Nominees for 2011 CMA Awards and My Commentary

The 45th Annual CMA Awards will be held on Wednesday, November 9, 2011 in Nashville, TN and hosted once again by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood. This year’s award show promises lots of entertainment as the line-up for performances includes all the best in the country music world.

The CMA Awards will be broadcast live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN on the ABC network at 7:00 pm Central Standard Time.

The nominees for this year’s awards are all amazing and deserving to win. However, only one nominee can actually win the most coveted awards in country music. This year’s nominees in the various categories are as follows:

Entertainer of the Year

The nominees for the 2011 Entertainer of the Year are:

Jason Aldean

Brad Paisley

Blake Shelton

Taylor Swift

Keith Urban

Last year Brad Paisley took this award and he very well could win it again. However, Paisley is up against some very tough competition, including Taylor Swift, who won the award in 2009. Jason Aldean has soared in popularity this past year. He could be a surprise winner.

Female Vocalist of the Year

Sara Evans

Miranda Lambert

Martina McBride

Taylor Swift

Carrie Underwood

Miranda Lambert won this award, along with several others last year. Taylor Swift picked up the award in 2009 and is a big contender this year with her big success with the Speak Now CD and tour. I wouldn’t rule out Carrie Underwood for this award either. I would say this award is between those three artists.

Male Vocalist of the Year

Jason Aldean

Kenny Chesney

Brad Paisley

Blake Shelton

Keith Urban

All of the artists nominated for this award are deserving of winning. However, I think it will be between Keith Urban, Brad Paisley and Jason Aldean. Aldean has been on fire this past year and even though he is not my personal favorite, I have to pay attention to his record sales and overall appeal to the public.

New Artist of the Year

The Band Perry

Luke Bryan

Eric Church

Thompson Square

Chris Young

This award always sends me in a tizzy each year because most of the time there are several artists that are not new. They have been around for years. And this year is no exception to that fact. I would say that Chris Young would be the “new” artist of the year, but popularity swings to The Band Perry.

Vocal Group of the Year

The Band Perry

Lady Antebellum

Little Big Town

Rascal Flatts

Zac Brown Band

This is a very hot category this year with some top favorites going head to head. Lady Antebellum, Rascal Flatts, Zac Brwon Band and The Band Perry are all very popular. This one is up in the air. Who knows, maybe Little Big Town can pull this one off?

Vocal Duo of the Year

The Civil Wars

Montgomery Gentry

Steel Magnolia

Sugarland

Thompson Square

Sugarland has won this award for the past four years and I think they will be stepping up to the Vocal Duo of the Year Award again this year. The other groups just haven’t been around that long.

Single of the Year

Sara Evans for “A Little Bit Stronger”

Zac Brown Band for “Colder Weather”

Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson for “Don’t You Wanna Stay?”

Blake Shelton for “Honey Bee”

The Band Perry for “If I Die Young”

I’m really surprised to not see a nomination for Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift or Miranda Lambert in this category. The top contenders for this award will be Blake Shelton, The Band Perry and Jason Aldean with perhaps the Zac Brown Band or Sara Evans pulling this one off.

Album of the Year

Blake Shelton for “All About Tonight”

Jason Aldean for “My Kinda Party”

Taylor Swift for “Speak Now”

Brad Paisley for “This Is Country Music”

Zac Brown Band for “You Get What You Give”

This category is another HOT one. Miranda Lambert picked up this award last year and this year it will be Taylor Swift, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, or Jason Aldean. I think if record sales have anything to do with this award selection, it will go to Taylor Swift.

Song of the Year – Awarded to the Songwriter(s)

Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette, Levi Lowrey, and Coy Bowles for “Colder Weather”

Brantley Gilbert and Colt Ford for “Dirt Road Anthem”

Kimberly Perry for “If I Die Young”

Taylor Swift for “Mean”

Matraca Berg and Deana Carter for “You and Tequila”

Again, I think the media hype will favor Taylor Swift on this award. I would love to see Kimberly Perry take this one home though. She is a very talented artist.

Musical Event of the Year

Zac Brown Band featuring Alan Jackson for “As She’s Walking Away”

Loretta Lynn, Sheryl Crow, and Miranda Lambert for “Coal Miner’s Daughter”

Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson for “Don’t You Wanna Stay”

Brad Paisley featuring Alabama for “Old Alabama”

Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter for “You and Tequila”

This is actually one of my favorite categories. The nominees are all good. I think this one is too close to call because they are all wonderful and the performances were all great too.

Music Video of the Year

Blake Shelton for “Honey Bee”

The Band Perry for “If I Die Young”

Taylor Swift for “Mean”

Brad Paisley featuring Alabama for “Old Alabama”

Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter for “You and Tequila”

This award is another toss up, but I’m going with Taylor Swift’s “Mean” because it had such a good message.

Musician of the Year

Sam Bush, Mandolin

Jerry Douglas, Dobro

Paul Franklin, Steel Guitar

Dann Huff, Guitar

Mac McAnally, Guitar

I’ll have to go with Mac McAnally on guitar for Musician of the Year. He just seems to be the most popular.

Who are your favorite picks?

Tune in to ABC to see the CMT Awards live on Wednesday, November 9, 2011 to see who wins!

Source:

Taste of Country: 2011 CMA Nominees


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