The 53rd CMA Awards To Honor The Women of Country But their Nominees Don't Reflect That

Maren Morris leads with the most nominees for the 53rd CMA Awards, but that’s not enough to nominate her for Entertainer of the Year. Leading with six nominations off the success of her album “Girl,” it’s safe to say Morris is making waves in country music. Another female artist stripped from the title of Entertainer of the Year is Kacey Musgraves, who’s sold out tours and numerous Grammy Awards were also overlooked by the CMA Awards when deciding on the EOTY nominees. 
 
Categories such as Vocal Group of the Year and Vocal duo of the Year have proven to be similar each year, with only the Zac Brown Band replacing Lanco and Brooks & Dunn taking the nominee from Sugarland this year. While numerous all female groups and duos have entered into the scene, Maddie and Tae remain the only female pair nominated.
 
Despite our grimaces, we appreciate the Country Music Association for their recognition of Carrie Underwood as a nominee for Entertainer of the Year and for recognizing the works of Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves, Maddie and Tae, Carly Pearce, Miranda Lambert, and Ashley McBryde in other ways. The CMA Awards will be hosted by Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton on November 13th on ABC.
 
Full list of nominees:
 
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Garth Brooks
 
Eric Church
 
Chris Stapleton
 
Carrie Underwood
 
Keith Urban
 
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to Artist, Producer(s), and Mix Engineer)
 
“Burning Man” – Dierks Bentley Ft. Brothers Osborne
Producers: Ross Copperman, Jon Randall, Arturo Buenahora Jr.
Mix Engineer: F. Reid Shippen
 
“GIRL” – Maren Morris
Producer: Greg Kurstin
Mix Engineer: Greg Kurstin


“God’s Country” – Blake Shelton
Producer: Scott Hendricks
Mix Engineer: Justin Niebank
 
“Millionaire” – Chris Stapleton
Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
Mix Engineer: Vance Powell
 
“Speechless” – Dan + Shay
Producers: Dan Smyers, Scott Hendricks
Mix Engineer: Jeff Juliano
 
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to Artist and Producers)
 
“Center Point Road” – Thomas Rhett Producers: Dann Huff, Jesse Frasure, Thomas Rhett, Julian Bunetta, The Stereotypes, Cleve Wilson
 
“Cry Pretty” – Carrie Underwood Producers: David Garcia, Jim Jonsin, Carrie Underwood
 
“Dan + Shay” – Dan + Shay Producers: Dan Smyers, Scott Hendricks
 
“Desperate Man” – Eric Church Producers: Jay Joyce, Arturo Buenahora Jr.
 
“GIRL” – Maren Morris Producers: busbee, Maren Morris, Greg Kurstin
 
SONG OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to songwriters)
 
“Beautiful Crazy"
Songwriters: Luke Combs, Wyatt B. Durrette III, Robert Williford
 
“GIRL”
Songwriters: Maren Morris, Sarah Aarons, Greg Kurstin
 
“God’s Country”
Songwriters: Devin Dawson, Jordan Schmidt, Michael Hardy
 
“Rainbow”
Songwriters: Natalie Hemby, Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves
 
“Tequila”
Songwriters: Dan Smyers, Nicolle Galyon, Jordan Reynolds
 
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Kelsea Ballerini
 
Miranda Lambert
 
Maren Morris
 
Kacey Musgraves
 
Carrie Underwood
 
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Dierks Bentley
 
Luke Combs
 
Thomas Rhett
 
Chris Stapleton
 
Keith Urban
 
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Lady Antebellum
 
Little Big Town
 
Midland
 
Old Dominion
 
Zac Brown Band
 
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Brooks & Dunn
 
Brothers Osborne
 
Dan + Shay
 
Florida Georgia Line
 
Maddie & Tae
 
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Jenee Fleenor, Fiddle
 
Paul Franklin, Steel Guitar
 
Mac McAnally, Guitar
 
Ilya Toshinsky, Banjo/Guitar
 
Derek Wells, Guitar
 
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to Artist(s) and Director)
 
“Burning Man” – Dierks Bentley Ft. Brothers Osborne
Director: Wes Edwards
 
“GIRL” – Maren Morris
Director: Dave Meyers
 
“God’s Country” – Blake Shelton
Director: Sophie Muller
 
“Rainbow” – Kacey Musgraves
Director: Hannah Lux Davis
 
“Some Of It” – Eric Church
Director:  Reid Long
 
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Cody Johnson
 
Ashley McBryde
 
Midland
 
Carly Pearce
 
Morgan Wallen
 
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artists and Producer(s)
 
“All My Favorite People” – Maren Morris (ft. Brothers Osborne), Producers: Maren Morris, busbee
 
“Brand New Man” – Brooks & Dunn (with Luke Combs), Producer: Dann Huff
 
“Dive Bar” – Garth Brooks and Blake Shelton, Producer: Garth Brooks
 
“Old Town Road (Remix)” – Lil Nas X (feat. Billy Ray Cyrus), Producers: YoungKio, Michael Trent Reznor, Atticus Matthew Ross
 
“What Happens In A Small Town” – Brantley Gilbert and Lindsay Ell, Producer: Dann Huff