Next Wednesday is the 58th Annual CMA Awards, happening live at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, and the list of nominees the association put together has a few bright spots for sure, but is also full of a lot of the same old thing.
Morgan Wallen leads the way with seven nominations, followed by Chris Stapleton and Cody Johnson with five each. You can read the entire list here, but you’ll find Shaboozey, Mitchell Tenpenny, Bailey Zimmerman, Dan + Shay, Lady A, and other quintessential industry acts filling up much of the lineup.
On the bright side, Zach Top is up for New Artist of the Year and The Red Clay Strays are up for Vocal Group of the Year (if they lose to Old Dominion I’m organizing protests) and I’ll never be upset to see Stapleton and Lainey Wilson get their dues but overall, these lists can be a lot better.
But there’s no good in complaining and not being willing to do something about it, so I decided to take a stab at making a list of nominees for the wonderful people of the Country Music Association to review and make notes on for next year. No need to thank me, it’s my honor to do this for you all.
Here are my personal nominees for the 2024 CMA Awards:
Note: I did not follow the timing protocols the actual CMAs use for the selection process. If the song/album came out anytime in 2024, it was fair game.
Entertainer of the Year
- Sturgill Simpson/Johnny Blue Skies
- Zach Bryan
- Lainey Wilson
- Luke Combs
- Charley Crockett
And my winner… Mr. Sturgill Simpson
Single of the Year (Radio Singles)
- Zach Top – “I Never Lie”
- Chris Stapleton – “Think I’m In Love With You”
- Cody Johnson – “Dirt Cheap”
- Megan Moroney – “Am I Okay?”
- Luke Combs – “The Man He Sees In Me”
And my winner… Zach Top “I Never Lie”
Album of the Year
This was easily the hardest category for me… Feel free to let me know which ones I missed but Shane Smith & the Saints’ Norther, Zach Top’s Cold Beer & Country Music, and Jamey Johnson’s Midnight Gasoline just missed this list, and trust me, it was not easy to do.
- Made By These Moments – The Red Clay Strays
- Postcards From Texas – Miranda Lambert
- Passage Du Desir – Sturgill Simpson
- Trail of Flowers – Sierra Ferrell
- American Son – Colby Acuff
And my winner… The Red Clay Strays Made By These Moments
Song of the Year (Non-radio)
- Colby Acuff – “Plastic Horses”
- Muscadine Bloodline – “10-90”
- Lowdown Drifters – “Awful Truth”
- Noeline Hofmann – “Purple Gas”
- The Red Clay Strays – “I’ll Be Fine”
And my winner… Colby Acuff “Plastic Horses”
New Artist of the Year
- Wyatt Flores
- Noeline Hofmann
- Maggie Antone
- Kashus Culpepper
- Zach Top
And my winner is… Zach Top
Female Vocalist of the Year
- Morgan Wade
- Miranda Lambert
- Megan Moroney
- Kaitlin Butts
- Ashley McBryde
And my winner… Megan Moroney
Male Vocalist of the Year
- Chris Stapleton
- Charles Wesley Godwin
- Charley Crockett
- Tanner Usrey
- Isaac Gibson (of 49 Winchester)
And my winner is… Charles Wesley Godwin
Vocal Group of the Year
- The Red Clay Strays
- 49 Winchester
- Flatland Cavalry
- Shane Smith & The Saints
- Silverada
And my winner is… The Red Clay Strays
Vocal Duo of the Year
- Brooks & Dunn
- War & Treaty
- Muscadine Bloodline
- Jonathan & Abigail Peyton
- Brothers Osborne
And my winner is… Muscadine Bloodline
Musical Event of the Year
- Ella Langley & Riley Green – “You Look Like You Love Me”
- Wyatt Flores & The Castellows – “Sober Sundays”
- Koe Wetzel & Jesse Murph – “High Road”
- Zach Bryan & Kacey Musgraves – “I Remember Everything”
- Jake Worthington & Miranda Lambert – “Hello Shitty Day”
My winner is… Ella Langley & Riley Green “You Look Like You Love Me”
Music Video of the Year
- Zach Bryan – “Nine Ball”
- Riley Green – “Jesus Saves”
- Megan Moroney – “Am I Okay?”
- Billy Strings – “Seven Weeks in County”
- Ella Langley & Riley Green – “You Look Like You Love Me”
My winner is… Billy Strings “Seven Weeks in County”
