through Paramount+. Voting will stay open through the live start of the show.
Check out the full list of nominees:
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Ashley McBryde – “Light on in the Kitchen”
Brandy Clark feat. Brandi Carlile – “Dear Insecurity”
Brothers Osborne – “Nobody’s Nobody”
Cody Johnson – “The Painter”
Darius Rucker – “Fires Don’t Start Themselves”
HARDY – “TRUCK BED”
Jason Aldean – “Let Your Boys Be Country”
Jelly Roll – “Need a Favor”
Jordan Davis – “Next Thing You Know”
Kacey Musgraves – “Deeper Well”
Kelsea Ballerini – “IF YOU GO DOWN (I’M GOIN’ DOWN TOO)”
Lainey Wilson – “Watermelon Moonshine”
Mickey Guyton feat. Kane Brown – “Nothing Compares to You”
Parmalee – “Gonna Love You”
Tyler Childers – “In Your Love”
Zach Bryan – “Nine Ball”
FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Ashley McBryde – “Light on in the Kitchen”
Gabby Barrett – “Glory Days”
Kacey Musgraves – “Deeper Well”
Kelsea Ballerini – “Penthouse”
Lainey Wilson – “Watermelon Moonshine”
Megan Moroney – “I’m Not Pretty”
Reba McEntire – “Seven Minutes in Heaven”
MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Bailey Zimmerman – “Religiously”
Cody Johnson – “The Painter”
HARDY – “TRUCK BED”
Jelly Roll – “Need a Favor”
Jordan Davis – “Next Thing You Know”
Luke Combs – “Fast Car (Official Live Video)”
Morgan Wallen “Last Night (One Record at a Time Sessions)”
DUO/GROUP VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Brothers Osborne – “Nobody’s Nobody”
Dan + Shay – “Save Me the Trouble”
Old Dominion – “Memory Lane”
Parmalee – “Girl in Mine”
The War and Treaty – “Have You a Heart”
Tigirlily Gold – “Shoot Tequila”
COLLABORATIVE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Carly Pearce feat. Chris Stapleton – “We Don’t Fight Anymore”
Ella Langley feat. Koe Wetzel – “That’s Why We Fight”
Jon Pardi, Luke Bryan – “Cowboys And Plowboys”
Justin Moore & Priscilla Block – “You, Me And Whiskey”
Lukas Nelson + Promise of The Real feat. Lainey Wilson – “More Than Friends”
Mickey Guyton feat. Kane Brown – “Nothing Compares To You”
Old Dominion & Megan Moroney – “Can’t Break Up Now”
BREAKTHROUGH FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Anne Wilson – “Rain in the Rearview”
Ashley Cooke – “your place”
Brittney Spencer – “Bigger Than the Song”
Tigirlily Gold – “Shoot Tequila”
BREAKTHROUGH MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Chayce Beckham – “23”
Tyler Childers – “In Your Love”
Warren Zeiders – “Pretty Little Poison”
Zach Bryan – “Oklahoma Smokeshow”
CMT PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Amber Riley – “R.E.S.P.E.C.T.” (from CMT Smashing Glass)
Bret Michaels & Chris Janson – “Nothing but a Good Time” (from CMT Crossroads)
Carrie Underwood – “Hate My Heart” (from 2023 CMT Music Awards)
Cody Johnson – “Human” (from 2023 CMT Music Awards)
Dierks Bentley – “Drunk on a Plane” (from CMT Storytellers)
Dustin Lynch feat. MacKenzie Porter – “Thinking ‘Bout You” (from CMT Campfire Sessions)
Hozier & Maren Morris – “Take Me to Church” (from CMT Crossroads)
Jelly Roll – “Need a Favor” (from 2023 CMT Music Awards)
Kelsea Ballerini – “IF YOU GO DOWN (I’M GOIN’ DOWN TOO)” (from 2023 CMT Music Awards)
The War and Treaty – “On My Own” (from CMT Smashing Glass)
CMT DIGITAL-FIRST PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Chase Rice – “Goodnight Nancy” (from CMT Studio Sessions)
Dylan Scott – “Don’t Close Your Eyes (Keith Whitley Cover)” (from CMT Digital Campfire Sessions)
Megan Moroney – “I’m Not Pretty” (from CMT Digital Campfire Sessions)
Nate Smith – “Whiskey on You” (from CMT Studio Sessions)
Scotty McCreery – “It Matters to Her” (from CMT Stages)
Stephen Wilson Jr. – “Year to Be Young 1994” (from CMT Studio Sessions)
The Castellows – “I Know It Will Never End” (from CMT Studio Sessions)
