50th Annual CMA Awards Predictions
As the anticipation for the 50th Annual CMA Awards builds, we're placing our bets on who some of the night's biggest winners will be.
The countdown to “Country Music’s Biggest Night” is on!
As the anticipation for the 50th Annual CMA Awards builds, we’re placing our bets on who some of the night’s biggest winners will be. Sounds Like Nashville Editor-In-Chief, Lauren Black, as well as SLN contributors Annie Reuter and Chuck Dauphin, share their thoughts on six of the top CMA Awards categories, including the night’s biggest honor, Entertainer of the Year, below.
Do you agree with their picks? Tweet us at @soundslikenash and let us know!
Entertainer of the Year
Lauren: Carrie Underwood
Each of the five nominees are worthy of the honor, but I’m hoping to see Underwood take home her first CMA EOTY trophy. Her Storyteller Tour is a true spectacle and she is (and always has been) such a great cheerleader for the Country music genre. Her time is now and I hope that CMA voters see this one through.
Annie: Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood needs no pyrotechnics, choreographed dance moves or fancy lighting work during her headlining tour. The singer could sit on a stool alone with a microphone for 90 minutes and impress concertgoers and she does this at one point in the evening during her massively successful Storyteller Tour. The singer has proved this year that she should be bestowed the coveted Entertainer of the Year trophy as her show impresses night after night with her memorable vocals, tales of family and fan interaction. There is no artist more deserving than Carrie Underwood at this year’s CMA Awards.
Chuck: Carrie Underwood
Compelling arguments could be made for all five. Stapleton would be the dark horse, I would think. Some might say ‘All he does is sing.’ Well, in his case, that’s entertaining enough. Urban and Bryan make it look easy, and Garth is…..Garth. But, though I think CMA voters might go the other way in the Female Vocalist field, I think that the Storyteller Tour spoke volumes as to how far Carrie Underwood has come. She deserves it, so that’s my pick.
Female Vocalist of the Year
Lauren: Carrie Underwood
I will truly be shocked if Carrie Underwood doesn’t take home a win in this category. The past year was a stellar year for Carrie as she released a new album, brought several more singles to No.1, and launched a wildly successful tour. Miranda Lambert has dominated this category for the past six years, but I think it’s time for Underwood to re-claim her crown. Plus, it’s been a pretty quiet year for Miranda. CMA voters, please don’t let me down!
Annie: Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood is hands down the best female vocalist of our generation. She can belt those high notes like no other. Have you witnessed her sing ‘Something In the Water’ and then segue into ‘Amazing Grace?’ It’s the most powerful thing I have ever seen in concert and it’s no wonder she chooses to end each show with this memorable performance.
Chuck: Miranda Lambert
This one is getting a little more complicated. First, Kacey Musgraves – though a great artist and critical darling – has not had as strong of a year as she has had in the past. Maren Morris is on her way, she’s got a few ahead of her in this category. Kelsea Ballerini would not surprise me, as I think she’s got a strong chance to become the next new winner in this category. But, you’ve got Miranda Lambert – silent for all but a few weeks of the eligibility period, and Carrie Underwood, who might have delivered the strongest overall year of her career. If there’s any justice, Underwood will reclaim her title this year, but Lambert’s unprecedented string of six wins here speaks volumes – and I think it goes to seven.
Male Vocalist of the Year
Lauren: Chris Stapleton
I think the majority of the industry voters are still on the Chris Stapleton train, so my guess is that he takes this one home for the second year. He’s definitely worthy of the honor!
Annie: Chris Stapleton
Chris Stapleton has the best voice in country music, no discussion. One minute the man can soulfully belt a lyric and seconds later transition into a whisper. He, much like Carrie Underwood, needs no fanfare in the live setting. Simply his voice, a guitar and microphone is enough to entrance listeners and this showcases why Stapleton is so deserving the recognition of Male Vocalist of the Year.
Chuck: Chris Stapleton
We can talk about this one all day long. McGraw had a sensational year, while Urban and Church kept plowing along. I wouldn’t mind seeing Dierks come away with a long-deserved honor, but Chris Stapleton has had too great of a year for anyone else to be in legitimate contention.
Vocal Group of the Year
Lauren: Rascal Flatts
I am going to go out on a limb with this one. While I think Little Big Town has what it takes to pull off another win, this past year has been pretty quiet for them. Rascal Flatts had quite a year with another stint in Las Vegas, a chart-topping single with “I Like the Sound of That,” and a successful headlining tour. These guys have not won a Vocal Group trophy since 2008. Maybe it’s time they reclaim the prize?!
Annie: Little Big Town
The year of “Girl Crush” may be over but it is far from forgotten. Little Big Town have continued their stint opening for Luke Bryan another year and with good reason: they are some of the best vocalists out there. Little Big Town’s spot-on harmonies send chills up my spine seeing them live and their musicianship coupled with their heartfelt songs and memorable live show continue to make them a force to reckon with.
Chuck: Little Big Town
Little Big Town has had control of this one for a few years now, but it’s been a relatively quiet year for them at radio. Still, I see them as the overall favorites here. Lady A took most of the voting year off, while the Zac Brown Band – for whatever reason – just hasn’t been able to gain a foothold here. I don’t see Old Dominion with enough muscle – despite being on Sony – to seriously contend here, so you come down to Little Big Town, and a former winner in this category, who has had a pretty good year. In the end, I think Little Big Town takes it, but if Rascal Flatts scored a comeback win here, I wouldn’t be too surprised.
Vocal Duo of the Year
Lauren: Florida Georgia Line
While I would love to see Brothers Osborne go home with this trophy, no one seems to come close to Florida Georgia Line. Thanks to the success of “H.O.L.Y.,” the duo’s career was revived this past year. They also saw success with their headlining Dig Your Roots Tour and recently-released album of the same name. Look for FGL to take home their fourth consecutive win in this category.
Annie: Brothers Osborne
Brothers Osborne’s 2016 is one that dreams are made of as the duo released their debut album Pawn Shop and saw their first single ‘Stay A Little Longer’ go to No. 1 on the country charts. The band of brothers — made up of vocalist TJ and lead guitarist John — brought their impressive vocals and guitar slinging to audiences throughout the U.S. this summer with a tour slot opening for Miranda Lambert and several festival dates where they continue to bring their A-game to every show. Brothers Osborne are the most unique duo in this category. Don’t believe me? Just give that killer guitar solo in ‘Stay A Little Longer’ another listen.
Chuck: Florida Georgia Line
While I will admit to being a little partial to Maddie & Tae’s airtight harmonies, they will have to be a little steady at radio before they can really compete here. Dan + Shay and Brothers Osborne are having hits, but aren’t there yet. Joey+Rory would be a great story, but at the end of the day, nobody is having the success that FGL is enjoying, and I see another win for Brian and Tyler here.
Album of the Year
Lauren: Black, Dierks Bentley
This is one of the night’s toughest categories to predict! Each of these albums is truly deserving of the honor, so it’s hard to pick just one. I think this category is going to come down to Eric Church’s Mr. Misunderstood and Dierks Bentley’s Black, but I think the commercial success of Black will push this one over the edge. It’s been a monumental year for Bentley, so this will just be the icing on the cake for the Arizona native.
Annie: Storyteller, Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood’s fifth studio album, Storyteller, continues to exemplify her staying power and showcases why she is one of the most revered singers within the genre. The 13-track album is chock full of unique storylines, be it a cheating spouse, a girl on the run or a woman suffering from domestic abuse. In between the dark tales, Underwood’s happy home life plays out on songs like ‘Heartbeat’ and ‘What I Never Knew I Always Wanted.’ A versatile release, with three back-to-back No. 1 songs and her latest single ‘Dirty Laundry’ swiftly climbing the charts, Underwood is on fire and is most deserving of the Album of the Year win.
Chuck: Mr. Misunderstood, Eric Church
I don’t really see one clear-cut winner here. Carrie and Dierks’s projects have the biggest bang for their buck as far as radio hits are concerned, and Maren picked up a lot of fans and critical acclaim with her disc. I think Keith Urban pushed the boundaries of the format more than ever before with Ripcord, but I think that the pure genius of Eric Church surprisingly releasing his disc the week of the CMA Awards last year will give him his second win in this category – that, and it was a fine album, as well.
The 50th Annual CMA Awards, hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, will air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 2 at 8/7c. Click HERE to view a complete list of CMA Awards nominees.
