Perfunctory Post on the 2022 ACM Awards Nominations
Shit!
No, not necessarily these nominations. Well, kind of the nominations as well. But the fact that by some obligatory sense of duty by the powers vested in me as the owner/operator of a country music website, I must convey the nominees of the 2022 ACM Awards, which have fallen so far down in relevancy they’re not even being televised on a major network anymore.
In 2022, the ACMs are being held at an Applebee’s like the Dundee’s from The Office, and are being streamed live on Morgan Wallen’s Rumble account.
Alright, that’s not true. They are being streamed online though, but on Amazon Prime. And that Applebee’s song is a big player in the nominations. As is Morgan Wallen, which will launch 1,000 more think pieces about how everything in country music is overtly racist in its entirety, while the rest of us want to just get back to hating on Morgan Wallen for his shitty music.
Yes, there are some bright spots in the nominations. But overall, they feel like just the same names, reshuffled among the major categories sort of eeny, meeny, miny, moe fashion, basically boiling down to a dart throw, with very little drama or intrigue.
Find some predictions and nominations below.
Entertainer Of The Year
Luke Combs should, and likely will win this. Biggest artist in country music without a mullet. Would be nice to see Stapleton win one of these at some point, so make him the dark horse.
Eric Church
Luke Combs – WINNER
Miranda Lambert
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood
Female Artist Of The Year
I’ll say this: It is good to see this category getting shored up over the last few years. Remember that run where they would nominate Kelly Clarkson each year just because there weren’t enough women actually making a living in mainstream country to nominate another?
Miranda is always the favorite here, but hopefully Carly Pearce gets a bit more than a passing consideration. It’s an off year for Maren Morris, she’ll be back next year. We all love Ashley McBryde, but she probably doesn’t have the gusto to pull this off. Gabby Barrett is your dark horse.
Gabby Barrett – Other Potential Winner
Miranda Lambert – WINNER
Ashley McBryde
Maren Morris
Carly Pearce – Other Potential Winner
Male Artist Of The Year
Again, Luke’s to lose. But Big Machine always calls in its favors and horse trades Thomas Rhett to the top of the heap, so don’t be surprised if he comes out of nowhere. And of course, voters love to vote Stapleton. Wallen has no chance, neither does Jimmie. But it is cool to see Jimmie with the nomination.
Jimmie Allen
Luke Combs – WINNER
Thomas Rhett _Other Potential Winner
Chris Stapleton – Other Potential Winner
Morgan Wallen
Duo Of The Year
Quit teasing us by putting Brooks & Dunn in the mix. We know they’re not going to win, and you just need warm bodies to fill out this category. Brothers Osborne win, even though their last record was arena rock that sold terribly.
Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne – WINNER
Dan + Shay
LOCASH
Maddie & Tae
Group Of The Year
Old Dominion will win. Still can’t name a single song of theirs off the top of my head. Such an incredibly weak field. Lady A is as toxic as Morgan Wallen. Midland would be the actual country fan’s pick, but they just can’t can’t make more than a whimper in the mainstream.
Lady A
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion – WINNER
The Cadillac Three
New Female Artist Of The Year
I remember hanging out on a tour bus with Caitlyn Smith and Austin Lucas in the parking lot of Billy Bob’s Texas as part of the Country Throwdown/Willie Nelson 4th of July Picnic in 2011. That was over a decade ago. “Best New Artist” Caitlyn Smith? This is just dumb.
Lainey Wilson should, and will win this.
Tenille Arts
Priscilla Block
Lily Rose
Caitlyn Smith
Lainey Wilson – WINNER
New Male Artist Of The Year
Again, aside from Elvie Shane, none of these artists are “new” in any sense of the word, and it’s more an insult they would be nominated under this pretense than any honor they receive being nominated at all. Walker Hayes had a Top 40 song in 2010, and a Top 10 in 2017, and will win this.
HARDY
Walker Hayes – WINNER
Ryan Hurd
Parker McCollum
Elvie Shane
Album Of The Year
This is actually an interesting category, and everyone except Chris Young (Chris Young !?!) could win it. Critical favorites tend to fare well in this category, and both The Marfa Tapes and 29: Written in Stone are very strong in that regard. As mentioned before, Big Machine has a strong track record of going to bat for Thomas Rhett at the ACMs, so he can’t be counted out.
And if Morgan Wallen was going to win anything, it would be this. It’s not a personality contest, but a recognition of commercial/creative prowess, and Dangerous definitely displayed the former, while voters can say they’re honoring Wallen’s collaborators just as much as Wallen himself. Wide open field, and an interesting decision to make.
29: Written in Stone – Carly Pearce
Country Again: Side A – Thomas Rhett
Dangerous: The Double Album – Morgan Wallen
Famous Friends – Chris Young – WON’T WIN
The Marfa Tapes – Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall
Single Of The Year
If we actually considered this category as it’s supposed to be considered, “Fancy Like” would run away with this, because it was the most popular “Single” of the last year, or “Famous Friends” could win because it was the most-played song on radio in 2021. But what’s likely to happen is Stapleton wins it for no reason except he’s Stapleton, and this category continues to slip into irrelevance just like the awards themselves.
“Buy Dirt” – Jordan Davis featuring Luke Bryan
“Famous Friends” – Chris Young and Kane Brown – Other Potential Winner
“Fancy Like” – Walker Hayes – Other Potential Winner
“If I Didn’t Love You” – Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood
“You Should Probably Leave” – Chris Stapleton – WINNER
Song Of The Year
If we actually considered this category as it’s supposed to be considered as a critically-acclaimed song that sets the pace for country music in a given year, Lainey Wilson’s “Things A Man Oughta Know” would win hands down. Have to say though, both “Buy Dirt” and Chesney’s “Knowing You” aren’t terrible songs either. Usually the “Single” and “Song” categories are exactly the same. Some begrudging kudos for shaking it up somewhat this year. And screw Walker Hayes and his Applebee’s commercial.
“7 Summers” – Morgan Wallen
“Buy Dirt” – Jordan Davis featuring Luke Bryan
“Fancy Like” – Walker Hayes
“Knowing You” – Kenny Chesney
“Things A Man Oughta Know” – Lainey Wilson – SHOULD WIN
Video Of The Year
This is basically another song category these days. They’re all collaborations by labels hoping to double up on votes.
“Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)” – Elle King and Miranda LambertFamous “Friends” – Chris Young and Kane Brown
“I Bet You Think About Me (Taylor’s Version)” – Taylor Swift featuring Chris Stapleton
“If I Didn’t Love You” – Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood
“Never Wanted To Be That Girl” – Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde
Songwriter Of The Year
Jesse Frasure
Nicolle Galyon
Ashley Gorley
Michael Hardy
Josh Osborne
Music Event Of The Year
“Buy Dirt” – Jordan Davis featuring Luke Bryan
“Famous Friends” – Chris Young and Kane Brown
“Half of My Hometown” – Kelsea Ballerini featuring Kenny Chesney
“If I Didn’t Love You” – Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood
“Never Wanted To Be That Girl” – Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde
February 10, 2022 @ 12:16 pm
Duo has always been a slim pickings category that needed a field filler. I remember in the late 90s and early 2000s the Bellamy Brothers were always nominated even though they hadn’t been on the radio in forever
February 10, 2022 @ 3:47 pm
the bellamy brothers’ “old hippie,” even tho it was released 37 yrs ago, sounds brighter than anything aacm nominated today, aaron lee. 🙂
February 10, 2022 @ 12:29 pm
I really thought that Alan Jackson would get a couple of nominations this year, but what do I know?
February 10, 2022 @ 12:30 pm
I can’t stomach the adult contemporary, bluesy “You Should Probably Leave” by Chris Stapleton. It reminds of the kind of song that was played on mall muzak (elevator music).
“Fancy Like That” should be the winner. It’s not on my playlist, but it’s the mainstream country song I’ve heard the most the past decade. I don’t believe it achieves its success without TikTok. There was awhile starting back in the early spring, one couldn’t log onto his/her TikTok without hearing it every other video. Happy dancing is very contagious and lucrative. It reminded me back to the early 2000s when we sold a ton of those Stadium Anthems compilations – volumes of music you’d hear at sporting events. People want to be reminded of happy times: when your team scores a touchdown or hits the winning 3 pt basket or dancing with your friends to a shallow, upbeat, catchy tune.
February 10, 2022 @ 12:33 pm
I’m not a fan of Morgan Wallen. Not of his music or his apparent personality, and I don’t agree with the language he used. And….I HATE awards shows, especially these fake mainstream dog and pony shows.
That said I hope Morgan cleans house, because I hate the think piece writers and their audience, even more.
February 10, 2022 @ 1:55 pm
I’m kinda with you on this one.
February 10, 2022 @ 2:02 pm
that sounds dangerously close to making a decision based on… emotions.
February 10, 2022 @ 6:31 pm
More or less reinforces my belief that Wallen is mostly about culture war backlash from people who care more about resentment than music.
February 10, 2022 @ 8:08 pm
You think? Trigger has been making that obvious observation for months now, but thanks for sharing your belief with us. I was perfectly content not knowing about him or his mediocre music, but the outrage and scolding lectures are inescapable. And yes, call it a guilty pleasure, I do find it somewhat amusing to watch all the moral panic and attempted cancellations fail.
February 10, 2022 @ 12:49 pm
Nice to see a few shake ups here and there in the album/song categories, but man, Entertainer of the Year is the most boring list I’ve ever seen. Stop nominating the same “big names” and branch out to whoever had the biggest influence not involving touring.
February 10, 2022 @ 1:11 pm
As far as Song Of The Year goes, there is just such a huge gap in quality between Fancy Like and the other 4 songs.
Things A Man Oughta Know, 7 Summers, Knowing You, and even Buy Dirt are all actually legit really good songs and I wouldn’t have an issue with any of them winning.
Fancy Like is just really bad, and only there because of commercial success. Which means it’ll probably win, of course.
February 10, 2022 @ 2:47 pm
Jordan Davis recently released a version of Buy Dirt without Luke Bryan, and it’s a lot better in every way. His voice is actually really great when he doesn’t murder it with ten guitars and autotune.
I honestly hope he pulls a Thomas Rhett and makes a “return to country” side project. Even if there’s some trash on it, I think a couple of really good songs could come out of an actual JD country record, and I’d love to see what he can do with a more stripped-back sound and traditional instrumentation.
Or he’ll release another project full of songs like that god-awful collaboration with Seaforth and fade back into mediocrity.
February 12, 2022 @ 10:41 am
I think Fancy Like is just the victim of a clerical error and it was actually meant to be nominated for WORST Song of the Year. How anyone can argue that that crap is 1) Country or 2) Song of the Year material is beyond me. Fancy Like is one of those two-minute songs that feel more like five minutes.
February 10, 2022 @ 1:52 pm
Jim Glaser won the ACM best new male vocalist in 1984, and he had been recording since about the early 1960s!
February 10, 2022 @ 1:52 pm
Can’t wait for all the “Is Country Music Fatphobic” articles when Priscilla Block doesn’t win New Female Artist!
No Alan Jackson nominations is a joke.
And anyone who likes “Fancy Like” should lose their ears. Society has supposedly evolved yet that is one of the most popular songs around.
February 10, 2022 @ 2:08 pm
what’s really telling is that priscilla block hasn’t won or lost yet and yet you are singling her out for her size for some hypothetical conservative outrage fantasy.
February 10, 2022 @ 5:48 pm
What’s really telling is your inability to grasp sarcasm. And I even spelled it for the simpletons like yourself with the exclamation point!
February 10, 2022 @ 7:52 pm
you don’t know how exclamation points work? sad!
February 11, 2022 @ 11:45 am
Yes. Try to use that joke when you can’t even capitalize the first letters of your sentences.
Go troll elsewhere.
February 11, 2022 @ 11:46 am
ooft! i’m going to be feeling that one for a while!
February 10, 2022 @ 2:28 pm
Why Lady A is toxic?
February 13, 2022 @ 10:34 am
Hopefully because they pussed out and changed their name.
February 10, 2022 @ 2:59 pm
These awards also remind what I hate most in country music now – aside from boyfriend country – is that now it takes a song a year or longer to reach No. 1. It’s insane and really limits the number of songs available. Eric Church put on a compilation with 28 songs and has had two singles since Nov. 9 – 2020. Ashley McBryde tried so hard to get her first No. 1, she only really released one song off her wonderful album. We used to see most 3 or maybe 4 songs a year from the top 20 or so acts. Now, a few male acts get two or three a year and everyone else gets maybe one.
I’m sorry I wrote so much when I could have just said – modern radio sucks.
Also, while they won’t win – I want to say I love Maddie and Tae’s new release – “Strangers,” “Madness,” “What It’s Like,” “Wish You The Best,” all quality. It would be cool if they got to perform.
February 10, 2022 @ 3:03 pm
Happy to see that they put Chris Stapleton in the Single of the Year category instead of Song of the Year — the song works much more because of Stapleton’s vocals than because of the songwriting.
I’m not a fan of “Fancy Like” as a song, but I kind of understand it nabbing a Song of the Year nomination — the song was huge, and that was in large part due to the songwriting and the (ridiculous) lyrics.
February 10, 2022 @ 4:08 pm
Yea I like Maddie and take, don’t know why they aren’t given more consideration. Carly pierce had a good year, I’d like to see her win but I doubt she will.
February 10, 2022 @ 5:01 pm
Grammys set the bar pretty low so these nominations…eh, could be worse. Could be the Grammys.
February 10, 2022 @ 5:24 pm
My opinion would be that the Grammys are one of the few organizations that get it closer to right. Sturgill Simpson, Tyler Childers, Billy Strings and other deserving artists picked up Grammy nominations this year, facilitated by the fact that the Grammys dig deeper than the mainstream.
https://savingcountrymusic.com/sturgill-simpson-tyler-childers-more-land-2022-grammy-noms/
February 10, 2022 @ 5:41 pm
Trigger, this reminds me of Sara Evans complaining about the (I think) “oh brother” album winning a country award. Some of these nominations that you reference may not be “bad”, but they don’t really belong there either.
Now, I’m a huge supporter of women in country music, no doubt…but just about every single female nomination here is just a big nope (Miranda kinda gets a pass for me, though still, it gets a huh?)
And as for Isbell, Sturgill…they’re great, but c’mon.
At least half of these nominations are crud, not necessarily because it’s “bad” music, but because of the reasons they are there.
February 10, 2022 @ 5:47 pm
Also, sorry for the after thought, which is the overriding reason for the “wrong” reasons I mention…the Grammy country nominations are aiming for a more “high brow” demographic.
Now, I’m a pretty privileged guy myself in some ways (in others not), but I think it sucks.
Also, the CMA awards, for all their flaws, are the gold standard and have always been as far as country awards.
February 10, 2022 @ 6:17 pm
I used to like Chris Young. But it seems after Neon he was chasing “number 1’s” instead of just good songs. I really wish he would get back to what he used to do. He has the voice to be one of the best.
February 11, 2022 @ 9:06 am
AGREED. He’s actually one of my favorite vocalists. I felt like he was being overlooked for nominations. He deserves them…just not for this album. I too wish he would return to his traditional style from those first few albums.
February 11, 2022 @ 12:59 pm
He already said those songs were not selling so he and his record label had to do what they had to do in order to expand his “sound” (i.e. lose the cowboy hat, more upbeat songs etc).
We always complain about the same ole people always getting nominations while better projects are left out, if it’s not optics it’s ageism. Bottom line, unless you are kissing the right asses in Nashville you don’t stand a chance.
February 12, 2022 @ 7:51 am
But they were selling. He was very popular in 2011-2013.
Was he headlining shows? Probably not because he was still a newbie in 2012… but his first 3 albums were stellar. He definitely had a great fanbase back then
February 10, 2022 @ 6:22 pm
Sounds like these awards shows may be a thing of the past before too much longer.
February 12, 2022 @ 7:52 am
Its not even on TV anymore.
Just in some app.
Anyone over the age of 55 wouldn’t understand how to watch it
February 10, 2022 @ 7:16 pm
Thanks for reminding me to watch The Office instead of the awards show!
February 11, 2022 @ 6:37 am
Anybody else cringing every time “Drunk and I Don’t Wanna Go Home” is forced on them on the radio in a public place? Just awful. I’d rather hear Fancy Like it’s so bad.
February 11, 2022 @ 6:58 am
Man.
Pop country really sucks ass.
February 12, 2022 @ 10:36 pm
Listen to Buy Dirt (one of the songs nominated) and that’s not pop country
February 11, 2022 @ 8:06 am
no Jackson? no Tritt? Gerontophobic award!!
February 11, 2022 @ 11:16 am
Nice to see Caitlyn get a nod but understand your comment about not being new. Found her through your review of Starfire which I continue to play on repeat. Nothing she’s done since quite compares to that record but her version of High slays Miley’s. Morgan Wade should be on that list. Maybe next year.
February 11, 2022 @ 2:55 pm
Yeah we FANCY like..
The Dundee’s down at Chili’s.
????????????????????
February 11, 2022 @ 3:45 pm
I’m surprised that Morgan is nominated because the eligibility period for this particular award show is from January 2021 to November…
So why nominate him during a period of time that he was banned from radio.
His incident occurred in February 2021 & his ban lasted a solid 5 or 6 months.