Not sure how to feel about this one.
If you have a hard time keeping up with all the award shows across the music industry, I can’t even blame you. Of course, in country music, we have the yearly ACM and CMA Awards, which air in the spring and fall, respectively. As for the bigger, all-genre shows, you also have Billboard Awards, MTV Music Video Awards and, of course, the Grammys, which has remained the most prestigious in the industry. With that being said, however, the American Music Awards has also been one of the more popular all-genre award shows out there.
This morning, they dropped their expansive list of nominees across genres, and they’re a bit of a doozy on the country side of things.
Unsurprisingly, Morgan Wallen is the top nominee in country music and also one of the top nominees across all genres. Receiving six nominations, the “Whiskey Glasses” singer got nods for Best Male Country Artist, Best Country Song (“Just In Case”), Best Country Album (I’m The Problem), Artist of the Year, Album of the Year (I’m The Problem) and Collaboration of the Year (“What I Want” with Tate McRae).
Riding the highs of “Choosin’ Texas,” Ella Langley received a lot of love as well. In addition to snagging Best Female Country Artist and New Artist of the Year, she’d also receive nominations for Song of the Year, Song of the Summer and Best Country Song, all for “Choosin’ Texas,” of course.
As for welcomed surprises, Sam Barber doubled up and scored nominations for Breakthrough Country Artist and Best Country Album (Restless Mind). Treaty Oak Revival would also snag a Best Country Duo or Group nod despite The Red Clay Strays inexplicably not being nominated alongside them.
That’s about as far as the positives go, however. Bafflingly, BigXthaPlug scored not one but three nominations for his “country” crossover, receiving Best Country Song and Collaboration of the Year for “All The Way” with Bailey Zimmerman as well as Best Country Album for I Hope You’re Happy.
The Country Song of the Year category is, quite frankly, embarrassing. Along with “All The Way,” Russell Dickerson’s mind-numbing “Happen To Me,” Shaboozey’s “Amen” and Morgan Wallen’s “Just In Case” are also nominated. The only redeeming song present in this category is undoubtedly Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas.”
Hilariously, the American Music Awards only designated one single award for folk and Americana, grouping the two genres together for “Best Americana Folk Artist.” Here, Tyler Childers scored his only nomination alongside The Lumineers, Mumford & Sons, Lord Huron and Noah Kahan, essentially being the Americana stand-in.
Finally, Zach Bryan is inexplicably nominated alongside Fall Out Boy, Tame Impala, Sleep Token and SOMBR, receiving a nomination for Best Rock/Alternative Album for his most recent release, With Heaven On Top.
Overall, it’s a bit baffling to see the American Awards make a few better picks than the recent ACM nominations, mainly with Sam Barber and Treaty Oak Revival receive recognition. With that being said, there are some absolute head-scratchers here.
The American Music Awards will air live on CBS and stream on Paramount+ from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Monday, May 25th. Given that they are a fan-voted award show, you can vote for your favorite artists HERE.
A full list of country nominees can be seen below.
Best Male Country Artist
- Jelly Roll
- Luke Combs
- Morgan Wallen
- Riley Green
- Shaboozey
Best Female Country Artist
- Ella Langley
- Kelsea Ballerini
- Lainey Wilson
- Megan Moroney
- Miranda Lambert
Best Country Duo or Group
- Brooks & Dunn
- Old Dominion
- Rascal Flatts
- Treaty Oak Revival
- Zac Brown Band
Breakthrough Country Artist
- Sam Barber
- Tucker Wetmore
- Zach Top
Best Country Song
- “All The Way” – BigXthaPlug & Bailey Zimmerman
- “Choosin’ Texas” – Ella Langley
- “Just In Case” – Morgan Wallen
- “Happen To Me” – Russell Dickerson
- “Good News” – Shaboozey
Best Country Album
- I Hope You’re Happy – BigXthaPlug
- Cloud 9 – Megan Moroney
- I’m The Problem – Morgan Wallen
- Restless Mind – Sam Barber
- What Not To – Tucker Wetmore
Best Americana/Folk Artist
- Lord Huron
- The Lumineers
- Mumford & Sons
- Noah Kahan
- Tyler Childers
Artist of the Year
- Bad Bunny
- Bruno Mars
- BTS
- Harry Styles
- Justin Bieber
- Kendrick Lamar
- Lady Gaga
- Morgan Wallen
- Sabrina Carpenter
- Taylor Swift
New Artist of the Year
- Alex Warren
- Ella Langley
- KATSEYE
- Leon Thomas
- Olivia Dean
- SOMBR
Album of the Year
- AM I THE DRAMA? – Cardi B
- 111xpantia – Fuerza Regida
- SWAG – Justin Bieber
- Mayhem – Lady Gaga
- I’m The Problem – Morgan Wallen
- The Art of Loving – Olivia Dean
- MUSIC – Playboi Carti
- Man’s Best Friend – Sabrina Carpenter
- So Close To What – Tate McCrae
- The LIfe of a Showgirl – Taylor Swift
Song of the Year
- “Ordinary” – Alex Warren
- “Choosin’ Texas” – Ella Langley
- “Golden” – HYNTR/X
- “Folded” – Kehlanu
- “MUTT” – Leon Thomas
- “I’m The Problem” – Morgan Wallen
- “Man I Need” – Olivia Dean
- “Manchild” – Sabrina Carpenter
- “back to friends” – SOMBR
- “The Fate of Ophelia” – Taylor Swift
Collaboration of the Year
- “All The Way” – BigXthaPlug & Bailey Zimmerman
- “Gone Gone Gone” – David Guetta, Teddy Swims & Tones And I
- “What I Want” – Morgan Wallen & Tate McRae
- “Stateside” – Pink Pantheress & Zara Larsson
- “Amen” – Jelly Roll & Shaboozey
Song of the Summer
- “FEVER DREAM” – Alex Warren
- “iloveitiloveitiloveit” – Bella Kay
- “SWIM” – BTS
- “Choosin’ Texas” – Ella Langley
- “American Girls” – Harry Styles
- “The Great Divide” – Noah Kahan
- “Stateside” – Pink Pantheress & Zara Larsson
- “Homewrecker” – SOMBR
- “Dracula” – Tame Impala & JENNIE
- “Elizabeth Taylor” – Taylor Swift
Best Rock/Alternative Album
- Even In Arcadia – Sleep Token
- I Barely Know Her – SOMBR
- Deadbeat – Tame Impala
- Breach – Twenty One Pilots
- With Heaven On Top – Zach Bryan
