ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Taylor Swift
Keith Urban
Kenny has won this award the last three year's in a row, but I think it's Keith Urban's year. Sleeper pick: Taylor Swift - She's been on top of the world this year, and just might become the first female to win this award since Shania Twain back in 1999.
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Reba McEntire
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
Like Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood has won this award the last three years, but I don't think anyone's going to be able to beat Taylor this year. Sentimental Pick: I don't think she has a shot at it, but I'd love to see Reba McEntire win it this year.
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
Darius Rucker
George Strait
Keith Urban
Any one of these guys deserves this award, but on mettle, Brad Paisley should win it. Since the beginning of 2008, every single he's released has went to #1, and his current single, Welcome to the Future is at #6 right now and still climbing. Sleeper Pick: Darius Rucker - Darius' first three country singles all went to number one. That's pretty darn impressive.
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Randy Houser
Jamey Johnson
Jake Owen
Darius Rucker
Zac Brown Band
Because of his three number one hits, I think Darius is the most deserving and will win, but being from Atlanta, I would love for my boys the Zac Brown Band to win this.
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Eagles
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts
Zac Brown Band
Rascal Flatts have won this award the last six years in a row, and they might win it for the 7th time, but I'm picking an upset here. I think Lady Antebellum have superstardom written all over them. For the same reason as above, I'd love for Zac Brown Band to win this one as well, but I'm not sure it's there time yet.
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Big & Rich
Brooks & Dunn
Joey + Rory
Montgomery Gentry
Sugarland
Sugarland are the hottest duo and possibly the hottest country act on the planet right now. Since 2008, they've had three number one hits, and two singles that are still climbing the charts. Sentimental Pick: Brooks & Dunn - It's never a good bet to count out Ronnie and Kix, especially since they announced that next year will be there last together.
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to Artist and Producer)
“Chicken Fried”
Zac Brown Band
Produced by Keith Stegall
Atlantic Records
“I Run To You”
Lady Antebellum
Produced by Victoria Shaw and Paul Worley
Capitol Records Nashville
“In Color”
Jamey Johnson
Produced by The Kent Hardly Playboys
Mercury Nashville
“People Are Crazy”
Billy Currington
Produced by Carson Chamberlain and Billy Currington
Mercury Nashville
“Then”
Brad Paisley
Produced by Frank Rogers and Chris DuBois
Arista Nashville
All of these are great songs, but Jamey's "In Color" is both a great and unique song. Sleeper Pick: "Chicken Fried" by the Zac Brown Band - Like "In Color", this is a unique and great song.
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to Artist and Producer)
American Saturday Night
Brad Paisley
Produced by Frank Rogers and Chris DuBois
Arista Nashville
Defying Gravity
Keith Urban
Produced by Dann Huff and Keith Urban
Capitol Records Nashville
Fearless
Taylor Swift
Produced by Nathan Chapman and Taylor Swift
Big Machine Records
Love On The Inside
Sugarland
Produced by Byron Gallimore, Kristian Bush, and Jennifer Nettles
Mercury Nashville
That Lonesome Song
Jamey Johnson
Produced by The Kent Hardly Playboys
Mercury Records
Taylor's "Fearless" wasn't just one of the biggest country albums of last year, it was one of the biggest pop albums of last year as well. It's already been certified 4x Platinum, and it's destined to become one of the biggest selling country albums of all-time. Sleeper Pick: Brad Paisley's "American Saturday Night". The only reason this one might not win is because it wasn't released until June 30th of this year.
SONG OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to Songwriter(s))
“Chicken Fried”
Zac Brown/Wyatt Durrette
“I Told You So”
Randy Travis
“In Color”
Jamey Johnson/Lee Thomas Miller/James Otto
“People Are Crazy”
Bobby Braddock/Troy Jones
“Then”
Brad Paisley/Chris DuBois/Ashley Gorley
I want "People Are Crazy" to win mainly because I love this line, "God is great, Beer is good and People are crazy." More than likely winner: "In Color" by Jamey Johnson.
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to each Artist)
“Cowgirls Don’t Cry”
Brooks & Dunn featuring Reba McEntire
Arista Nashville
“Down The Road”
Kenny Chesney (with Mac McAnally)
Blue Chair Records, LLC & BNA Records
“Everything But Quits”
Lee Ann Womack (duet with George Strait)
MCA Nashville
“I Told You So”
Carrie Underwood featuring Randy Travis
19 Recordings/Arista Nashville
“Old Enough”
The Raconteurs featuring Ricky Skaggs and Ashley Monroe
Third Man Records/Warner Bros. Records
“Start A Band”
Brad Paisley (duet with Keith Urban)
Arista Nashville
"I Told You So" was a huge hit for Randy Travis back in the day, and Carrie's duet with Randy essentially introduced Randy Travis to millions of young country fans. Possible Surprise Winner: "Old Enough" - This category yielded a surprise last year when Alison Krauss and Robert Plant won, so I wouldn't be surprised if this year's winner came out of left field as well.
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to Artist and Director)
“Boots On”
Randy Houser
Directed by Eric Welch
“Love Story”
Taylor Swift
Directed by Trey Fanjoy
“People Are Crazy”
Billy Currington
Directed by The Brads
“Start A Band”
Brad Paisley (duet with Keith Urban)
Directed by Jim Shea
“Troubadour”
George Strait
Directed by Trey Fanjoy
For it's elaborate production and presentation, "Love Story" should win, but I could also see Brad and Keith's "Start A Band" taking home the trophy.
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Eddie Bayers– Drums
Paul Franklin – Steel Guitar
Dann Huff – Guitar
Brent Mason – Guitar
Mac McAnally – Guitar
I'm picking Dann Huff. Many of you may not know who Dann is, so here's a look at one of his biggest hits: Giant's I'll See You In My Dreams - That's right, Dann may be playing guitar with some of country's biggest stars today, but in the late 80's and early 90's, he was the lead singer and guitar player for the melodic hair band Giant.
Well, that's it. Those are my picks. What about you? Who do you think will win? Let me know by commenting below, and please vote in our Entertainer of the Year poll at the top left. Thanks!
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1 comment:
If the CMA knows Kenny isn't a great singer and never gave him "Male Vocalist" honors, what makes you think that they'd give "Female Vocalist" honors to Swift when she is less of a singer than Chesney? They may give Chesney EOY and possibly Swift, they won't dishonor their professional award by call her "Female Vocalist".
Do you think these people want to be laughed out of Nashville?
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