Justin Bieber Gets 3 CMA Nominations (and other observations)
Oh CMA’s. How 2020 of you to nominate Justin Bieber for three CMA Awards. Now he can compete with Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, who won his first in 2019.
Of course, the nominations for the Biebs come via a Dan + Shay collaboration, who deserve attention from country music just about as much as Justin Bieber or Trent Reznor do. But hey, the 2020 CMA nominations aren’t all bad of course. Ashley McBryde received three nominations. You know, just as many as Justin Bieber.
Pontificating on the 2020 CMA Award feels especially dumb and presumptuous in 2020. To be held in the shadow of an American Presidential election that very well could still not be decided by the time the telecast airs, the awards will be a poor distraction from the widespread violence and looting plaguing American streets, regardless of the election outcome, because our society has descended into a real life version of an internet flame war after the gaming of the collective mind by social media algorhythms and legacy media lying to prop up the agendas of the two party system that benefits from endless conflict.
Music should be a distraction and escape from all of this of course. But due to the insistence by many to severely politicize every aspect of American life—especially music—it offers no respite. Many award shows have become nothing more than performative art and a vehicle for signaling, while any semblance of earned achievement or even a modicum of meritocracy has been torn asunder by insatiable mobs trying to destroy people’s lives on Twitter.
Even though the CMA nominated more women than in any time in modern CMA history, the nominations are already being labeled as sexist for not including The Highwomen or Kelsea Ballerini, and racist for excluding Kane Brown. Kelsea Ballerini and Kane Brown don’t deserve any nominations of course, but they probably deserve them more than Justin Bieber, or Dan + Shay. If The Highwomen wanted some nominations country nominations, maybe they should have made a country record instead of striking the steel guitar out of the mix and ending up with an Americana one.
So yay, here’s your 2020 CMA Award nominees, with some kneejerk predictions. And PLEASE NOTE mob members, stans, and internet trolls, the winners selected are NOT a personal preference. They’re simply a prediction.
Entertainer Of The Year
Luke Combs should win this, and likely will win this, and it’s not even close. No matter the metric you want to bring to this category, Luke Combs far and away surpassed all comers—whether it’s album sales, radio play, touring (before it shut down), and even his acoustic performances during the pandemic, Luke Combs defined country music during the eligibility period for better or worse.
As super excited as everyone is that two women were nominated, in truth this this is likely to parse the vote between the two candidates resulting in neither of them garnering enough votes to win. But if one did win, it would be Miranda with the new record and the amount of nominations she received this year (7 overall). Carrie’s year was last year, and we all know how that went.
All that said, with the way awards have become so performative for organization as opposed to merit-based, all bets are off. Votes could come flooding in for Carrie and Miranda in equal measures, allowing Eric Church to rise as a dark horse. But if anyone but Luke Combs wins, it will expose the award as meaningless at highlighting the biggest “Entertainer” over a give time period.
Eric Church
Luke Combs – WINNER
Miranda Lambert
Carrie Underwood
Keith Urban
Album Of The Year
Very cool to see Jon Pardi and Ashley McBryde nominated here, but this is a contest between Luke Combs as the clear commercial front-runner who also received critical praise, and Miranda Lambert’s Wildcard, which will be the critic’s choice in a year the CMA will look to emphasize women.
Heartache Medication – Jon Pardi
Never Will – Ashley McBryde
Old Dominion – Old Dominion
What You See Is What You Get – Luke Combs – WINNER
Wildcard – Miranda Lambert – Other Potential Winner
Male Vocalist Of The Year
Runaway. No contest.
Eric Church
Luke Combs – WINNER
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban
Female Vocalist Of The Year
Interesting two-way race here between two Texas women. Miranda Lambert is the tried-and-true winner of this category, but with the success of “The Bones” and the media obsession with Maren after she flashes side boob on Instagram and then couches herself as a victim when someone complains, she’s a major player here as well.
Miranda Lambert – Potential Winner
Ashley McBryde
Maren Morris – Potential Winner
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood
Vocal Group Of The Year
Ha! Can you imagine how apoplectic American media would go if “Lady A” won anything? Old Dominion will walk away with this in a weak field, even though 99% of Americans couldn’t name you one song from them. Midland probably deserves it, but they’ve had their own PR troubles.
Lady A
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion – WINNER
Rascal Flatts
Vocal Duo Of The Year
Dan + Shay likely wins, but don’t count Maddie & Tae entirely out here. As we saw over numerous years, the CMA was willing to award Brothers Osborne over the much more commercially successful Florida Georgia Line. With the emphasis on women, the success of their song “Die From A Broken Heart,” and their role as critical darlings, Maddie & Tae have a shot here.
Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay – WINNER
Florida Georgia Line
Maddie & Tae – Other Potential Winner
New Artist Of The Year
Not even close. The man in the mullet wins it running away.
Jimmie Allen
Ingrid Andress
Gabby Barrett
Carly Pearce
Morgan Wallen – WINNER
Single Of The Year
Considering this as a commercial award, it probably comes down to “The Bones,” and Bert and Ernie with the Biebs since these both were propped up by illegal streaming spins out of European spin farms to a greater extent than anything else during the eligibility period. With the other hardware going to Luke Combs for bigger awards, he doesn’t need this. Gabby Barret also did well with “I Hope,” but it may be too early for her to win an award like this.
“10,000 Hours” – Dan + Shay (with Justin Bieber) – Potential Winner
“Beer Never Broke My Heart” – Luke Combs
“Bluebird” – Miranda Lambert
“The Bones” – Maren Morris – Potential Winner
“I Hope” – Gabby Barrett
Song Of The Year
This actually isn’t an entirely terrible field. Instead of treating this as just another Single of the Year slot like the ACMs normally do, there are some decent songs here. “Even Though I’m Leaving” might be Luke Combs’ best. “More Hearts Than Mine” and “I Hope You’re Happy Now” aren’t terrible either. Hard to predict this one, but it feels like it’s between Miranda’s “Bluebird” and Luke Combs.
–“Bluebird” – Written by Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby, Miranda Lambert, recorded by Miranda Lambert – Potential Winner
–“The Bones” – Written by Maren Morris, Jimmy Robbins, Laura Veltz, recorded by Maren Morris
–“Even Though I’m Leaving” – Written by Luke Combs, Wyatt B. Durrette III, Ray Fulcher, recorded by Luke Combs – Potential Winner
–“I Hope You’re Happy Now” – Written by Luke Combs, Randy Montana, Carly Pearce, Jonathan Singleton, recorded by Carly Pearce and Lee Brice
–“More Hearts Than Mine” – Written by Ingrid Andress, Sam Ellis, Derrick Southerland, recorded by Ingrid Andress
Musical Event Of The Year
No contest. Look, the CMAs aren’t going to con Justin Bieber into performing if they don’t award him something.
–“10,000 Hours” – Dan + Shay (with Justin Bieber) – WINNER
— “Be A Light” – Thomas Rhett featuring Reba McEntire, Hillary Scott, Chris Tomlin, Keith Urban
— “The Bones” – Maren Morris with Hozier
— “Fooled Around And Fell In Love” – Miranda Lambert (feat. Maren Morris, Elle King, Ashley McBryde, Tenille Townes & Caylee Hammack)
— “I Hope You’re Happy Now” – Carly Pearce and Lee Brice
Musician Of The Year
Jenee Fleenor, Fiddle – WINNER
Paul Franklin, Steel Guitar
Rob McNelley, Guitar
Ilya Toshinskiy, Guitar
Derek Wells, Guitar
Music Video Of The Year
No opinion here, aside from pointing out this has become nothing more than a secondary pre-telecast song category over recent years, so pontificate accordingly.
“10,000 Hours” – Dan + Shay (with Justin Bieber)
“Bluebird” – Miranda Lambert
“Homemade” – Jake Owen
“I Hope You’re Happy Now” – Carly Pearce and Lee Brice
“Second One To Know” – Chris Stapleton
September 1, 2020 @ 10:55 am
I definitely think Heartache Medication has a chance to win Album of the year.
I don’t recall sales being the only driving force for wins (that’s only for the Entertainer category)
I hope, I Hope You’re Happy Now gets some awards. Same for “Bluebird”
Luke Combs is awesome but I don’t think he’ll win EOTY just yet. I assume Carrie Underwood to get it.
Also, worthy to mention.. Nothing for Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, or Dierks Bentley. Wow
September 2, 2020 @ 10:31 am
The line from Hank to Justin has a very steep downward slope.
September 2, 2020 @ 6:06 pm
Don’t disrespect Justin Moore like that ????
September 1, 2020 @ 10:56 am
So wait the CMA’s are going on anyway. I mean they are having an awards show with actual performers and an audience and presenters? Will their be masks worn? I am confused about many things concerning awards season (not just CMAs). I was actually hoping they would all get canceled or done on zoom. LOL!
The idea of adults giving each other trophies in this day and age becomes more amuses the longer it goes on.
September 1, 2020 @ 11:19 am
The CMA Awards are going forward. What shape they take I believe is still being determined, though they will be at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, and it’s very unlikely it will be a “normal” presentation. I do expect live performances and presenters, but I also expect the awards to be scaled back. If there is an audience, it will be limited and distanced. At what capacity all of this moves forward I’m guessing will be determined by the level of disease at that point.
Honestly, if I were them, I would be much more concerned by the state of affairs in the United States eight days after the election. Getting people to pay attention to your little country awards show. Few are saying we’ll know the results quickly, which means regardless of the outcome, you can expect some level of unrest.
September 1, 2020 @ 1:14 pm
Yes I agree about the election and that may pun not intended Trump the awards all together. I am just surprised they are even considering having them. It seems like this pademic (and everything else) would be the PERFECT time to fade out or take a break an rethink the whole thing.
September 1, 2020 @ 11:27 am
What do you think would better symbolize great accomplishment?
I’m a race fan. To me trophies are everything.
September 1, 2020 @ 1:16 pm
Well I get that on some level. Maybe it is the fact I wish it was MORE like sports trophies as a kid. You got your trophy shook hands and sat back down. No speeches.
September 1, 2020 @ 1:37 pm
“The idea of adults giving each other trophies in this day and age becomes more amuses the longer it goes on.”
Add to that the fact that so many of the the artists aren’t even country, and the the ones that kinda sorta are (a little bit,) aren’t really even the best in the genre……and it’s beyond amusing to watch them give each other the trophies. But by all means people, carry on….
September 1, 2020 @ 10:57 am
Also shocking that a cover performance (Fooled Around and Fell in Love) and a collaboration that was never at radio & was simply an after thought for streaming (The Bones ft. Hozier Kosher) would be nominated for Event of the Year.
September 1, 2020 @ 11:17 am
I know. That’s a huh?
September 1, 2020 @ 11:01 am
Oh no, you mentioned Maddie and Tae. That one dude is gonna be here obsessing over them again…
September 1, 2020 @ 11:09 am
Luke Combs’ What You See is What You Get… Is coming out with a deluxe edition this fall. It will feature 23 songs in total now. At what point does it become a Double Album?? Kind of ridiculous.
It’s a great album but too many songs will drown it out (unless you’re a huge Combs fan) After listening to 13 songs, I kind of got bored with the original version. I don’t see why this would win in this category (unless you strictly look at sales)
It’s a bit messy with way too many songs. But granted, most of the songs are good.
September 1, 2020 @ 1:19 pm
Song selection for any album used to a craft/art when the physical medium limited your space. Now many artists just vomit everything the dreamed up in a session onto streaming. Taylor Swift’s album felt bloated for that very reason.
But more songs means more streams counted towards your total. So it’s not about the album anymore it’s about the streaming records. You get more points with 17 songs than 9. I thought MAYBE the system would work itself and people would get more sensible but it’s seems to have go further down the bloated we need streams road.
September 1, 2020 @ 1:29 pm
Funny, I just finished listening to a YouTube video on streaming and how little artists make on it. Spotify got in some hot water recently because the CEO arrogantly told artists that they just need to work harder and put out more material more often, and there was an uproar.
unfortunately, the streaming model really does encourage that, and that includes incentivizing artists to put out more remixes, concert albums, cover albums, whatever. The video I was watching was making the point that The streaming industry is trying hard to push kind of a social media model of fan engagement onto artists, rather than a product sales model like ordinary digital download sales are.
September 1, 2020 @ 2:08 pm
We are seeing it. Tim McGraw’s new album has 16 songs and Eric Church is talking double album. More music is nice, but it’s really hard to listen to a complete album anymore. I wish acts would instead put out two CD, spread out.
September 1, 2020 @ 3:04 pm
For those of us stuck at home for months on end, it’s not difficult to listen to a double album of original songs.
September 1, 2020 @ 11:29 pm
Eric Church releasing a double album?! LOL! By all account Taylor Swift latest is a double album she doesn’t didn’t call it that. All the 12 plus songs are stuffy bloated affairs. That why no ONE track stuck out on Folklore the masses all liked various songs because obody culled the herd. I like how a physical format forced artists even good one’s and bad one’s to at least put SOME effort into song choices. Though even then you get bloated albums of filler like Paul Abdul’s “Forever Your Girl” and most of Shania Twain’s later output.
September 1, 2020 @ 11:24 pm
I wasn’t talking about making more money I was talking about numbers as they apply to charts and rankings. The more songs you put out on album the more that get streamed through lazy listening and thus the more “hits” one could have (i.e. Drake’s Stories).
but yes they are pushing the social media model and that is why you get bloated albums of filler.
September 2, 2020 @ 9:38 am
I agree… plus why not just make it it’s own album?
September 1, 2020 @ 11:16 am
Thanks Trig. I don’t see why they are having these award shows right now. VMAs sucked. Anyway I’m wee bit dumbfounded at Miranda getting ETOTY. You can see her #s and they are meh. And for Single. There were more successful, great songs nominated. I know Bluebird is a good song, but this is based on a poem. The hook line from the song is the line from the poem. I also would like to see Luke win. Gosh I just want to see newer artists win. I love Ashley McBride.Oh and thanks to you, Tyler. I don’t know why Stapleton is nominated for Male Vocalist for this year. Isn’t that the same nominees from the last year? I also don’t understand why Shelton’s song wasn’t nominated for single or musical event. Saw it’s the 4th best selling song(all genres) for 2020. Or Musical Event . I also just read this is a WME vs CAA lineup. Just curious. What if you don’t have a big agent promoting you? Anyway doesn’t really matter. Thanks for the update. Keep safe.
September 1, 2020 @ 11:57 am
Yeah I don’t get Nobody But You not getting nominated either. Pisses me off to no end.
September 1, 2020 @ 3:48 pm
Voters don’t like Gwen….
God’s Country was nominated a lot last year
September 1, 2020 @ 9:02 pm
It’s ok she has 3 Grammys and the song went #1 and platinum I think she’ll survive without a CMA nomination….
September 1, 2020 @ 11:18 am
I wonder if Biebs is going to win for video of the year if they will bump that up to the telecast because it will garner views
September 1, 2020 @ 11:24 am
The CMAs: Most Deserving Winners (based solely from these nominations)
Entertainer- Eric Church
Male Vocalist – Luke Combs
Female vocalist – Miranda Lambert
Album – Heartache Medication
Song – Bluebird
Single – The Bones
Vocal Group – Midland
Vocal Duo – Maddie & Tae
New Artist – Morgan Wallen
Musical Event – I Hope You’re Happy Now
Musician – Jenee Fleenor
Music Video – Homemade by Jake Owen
September 1, 2020 @ 11:28 am
I mostly agree with all of your predictions because they all make valid sense. Frankly, I think Female Vocalist for Miranda is a dead giveaway because, let’s face it, Maren is only focused on herself and how other people think of her and look at her.
September 1, 2020 @ 12:00 pm
But the label/agency has got to start Promoting their other artists. What does it say when the same 2 artists always win? Miranda has won even when she didn’t have any music out. And her concerts #s were low. Only sold out show (98%) was the Nashville one. Regardless of how you feel about Maren she is popular, her music sells big time, and is Sony’s future. Same with why is Stapleton nominated for Male vocalist this time? No new music. Been pretty quiet time for him.
September 2, 2020 @ 4:15 pm
Maren Morris’s current single isn’t doing very well with radio. Any take on that Trigger?
September 1, 2020 @ 11:29 am
While I think Kane is garbage not nominating him with his popularity while even worse garbage like Bieber does is a really bad look.
I hope Maddie & Tae win though. I kind of like them. There is some decent song writing and performing there.
September 1, 2020 @ 11:44 am
How out of touch do you have to be to think anyone on the whole damn planet still considers Justin Bieber relevant
September 1, 2020 @ 1:24 pm
Well he released that clothing line. I mean he’s guesting on songs because.. I don’t know… Pop Stardom in the age of streaming an internet fades much faster than it would have in the 70s/80s/90s. Dolly Parton managed to go on three decades with hits. Madonna, Janet Jackson… The focus on streaming I think has shifted the rate at which artists come and go on the charts. And Bieber has a habit of lazily shoehorning himself on others songs to stay in the light and get some royalties.
September 1, 2020 @ 11:48 am
It’s a real shame that ‘Die From a Broken Heart’ wasn’t nominated for Song of the Year. It was far and away the best mainstream track in years, and should’ve at least been recognized in the category. Holding out hope that they can pull a Brothers Osborne and steal the Vocal Duo award from the pop stars Dan + Shay.
September 1, 2020 @ 11:53 am
10,000 Hours is arguably my least favorite song of all time, of any genre. Bieber annoys me.
Also Shay of Dan and Shay is a dead ringer for a personal injury lawyer who frequently advertises on Vegas local news, so watching them is kind of weird.
Rooting for Maren Morris and Carly Pearce.
Overall, meh.
September 1, 2020 @ 8:31 pm
I’ve seen dan and shay up close twice, opening for more worthy acts, and I still can’t remember (altho I’m not trying to in the least) which one is dan and which one is shay, although I know that one of them usually sings lead.
September 1, 2020 @ 9:09 pm
Injury.naqvilaw.com
That’s Shay ????
September 1, 2020 @ 11:54 am
I’m so happy that Ashley got two nominations which probably means she will get to perform a song in full with her band.
I’m actually surprised Die From A Broken Heart didn’t get a nomination considering its popularity on YouTube, streaming and radio. I wonder if it peaked too late and will be more of 2021 nominee.
This is Luke Combs’ year and he’s deserving, but I would love to see Ashley win one of her two main nominations.
Also, it would have been cool if the event was held outside somewhere in Nashville where people could spread out and there would be less chance of a super spreader event.
September 1, 2020 @ 12:02 pm
It will be all about the ladies this year. CMA will go full political correctness. Two solo women are up for entertainer of the year. Lambert is now the most nominated female CMA artist in history. Ballerini gets snubbed. That is good. I have had Lambert fatigue for some time now.
“I Hope You’re Happy Now” is a good song and hopefully it will get some love.
Stapleton being nominated for Male Vocalist has me scratching my head a bit.
Kane continues to get snubbed. At least some poetic justice is alive.
Like him or not, Morgan Wallen has had a phenomenal year. It’s his to lose.
The Vocal Duo and Vocal Group areas show how little impact these types of acts are having nowadays. It is all about single artist.
Boy, it sure ain’t like it used to be!
September 1, 2020 @ 1:28 pm
Yeah Miranda is meh for me sometimes but her latest song “Dark Bars” is stellar. I think the CMA’s are now using Lambert and a place holder for when and if Swift returns.
September 5, 2020 @ 6:25 pm
Taylor Swift should screw off as there’s nothing country about her music. I can’t believe you’d even suggest that considering Taylor had always intended to leave country music from the beginning and only released ‘country music’ because Big Machine was a country label.
September 1, 2020 @ 12:10 pm
Lol…a list of surprises…not.
So Justin Bieber will be part of the telecast. There is no way Dan + Shay will not terrorize the viewers with “10,000 Hours”, “I Should Probably Go To Bed” or a medley of country classics like “Body Like A Back Road”, “Meant To Be” or “WAP” (can’t wait for the dance moves).
EotY: Luke Combs
Album: Luke Combs
Male: Luke Combs
Female: MM or Miranda Lambert
Vocal Group: oh my…OD
Vocal Duo: Dan + Share…Cher…no…wait…Shay
Horizon: Morgan Wallen or Gabby Barrett
Single:…tough one…Combs or Morris or Barrett
Song:…meh…”I Hope You’re Happy Now” or -god forbid- “The Bones”
Musical Event: Dan + Shay feat. you know who or Carly Pearce & Lee Brice
Musician: oh Paul Franklin is on the list…a steel guitar player…nominated for a “country” award…feels strange in the modern Nash-pop times
Video: don’t watch music video channels…but…let’s say…D + S feat. JB will not win one of the other awards…video might be the consolation prize
September 1, 2020 @ 1:01 pm
I highly doubt Bieber will perform at the CMAs… If Dan +Shay perform, they’ll likely sing their newest “I Should go to Bed”
September 1, 2020 @ 12:28 pm
Trivial nitpick: there are *three* Texas women nominated for female vocalist.
September 3, 2020 @ 2:14 pm
Hell yeah there are!
September 1, 2020 @ 12:29 pm
Bieber didn’t even participate in the mostly virtual MTV VMAs where he won an award. I can’t imagine he’d participate in the CMAs, but who knows.
I think this nomination list is actually pretty good. If this were a normal year I’d be looking forward to a pretty good show. I’m very interested in how they pull this off. Have they announced a host yet? What a weird year to take over the iconic Brad & Carrie hosting run. I’ve been watching some old CMA ceremonies on YouTube (I know, I know, but it’s quarantine.) And it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world for Vince to come back, but I do believe it should be someone younger/newer. Look to the future,
September 1, 2020 @ 1:52 pm
It’s not a bad list of nominations. People can moan all they want to about Lambert, but she’s had a fantastic year. However, I think Underwood might walk away with EotY to make up for last year. Combs deserves to win, but I’d put my money on Underwood or Church.
I am disappointed that “Die from a Broken Heart” didn’t get a nod for song of the year. And Blake and Gwen being left out of Vocal Collaboration is a real head scratcher for me.
I predict Morris wins Female Artist. She’s never won. Voters may balk at crowning Miranda again after a two year lay off.
Happy to see McBryde get three nods.
Album should go to Pardi, but will go to Combs or (slight chance) Lambert. Combs is a shoe-in for Male Artist. I think “Bluebird” takes Song of the Year, but only because voters will want to give Miranda some kind of recognition for such a good year.
The Bieber nods disgust me, but after Little Nas X and Bebe whatever her name is, I am used to this crap.
Happy about one thing though – I think this is the first year we will have ZERO bro-country winners. And that’s a win for everyone.
September 1, 2020 @ 2:13 pm
CeeCee I value your opinion. Please explain Lambert‘a stellar year? I’m looking at her concerts #s. They weren’t great. 2 singles off the album. An album that’s selling ok. Bluebird is a lovely song but it wasn’t her idea. As mentioned the musical event never really happened did it. The video is meh. So what in 6 months has she done that makes it stellar. And I like some of her music (you once recommended a list to me) but I just am not seeing it.
September 1, 2020 @ 2:22 pm
Laying aside concert ticket sales which, let’s face it, aren’t really relevant this year considering everyone has been off the road since April, she has had a lot of success. A top 15 and a #1 single. A #1 Album. A music video in heavy rotation and a lot of streams. Lots and lots of TV appearances. And one of the most critically acclaimed albums of the year. No woman other than Morris had better sales #s (Underwood is between albums as is Musgraves). That’s why I think Morris wins FAotY.
It’s okay to think she’s “meh.” Wildcard is my least favorite record of hers. But… it’s still better than 99 percent of the stuff in mainstream. There’s more to awards than sales.
September 1, 2020 @ 3:11 pm
Shefani Sam is hating on Miranda as always. Ignore them. Miranda has multiple sold out shows and Maren actually opened for Miranda on her tour. Miranda is more than deserving of FVOTY.
September 1, 2020 @ 4:01 pm
Yes I like Blake. I like Gwen. But I’m newer to country and come in without blinders. CeeCee was kind enough to give me a list once of Miranda’s best songs. I bought WOTW on the Rolling Stone review and only liked a few songs. I saw her in concert when Pardi opened. I liked him. We left during her performance because it was just not enjoyable. I have read she has off nights. That was one of them. In the past ETOTY has tour #s play a major part. I also saw Miranda’s numbers and no they weren’t great. Before everything shut down her 2 venues in Australia were downgraded to much smaller venues because of sales. I honestly don’t get the hype. I do like some of her music. I also don’t like the passes she gets in her personal life when it hurts others but as I said I’m not a long time fan of country. So I haven’t grown with her like others. There are many of us newer fans of the genre that don’t hear/see what some of you do. Or understand the dynamics of these awards.
September 1, 2020 @ 4:23 pm
Sam – For me,her personal life is irrelevant. And she doesn’t get a pass. The hate she gets is extreme compared to male artists who have had drug, alcohol, and cheating scandals. That said, I get the Miranda fatigue. I happen to think she has deserved most of her awards, but there were years when both Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift had better numbers and Miranda won anyway.
But that’s part of the “awards dynamic” you talk about. Miranda seems to be rewarded for the quality of her body of work rather than yearly achievements. And honestly, the quality has been far superior to the quality of many of her contemporaries in main stream country. Add to that she’s well liked and we’ll respected by her fellow singers and song writers and the massive push she gets from her management during awards season and it explains why she has won so many honors (even during her off years).
And I agree with you that “Fooled Around” shouldn’t have been nominated for vocal collaboration and Gwen and Blake should have been.
September 1, 2020 @ 5:33 pm
We held it together much longer than I thought.
September 1, 2020 @ 4:36 pm
Her west coat shows sold horribly. Half empty venues and 5 dollar tickets does not make for sold out shows. The proof was in the pictures the venue photographer posted on twitter. Maren streams extremely well and had a huge success with The Bones.
September 1, 2020 @ 4:29 pm
Her concert numbers were great. Are y’all crazy!! And it’s nit all about concerts that’s where this becomes ridiculous…
September 1, 2020 @ 2:10 pm
Can I just say “Bert and Ernie with the Biebs” is hands down a brilliant way to describe them????
September 1, 2020 @ 2:26 pm
I’m not a big Jake Owen fan, but I like the video for “Homemade” which is a tribute to his grandparents.
September 1, 2020 @ 3:42 pm
Lol to Bert and Ernie.
September 1, 2020 @ 3:44 pm
You’re regressing to your drama queen mode, Trig. Maybe you should turn the television off for a few weeks.
September 1, 2020 @ 4:12 pm
Luke Combs sucks. So much potential and he wastes it on song after song about cold beer. Dogshit.
September 1, 2020 @ 4:22 pm
@Jay,
Seriously dude??? He wears his heart on his sleeve and plays his old guitar with three chords & the truth.
What you see is simply what you get
September 1, 2020 @ 4:37 pm
Obviously it’s subjective. But there’s simply too many great artists making incredible roots music for me to waste time on Luke Combs beer ballads. Nicholas Jamerson, Arlo McKinley, Tyler Childers, John R Miller, Jason Hawk Harris, William Clark Green, Zephaniah Ohora, Ryan Bingham, Margo Price, Willy Tea Taylor, Lori McKenna, Billy Strings, Nikki Lane, Joshua Ray Walker, Charles Wesley Godwin, Logan Ledger, American Aquarium, Marcus King, Mike and the Moonpies…. I could go on. Each of these artists wear their heart on their sleeve. The difference is that they make GREAT music.
September 1, 2020 @ 5:45 pm
You don’t get sarcasm I guess….
Luke is pretty good but I don’t get his escalation to fame like this. Jon Pardi deserves the fame that Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen have.
September 1, 2020 @ 4:43 pm
Real Country Music
https://youtu.be/V8UqB49S7ns
September 1, 2020 @ 6:34 pm
Yessir.
September 1, 2020 @ 7:16 pm
Yes sir!
September 1, 2020 @ 6:31 pm
“Country Music Association” is a misnomer. Here are some real categories. Notice there are more competitors in Southern Pop, which is something the CMA (sic) would like to avoid since it splits the pie into smaller pieces and relegates too many big-label favorites to also-ran status and potential obscurity.
Country Music: Jon Pardi, Ashley McBryde, Midland, Brooks & Dunn, Miranda Lambert, and many others at SCM who will never be mentioned because they are not part of The System.
Country Soul: Chris Stapleton and Jimmie Allen.
Southern Pop Rock: Luke Combs, Eric Church, and Brothers Osborne.
Southern Pop: Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Old Dominion, Thomas Rhett, Kacey Musgraves, Lady A, Little Big Town, Rascal Flatts, Maddie & Tae, Florida Georgia Line, Maren Morris, Jimmie Allen, Ingrid Andress, Gabby Barrett, and Carly Pearce.
September 1, 2020 @ 10:53 pm
Trigger that is one succinct commentary above and IMO you deserve an AMA for honest and informed journalism .
September 2, 2020 @ 3:59 am
It’s Bert PLUS Ernie. Sheez…+ + + +
I forget–is this the big awards show and the ACM not so much? I need to apportion my don’t give a fuck appropriately.
On to something relevant–I do think the pop in the pop country is improving lately. Bluebird is a good pop song, The Bones is a good pop song, Die From a Broken Heart is a good pop song. It is probably just statistical variation, and it brings me no added enjoyment, but the pop country algorithm could have possibly been tweaked a bit of late and is producing better output. That’s the thing with AI–it sucks at first, but if the learning/feedback loop is implemented correctly it can adapt. So we may have to alter the phase of our shields in response. Be advised.
September 2, 2020 @ 4:01 am
Oh p.s. Trent Reznor is one of his great influential musicians of his generation with Nine Inch Nails (spectacularly covered by Johnny Cash), who also has an Oscar and a Golden Globe for his score of The Social Network, let’s not mention him in the same sentence as Justin Bieber, k thanks. ????
September 2, 2020 @ 5:08 am
I’m actually really impressed with the Album of the Year nominations. As annoying as some Old Dominion songs are, there’s no denying they’ve released some gems, too. “Some People Do” would be fawned over as a victory for substance in mainstream country if anybody else released it.
September 2, 2020 @ 5:38 am
Her concert numbers were terrible, even if you don’t like it
September 2, 2020 @ 6:10 am
Chris Stapleton supports BLM was your article on that Trigger.
September 2, 2020 @ 7:46 am
Your statement doesn’t make sense.
September 2, 2020 @ 7:53 am
Well that is a really sad and pitiful list of nominations…..
September 2, 2020 @ 8:11 am
B-b-b-but Garth Brooks wuz robbed!
September 2, 2020 @ 8:32 am
Paul Franklin would be my pick. He plays an instrument that is so tied with the country music I love. No recognition. Hell, half the time it seems to be the first dumped when its tour time, no pedal steel live.
September 2, 2020 @ 9:23 am
There was a day, long before the internet when I used to get up in the middle of the night here in the UK to try and catch a radio station, not always successfully, that would tell me who the CMA winners were.
Now I really couldn’t care less and I guess that many other fans feel exactly the same. Country music must be the only genre of music where the people involved at the top like the CMA, the radio stations and the record labels do everything they can to avoid genuine country music.
It’s so sad.
September 2, 2020 @ 3:29 pm
I think Jon Pardi has a solid shot at Album of the Year. Luke and Miranda should/could get some love in other categories and that might work in his favor. Plus Heart Medication is rooted in Traditional Country music that separates it from the pack. It would be nice for Pardi to finally get some hardware for continuing to release solid music.
September 7, 2020 @ 12:31 pm
Preach!!!
September 4, 2020 @ 1:01 pm
At this stage in the game, I don’t even have the energy to be outraged at stuff like this anymore. You win, corporate music cabal. You destroyed country music. Gloat all you want, okay? You freaking win. Now just leave me alone and let me listen to my Cody Jinks and old Steve Earle albums in peace!!
September 7, 2020 @ 4:31 pm
Billy Idol should be pissed at Biebs for ripping off his look. Straight-up plagiarism.
September 11, 2020 @ 5:50 am
@Trigger
“Even though the CMA nominated more women than in any time in modern CMA history, the nominations are already being labeled as sexist for not including The Highwomen or Kelsea Ballerini, and racist for excluding Kane Brown.”
Can you point to who, other than Twitter folk, are labeling the nominations as sexist and racist? If we want people to settle down, we shouldn’t pay attention to the vocal minority. Doing so just elevates their nonsense.