The 47th Annual CMA Awards – CMIL Predictions
As we do each and every year, we’ve compiled our predictions for winners in the 12 CMA Awards categories. We’ve included who we believe should win, as well as who we think will win because they happen to be quite different sometimes.
This year, we’ve also included the official CMA Awards nomination criteria for each category to help fans better understand what each award is about. Keep in mind, the eligibility period for “The 47th Annual CMA Awards” is July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013.
Check out our predictions below. Be sure to leave a comment with your thoughts and predictions as well!
Entertainer of the Year
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Blake Shelton
George Strait
Taylor Swift
Nomination Criteria: This Award is for the act displaying the greatest competence in all aspects of the entertainment field. Voter should give consideration not only to recorded performance, but also to the in-person performance, staging, public acceptance, attitude, leadership, and overall contribution to the Country Music image. Award to artist.
Who Should Win: While it would be nice to see the industry send George Strait off into retirement from the touring front with an Entertainer of the Year trophy, we’re not sure it’s going to happen. This category ultimately comes down to Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton.
Who Will Win: Considering the fact that much of Shelton’s year has been devoted to “The Voice,” we think voters will award the night’s biggest honor to Luke Bryan.
Single of the Year
(Award goes to Artist and Producer(s))
“Cruise” – Florida Georgia Line, Produced by Joey Moi, Republic Nashville
“Highway Don’t Care” – Tim McGraw with Taylor Swift and Keith Urban, Produced by Byron Gallimore and Tim McGraw, Big Machine Records
“Mama’s Broken Heart” – Miranda Lambert, Produced by Frank Liddell, Glenn Worf, and Chuck Ainlay, RCA Nashville
“Merry Go ‘Round” – Kacey Musgraves, Produced by Luke Laird, Shane McAnally, and Kacey Musgraves, Mercury Records
“Wagon Wheel” – Darius Rucker, Produced by Frank Rogers, Capitol Records Nashville
Nomination Criteria: This Award is for individual tracks only. This category will include both digital releases as well as physical releases. The track must have reached the Top 50 of Billboard’s Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart, Country Aircheck Chart or Music Row Country Breakout Chart for the first time during the eligibility period. If the single charted in the Top 50 on the above charts and was released prior to the eligibility period but achieved its highest chart position during the eligibility period, it is eligible unless it has previously appeared on a Ballot 3 in this category. Award to artist and producer.
Who Should Win: Not only did “Cruise” set the Billboard record for the longest-running No.1 in history, it also earned the duo massive success with the country music audience and beyond. If this one doesn’t take home the Single of the Year Award, we’ll be shocked.
Who Will Win: If we were the betting kind, all of our money would be on “Cruise.”
Album of the Year
(Award goes to Artist and Producer(s))
Based on a True Story… – Blake Shelton, Produced by Scott Hendricks, Warner Bros. Records
Blown Away – Carrie Underwood, Produced by Mark Bright, 19 Recordings/Arista Nashville
Red – Taylor Swift, Produced by Jeff Bhasker, Scott Borchetta, Nathan Chapman, Dann Huff, Jacknife Lee, Max Martin, Shellback, Taylor Swift, Butch Walker, and Dan Wilson, Big Machine Records
Same Trailer Different Park – Kacey Musgraves, Produced by Luke Laird, Shane McAnally, and Kacey Musgraves, Mercury Records
Tornado – Little Big Town, Produced by Jay Joyce, Capitol Records Nashville
Nomination Criteria: This Award is for an album as a whole unit. The album should be judged on all aspects including, but not limited to, artist’s performance, musical background, engineering, packaging, design, art, layout and liner notes. At least 75% of the product in the album must have first achieved national prominence during the eligibility period. Award to artist and producer.
Who Should Win: Kacey Musgraves’ Same Trailer Different Park is the album everyone was talking about in 2013. Many believe Musgraves is changing the direction of country music with her raw and honest lyrics and impeccable songwriting skills. On this album, she said what most would never dare to say, which is why she should be recognized for the effort.
Who Will Win: Blake Shelton might have what it takes to pull of a win for Based on a True Story…, marking his first CMA Album of the Year win.
Song of the Year
(Award goes to Songwriter(s))
“I Drive Your Truck” – Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington, and Jimmy Yeary
“Mama’s Broken Heart” – Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally, and Kacey Musgraves
“Merry Go ‘Round” – Kacey Musgraves, Josh Osborne, and Shane McAnally
“Pontoon” – Natalie Hemby, Luke Laird, and Barry Dean
“Wagon Wheel” – Bob Dylan and Ketch Secor
Nomination Criteria: This Award is for the songwriter(s). Any Country Music song with original words and music is eligible based upon the song’s Country singles chart activity during the eligibility period. In this category, Ballot 2 will contain the eligible nominations from Ballot 1 and the top five songs from the combined tabulation of the Country Singles Charts from Billboard’s Hot Country Singles, Country Aircheck Chart and Music Row Country Breakout Chart. Award to songwriter(s).
Who Should Win: Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington, and Jimmy Yeary brought us one of the best songs of the year with “I Drive Your Truck.” Considering the emotional connection many people have to this song, it’s more than deserving of the Song of the Year title.
Who Will Win: In previous years, voters have opted for the song that tugs at your heartstrings. “I Drive Your Truck” does just that.
Female Vocalist of the Year
Kelly Clarkson
Miranda Lambert
Kacey Musgraves
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
Nomination Criteria: This Award is based on individual musical performance on a solo album release. Award to artist.
Who Should Win: The battle for Female Vocalist of the Year once again comes down to Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood. Underwood, who is riding the wave of success from Blown Away, more than deserves to re-claim her crown after the year she’s had.
Who Will Win: Miranda Lambert has been a favorite for the past few years, so voters will likely allow the “All Kinds of Kinds” singer to continue her reign.
Male Vocalist of the Year
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Blake Shelton
Keith Urban
Nomination Criteria: This Award is based on individual musical performance on a solo album release. Award to artist.
Who Should Win: This is always one of the toughest categories to predict! We could argue all day about why each nominee is worthy of the honor.
Who Will Win: Blake Shelton is a favorite amongst voters, so we’re thinking he’s going to pull off his fourth consecutive win in this category this year.
Vocal Group of the Year
Eli Young Band
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
The Band Perry
Zac Brown Band
Nomination Criteria: A group is defined as an act, composed of three (3) or more people, all of whom normally perform together and none of whom is known primarily as an individual performing artist. This Award is based on the musical performance of the group as a unit on an album. Award to group.
Who Should Win: It was truly The Band Perry’s year; the sibling trio earned a No.1 album as well as back-to-back chart-topping singles. They avoided the dreaded “sophomore slump” with Pioneer and had what many consider to be the biggest year of anyone in this category.
Who Will Win: Reigning CMA Vocal Group of the Year Little Big Town will likely be awarded the title once again.
Vocal Duo of the Year
Big & Rich
Florida Georgia Line
Love and Theft
Sugarland
The Civil Wars
Thompson Square
Nomination Criteria: A duo is defined as an act composed of two (2) people, both of whom normally perform together and neither of whom is known primarily as an individual performing artist. This Award is based on the musical performance of the duo as a unit on an album. Award to duo.
Who Should Win: Hands down, Florida Georgia Line. A platinum-selling debut album, three consecutive No.1 singles, and a Billboard record for longest-running No.1 with “Cruise” are just a few of this duo’s accomplishments throughout the past year.
Who Will Win: With an incredibly successful year like Florida Georgia Line has had, it’s hard to imagine voters awarding this title to anyone other than Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard.
Musical Event of the Year
(Award goes to each Artist)
“Boys ‘Round Here” – Blake Shelton (featuring Pistol Annies), Warner Bros. Records
“Cruise” – Florida Georgia Line (with Nelly), Republic Nashville
“Don’t Rush” – Kelly Clarkson (featuring Vince Gill), 19 Recordings/RCA Nashville
“Highway Don’t Care” – Tim McGraw (with Taylor Swift and Keith Urban), Big Machine Records
“The Only Way I Know” – Jason Aldean with Luke Bryan and Eric Church, Broken Bow Records
Nomination Criteria: An event is defined as a collaboration of two (2) or more people either or all of whom are known primarily as individual artists. They must have performed together, as a unit, on a single or album released domestically within the eligibility period with each artist prominently featured. Live performance events are not eligible. Award to each artist.
Who Should Win: “Highway Don’t Care” brought fans a triple-threat of superstars with Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift, and Keith Urban. If that’s not THE Musical Event of the Year, we’re not sure what is.
Who Will Win: We’re betting voters will go with “Highway Don’t Care.”
Musician of the Year
Sam Bush (Mandolin)
Paul Franklin (Steel Guitar)
Dann Huff (Guitar)
Brent Mason (Guitar)
Mac McAnally (Guitar)
Nomination Criteria: This Award is for a musician known primarily as an instrumental performer. In order to qualify, a musician must have played on at least one album or single that has appeared in the Top 10 of the Country album or singles charts from Billboard’s Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart, Music Row Country Breakout Chart or Country Aircheck Chart during the eligibility period. Award to musician.
Who Should Win: We can’t pretend to know too much about this category. The most recognizable name here is Mac McAnally, so we’re betting on him.
Who Will Win: Considering the fact that Mac McAnally has won this award for five consecutive years, we’re betting he will come out on top with his sixth win.
Music Video of the Year
(Award goes to Artist and Director)
“Blown Away” – Carrie Underwood, Directed by Randee St. Nicholas
“Boys ‘Round Here” – Blake Shelton featuring Pistol Annies, Directed by Trey Fanjoy
“Downtown” – Lady Antebellum, Directed by Peter Zavadil
“Highway Don’t Care” – Tim McGraw with Taylor Swift and Keith Urban, Directed by Shane Drake
“Mama’s Broken Heart” – Miranda Lambert, Directed by Trey Fanjoy
“Tornado” – Little Big Town, Directed by Shane Drake
Nomination Criteria: This Award is for an original music video not more than ten (10) minutes in length featuring the performance of not more than one (1) song or medley. The video must have been first nationally broadcast in its entirety during the eligibility period. The video should be judged on all audio and video elements including, but not limited to, the artist’s performance, video concept and production. Award to artist and director.
Who Should Win: The “Highway Don’t Care” music video was truly a work of art. Not only did it follow the story line of the song perfectly, it also delivered a meaningful message, reminding fans of the dangers of texting and driving.
Who Will Win: Voters love Miranda Lambert and director Trey Fanjoy. We’re thinking they might take this one home again (they previous won in 2010 with “The House That Built Me.”)
New Artist of the Year
Lee Brice
Brett Eldredge
Florida Georgia Line
Kip Moore
Kacey Musgraves
Nomination Criteria: This Award is to the artist, whether individual or a group, who is known primarily as a Country artist, who has for the first time demonstrated the most significant creative growth and development in overall chart or sales activity (of a debut or sophomore album), live performance, professionalism and/or national media recognition related to the launch of their career. Any artist who has previously won a CMA Award (except Song of the Year, Musical Event of the Year and Video of the Year) or who has twice been a final nominee for the Horizon Award or New Artist of the Year Award is ineligible for nomination. Award to artist.
Who Should Win: This is the battle between Kacey Musgraves and Florida Georgia Line. Each are equally deserving of the honor in their own way, so it’s really tough to determine who should win. Florida Georgia Line has the strength numbers and chart success, while Musgraves has endless praise from critics behind her.
Who Will Win: We think Kacey Musgraves will ultimately be awarded the title. If our predictions are correct, Florida Georgia Line will go on to receive the Vocal Duo of the Year honor, so voters will most likely save this one for the “Follow Your Arrow” singer.
Hosted for the sixth time by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, “The 47th Annual CMA Awards” airs live Wednesday, Nov. 6 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Be sure to tune in to see which artists come out on top!
