The 2017 CMA Awards Complete Preview
(Tune in Wednesday night for Saving Country Music’s LIVE Blog of the CMA Awards)
The 51st ANNUAL CMA AWARDS
When: 7 p.m. Central, 8 p.m. Eastern Wednesday, November 8th 2017 on ABC.
Where: The Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN.
Hosts: Brad Paisley & Carrie Underwood (10th consecutive year)
THINGS TO WATCH FOR
Big Battle for Album of the Year, and it includes Jason Isbell, Chris Stapleton, and Miranda Lambert, causing many to characterize it as an Americana invasion into mainstream country. Rest assured, one of them will likely win, unless they all split votes against each other, and somehow Lady Antebellum’s Heart Break, or Little Big Town’s The Breaker ends up victorious. The sure bet is Miranda, but country music might be the biggest winner with one of the strongest fields for Album of the Year in the last decade or more. And no, Jason Isbell will not be there. He’s on tour in Europe.
Miranda Lambert could have a huge night with with five total nominations, including for Female Vocalist of the Year, and Album of the Year for The Weight of These Wings, both of which he has to be considered a favorite for. It’s also possible she picks up a win for either Single of the Year, and/or Song of the Year for “Tin Man” in such a weak field for critical favorites. “Vice” is also up for Video of the Year, but lost out to Brothers Osborne in early announcements.
Not much traditional country will be featured on the presentation, but Jon Pardi will get a big performance slot, and hopefully will perform his current single “She Ain’t In It” as opposed to “Dirt On My Boots” which has a couple of nominations. Alan Jackson will also perform, which will be a bright spot for traditional country fans. Another bright spot is Sam Hunt is not scheduled to perform at the moment. And take special note that Eric Church is the only performer at the moment scheduled to perform twice—once in the opening, and once in his own slot. Is this foretelling that he’s more of a contender for Entertainer of the Year than we suspected? (LATE BREAKING: Keith Urban will also get two slots).
Remembering Las Vegas and other tragedies will likely play into the presentation somehow, but don’t be surprised if it’s low key and quick. Jason Aldean, who became the face of the Vegas shooting, was snubbed by the CMAs in the nomination process, and currently does not have a performance slot.
THE PRESENTERS
Artist presenters include Luke Combs, Dustin Lynch, Reba McEntire, Trisha Yearwood, and Brett Young.
Non artist presenters include radio personality Bobby Bones, NASCAR’s Jimmie Johnson, model Karlie Kloss, actors Michelle Monaghan, Lea Michele, Jason Ritter, Brittany Snow, and JoAnna Garcia, and comedian Tyler Perry.
THE PERFORMERS
The show will open with a collaboration between Eric Church, Darius Rucker, Keith Urban, and Lady Antebellum. It’s a strange pairing to put the usually renegade Church with the other collaborators, but the CMA’s are selling it as an “unprecedented opening.” We’ll see.
Reba McEntire and Kelsea Ballerini will sing Ballerini’s “Legends” together. Both are nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year.
Maren Morris and (One Direction) will perform the duet “Seeing Blind.”
Brad Paisley and Kane Brown will perform Paisley’s “Heaven South.”
Dierks Bentley and Rascal Flatts will perform together.
Tim McGraw and Faith Hill will perform a duet.
Pink will perform, likely in a collaboration with another artist, but it hasn’t been confirmed what, and with whom just yet. Her duet with Kenny Chesney called “Setting the World on Fire” is up for Musical Event of the Year so this would be a good bet, but Chesney has not been announced as a performer.
Other Performers Include:
- Alan Jackson (Perhaps his new song “The Older I Get”)
- Garth Brooks
- Miranda Lambert (“To Learn Her”)
- Little Big Town
- Old Dominion (Likely “Written in the Sand”)
- Jon Pardi (Either his current single “She Ain’t In It,” or the nominated “Dirt on My Boots.”)
- Chris Stapleton
- Brothers Osborne
- Luke Bryan (Probably his single, “Light It Up”)
- Thomas Rhett
- Carrie Underwood
- Keith Urban (His new single “Female”)
- Eric Church (Gets his own slot, along with participating in the opening. He recently released a new single “‘Round Here Buzz”).
AWARD NOMINEES & PREDICTIONS
Early winners include Brothers Osborne and “It Ain’t My Fault” for Video of the Year, and Willie Nelson / Glen Campbell with “Funny How Time Slips Away” for Vocal Event of the Year off of Campbell’s final album Adios.
Entertainer of the Year
Hard one to call, but let’s hope it’s not Keith Urban. After it was proved you can win this strictly off of touring prowess by Garth Brooks last year, who knows what to expect. It’s probably between him and Luke, but Luke’s the one that will have a big next couple of months with a new single out.
Garth Brooks
Luke Bryan – WINNER
Eric Church
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban
Album of the Year
There will be a lot of effort to see Miranda Lambert done right here, and the votes for Chris Stapleton and Jason Isbell might split themselves. This is a really strong field except Lady Antebellum, but Miranda probably nabs it in the end.
The Breaker – Little Big Town
From A Room, Vol. 1 – Chris Stapleton
Heart Break – Lady Antebellum
The Nashville Sound – Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
The Weight of These Wings – Miranda Lambert – WINNER
Single of the Year
If you go with the spirit of the Single of the Year award, Sam Hunt will win this. But it’s interesting: Sam Hunt has struggled at awards shows. Even Music Row is reluctant to crown someone so pop as country. But with “Body Like a Backroad” breaking records, Sam probably wins handedly.
“Better Man” – Little Big Town
“Blue Ain’t Your Color” – Keith Urban
“Body Like a Back Road” – Sam Hunt -WINNER
“Dirt on My Boots” – Jon Pardi
“Tin Man” – Miranda Lambert
Song of the Year
“Tin Man” will be what most root for, but there will be a temptation to give this to Little Big Town, if for no other reason than to try and coax songwriter Taylor Swift into the building right after she releases her new record and is the biggest thing in the world. Love Jon Pardi, but “Dirt On My Boots” is garbage, and doesn’t deserve to be here.
“Better Man” – Little Big Town (songwriter: Taylor Swift)
“Blue Ain’t Your Color” – Keith Urban (songwriters: Clint Lagerberg, Hillary Lindsey, Steven Olsen)
“Body Like a Back Road” – Sam Hunt (songwriters: Zach Crowell, Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne)
“Dirt on My Boots” – Jon Pardi (songwriters: Rhett Akins, Jesse Frasure, Ashley Gorley)
“Tin Man” – Miranda Lambert (songwriters: Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall) – WINNER
Male Vocalist of the Year
Scott Borchetta and Big Machine—looking for wins and getting locked out of the better categories—will command all his voting blocks to get behind Thomas Rhett. Stapleton and Church have outside chances. Why is Luke Bryan not here? This can’t be a good sign for Gomer.
Dierks Bentley
Eric Church
Thomas Rhett – WINNER
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban
Female Vocalist of the Year
Yeah yeah, Carrie or Miranda? Carrie is the better singer (just ask Miranda), but Miranda is the one with the momentum. It really is a shame this keeps going to the same person over and over, not to say Miranda hasn’t deserved it many of the years. But it’s hard to see anyone else win. Cool to see Reba get some ink here. Maren Morris is your dark horse.
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert – WINNER
Reba McEntire
Maren Morris
Carrie Underwood
New Artist of the Year
Let’s hope it’s not Brett Young or Old Dominion. Jon Pardi would be a real nice pick here, and he’s earned it from his recent commercial performance. Luke Combs has as well, continuing to surprise with strong album sales and traction on radio. Good to see at least one woman in Lauren Alaina nominated here, but she’s probably the only one not likely to win. Odds are probably best for Brett Young, but this is a very open field.
Luke Combs
Old Dominion
Jon Pardi
Brett Young
Lauren Alaina
Vocal Duo of the Year
Lol, Maddie & Tae? Love those girls, but this shows how far they’re stretching just to find names to fill it. Brothers Osborne has been on a hot streak over Florida Georgia Line in the recent past, and since the Cruize Boys are off their album cycle, it would be a surprise if they do anything here. But so are Brothers Osborne. So who wins? Probably LoCash or Dan + Shay, which would be a bloody shame.
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
LoCash
Maddie and Tae – Will not win
Brothers Osborne
Vocal Group of the Year
Little Big Town continues to be a favorite, but Zac Brown Band may angle for this after “coming back to their roots.” Too hard to prognosticate.
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Old Dominion
Rascal Flatts
Zac Brown Band
Music Video of the Year – AWARDED
“Better Man” – Little Big Town
“Blue Ain’t Your Color” – Keith Urban
“Craving You” – Thomas Rhett feat. Maren Morris
“It Ain’t My Fault” – Brothers Osborne – WON
“Vice” – Miranda Lambert
Musical Event of the Year – AWARDED
With the death of Glen Campbell, there’s an opportunity the sympathy vote reigns supreme, and both Glen and Willie walk away with a CMA. If that happens, hopefully they televise it, and Glen’s family can bask in the honor. Everything else is a garbage fire except “Kill A Word,” which probably should win. “Speak to a Girl” is not nearly as good as it’s being given credit for.
“Craving You” – Thomas Rhett feat. Maren Morris
“Funny How Time Slips Away” – Glen Campbell with Willie Nelson – WON
“Kill a Word” – Eric Church feat. Rhiannon Giddens
“Setting the World on Fire” – Kenny Chesney with Pink
“Speak to a Girl” – Tim McGraw and Faith Hill
Musician Of The Year
Jerry Douglas (Dobro)
Paul Franklin (Steel Guitar)
Dann Huff (Guitar)
Mac McAnally (Guitar)
Derek Wells (Guitar)
Ray
November 8, 2017 @ 8:39 am
Keith Urban is performing twice, once in the opening and also his new single, “Female.”
Joseph
November 8, 2017 @ 8:42 am
Thoughts on the new Keith Urban single Trig?
Obviously pretty adult contemporary.
The Anti-Bro
November 8, 2017 @ 8:48 am
Lord help us if BroCash or Old Doucheminion wins over the Brothers Osborne..
Gabe
November 8, 2017 @ 8:51 am
Miranda is performing ‘to learn her’. It was announced yesterday in an interview
https://rumble.com/v3x267-miranda-lambert-at-cma-awards-rare-country.html
hayes
November 8, 2017 @ 8:57 am
Hopefully Luke Bryan will NOT perform his current single and WILL perform the newly released track “Most People Are Good”. Your thoughts on his new song? It’s not ground breaking but at least it’s not more of the same from Luke Bryan.
Master Spleen
November 8, 2017 @ 1:42 pm
Luke bryan has recccccroed a couple of god songs but so have most bad acts so maybe its better but thats an empty promisebecausewealready know that he doesnt care what he puts out so its just what happened and it makes him look shallow wishy-washy and one dimensiooona also he just cimes across as dumb I liked I know your gonna be there from his dumb album with the shake it for me song but one good song does not a quality artist make and its certiananaly not enough to atone for a careers worth of poor material
Rex Fowler
November 8, 2017 @ 9:16 am
Kind of sucks that Midland wasn’t nominated. That’s just me though. Them and William Michael Morgan.
Honky
November 8, 2017 @ 9:42 am
I agree.
jtrpdx
November 8, 2017 @ 12:39 pm
I am sure the Midland clown train will be in full force next year, paraded around by their Big Machine handlers in their makeup and costumes …..with screaming soccer moms and pre-teens in tow. : )
I don’t think their album was released early enough in the year for consideration for this show, though.
Rex Fowler
November 8, 2017 @ 12:41 pm
Fair enough. Still put out better music than 3/4 of country radio
jtrpdx
November 8, 2017 @ 2:02 pm
I will give you that, Rex. The ratio is higher than 3/4 too.
JB-Chicago
November 8, 2017 @ 3:35 pm
You can make fun of The Midland Boys and their cute costumes all you want. It’s not like their storming up the charts with sales or airplay and being played to death. I’ll take those 14 tunes which I love (including 14 Gears) over 99% of what’s on the radio AND what you guys on this site tout every day. They’ll be here next week and I can’t wait. I’ll let you know how they sounded but one things for sure……….They’ll look amazing!!!….LOL
The Anti-Bro
November 8, 2017 @ 4:05 pm
They’re not gonna sleep with you, JB..
jtrpdx
November 8, 2017 @ 6:01 pm
Anti-Bro wins comment of the week. Well done!
Dallas
November 8, 2017 @ 4:40 pm
Nice to have midland join saving country music.com
New Country Fan
November 8, 2017 @ 9:34 am
Unfortunately, I think you are right about who will win the CMAs. Not watching as I am not a Miranda Fan and quite honestly can’t stand to see her win. Except I don’t think Miranda gets song of the year over those other songs. It will be LBT and Taylor. Luke wins entertainer of the year cause the CMA awards are on ABC and he is going to be on American Idol that is an ABC show. All so political and contrived as to who wins. But the good news is I believe this is it for Miranda Lambert and her winning awards. People except her small but vocal fan base are so tired of her. She’s so overrated. I could list better female country music artists but the list would be way too long. I really hope Jason pulls a huge surprise and nabs album of the year. Or Chris. I believe that with the popularity of netflix and so many other streaming options and TV shows to watch now these awards are now kind of irrelevant anyway. Except for the Grammys.
gar
November 8, 2017 @ 1:37 pm
mirandas a forking tank
Stringbuzz
November 8, 2017 @ 9:36 am
I kinda could care less, but Eric Church deserves entertainer of the year.
Playing 3.5+ hours a nite, different set lists every nite, with the songs he covered, the guests he brought out on stage, just blows away any other tour this year. And he treats his fans like no one else.
By no means am I a mainstream country guy, but I will give credit where it is due. I’m even done arguing about whether he is country or not. I could care less. He entertains.
The 61 Days of Church project is fabulous..
sbach66
November 8, 2017 @ 10:33 am
My guess is the opening is Glen Campbell tribute.
Doyle Hargrave
November 8, 2017 @ 11:04 am
Are you going to live blog tonight? It’s normally about the only entertainment I get out of these awards.
Liz
November 8, 2017 @ 1:58 pm
I too am looking forward to Trig’s commentary. Best entertainment there is. Certainly not going to watch the awards. Country music award shows are few and far between on New Zealand television.
Huntermc6
November 8, 2017 @ 11:14 am
Glad Miranda chose “To Learn Her”. Such a great song that will never see the radio. If Stapleton plays “Scarecrow in the Garden” I would be really happy but he probably plays “Broken Halos”. Do you think we will hear Eric Church play ‘Why Not Me”?
Derek Sullivan
November 8, 2017 @ 1:08 pm
For his main set, I’m 99 percent sure Eric will play “Round Here Buzz,” especially with a video recently released. Now, at the beginning of the show, maybe. I posted earlier it might be Vegas related. If it was about Glen or another act, they would leak it. A couple years ago, Eric was part of a Merle Haggard tribute and that was released ahead of the show if I remember right.
I just think there will be a remember Vegas at the beginning and then the show will go on as normal.
Derek Sullivan
November 8, 2017 @ 11:36 am
I also think Eric Church has a great shot at entertainer of the year. Hopefully, voters didn’t see his horrific Thanksgiving performance and caught his tour, which was fantastic. Plus, the CMA has honored Eric before when he does good work.
Anybody think the opener is Vegas related? And Church could perform “Why Not Me?”
Cobra
November 8, 2017 @ 11:48 am
I definitely think Eric Church stands a chance of winning (and should win) Entertainer of the Year.
Greg
November 8, 2017 @ 12:30 pm
Loretta is not on,so I won’t be watching.I only watch the award shows when Loretta is on.Instead of the awards,I will watch a DVD with Loretta.
Kate
November 9, 2017 @ 12:36 am
I am with you. CMA should change to PMA Pop Music Association. There is nothing country about 99% of the people in country today. I am not saying everyone needs a twangy voice but it would be nice if we had more people like King George, Reba, Brooks and Dunn..REAL country.
Desperado Destry
November 8, 2017 @ 1:44 pm
It’s a shame that Maddie and Tae don’t stand a chance for Vocal Duo of the Year… at least right now. They’re one of the few that have a little tradition in their music and aren’t afraid to show it. But this is how music row changes a pure country artist… nominated, nominated, nominated, until they change that sound and become manufactured. Then they are nominated and win. Damn shame but that’s the way it is. I also think Little Big Town is gonna win Song of the Year because as you notted Trig Taylor Swift penned Better Man and I don’t see them giving Miranda two awards (Female Vocalist of the Year). I’ll probably watch just because I enjoy the live blog on SCM. If there’s a silver lining behind this cloud… that’s it.
Master Spleen
November 8, 2017 @ 1:55 pm
tradition dont make me laugh the only tradition they know is bering a miley cypress imitator like tayler swirt and they are funded by the same rcord company of florididia gerogia line and that parking lot party song so it costs their dumb protext some credibility and makes it look like a marketing ploy ad I like wat greg says about loreatta lynn van lear rose is a great album but maddie and tay are [art of a marketing ploiy to undermine traditinanana; country fans by playing them for suckkkers
Matt
November 8, 2017 @ 1:59 pm
That was, uhh, one hell of a sentence?
Master Spleen
November 8, 2017 @ 1:52 pm
I thoght it was going to be a pocture of a dumster fire like last time
-Ed.
November 8, 2017 @ 1:52 pm
So underwhelmed by the whole lineup except for 3 or 4 of the artists. About half of the artists are unknown to me. Gah, that song Heaven South by that douche makes me feel like I’m stuck in a wormhole. Trig if you live blog this tonight, you deserve hazardous duty pay.
Desperado Destry
November 8, 2017 @ 2:37 pm
@Master Spleen Uhhh… sorry to burst your bubble but Maddie and Tae are on UMG Nashville not Big Machine. They were on Dot Records (Big Machine’s sister label) until it went under. If they are playing country fans for suckers then I guess Alan Jackson, George Strait, Chris Stapleton etc. are too since they are on UMG with other not so traditional country artists. Maddie and Tae know what the hell a fiddle and mandolin is and know who the hell Conway Twitty and George Strait are and for that they get my respect. They may not be Loretta or Tammy but you take what you get and they are what we got.
Master Spleen
November 8, 2017 @ 2:45 pm
the diffrenrence is that gorge strait never called out label mate sam hunt the way maddieie and tay did to the bro country epidemic see the protext song ings a little hollow when it comes from a labelmatet thats y the protext song was publicizsed so heavily. keep in mind that every dollar from their records was a dollar in scott boboorhctatas pockes and he uses money to destroy country music hes a hair metal reject like shane macnally who wants to take our genre and make in in their image and besides even if they changed libels they are still miley cyrsu wannabes singing millennial white chick songs about the same tried old themes and especially since I am not a milluemium theres no way to relate to it and its incredibly shallow and trivial there are so many etter options like dory freeman who id rather listen to because it sounds ore like country music did when I grew p if you take a patsy or a dolly record and then a miley crryeryus record and play them and play a maddie and tate record it sounds mre like the miley reccord than the patsy or the dolly record
Desperado Destry
November 8, 2017 @ 3:38 pm
@Master Spleen First of all, I agree with you as far as Borchetta is concerned 110%. He wants to destroy country music as we know it. However, if Maddie and Tae were given their big break through him and IF they do have country music’s best interest at heart… you can’t blame them. Secondly, their single ” Girl In a Country Song” where they called out Sam Hunt and others could be compared to George Strait and Alan Jackson’s “Murder on Music Row”. I’m not saying I’m a Maddie and Tae fan (been a Johnny Cash boy my whole life so I’m hardly listening to their songs). All I’m saying is compared to the artists that are most likely to win Vocal Duo of the Year (aside from Brothers Osborne) they feel country.
Master Spleen
November 8, 2017 @ 3:41 pm
thats a reasonanbble way to look at it.
Strait Country 81
November 8, 2017 @ 3:21 pm
I’ll just watch Alan’s & Stapleton performances on YT tomorrow
Bill Weiler
November 8, 2017 @ 3:51 pm
Let’s see. I could watch this and yell at the screen every five minutes, or I could drive five miles to see Amanda Platt and the Honeycutters.
seak05
November 8, 2017 @ 4:14 pm
Luke never gets a male vocal nomination. This year is just more of the same. I’d love to see Isbell win, but he won’t. Miranda will probably take it (& female). Miranda deserves female this year…I just wish she hadn’t won it a billion times already. Time for some new female blood.
And the total lack of a women getting nominated for musician of the year continues.