Lainey Wilson Leads 2023 CMA Awards Nominations
It feels very strange to even talk about the CMA Awards at this moment in country music when everything else is centered around the wild success of wild-assed and under-produced guys like Zach Bryan and Oliver Anthony. To think about folks like Old Dominion and Jordan Davis (Jordan who?) getting nominated and likely winning awards, it just seems so off-topic for this time and place.
The CMAs are an infomercial for the major label Music Row-based country music industry, and while the world is waking up to the type of country music that is decidedly not that, the CMAs trundle along with business as usual, as if the hoards aren’t at the gate, ready to sack the castle.
That said, few in the country music insurgency will quibble with Lainey Wilson earning the most CMA nominations with an unprecedented nine for the (mostly) country traditionalist. As an actor on Yellowstone, and an alumnus of the massive independent Under The Big Sky Festival in Montana, she has close ties to the country insurgency. And rather inexplicably, Wilson was even nominated for Entertainer of the Year.
Jelly Roll is also a big beneficiary of the 2023 CMA nominations with five. Though his new “country” album didn’t really pan out to be very country at all, the CMAs have been trending more and more country recently, with many raving about the 2022 presentation. Hopefully 2023 will be the same when it comes to the performances and winners. Country music is back in country music. And Lainey Wilson leading all nominees helps underscore this.
Nominees and knee-jerk reactions below.
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
It’s great to see Lainey nominated here, but she won’t win it. Her win in this category will happen in the future, not the present. If this award is a touring award—which it’s been considered as in the last many years—it’s a three way race between Chris Stapleton, Morgan Wallen, and Luke Combs. Stapleton has the benefit of winning the ACM in this category earlier this year, and Wallen has the baggage of being Morgan Wallen. But Wallen still could win as it’s clear the industry has reconciled and moved on from that moment, despite the continued full court press by the media outside of country.
And if this is a touring award, both Zach Bryan and Billy Strings should have been at least considered.
– Luke Combs
– Chris Stapleton
– Carrie Underwood
– Morgan Wallen
– Lainey Wilson
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Very strong field here, and any could win except Kelsea Ballerini who doesn’t deserve to be in this company, despite releasing a slightly better album than her previous attempts. Ashley McBryde would be the critical favorite. Luke Combs and obviously Morgan Wallen would be the commercial ones. Lainey Wilson could split the difference, and with all of her other nominations and momentum could rise up and take it.
– Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville – Ashley McBryde
– Bell Bottom Country – Lainey Wilson
– Gettin’ Old – Luke Combs
– One Thing At A Time – Morgan Wallen
– Rolling Up the Welcome Mat – Kelsea Ballerini
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
It’s usually a good bet that if a woman is nominated for Entertainer of the Year, it stands to reason she will be a front runner here. Lainey Wilson wins this running away. Interesting that neither Carrie Underwood nor Maren Morris made the cut. We’re finally seeing more strength in this category as the women of country continue to rise.
– Kelsea Ballerini
– Miranda Lambert
– Ashley McBryde
– Carly Pearce
– Lainey Wilson
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Big moment for both Jelly Roll and Cody Johnson to be nominated here, but neither will win it. It’s a three way race between Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, and Chris Stapleton.
– Luke Combs
– Jelly Roll
– Cody Johnson
– Chris Stapleton
– Morgan Wallen
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Zach Bryan should win, but with the way the industry is so up behind him, Jelly Roll probably will. For the Zach Bryan fans wondering where he’s at in these nominations, his album came out a little too late to be considered here. Next year is when you may see returns.
– Zach Bryan
– Jelly Roll
– Parker McCollum
– Megan Moroney
– Hailey Whitters
SONG OF THE YEAR
Both the CMA and ACM critically need to address the rubber stamping of the same basic nominees for both the Song of the Year and Single of the Year categories. These are not supposed to be the same things. A Song of the Year should be a critically-acclaimed song that either leads the genre, or says something transformational. Single of the year is more about the performance, whether artistically or commercially.
Since “Fast Car” is a previously-released song, it feels strange to nominate it in this category. But since this falls under the CMA bylaws for Song of the Year, it feels like the one that should win. It’s done something we never expected. Strong field overall, though it’s strange how Jordan Davis has somehow become a shoo-in via the song categories. “Next Thing You Know” ain’t no “Buy Dirt.”
Award goes to Songwriter(s)
– “Fast Car” (Tracy Chapman)
– “Heart Like A Truck” (Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson, Lainey Wilson)
– “Next Thing You Know” (Jordan Davis, Greylan James, Chase McGill, Josh Osborne)
– “Tennessee Orange” (David Fanning, Paul Jenkins, Megan Moroney, Ben Williams)
– “wait in the truck” (Renee Blair, Michael Hardy, Hunter Phelps, Jordan Schmidt)
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
“Fast Car” could and perhaps should sweep the song categories. This could also be where Jelly Roll emerges to get his. Expect the love for “wait in the truck” to come in the collaborative/video categories.
– “Fast Car” – Luke Combs
– “Heart Like A Truck” – Lainey Wilson
– “Need A Favor” – Jelly Roll
– “Next Thing You Know” – Jordan Davis
– “wait in the truck” – HARDY (feat. Lainey Wilson)
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Old Dominion will win. And the world will continue to wonder why. With this weak of a field, they should really expand the scope to groups like Whiskey Myers and the Turnpike Troubadours who frankly draw just as well live as some of these others.
– Lady A
– Little Big Town
– Midland
– Old Dominion
– Zac Brown Band
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Again, the continued lack of strength in this category is embarrassing. But this also presents an opportunity. There’s about nobody better live than The War & Treaty, and they released a quality album this year. They could break the Brothers Osborne streak.
– Brooks & Dunn
– Brothers Osborne
– Dan + Shay
– Maddie & Tae
– The War And Treaty
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
“wait in the truck” running away. Note that the Cole Swindell/Jo De Messina song is the “remix” version of the song, not the original which is too old to qualify.
– “Save Me” – Jelly Roll (with Lainey Wilson)
– “She Had Me At Heads Carolina (Remix)” – Cole Swindell & Jo Dee Messina
– “Thank God” – Kane Brown (with Katelyn Brown)
– “wait in the truck” – HARDY (feat. Lainey Wilson)
– “We Don’t Fight Anymore” – Carly Pearce (featuring Chris Stapleton)
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Remember, this should never be considered as an actual video award. It’s basically another song award, and goes to an artist the CMA voters want to give an award to.
– “Light On In The Kitchen” – Ashley McBryde
– “Memory Lane” – Old Dominion
– “Need A Favor” – Jelly Roll
– “Next Thing You Know” – Jordan Davis
– “wait in the truck” – HARDY (feat. Lainey Wilson)
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
This is the 31st nomination for Paul Franklin in this category, and he’s never won it. With Franklin releasing an excellent new album with Vince Gill in tribute to Ray Price, this would be a great year to finally give it to him. Cool to see Charlie Worsham here too.
– Jenee Fleenor
– Paul Franklin
– Rob McNelley
– Derek Wells
– Charlie Worsham
September 7, 2023 @ 9:09 am
Man, that is a loaded Female Vocalist category. It still boggles my mind that Lainey, Carly, Ashley still can’t make the jump to superstar. Lainey is opening for Hardy. Carly is opening for Tim McGraw next year and Ashley’s new album is getting no steam. It still seems so tough for a female artist to get to that superstar level. Jelly Roll just sold out an 15k arena here. I wonder when Lainey will be able to do that. I don’t know.
September 7, 2023 @ 10:21 am
Derek,
Good question. I think you answered it yourself. Jelly Roll sells out. The ladies do not. Regardless of all the rhetoric on this website and others about lack of female stardom, representation, etc, etc), fact is the male artist have a larger following and larger crowds at concerts. There are aways occasional exceptions, but it ain’t the rule. Same in rock, hip-hop,and most genres.
One thing I do not understand is the lack of enthusiasm behind Ashley. It is puzzling to me on many fronts. I know she doesn’t fit the stereotype of a modern female country artists (blond hair, half-naked, and puffed lips, etc), but Jelly Roll doesn’t fit the male stereotype and that has worked to his advantage. Same for Luke Combs. And I am not a big fan of either.
Just seems strange to me concerning Ashley. Maybe someone can enlighten us.
September 7, 2023 @ 6:19 pm
https://www.syracuse.com/statefair/2023/08/lainey-wilson-crushes-nys-fair-record-for-largest-crowd-with-53200-concert-review.html
September 8, 2023 @ 10:06 am
As I said, there are exceptions. And glad it is Lainey being one of them.
September 7, 2023 @ 10:27 am
All because country radio — and Nashville, which feeds it — has been young female-obsessed for nearly two decades, and the cuties from Ole Miss and UGa who pack the Luke Bryan and Thomas Rhett shows don’t want to listen to women singing. Look at what happens to most women’s singles on the airplay charts. They start off strong, but then the dreaded “call-out” stats start to catch up with them and the 60 percent of the audience that’s female tells radio programmers they’d rather hear LB and TR every hour on the hour than just about any female artist. This is a corner that the mainstream part of the genre has painted itself into, and it’s going to take years to get out of it — if it wants to get out of it at all.
September 7, 2023 @ 11:12 am
Howard,
No disagreement with your reply.
September 7, 2023 @ 7:28 pm
Lainey and Ashley are so amazing and really don’t get half the cred they deserve. Lainey though will there soon I bet…. given the Yellowstone cameos. Ashley voice is a powerhouse and has always been consistent and she is so low key chill in person. 🙂
September 7, 2023 @ 9:10 am
Regardless of how one might feel about Wallen’s “Last Night”, it’s baffling that it isn’t nominated for Single of the Year. That song spent 8 weeks at #1 on the airplay chart,
25 weeks at #1 on the hot country songs chart, and 16 weeks at #1 on the hot 100.
September 7, 2023 @ 1:39 pm
Politics and correctness.
September 7, 2023 @ 6:59 pm
I don’t think that’s a factor. If it was, they wouldn’t have nominated Morgan Wallen for Entertainer of the Year, let alone Male Vocalist of the Year or Album of the Year. The industry has moved on. They’re not going to draw the red line at Single of the Year.
I’m no fan of “Last Night” but I wouldn’t look sideways at it if it was nominated for Single of the Year because it was a big single and that’s what the award is for.
September 7, 2023 @ 9:17 am
As SCM’s resident Jordan Davis apologist, Next Thing You Know ain’t half bad. I much prefer it to Buy Dirt. Neither sounds especially country, but Next Thing You Know has a nice little acoustic picking like underlying the whole song and does a pretty decent job at avoiding the cliches of that song type. And he’s always been a much better singer than most of that genre.
It’s not going to win anything and it absolutely shouldn’t, but it’s a solid song and I would encourage a listener with any interest in the mainstream to check it out.
September 7, 2023 @ 9:48 am
Davis’ new song, “Tucson Too Late,” is another step in the right direction. He’s moving up from lightweight to, I don’t know, maybe light middleweight, and probably never will be a heavyweight, but overall he’s a force for good in the slow evolution of mainstream country.
September 7, 2023 @ 7:08 pm
If you mandate Song of the Year and Record of the Year have to be something with substantial radio play, “Next Thing You Know” isn’t that terrible a nominee.
It’s light years ahead of a lot of the other stuff currently on the radio.
September 8, 2023 @ 3:09 am
…i wouldn’t be so sure about that song not winning anything – it’s a serious contender as a single and song. mainstream country does not get much better (pleasant) than “next thing you know”. from an objective point of view, jordan davis should have been among the nominees for “male vocalist of the year” given his impact on both charts – airplay and country albums – this year. he really ain’t half bad.
September 7, 2023 @ 9:31 am
Good for Lainey. I was talking to a booking agent from Nashville who told me her label and handlers did not want Ben Chapman opening on her headlining tour last Spring. They wanted a bigger name to ensure sellouts. Lainey held her ground and stuck with her good friend Ben. And still sold out every show. She’s everything she appears to be and more and absolutely deserves all this recognition.
September 7, 2023 @ 9:34 am
It’s a shame that Parmalee isn’t on this list. They are just hitting their stride with some of their new songs.
September 7, 2023 @ 10:19 am
The epitome of boyfriend country. I have a pretty high pop-country tolerance level, especially for SCM readers, but Parmelee is a bridge way too far.
September 7, 2023 @ 12:44 pm
Parmalee might be the worst thing on country radio right now. I actually liked a few of their old, old, songs from years ago, not that they were particularly country – Tom.
September 7, 2023 @ 9:35 am
I gave Bell Bottom Country a chance and honestly I dont get why its hyped as being more tradionalist country. Its pop cuntry. Like that song Grease could have been on Carrie Underwood’s crappy pop album.
September 7, 2023 @ 10:09 am
Well, when you pick the most pop song on a 16-song album and use it to characterize an entire artist’s output, that’s not really fair. Take her two radio singles “Heart Like A Truck” and “Watermelon Moonshine,” and then compared it to Sam Hunt’s “Body Like a Back Road” and “Fancy Like” by Walker Hayes, and then get back with me.
Does Lainey Wilson sound like Randy Travis? Of course not. Is she way more country than Carrie Underwood? Absolutely.
September 7, 2023 @ 2:15 pm
Heart Like A Truck and Watermelon Moonshine are lyrically akin to bro country trash for ten years ago that this site as railed against, which makes sense because they were written by the same guy that wrote That’s My Kind of Night and Kick the Dust Up.
September 7, 2023 @ 2:20 pm
Ummm, are you sure?
September 9, 2023 @ 2:55 am
Now that you mention it, I rechecked and I don’t know what the hell I was looking at that made me think she had worked with Chris Destefano. So I was totally wrong about that.
September 8, 2023 @ 8:40 am
Trigger,
Most country songs sound country when compared to those two dumpster fires. That is just as much cherry-picking as the original post.
September 8, 2023 @ 4:55 am
“Bell bottom country” gives me big blooze vibes and comes off a little like “I am Shelby Lynne”. So I guess it ticks off Stapleton southern soul genre boxes, not particularly country boxes.
September 7, 2023 @ 9:43 am
I continue to be astounded that these awards shows refuse to combine the duo/group categories into one.
September 14, 2023 @ 3:25 pm
Was this award created specifically for Brooks & Dunn?
September 7, 2023 @ 10:00 am
I’m still not sure I completely understand the Single/Song difference, but Parker McCollum’s “Handle on You” belongs in one of the two for sure. Also surprised that Bailey Zimmerman got nada. Yeah, it’s emo country, but as one poster put it in another thread, all effective country music is emo, when you get right down to it.
September 7, 2023 @ 10:49 am
Single is more of a “this is the best single released to radio this year” sort of award, and it’s given to the artist and the producer. Song of the year is given to the songwriter. Basically, single is the most liked song, while Song of the Year is what people think is the best written song.
September 7, 2023 @ 10:47 am
Since I’m on vacation at the beach I have nothing better to than comment so here goes more. Carrie should stick to covering Motörhead and singing with Guns. Other than her gospel stuff, that’s where she shines. She should release a rock covers album – Crazy Train, Black Dog, Behind Blue Eyes….That would be sick as the kids say.
And I’m still gonna plug Jackson Dean. He should be nominated for new male artist. Granted he leans more southern rock but his Live from the Rymann album is absolute smoke. And the only place to find “Heavens to Betsy” and “1971” which are both insanely good.
September 8, 2023 @ 5:56 am
LA Guns or GnR?
September 7, 2023 @ 10:51 am
I overall like this list of nominations.
Entertainer will be either Stapleton or Combs, with the edge going to Combs.
I could see Jelly Roll taking Male Vocalist, but I have a feeling Combs will take that.
Female Vocalist will be Lainey, but I’d love to see Carly of Kelsea take it. Say what you want about Kelsea, but I loved “Rolling Up the Welcome Mat.” It’s her most personal work to date, and Just Married and Penthouse are two of the best songs she’s ever written.
September 7, 2023 @ 11:16 am
And “If You Go Down (I’m Going Down Too)” is just as much fun as Hailey Whitters’ “Everything She Ain’t,” but Hailey gets the thumbs-up from the too-cool-for-the-room crowd while Kelsea is dismissed as another blonde ditz. I don’t get it. “Half of My Hometown” was a really good song, too, but that was last year, and nothing was stopping Carly/Ashley’s collab then.
September 7, 2023 @ 11:40 am
“Half of My Hometown” won Vocal event the year before.
September 7, 2023 @ 12:19 pm
High school breakup songs from an almost 30 year old.
September 7, 2023 @ 12:57 pm
It’s her real-life, adult breakup she’s singing about.
September 8, 2023 @ 5:57 am
He’s no John Mayer.
September 7, 2023 @ 11:39 am
I like her fine, but isn’t she getting a little too oversaturated? A tv show, album, 500 duets weren’t enough. Now she shows up to sing the College Gameday song with Darius Rucker?
September 7, 2023 @ 12:08 pm
It still shocks me how Midland doesn’t win group of the year. They are miles ahead of anyone else nominated in the group category year after year.
September 10, 2023 @ 11:33 am
???? because sometimes well-manufactured does in fact beat shoddy hand-crafted.
September 7, 2023 @ 12:24 pm
I think major female country superstars are few and far between…just look at the short list of women who have won Entertainer of the Year. There is usually a crossover element to the artists (i.e. Faith Hill and Shania Twain in the 90’s, and more recently, Carrie Underwood). It also runs in cycles…there were a lot of women ruling radio, TV and concert stages in the 80s and 90s. For at least the past two decades, the female nominees have been a weak field…it was always Carrie, Miranda, and then anyone else to reach five. However…it appears that we have a very strong slate of women to choose from now. It only takes one – it could be Lainey – to break through; the others will follow. I think the future of country is brighter than it has been in a long time, and the women are definitely doing their part to lead the way. Also…I would love to see Tracy Chapman win (despite the rules). Fast Car has always been a favorite.
September 7, 2023 @ 12:51 pm
In the ’90s, I went to Reba McEntire, Kathy Mattea, Wynonna, Emmylou Harris and Mary Chapin Carpenter shows. The only one who could fill even a medium-sized arena was Reba. Kathy, who was twice CMA Female Vocalist of the Year, was Randy Travis’ opening act at one of the Connecticut casinos. Even when the country women represented a larger proportion of the songs on radio playlists, they weren’t doing the same business on the road that the male stars were.
September 7, 2023 @ 12:46 pm
“To think about folks like Old Dominion and Jordan Davis (Jordan who?) getting nominated and likely winning awards, it just seems so off-topic for this time and place.”
It’s felt that way for a looong time, but I guess more so now.
This institution doesn’t deserve redemption, even if they try to change course. Never forget the absolute shit they peddled and the millions they made off of it.
September 7, 2023 @ 1:00 pm
A 5 song EP up for Album of the Year??
That literally breaks the CMAs own rules. Pretty sure the rules were a minimum of 7 or 8 songs and at least 60% has to be original material.
September 7, 2023 @ 2:03 pm
Maybe the interlude gets the album eligible?
September 7, 2023 @ 2:41 pm
I’m not seeing anything it the CMA Eligibility that would preclude the Kelsea Ballerini album. EPs nor length are mentioned, though I do expect it to her her prospects, and I don’t think she wins.
https://cmaawards.com/about/
September 7, 2023 @ 3:02 pm
I don’t think she wins, but I’m glad she was nominated. I’ve listened to that EP so many times. Is it country? Not really, but they’re damn good songs and they didn’t require 4 co-writers.
September 7, 2023 @ 3:10 pm
Maybe they changed their rules? Or maybe it was the ACMs.
I do remember seeing something about album length a few years, especially when EPs became more prevalent in 2018/2019
September 7, 2023 @ 1:03 pm
Jordan Davis is the future of the genre.
Somebody recently said that he is this generation’s Dierks Bentley.
Lowkey star with hits, often rootsy and heartfelt songs. Songs about reflection
September 7, 2023 @ 2:43 pm
Always gotta talk shit about Old Dominion. Time to get over it.
September 7, 2023 @ 6:42 pm
They’re just so … ordinary. As a band, they’re tight and professional, but no one’s ever going to compare them to the Zac Brown Band or Turnpike Troubadours or Mike and the Moonpies or whatever other bands are still out there. They could hand their instruments to a B-list bunch of Nashville session types and sound exactly the same. As for their material, well … “Hotel Key” was kind of catchy, and “No Hard Feelings” kind of bounced along in an agreeable way, but you hardly ever hear their songs on the radio after they’ve left the chart, which ought to tell you something about how desperately unmemorable they are.
September 8, 2023 @ 3:17 am
…are they splitting up?
September 7, 2023 @ 2:49 pm
WOW what a list of no talent posers . To quote Hank 3 pop country really sucks !
September 7, 2023 @ 3:30 pm
I don’t know what I can say about Lainey that I haven’t said? 5 years ago she was huggin’ me at a merch table where there was 6 people in line while Wallen was droning on about Whiskey Glasses onstage. 7/2/21 she played a little town in Bumfuck Illinois called Kirkland to 200 of us in a tent opening with Fat Bottom Girls and she came out in tears at the end the show and said “You guys this is my first encore”. I emailed Trig the next day and said “Trig, she’s gonna be huge!!!”. Watched her sellout Milwaukee in March to 3500, tore it up!!! Now I’m so happy to see her become in my opinion the female face of the franchise, and I still really believe her best is yet to come………….Nobody is 100% at predicting success in this business as we’ve seen recently but it’s fun to watch. Get out there and support the ladies!!!
September 7, 2023 @ 3:32 pm
I recently interviewed her for my side gig at Gold Derby. She was absolutely delightful and she feels a real kinship with Miranda and Carly and Ashley.
September 8, 2023 @ 8:43 am
A hug is all you will get.
September 7, 2023 @ 3:39 pm
That duo category is wild. The only one that have actually put out an album recently is The War and Treaty. I think Maddie & Tae maybe had some EPs but Bros O/Dan + Shay have only released a few singles and Brooks & Dunn haven’t made a record since 2019. I’d love W&T to win, but I think the voters will just stick to what they’re familiar with unfortunately.
September 7, 2023 @ 4:39 pm
If you begrudgingly admit that Morgan Wallen does have some stuff that’s fairly country then the first four categories (EOTY, AOTY, Male, and Female) are all pretty strong and light years ahead of where we were 10 years ago. It’s heading in the right direction.
September 8, 2023 @ 5:15 am
WTF is the deal with jelly roll? Dude can’t sing for shit and he exudes unemployed restaurant dish washer vibes so hard. Who the hell is nominating him for anything besides taking empty boxes out to the dumpster?
September 8, 2023 @ 7:02 am
The industry and the media are in a full court press for Jelly Roll, especially the media outside of country who loves country when it sounds like pop/rock/hip-hop, because they hate country and love other genres. That’s why they also loved Sam Hunt.
September 8, 2023 @ 5:24 am
girl is out there doing the damn thing. i think it’s well deserved for lainey. she’s the total package considering she’s involved in the writing process. i personally like her music. my playlist will often shuffle from colter wall, to lainey, to hellbound glory. it seems like she’s destined to be a country star for years to come.
September 8, 2023 @ 5:54 am
Because 30-40 years ago, those categories were a lot deeper. Say just 30 years ago, the Judds were winding down the duo, same with Foster Lloyd, and Brooks & Dunn were at their peak, and part-time duos like Loretta and Conway have been a thing for decades. By the time B&D were doing videos with hot girls younger than their daughters, you had Montgomery Gentry and Big n Rich in the category. And The Wreckers, if that was your thing for two minutes. Off the top of my head on the group side, while the depth of groups was probably better in 1983, in 1993 we had late-prime Alabama, with Little Texas, Confederate Railroad, McBride and the Ride on their first or second major-label albums. And lesser-promoted acts that had just a couple charting songs like Pirates of the Mississippi and Kentucky Headhunters.
September 8, 2023 @ 11:27 am
Don’t forget the Tractors! It’s a shame what’s happened to the band concept in mainstream country. At least duos are still plentiful, but as one-off collaborations rather than permanent recording acts. It might be time to retire both categories.
September 8, 2023 @ 6:24 am
Don’t really care about the CMAs, or any of the other awards shows for that matter, but since we’re talking about Jelly Roll again I kinda have an observation.
It seemed Jelly Roll came out of no where from a failing rap hick-hop career to become “The Next Big Thing” based off of two pre-release singles from his new “Country Album”. One of them propped up by an actual up and coming star in Lainey Wilson. But ever since the “Country Album” has been released, and people realized the rest of the album was compromised of hot garbage and little country, Jelly seems to be fading as fast as he rose.
I’m wondering, are these award nominations a last gasp of trying to keep Jelly relevant, or was Jelly the last gasp of the hip hop country movement destined to fall back to irrelevancy? Nothing personal against Jelly, but I hope it’s the latter.
Congrats to Lainey. After her debut there was a long while of little success. She was even supporting herself by making jingles for commercials for awhile. Happy to see her perseverance pay off.
September 8, 2023 @ 10:44 am
It’s seems like both the CMAs and ACMs will always nominate Chris Stapleton and Miranda Lambert regardless of what kind of year they had. I’m tired of seeing them shoved down our throats.
September 8, 2023 @ 2:40 pm
Ok, I think it’s time for me to give a real listen to Lainey Wilson. Her aesthetic is very “hipster rodeo clown” but, oh well, as long as the music is good.
September 8, 2023 @ 6:36 pm
Lainey’s great, but man, a lot of her videos are nothing more than expensive costume shoots full of isolated and confining self-regard.
Her live show videos are better. Why is it hard to make a video that’s somewhere between pretentious and self-absorbed? At least the 80s were fun.
September 8, 2023 @ 7:31 pm
Paul Franklin has to win. The man is an absolute legend, nominated dozens of times and has never won.
This has to be the year.
September 9, 2023 @ 3:18 am
Amen. One of the finest players on the instrument, ever.
There are great steel players today. Paul Franklin, Eddie Rivers, Jon Graboff, Zach Moulton, Robert Randolph (!), and if we throw in the lap steel and dobro players, Jerry Douglas, Junior Brown, and more.
September 9, 2023 @ 4:10 am
It’s nice to see the entire country genre represented in the nominations. Not all of it is to my taste but it would be hard to look at that list and think the genre isn’t in good shape.
September 12, 2023 @ 7:16 pm
Parker McCollum is a new artist? Is Willie Nelson nominated in the same category?
September 24, 2023 @ 6:22 pm
I’m surprised you think Lainey even has a chance of winning EOTY in the future given that two of the biggest queens in Country music (Carrie Underwood & Miranda Lambert) haven’t won it yet. Two women who in my humble opinion have worked hard enough to be given with the award. Would be really nice if the CMA’s could turn up to support the women who have helped elevate this genre by actually crowning a female EOTY, but I doubt it. Apparently when it comes to putting on a show females just aren’t up to it according to the CMAs.