Four Artists Tied as Top CMA Nominees
The CMA Awards will be a tight race this year as four artists are tied for the most nominations. Jason Aldean, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton and Taylor Swift lead the pack in five categories each. The final tally was revealed at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on Tuesday morning (Sept. 6).
Meanwhile, The Band Perry and Zac Brown Band received four nominations as a group, while individual members Kimberly Perry (of The Band Perry), Coy Boyles and Zac Brown (both of the Zac Brown Band) each earned a solo nod as a songwriter.
Aldean, Paisley, Shelton, Swift and Keith Urban all landed in the prestigious entertainer category. This is the first time Aldean and Shelton appear in the category; Paisley, Swift and Urban are previous winners.
Kenny Chesney joins Aldean, Paisley, Shelton and Urban in the male vocalist category. Although he was not in the entertainer category, Chesney received nominations for "You and Tequila" in the single and musical event category with duet partner Grace Potter. The song's writers Matraca Berg and Deana Carter received a nod for song of the year.
Female vocalist nominees include Sara Evans, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Swift and Carrie Underwood. Vocal group of the year nominees include The Band Perry, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Rascal Flatts and Zac Brown Band.
Vocal duo nominees include the Civil Wars, Montgomery Gentry, Steel Magnolia, Sugarland and Thompson Square. Meanwhile, new artist nominees are The Band Perry, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Thompson Square and Chris Young.
The album of the year category features four of the entertainer nominees -- Aldean, Paisley, Shelton and Swift -- along with Zac Brown Band.
Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson's "Don't You Wanna Stay" will contend for single and musical event, while his "Dirt Road Anthem" earned a song nomination for writers Colt Ford and Brantley Gilbert.
A few country legends are in the running this year, as well. Alabama received its first nominations in seven years for "Old Alabama." Their memorable collaboration with Brad Paisley is up for musical event and video. The band's last win came in 1984, when they claimed their third consecutive award for entertainer of the year. In addition, Loretta Lynn is in the musical event category for her update of "Coal Miner's Daughter" with Lambert and Sheryl Crow. Her previous nomination came in 1994 for that same category for her Honky Tonk Angels collaboration with Dolly Parton and Tammy Wynette. Her prior CMA victories date all the way back to 1975 when she won a vocal duo award with Conway Twitty.
In addition to "Old Alabama" and "You and Tequila," the music video nominees include Shelton's "Honey Bee," The Band Perry's "If I Die Young" and Swift's "Mean"
The CMA Awards will air from Nashville's Bridgestone Arena on Nov. 9 on ABC. It marks the third consecutive year the ceremony will be hosted by Paisley and Underwood.
Entertainer of the Year
Jason Aldean
Brad Paisley
Blake Shelton
Taylor Swift
Keith Urban
New Artist
The Band Perry
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Thompson Square
Chris Young
Female Vocalist
Sara Evans
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
Male Vocalist
Jason Aldean
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
Blake Shelton
Keith Urban
Vocal Group
The Band Perry
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts
Zac Brown Band
Vocal Duo
The Civil Wars
Montgomery Gentry
Steel Magnolia
Sugarland
Thompson Square
Single of the Year
"A Little Bit Stronger"
Sara Evans
Producer: Tony Brown
"Colder Weather"
Zac Brown Band
Producers: Keith Stegall and Zac Brown
"Don't You Wanna Stay"
Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson
Producer: Michael Knox
"Honey Bee"
Blake Shelton
Producer: Scott Hendricks
"If I Die Young"
The Band Perry
Producer: Paul Worley
Album of the Year
All About Tonight
Blake Shelton
Producer: Scott Hendricks
My Kinda Party
Jason Aldean
Producer: Michael Knox
Speak Now
Taylor Swift
Producers: Nathan Chapman and Taylor Swift
This Is Country Music
Brad Paisley
Producers: Frank Rogers
You Get What You Give
Zac Brown Band
Producers: Keith Stegall and Zac Brown
Song of the Year
"Colder Weather"
Songwriters: Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette, Levi Lowrey and Coy Bowles
"Dirt Road Anthem"
Songwriters: Brantley Gilbert and Colt Ford
"If I Die Young"
Songwriter: Kimberly Perry
"Mean"
Songwriter: Taylor Swift
"You and Tequila"
Songwriters: Matraca Berg and Deana Carter
Musical Event
"As She's Walking Away"
Zac Brown Band featuring Alan Jackson
"Coal Miner's Daughter"
Loretta Lynn, Sheryl Crow and Miranda Lambert
"Don't You Wanna Stay"
Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson
"Old Alabama"
Brad Paisley featuring Alabama
"You and Tequila"
Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter
Music Video
"Honey Bee"
Blake Shelton
Director: Trey Fanjoy
"If I Die Young"
The Band Perry
Director: David McClister
"Mean"
Taylor Swift
Director: Declan Whitebloom
"Old Alabama"
Brad Paisley featuring Alabama
Director: Jim Shea
"You and Tequila"
Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter
Director: Shaun Silva
Musician of the Year
Sam Bush (mandolin)
Jerry Douglas (Dobro)
Paul Franklin (steel guitar)
Dann Huff (guitar)
Mac McAnally (guitar)
