49th Annual (2015) CMA Awards Complete Preview
(Tune in Wednesday night for Saving Country Music’s LIVE Blog of the CMA Awards)
The 49th ANNUAL CMA AWARDS
” When: 7 PM Central, 8 PM Eastern Wednesday, November 4th 2015 on ABC. Time delayed for the West Coat.
” Where: The Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN.
” Hosts: Brad Paisley & Carrie Underwood (8th consecutive year)
THINGS TO WATCH FOR
” More classic country than you think. Usually you have to squint and focus hard to find anything that could be considered classic country on the CMA Awards. This year going in, we already know there will be two classic country performances, and that doesn’t include unannounced songs or surprise guests. Hank Williams Jr. will lead off the show with a new version of Waylon Jennings’ “Are You Ready For The Country” with Eric Church (read more). The song was original written and performed by Neil Young. Then later Chris Stapleton will perform “Tennessee Whiskey” originally recorded by David Allan Coe and written by Dean Dillon (read more).
” Emphasis on women. With all the “tomato” talk in country music in 2015, it appears the CMA’s have made a concerted effort to make sure women don’t get forgotten in the festivities like in previous years. The female performers were announced first, and there’s quite a few of them this year, including Kacey Musgraves and Maddie & Tae. The next question will be is if some only receive 30-scond slots to sing the hook of their song heading into commercial, or will be given a full 2 to 3-minute performance.
” Critics favorite Chris Stapleton is up for three awards. Though he must be considered an underdog in all three categories, there is sufficient buzz going into the night had he could be a quality Dark Horse pick for Album of the Year. Any Stapleton win could symbolize the coming of a diametric shift for country music.
” The end of the Miranda Lambert / Blake Shelton reign? The now divorced couple has won five of the last five Male and Female Vocalist of the Year awards respectively. Though Miranda still has to be considered a front runner, this may be the end of the road for Blake. This will be an interesting development, as will watching the interaction of the two at the awards. Expect the camera to favor these two all night (read more).
THE PRESENTERS
Artists presenting awards on the night with be Steve Martin & Edie Brickell, Brett Eldredge, Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum, Lee Ann Womack, Reba McEntire, Cole Swindell, Jennifer Nettles, Darius Rucker, and a cappella group Pentatonix.
Non artist presenters include US Women’s Soccer Players Megan Rapinoe and Heather O’Reilly, ESPN’s Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit, Sports Illustrated cover model Hannah Davis, Miss America 2016 Betty Cantrell, actor Kiefer Sutherland, and Wicked City actress Erika Christensen.
THE PERFORMERS
Special Performances & Collaborations
” Hank Williams Jr. will lead off the awards with a rendition of “Are You Ready For The Country” written by Neil Young, and later recorded by Waylon Jennings. He will be joined by Eric Church.
” Chris Stapleton will be joined by Justin Timberlake on stage. The two will perform Justin’s “Drink You Away” and Stapleton’s “Tennessee Whiskey”
” Thomas Rhett will collaborate with Fall Out Boy. It will be a combination of Rhett’s song “Crash and Burn,” and Fall Out Boy’s song “Uma Thurman.”
” John Mellencamp with perform with Keith Urban. Though not confirmed, the two will very likely collaborate on Urban’s current hit “John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16.” The two have also performed Mellencamp’s “Pink Houses” together recently.
” Reba McEntire will team up with recent Las Vegas residency openers Brooks & Dunn.
” Dierks Bentley will perform with violin maestro and YouTube star Lindsey Stirling.
Other Performers
” Jason Aldean
” Kelsea Ballerini
” Luke Bryan
” Kenny Chesney
” Eric Church
” Florida Georgia Line
” Sam Hunt
” Miranda Lambert
” Little Big Town
” Maddie & Tae
” Kacey Musgraves
” Brad Paisley
” Blake Shelton
” Carrie Underwood
” Zac Brown Band
AWARD NOMINEES
(READ: Saving Country Music’s Picks & Prognostications)
NOTE: “Raise ‘Em Up” featuring Keith Urban and Eric Church has already been announced as the Event of the Year. And Maddie & Tae‘s “Girl in a Country Song” has already been announced for Video of the Year.
Entertainer of the Year
Garth Brooks
Luke Bryan
Kenny Chesney
Eric Church
Miranda Lambert
Male Vocalist of the Year
Dierks Bentley
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Blake Shelton
Chris Stapleton
Female Vocalist of the Year
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood
Lee Ann Womack
Album of the Year
Old Boots, New Dirt
Jason Aldean
Produced by Michael Knox
Broken Bow
Pageant Material
Kacey Musgraves
Produced by Kacey Musgraves, Luke Laird, and Shane McAnally
Mercury Nashville
Pain Killer
Little Big Town
Produced by Jay Joyce
Capitol Records Nashville
The Big Revival
Kenny Chesney
Produced by Buddy Cannon and Kenny Chesney
Blue Chair Records/Columbia Nashville
Traveller
Chris Stapleton
Produced by Dave Cobb and Chris Stapleton
Mercury Nashville
Song of the Year
“American Kids”
Rodney Clawson, Luke Laird, and Shane McAnally
“Girl Crush”
Liz Rose, Lori McKenna, and Hillary Lindsey
“Like a Cowboy”
Randy Houser and Brice Long
“Like a Wrecking Ball”
Eric Church and Casey Beathard
“Take Your Time”
Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally, and Josh Osborne
Single of the Year
“American Kids”
Kenny Chesney
Produced by Buddy Cannon and Kenny Chesney
Blue Chair Records/Columbia Nashville
“Girl Crush”
Little Big Town
Produced by Jay Joyce
Capitol Records Nashville
“I Don’t Dance”
Lee Brice
Produced by Lee Brice
Curb Records
“Take Your Time”
Sam Hunt
Produced Zach Crowell and Shane McAnally
MCA Nashville
“Talladega”
Eric Church
Produced by Jay Joyce and Arturo Buenahora, Jr.
EMI Records Nashville
New Artist of the Year
Kelsea Ballerini
Sam Hunt
Maddie & Tae
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
Vocal Duo of the Year
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Maddie & Tae
Thompson Square
Vocal Group of the Year
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts
The Band Perry
Zac Brown Band
Event of the Year
Django and Jimmie
Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard
Legacy Recordings
“Lonely Tonight”
Blake Shelton featuring Ashley Monroe
Warner Bros./Warner Music Nashville
“Raise ‘Em Up” – Announced As Winner
Keith Urban featuring Eric Church
Hit Red Records/Capitol Records Nashville
“Smokin’ and Drinkin’”
Miranda Lambert featuring Little Big Town
RCA Nashville
“Wild Child”
Kenny Chesney with Grace Potter
Blue Chair Records/Columbia Nashville
Music Video of the Year
“Biscuits”
Kacey Musgraves
Directed by Marc Klasfeld
“Girl Crush”
Little Big Town
Directed by Karla Welch and Matthew Welch
“Girl in a Country Song” – Announced As Winner
Maddie & Tae
Directed by TK McKamy
“Little Red Wagon”
Miranda Lambert
Directed by Trey Fanjoy
“Something in the Water”
Carrie Underwood
Directed by Raj Kapoor
November 4, 2015 @ 9:42 am
I’ll be curious to see the ratings for this show when they come out afterwards. Seems like a bad mismatch these days with modern Country music selling what little soul it has left to appeal to millennials (most of whom don’t watch TV unless it’s live sports or on Netflix/YouTube) while the people who used to make up the target audience of Country music (middle-aged men and women) are likely to stare quizzically at their TV screen when someone like Kelsea Ballerini is on or Sam Hunt.
November 4, 2015 @ 9:52 am
I expect the ratings to be massive. Justin Timberlake will be a huge draw—possibly bigger than Swift ever was on the show. And they’ve put enough nuggets out there for more traditional fans with Hank Jr. and Stapleton that I think more of them than the previous few years will tune in. Also, ABC has been offering unprecedented promo for this year, more so than previous years.
November 5, 2015 @ 9:51 am
WoW. What a great prognostication. You hit it spot on.
November 4, 2015 @ 9:43 am
So getting tired of the Miranda show. Why don’t they follow their own rules anymore? By the rules (same for the acms) Carrie shitz on her. And follows more country acts on twitter lol!
November 4, 2015 @ 11:14 am
It really and truely does need to end. As ridiculous as some of those Song nominees are, I am glad Miranda wasn’t arbitrarily thrown in there or Single of The Year again.
November 4, 2015 @ 9:49 am
I’m crossing my fingers that Chris Stapleton wins album of the year and Maddie and Tae steal new artist from Sam Hunt. I’m interested to see if Miranda actually takes home another female vocalist award. Just seems like it was a really bad year for her. I also read somewhere that Florida Gag me line is going to debut a new song tonight with a video immediately following on social media called Confession. About a month ago, they started talking about it and I want to say that they said it was a single that was going to be a game changer kind of song. they were really bragging on it.
November 4, 2015 @ 10:07 am
Hmm. Apparently Confession is off of Anything Goes. It wasn’t the single they were talking about months ago I that was supposed to be some big deal. That’s interesting that they had said Anything Goes would be their last single from the current album and then they would be releasing a new single late 2015/ early 2016. I wonder if Big Machine had them change directions last minute now that the weird pop trend is failing on radio.. http://m.billboard.com/entry/view/id/134316
November 4, 2015 @ 10:17 am
I think the semi-flop of Florida Georgia Line’s “Anything Goes” is a great untold narrative right now. It was just enough successful to not be a flop, but compared to how they broke out of the gate, it can only be considered a solid disappointment. It was way too much, and fans saw through it. I still consider it the worst country album of all time when considering all the factors. They’re going the way of Nickelback real quick, and it may take another “Dirt” moment to put them back on track.
November 4, 2015 @ 10:40 am
I think thats a situation where we would say at least part of it is from single fatigue at the end of its album cycle, but its tough to call a #1 a flop and I think thats all they planned to gain with it was radio play. I think the new music will be the biggest indicator of whats to come of FGL’s success in the next couple years. But Houston is right they did say that would be the last single off this album so its interesting if they decided to all of a sudden release another single from it.
November 4, 2015 @ 4:14 pm
They really should have waited a few more months before releasing “Dirt” in my opinion. It felt to me like they went straight from “How We Roll” to “Dirt” and then the next three singles off their current disk. It seems like they’ve been pushing a song at radio constantly for almost 3 years. They should have taken more of a break between albums.
November 4, 2015 @ 12:03 pm
Hard to call Anything Goes the worst country album of all time when there is Montevallo, Kill The Lights and crap from like Kelsea Ballerini and those other clowns.
November 4, 2015 @ 12:45 pm
Please don’t insult clowns by comparing them to Kelsea Ballawhatsherface.
November 4, 2015 @ 1:11 pm
don’t think that I’m trying to defend garbage like those albums, but having given an honest listen to all those records, I can tell you that Anything Goes is by far the worst album.
Montevallo is a blatant pop record, but it would make for a decent pop album.
The First Time by Kelsea Ballerini is another blatant pop album with some garbage on it but it would be a good one if released in pop music: some of the tracks have good songwriting.
Kill the Lights has some atrocious moments but it has two or three good songs in it that save it from being total garbage.
On the other hand, FGL IS the definition of garbage. Seriously. I have tried a lot of times to give a full listen to that album to rate it, but I’m not able to do that. It fucking sucks. It hurts to hear that music. The production is so thick, annoying, loud and generic that it makes it unpleasant to listen to. And the lyrics, well, don’t even get me started on that. meh
November 4, 2015 @ 2:27 pm
Yes, Lorenzo. My thoughts exactly.
Call Sam Hunt the most non-country country album ever, but I wouldn’t qualify it to be considered the worst country album ever because that bestows it a micro bit of acknowledgement that it has anything to do with country, which it doesn’t.
November 4, 2015 @ 9:50 am
Fall Out Boy has a song called “Uma Thurman” and they will be performing that on a country music awards show? Oh boy, that’s embarrassing…
November 4, 2015 @ 10:35 am
I love that song as a pop song between its infectious hook, sampling of “The Munsters” theme song and enthusiastic vocals…………….but cringe at the thought of it being shoved down country fans’ throats (let alone in the company of Thomas Rhett)
The only other performance I already am preparing the worst for is Luke Bryan and Karen Fairchild’s “Home Alone Tonight”.
Honestly, the performances as a whole don’t seem bad on the surface, even if many aren’t country gold. Lindsey Sterling is a fabulous performer and may make the Dierks Bentley performance all the more interesting. Even Florida Georgia Line is performing “Confession”: which is the only other solid song on “Anything Goes” besides “Dirt”.
November 4, 2015 @ 9:55 am
Stapleton is going to win Album of the Year, I’m calling it right now. Was hoping Django & Jimmie would win Event of the Year, but can’t say I’m surprised they gave it to Church/Urban. Holding out hope that Garth will win Entertainer of the Year and Church will win Male Vocalist, but I ain’t counting on it.
Either way, I do think Stapleton will be tonight’s big winner regardless of the outcomes. By performing with Timberlake, he will have the largest audience of the night and a lot more folks will know his name tomorrow morning. The mainstream will see a new, real country artist for the first time in I don’t know how long and that is a win for country music in my eyes.
November 4, 2015 @ 10:00 am
Man I sure hope your right. Would be awesome.
November 4, 2015 @ 10:22 am
Stapleton has already won from the nominations and from being a part of what will probably be the most anticipated performance all night. If he actually wins something, it could be the serious establishment of him as a country star.
His path to Album of the Year is by the votes getting split for other projects, and he eeks in between them. It’s a weaker than normal field this year. Aldean would be the commercial favorite, Musgraves would be the critical favorite, but neither feels like runaways. It’s going to be a VERY interesting pick.
November 4, 2015 @ 9:59 am
Damn, Randy Rogers or Wade Bowen weren’t nominated for anything. Guess Im not gonna watch hahahahaha! But the live blog will surely be comedy gold as usual.
November 4, 2015 @ 10:00 am
Who decides these awards? Is it 100 private voters or fans voting?
November 4, 2015 @ 10:23 am
No fan votes. The CMA members vote. I believe there are 1,700 official members. Though block voting and other hijinks certainly happen, the CMA’s are seen as a little more open and fair than the ACM’s, generally.
November 4, 2015 @ 10:00 am
I’m very excited for the Stapleton/Timberlake duets. I don’t listen to Timberlake barely, but I know “Drink You Away” it’s a cover of a country song and Timberlakes’s version is amazing
November 4, 2015 @ 10:09 am
Maddie and Tae’s music video win gives me hope they will be new artist of the year. Also, I read that they are performing an acoustic song tonight. Their overall brilliance has to be the country story of the year.
Also, seeing Kelsea Ballerini with those four other female singers makes me want to puke.
I used to love this show, but I have little interest in watching it. This year’s slate of performers do little or nothing for me.
”¢ Jason Aldean — new song stinks and is a poor rehash of his older, better songs.
”¢ Kelsea Ballerini — ugh
”¢ Luke Bryan — new song is stale. It’s embarrassing that it’s No. 1
”¢ Kenny Chesney — not sure what he will sing. “Rainy Day” is getting stale.
”¢ Eric Church — Would like to see Mr. Misunderstood live, but he will probably sing Roller Coaster (old) or just the duet.
”¢ Florida Georgia Line — I’ve defended them on here, but I can’t listen to “Anything Goes” horrible.
”¢ Sam Hunt — wrong show.
”¢ Miranda Lambert — Bathroom sink could be cool, but still not a must-see
”¢ Little Big Town — Probably Girl Crush which I tired off months ago.
”¢ Maddie & Tae — I am excited.
”¢ Kacey Musgraves — I am excited. I hope she plays her own music. I was not a fan of her duet with Loretta Lynn at ACMs
”¢ Brad Paisley — I liked Country Nation last summer, but it’s November now.
”¢ Blake Shelton — Ugh. His new song isn’t bad, but he just seems like a bland performer.
”¢ Carrie Underwood — Not a fan of Smoke Break. She can perform though. I’m excited.
”¢ Zac Brown Band — If Dave Grohl shows up again, maybe, but if Zac got sick at the last moment and couldn’t perform would anyone care?
November 4, 2015 @ 10:16 am
It actually looks pretty good until you get down to Other Performers. I’d need to drink a bunch of beer to take that many piss breaks.
It’s a funny joke that they can’t even come up with 5 legitimate nominees (see Single of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year et al).
Sad to see the Little Bastard trotting out there with Keith Urban. In a way. But then I wonder when JCM will get around to doing his own ‘Country’ album, since he should be done writing George W Bush protest songs by now–surely. He has to be licking his chops at the thought of Don Henley-esque bank. And if George Green was still alive to write for it he just might do a good job of it, IMHO.
Willie would do a song, I bet. And Carlene Carter.
He would need to get away from T-Bone Burnett, though.
He could even go on tour and open for Little Big Town this time!
November 4, 2015 @ 10:52 am
I saw him at Farm Aid this year. His voice is shot from smoking a pack-a-day for 50 years. He claims he sounds like a black blues man now, but it’s just painful to hear.
November 4, 2015 @ 10:49 am
I have a DVR full of old Marty Stuart Shows – that’s how I’m spending tonight. But, I’ll check in on the blog and YouTube anything of interest in the morning.
At one time, the CMAs were one of my favorite nights of the year. That’s when the award show was held in October. But, that’s been over ten years ago.
November 4, 2015 @ 11:08 am
Millions of people will tune in just to watch Justine Timberlake. The way I see it, there’s 2 different ways we can win. If JT shows up all the bros with his superior talent and understanding of country music, it will raise awareness to the fact that pop country sucks. If JT gets up there and busts out his signature dance moves, people will realize that country isn’t even trying to be country anymore. Idk, maybe it’s just wishful thinking. Oh well, I’ll come back to see how this turns out, ’cause I won’t be watching this fiasco! Country Music Association my pasty white ass! Hahahahahahahahaha!
November 4, 2015 @ 4:36 pm
Based on how he talks about country music, he seems to respect it more than almost any other bastard who’ll be there. I’m cautiously optimistic he’ll be doing things the right way.
Besides, he’s justin freaking timberlake-he doesn’t need country to make bad pop music. He’s already done pop and done it very, very well. If he’s going country, it’s because he loves real country. Or I’m too ignorant and gullible to see whatever other possible motivation for this comes out of left field…guess we’ll find out!!
November 4, 2015 @ 11:10 am
Has anyone listened to Eric Church’s surprise album he shipped to his fan club members? I have it waiting for me when I get home. I don’t care what you think of Church, that’s a damn cool move.
November 4, 2015 @ 11:33 am
I heard three songs on YouTube before it they were taken down, and I had heard “Three-Year-Old” previously. The songs are not as in-your-face as The Outsiders, but still pretty rock and roll. It had a “Sinners Like Me” feel with increased production.
I haven’t heard Record Year. It was taken down before I got to it. My Eric Church friends said it was amazing.
November 4, 2015 @ 12:02 pm
I will probably have something on this when OFFICIAL information has been confirmed. Leaking albums is not cool in my opinion, even in a situation like this, so I’m personally not going to participate in any way. Eric wanted his closest fans to hear it first and gave it away to them, and we should respect that. I’m sure the rest of us will get an opportunity to hear it soon enough.
November 4, 2015 @ 1:23 pm
I heard “Three Year Old” a few months ago – and love it. I have a toddler son, and THIS is what I am missing in country music – something I can relate to. It doesn’t hurt that I am a huge fan of Eric Church anyway 😉 But I feel much more of a connection to him than Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, etc… all around my age-group or a little older, married with kids, and none of them sing about their real life.
November 4, 2015 @ 11:18 am
My predictions:
Entertainier of the year: chase rice.
Video of the year: chase rice
Songwriter of the year: chase rice
Male vocalist list of the year: chase rice
Event of the year: chase rice
New artist of the year: chase rice
November 4, 2015 @ 11:41 am
And they say I’m narcissitic…
November 4, 2015 @ 11:50 am
What, no musician of the year for ya, Chase Rice??
November 4, 2015 @ 12:27 pm
The only entertainment we get from you is being able to laugh at the embarrassing trend you personify: a pasty white boy wearing a backwards ballcap rapping about beer and trucks, trying to pass himself off as a country singer when he is in reality nothing more than a talentless douchebag, not even understanding what country even music even means, and not realizing what a caricature he’s become. On that basis alone, you should be Entertainer of the Year! Hahaha!
November 4, 2015 @ 1:41 pm
Chase you were so close to finally having a #1 single. Better luck next time. I hear you’re working on a more mature and authentic album. Did you get sober and grow up over night or was Ignite The Night just a sham? lol
November 4, 2015 @ 11:44 am
It is extremely sad that trash like JT is being considered as a highlight at a COUNTRY show.UGH.
November 4, 2015 @ 12:15 pm
Confused on how you think Justin Timberlake is trash? He’s an incredible musician, performer, etc. As for being on a country awards show, that will have to be seen first. However, he has made clear his respect for the art form, as long as his performance correlates with what he is said, it shouldn’t be a problem. Furthermore, he’s performing with Stapleton. I find it a stretch to think that someone like Chris would let someone accompany him who would not pay the respect due.
November 4, 2015 @ 11:52 am
Hmm… Watch an awards show for one artist I like (Lindsey Stirling) and a whole bunch of imposters, no-talents, losers, creeps and troublemakers, or read “Windjammer Run” tonight… Seems like an obvious choice.
November 4, 2015 @ 12:25 pm
They should just call this the chase rice awards
November 4, 2015 @ 1:45 pm
Lmao this is gettin too fun. They should just cancel the awards and have one of those tribute specials like they used to do for Chase Rice.
November 4, 2015 @ 12:38 pm
Mark my words, JT is going to be the country music savior we’ve needed and harped about for a long time. He respects the genre, as Trigger pointed out he’s hinted about wanting to do a country album. His song he wrote for Reba was considered to country for mainstream which makes me believe he would do the same for his album. The difference is when, not if, he releases a country song you know every station will play it due to his huge following. He chose to pair up with Chris and you know damn well that insiders would be happier seeing JT sing with someone like Aldean or Bryan then Chris. His involvement in country will cause the Bros to step up their game and actually make country music for once. I mean there was a time when even Luke Bryan made pretty decent country songs so there’s hope.
November 4, 2015 @ 12:52 pm
I had a nightmare. I was attending class at Belmont (where I don’t go), and the alumni Florida Georgia Line guys were the guest teachers that day. True story.
November 4, 2015 @ 12:56 pm
It feels like “I Don’t Dance” has been out for, like, two years, what is it doing here? I know for a fact it didn’t come out this year at the very least.
November 4, 2015 @ 1:14 pm
They probably consider it “deep” because it isn’t about tailgates. They want “variety,” and this was the only “different” song they could think of.
November 4, 2015 @ 2:28 pm
It was even nominated last year. It’s here because Curb Records had nothing else to nominate.
November 4, 2015 @ 3:16 pm
When the head CMA guy said that the opening number with Bocephus was a sign of things to come on the show, I think most assumed that he meant it would have a more traditional country flavor. That doesn’t appear to be the case. I guess he was just referring to the number of high profile collaborations on the night. I’m sure the CMA people were just about peeing their pants when they first confirmed the possibility of having Timberlake involved. Obviously, he brings the ratings, and is popular, glamorous, and cool, which is everything popular country music desperately wants to be. Anyway, the CMA folks have succeeded in getting my attention with the Stapleton / Timberlake thing, so I guess that means they’ve done their job. I am guaranteed to watch at least one portion of their content. I’ll also be crossing my fingers for Chris to win at least one of the awards he’s nominated for.
On another note, it’s nice that they keep giving Kacey Musgraves performance slots on these things, despite the lack of radio play. And I’m pretty sure she wouldn’t perform unless they gave her a full song.
It’s also nice to see them throw Lee Ann Womack a bone too, but I sure wish she could perform.
November 4, 2015 @ 3:32 pm
She has turned down appearance slots before because they would only give her 90 seconds. I think by racking up the awards she has, she has earned a full slot at least for the next few years.
November 5, 2015 @ 10:01 am
Kacey is the victim of another wardrobe malfunction at the CMA’s. She needs to ditch the baby doll duds. It’s not working. Forget the exaggerated Country caricature. Cupie doll panties and retro makeup…I was embarrassed for her.
November 4, 2015 @ 3:27 pm
Mo Pitney- Has put out singles since early this year. Not a “new artist”.
Brothers Osborne- Have put out an EP, announced debut album. Not “new artists”.
Thomas Rhett- Began his career in 2012. Has put out 2 albums, over 20 songs between the two, as well as an EP 3 years ago. “New artist”.
Something doesn’t seem right here…
November 4, 2015 @ 4:19 pm
The New Artist category is just a front for giving an award to a 2nd tier artist who otherwise wouldn’t get one because of the insular monopoly at the top of the genre that sees the same names praised over and over. Two names have won the last 10 Male and Female Vocalists of the Year awards, and up until a couple of months ago, they were married.
November 4, 2015 @ 4:44 pm
The CMA awards cover the period from July 2014 to July 2015. Since Mo Pitney started releasing singles during that time, he is a legitimate nominee. Thomas Rhett certainly does not belong, though.
November 4, 2015 @ 5:05 pm
I just heard his “Die a Happy Man,” where he says they were listening to Marvin Gaye. There’s nothing wrong with Marvin Gaye, he’s just not country, and I feel like country should promote itself rather than other genres, but country always promotes and references other genres these days. Why don’t people realize that when a song references other genres instead of country and takes more influences from other genres then I can’t be country? They’re not even hiding now. They are all but admitting that their music isn’t country, but people are too stupid to realize it.
November 5, 2015 @ 5:16 am
I love Marvin Gaye ,at least he is listening to good music, but there is a clear lack of self respect within the country music scene.It is like they all want to be rockstars and mainstream.It is like they are ashamed to be within the country music scene.Hence the ass kissing with JT.It’s like they can’t wait to get out of town.Is country music really that restrictive?I also blame the suits ,who desperately want the country scene to become bigger so they can reach a whole new demographic to sell their products to .
November 4, 2015 @ 3:49 pm
long-time lurker, first time caller. i’m no jt fan, but it’s pretty cool of him to show chris (and morgane!) to the world like this. hope they bring the house down!
good to see bocephus, but lol at pairing him with the awful church. dvr set so i don’t have to sit through most of this.
November 4, 2015 @ 5:14 pm
Same , I recorded it on my tv while I watch hockey. I get to skip commercials and most of the performances.
November 5, 2015 @ 5:19 am
Why is JT getting praise ? JT is in it for himself,he is using Chris as a crutch to get within the country scene.He has done this before.JT knows that the pop market is too crowded even for him.He wants an image change.His team is very calculated and know how desperate the country scene is.
November 4, 2015 @ 4:14 pm
Glad Trigger did this play by play preview of the CMAs, now I don’t have to watch it!
November 4, 2015 @ 4:27 pm
Just saw Stapleton at the Gas Monkey Live here in Dallas. The man is truly an exceptional talent, though I think there’s something to the criticisms that he can over-sing (“Whiskey and You” somehow became a barn-burner of vocal acrobatics, which elicited cheers from the crowd. Not sure that’s the type of song to hoot and holler about). Anyways, “Tennessee Whiskey” is his most vocally baroque song, and it’s sure to blend well with Justin Timberlake’s stylings. Not sure I can bring myself to sit through the entire CMAs, but I’ll try to catch that performance at least.
I know a lot of folks around here are pinning their hopes to Musgraves for a traditional country resurgence, but she’s disappointed me (as far as that matters). Still, I’d love to see her get the award at the expense of those other goons who got the nomination.
“Traveller” definitely deserves Album of the Year. If it wins, we may hear some Stapleton on mainstream radio soon. And that would be an unequivocal triumph
November 4, 2015 @ 4:31 pm
Well I see George Strait is not on the show, that means I will not watch it at all. Atleast I won’t have to suffer through it waiting to see just one performance and wasting an evening for nothing.
November 4, 2015 @ 4:53 pm
Anybody notice all the Video of the Year nominees are female? Considering females always get snubbed, we should take this as a positive thing.
November 4, 2015 @ 5:13 pm
Except this is very much an “also ran” award that doesn’t get handed out on camera. But I do agree it is a sign the CMA voters are attempting to be more inclusive to females.