Zach Bryan Got Screwed: The 2022 CMA Awards Nominations

Congratulations CMA Awards, you had an opportunity to save your relevance. And instead, just like much of the press, you have ignored the biggest cultural phenomenon in country music in 2022.
Zach Bryan probably deserved a nomination for Album of the Year, and maybe even Male Vocalist of the Year. Both of these things were still unlikely to happen, but the CMAs absolutely had to make sure he was nominated for New Artist of the Year. But instead we get the same names we see every year recycled over and over through the same categories, as Zach Bryan’s American Heartbreak continues to be the 2nd biggest title in all of country music, only behind the Morgan Wallen Dangerous blockbuster, his EP Summertime Blues is at #12, and he’s been the #1 songwriter in 2022 for 12 weeks—more than any other writer. But I digress.
The CMA nominations aren’t all bad. Not only does Lainey Wilson land her first ever CMA nomination, she nabs six of them, making her the most nominated artist in the 2022 field. Ashley McBryde, Carly Pearce, and Chris Stapleton are right behind with five—also important names from the mainstream. Cody Johnson got four, and Midland received three. And you know who doesn’t have any nominations? Sam Hunt, Kane Brown, Jason Aldean, or Florida Georgia Line. Luke Bryan only has nominations as a guest on a track, despite co-hosting the show this year. It truly is a new day in country music.
Find some knee-jerk reactions the the nominations below. The 56th Annual CMA Awards will be on Wednesday, November 9th on ABC.
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Complete toss up. You think Chris Stapleton has to win it one of these years, the women will always be touted highly for this, and Morgan Wallen and Luke Combs are two of the three biggest artists in country music along with Zach Bryan. Tough field.
– Luke Combs
– Miranda Lambert
– Chris Stapleton
– Carrie Underwood
– Morgan Wallen
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
It’s so good to see the strength of this category after years of weakness, as well as fresh faces like Ashley, Carly, and Lainey. All three of of these women could win it, and deserve it, along with Carrie and Miranda who are always mainstays. Another true tossup. The real story here is Maren Morris was not nominated.
– Miranda Lambert
– Ashley McBryde
– Carly Pearce
– Carrie Underwood
– Lainey Wilson
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Cody Johnson proves he’s now made it to the top tier of country musicians with this nomination. Congratulations to him. But it will probably be Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, or ol’ trusty (and tired) Chris Stapleton to win this. Eric Church isn’t a contender here this year.
– Eric Church
– Luke Combs
– Cody Johnson
– Chris Stapleton
– Morgan Wallen
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
A surprisingly weak field. Whose leg is Old Dominion humping to continuously get so many nominations and awards? Humble Quest was a dud. Growin’ Up was a bit disappointing. This opens the door for Miranda, who we know awards shows love, as well as Lainey Wilson, who probably had the critical favorite of the lot. If Lainey wins, it will legitimately ensconce her as a serious, top-tier mainstream artist.
– Growin’ Up – Luke Combs
– Humble Quest – Maren Morris
– Palomino – Miranda Lambert
– Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’ – Lainey Wilson
– Time, Tequila & Therapy – Old Dominion
SONG OF THE YEAR
A surprisingly strong field here. Even “Buy Dirt” isn’t terrible. It feels like a toss up between “Never Wanted To Be That Girl” and “Things a Man Oughta Know,” putting three powerhouse women in the drivers seat for this one. No offense to Chris Stapleton, but let’s just not give it to him as a default, please.
– “Buy Dirt” – Jordan Davis
Songwriters: Jacob Davis, Jordan Davis, Josh Jenkins, Matt Jenkins
– “Never Wanted To Be That Girl” – Ashley McBryde, Carly Pearce
Songwriters: Shane McAnally, Ashley McBryde, Carly Pearce
– “Sand In My Boots” – Morgan Wallen
Songwriters: Ashley Gorley, Michael Hardy, Josh Osborne
– “Things A Man Oughta Know” – Lainey Wilson
Songwriters: Jason Nix, Jonathan Singleton, Lainey Wilson
– “You Should Probably Leave” – Chris Stapleton
Songwriters: Chris DuBois, Ashley Gorley, Chris Stapleton
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
C’mon folks, let’s put some more separation between Song and Single of the year. Song of the Year is the substantive creative expression, and Single is the commercial powerhouse. In this case, it should go to “‘Til You Can’t” by Cody Johnson. That song was a monster, and a decent track on top of that.
– “Buy Dirt” – Jordan Davis featuring Luke Bryan
– “half of my hometown” – Kelsea Ballerini (feat. Kenny Chesney)
– “Never Wanted To Be That Girl” – Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde
– “’Til You Can’t” – Cody Johnson
– “You Should Probably Leave” – Chris Stapleton
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Goodness, what a waste of a category. Old Dominion will win this, even though they’re the most nondescript vocal group in country music history, and Midland is more deserving and relevant.
– Lady A
– Little Big Town
– Midland
– Old Dominion
– Zac Brown Band
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Wow, an all time low for this category. Can we give it to Brooks & Dunn based off the new Ronnie Dunn solo record? Brothers Osborne will win this by default.
– Brooks & Dunn
– Brothers Osborne
– Dan + Shay
– LOCASH
– Maddie & Tae
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Lainey Wilson will win this. Parker McCollum and Cody Johnson who’ve both been making music down in Texas for a decade will come in 2nd. We say this every year with this category, but it feels especially relevant this year: what is exactly “new” about HARDY, Cody Johnson, and Walker Hayes? Hayes released his first single 12 years ago, and had a Top 10 single five years ago. This category could be helping to affirm fresh blood into the country music industry with artists such as Zach Bryan, Morgan Wade, or Bailey Zimmerman.
– HARDY
– Walker Hayes
– Cody Johnson
– Parker McCollum
– Lainey Wilson
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
“Never Wanted To Be That Girl” deserves it, which means it will be that bad Dierks Bentley track with Breland and Hardy that wins.
– “Beers On Me” – Dierks Bentley with BRELAND & HARDY
– “If I Didn’t Love You” – Jason Aldean & Carrie Underwood
– “Longneck Way To Go” – Midland (featuring Jon Pardi)
– “Never Say Never” – Cole Swindell (with Lainey Wilson)
– “Never Wanted To Be That Girl” – Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
This is basically another song category, and mirrors the Musical Event of the Year category too closely. Are we nominating videos, songs, or names? The powerful video for “‘Til You Can’t” is what helped put an exclamation point behind that track. The “Never Wanted To Be That Girl” video wasn’t bad either.
– “I Bet You Think About Me” (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault) – Taylor Swift (featuring Chris
Stapleton)
Director: Blake Lively
– “Longneck Way To Go” – Midland (featuring Jon Pardi)
Director: Harper Smith
– “Never Say Never” – Cole Swindell (with Lainey Wilson)
Director: Michael Monaco
– “Never Wanted To Be That Girl” – Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde
Director: Alexa Campbell
– “’Til You Can’t” – Cody Johnson
Director: Dustin Haney
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
The best field of the CMA Awards always. All these folks are top notch. Also note: Ilya Toshinskiy is part of the ownership group that stepped up to save the Ernest Tubb Record Shop. That deserves a few votes if nothing else.
– Jenee Fleenor, Fiddle
– Paul Franklin, Steel guitar
– Brent Mason, Guitar
– Ilya Toshinskiy, Banjo
– Derek Wells, Guitar
September 7, 2022 @ 6:28 pm
You thought “Humble Quest” was a dud and I can’t stop laughing! XD
September 7, 2022 @ 7:00 pm
Released this year, and currently not in the Top 100 albums in country. It fell off a cliff the week after release. Reviews were mild as well. Very similar to the recent Kacey Musgraves album.
September 8, 2022 @ 9:03 am
LOL, even more funny that now good ol’ Kyle is arguing the importance of chart success and popularity!
????????????????????
September 8, 2022 @ 8:22 pm
Aren’t chart success and popularity exactly what the CMAs are all about…? Hence why it makes sense to call an album a “dud” in an article about the CMA nominations if it doesn’t have those things?
September 7, 2022 @ 7:25 pm
Trash ass album. Trash ass artist. Not country. ???? ⬇️.
September 7, 2022 @ 8:04 pm
That sound you hear is Brittany Aldean laughing…
September 7, 2022 @ 6:28 pm
No Thomas Rhett, no Keith Urban, no FGL.
No Jason Aldean (only for collab).
No Maren Morris for Female Vocalist , no Kelsea Ballerini for Female Vocalist.
I can’t complain with the nominations. Glad and surprised Cojo is getting a lot of love here.
The songs nominated too are decent songs.
September 8, 2022 @ 8:34 am
Agreed. This is the strongest list in some time (with the exception of AOTY).. The minute I first heard Til You Can’t, I thought “multiple CMA nominations.” Very happy for Cojo. I’m thrilled Ashley & Carly broke through with my favorite song of the past year. Morgan Wallen has put his troubles behind him. I think this will be a great show this year.
September 9, 2022 @ 9:42 am
What is “ AOTY”?
September 7, 2022 @ 6:30 pm
Would you believe people on The Highway’s Facebook page are actually complaining about the Kane Brown snub?
September 7, 2022 @ 6:33 pm
In the history of these award shows, has a song ever allowed an artist to jump right into the Male Vocalist category?
I think Cojo was nom for New Artist a year or two back and lost… Now with this 1 song- he’s made the major leagues?
I’m thrilled but it doesn’t make sense
September 7, 2022 @ 6:37 pm
Why does Stapleton always get song and single nominations for the same song??
Stop milking this Appalachian Father of 9 kids
September 7, 2022 @ 6:40 pm
Longneck Way to Go was a fun music video.
Why can’t fun music videos win ever?
September 7, 2022 @ 6:42 pm
How would nominating a folk rock performer save the relevance of the Country My A$$ awards?
Wouldn’t that expedite its destruction?
September 7, 2022 @ 7:02 pm
Would rather have a folk rock performer than a country rapper with a mullet.
September 7, 2022 @ 7:10 pm
I didn’t ask what you’d rather have.
I asked how nominating a folk rock performer would save the relevance of Country Music’s preeminent awards ceremony.
September 7, 2022 @ 7:20 pm
I explained this in the article.
September 7, 2022 @ 8:18 pm
No, I read it again; you definitely didn’t explain the question I asked. Unless our definitions of ‘relevance’ and ‘country’ are even more different than I imagined.
I guess your point is that it might draw some younger viewers. But that does nothing for C(c)ountry music, which is the reason this awards show exists.
September 7, 2022 @ 8:56 pm
Honkey…which of the other artists are C(c)ountry to you? On which ones are you bestowing the coveted Crackershire stamp of approval?
September 7, 2022 @ 6:50 pm
“Sand in My Boots” deserves the win.
September 7, 2022 @ 6:59 pm
Maren will cry fowl… And that’s when Zac Brown will sing “Chicken Fried” ????
September 7, 2022 @ 6:58 pm
I’m thinking the Zac Brown Band will win group over Old D.
Their “comeback” has been marketed well. Especially with this deluxe album of collabs.
September 7, 2022 @ 7:54 pm
Genuine question I don’t know the answer to… did Zach even submit anything to be considered for??? Doesn’t seem like his lane or that he would care tbh. They don’t just hand out the nominations if you don’t put forward for them right??
September 7, 2022 @ 8:11 pm
American Heartbreak made it to the 2nd round of voting. It’s amazing with all the albums on that list (21) this is what the powers at be came up with.
September 7, 2022 @ 8:28 pm
Yes, make sure Old Dominion gets a nomination. But Zach who? They gave Jason Isbell a nomination a few years back, so we know they have it in them.
September 7, 2022 @ 8:30 pm
I was shocked they let Lainey’s album in since it’s so old. But their rule goes by peak and apparently it peaked at 40 last October.
September 7, 2022 @ 9:03 pm
I’d like to think he cares about as much as I do. Meaning not at all. The whole charade is embarrassing and like Morgan has proven that he doesn’t need the ideological, gatekeeping journos behind him, Zack has more than proved he doesn’t need such a hokey ass and outdated dog and pony show to be successful. Leave the circus to the clowns.
September 7, 2022 @ 9:15 pm
I agree. imo award shows these day are just for red carpet outfit entertainment and whatever drama they might bring for a night or week. they don’t actually matter. couldn’t tell you won what 2, 3, 4 years ago. Success comes in all kinds of packages, award shows are fleeting. Sometimes they bring attention to the right people but that’s about it. Zach doesn’t need the attention, and frankly after the second round maybe voters thought 34 songs was excessive and not worth the nom. *shrugs*
September 7, 2022 @ 8:05 pm
No truer words have been spoken. I really thought Zach would snag an album nom for sure. And Trig you are so right about how it would have shaken up the status quo. But once again there are 3 label mates (Luke, Maren, Ran)
and 3 WME ArtIsts(Ran, Luke, Lainey)Yes Humble Quest isn’t on BB country 100 but Miranda isn’t in the top 25. And she has only had 1 hit. Strange still hasn’t cracked the top 50. Combs is still #3 and has hit singles off the album. Would like to see Lainey win. But it will probably be Luke. At some point who do you promote? The next generation? In all these categories there is no real change. ETOTY? Slip out Church- put in Wallen. Funny I didn’t even know the nominations came out until late today. Haven’t seen much discussion about them at all. Same as it always was.
September 7, 2022 @ 8:12 pm
Not much I would want to listen to on this list but the musicians category seems solid!
September 7, 2022 @ 8:19 pm
Cma =suck
September 7, 2022 @ 8:22 pm
I don’t really think Zach Bryan deserves to be on a country awards ballot but maybe that’s just me. Do they still have the American music awards.
September 7, 2022 @ 8:29 pm
Yes. The American Music Awards air 11/20/22. Nominations in late October.
September 7, 2022 @ 8:31 pm
Woof.
AOTY does look brutal. That Miranda Lambert album is a bowl of freezer burnt, vanilla ice cream, and I don’t have to listen to the Maren Morris album to know it’s worse.
“Longneck Way to Go” is a fun song, but that music video could have been made for about $500, filmed in less than 2 hours, and cut on iMovie.
We’re really running on fumes here, aren’t we?
September 7, 2022 @ 8:53 pm
I love how the Zach Bryan fans still seem to think he is so indie but then quote numbers to show he’s as popular as sliced bread.
Oh well, go Cody Johnson, we need more rodeo in the country world.
September 7, 2022 @ 8:53 pm
I was really hoping Ernest would get some nominations
He could’ve been a good fit for the New Artist category (definitely more than Walker Hayes), and Flower Shops (both song and album) could’ve been a worthy nominee in a whole bunch of categories
September 7, 2022 @ 9:02 pm
“And you know who doesn’t have any nominations? … Kane Brown …”
The powers that be, at the CMA’s are still uptight & all a dither, because Kane & Katelyn have such a beautiful marriage & partnership.
Good ‘ol boy network
September 8, 2022 @ 8:07 am
Are you serious? No nominations because he’s a black man with a white wife and the CMA is uptight about … what? That they might kiss on live TV? Damn, so that’s why “Famous Friends” didn’t win anything last year, the CMA didn’t want Chris Young and Kane hugging in front of millions of horrified ‘Muricans. Geez, here I was thinking he wasn’t nominated because “Like I Love Country Music” is crap. Guess I need to open my eyes.
September 8, 2022 @ 8:19 am
“‘Muricans.”
Americans. ????????
: D
September 8, 2022 @ 4:42 am
Actual quote from taste of country….. can’t believe people can actually say or read this and have a functioning brain. Apparently valuing artists who sound more country is now prejudiced…. you know for a COUNTRY award.
“Snub: Walker Hayes
Cody Johnson’s inclusion for Male Vocalist of the Year, when set alongside Walker Hayes’ exclusion, points out a country music prejudice that has nothing to do with race, age or gender. Voters value artists that “sound country” more than their pop counterparts. You could go as far as to say artists that lean pop (like Hayes and Kane Brown, who is also found on this list) are treated as novelties. Hayes was the feel-good story of the last 15 months, and he delivered two huge radio hits. He deserved to be in the Male category.”
September 8, 2022 @ 5:03 am
When country sold out to pop, I stopped listening. I only recognize one or two names in the entire nomination list.
September 8, 2022 @ 5:12 am
I like Chris Stapleton as much as the next guy but how is that song country. Take away the vocal and I bet 80% of country music fans couldn’t tell the difference between that and John Mayer. It’s basically just noodling around on the electric.
September 8, 2022 @ 6:38 am
Funny, I said the exact same thing the first time I heard it on the album. Strat heavy lead, bluesy pop with soft vocals, 100% a JM staple.
I know they worked together on a song a while back. It wasn’t that one, but it might have inspired that one.
September 8, 2022 @ 7:36 am
I guess the CMA’s love affair with Parrothead Mac McAnally is officially over. After winning Musician of The Year ten times including eight out of the last eleven years no nomination this year.
September 8, 2022 @ 7:50 am
Mac McAnally is fine, but the only reason he won all those awards is because he was the only name the knuckleheads who vote for this recognized on the list.
September 8, 2022 @ 6:22 pm
I gotta say something here.
I HATE country music.
Ray LaMontagne’s “God Willin and the Creek dont rise”, or Tedeschi Trucks or Some Ben Harper Folk/Country are as far ‘country’ as I’ve found for myself..
EXCEPT
Zach Bryan.
Kid broke something loose in me. The simicity and depth his music has makes me listen. I want to listen, but it MAKES ME. Ya dig?
Zach Bryan is probably my favorite country artist I’ve ever heard.
September 9, 2022 @ 7:43 am
It’s a cult. You have no choice.
September 9, 2022 @ 7:26 am
The CMA sometimes takes a year or two to catch up with new artists sometimes. I thought Lainey would’ve been nominated last year. Her album technically isn’t even eligible this year because it came out in Feb 2021 and the eligibility period for this year’s CMAs is June 2021-July 2022. I’d expect to see Zach nominated for New Artist in 2023 personally.
September 9, 2022 @ 5:25 pm
There is no way Miranda Lambert deserves all those nominations especially EOTY. Exactly how much does Miranda and her team and her Sony label pay for all these unfair nominations and wins for literally years? Why isn’t Carly Pearce or Carrie Underwood nominated for album of the year? Hopefully Lainey Wilson starts winning because she’s deserves it.
October 9, 2022 @ 4:55 pm
Are you the same Truth Teller account that’s on Twitter and is friends with Fran from Frankelin, TN?
September 10, 2022 @ 10:32 am
Come on, how do you not understand the cma’s formula yet? Everything they do is outdated…artists like bailey zimmerman and zach bryan are timed for next year’s show. This is a presentation that will probably make a big deal out of fancy like ????
September 12, 2022 @ 8:26 am
Palomino is aging nicely. Not a bad pick.