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CMA Awards 2015

CMA Awards 2015 – Nominees List

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Today saw the announcement of 2015’s CMA Awards nominations, with up-and-coming country queen Kelsea Ballerini and new country convert Steven Tyler (of Aerosmith fame) doing the honours. Airing on the ABC network as part of Good Morning America in the heart of Time Square, New York City, it was a morning to celebrate. Alternating on categories, the pair began with New Artist, before running through Album, Female, Male and Entertainer, highlighting some of the most contested awards each year. When it was announced that Kelsea had not only been nominated for New Artist but also Female Vocalist of the year, she freaked out a bit, promising to keep it together but clearly overwhelmed that she’d received that honour in her first year as a signed artist. It all hit home when Robin Roberts asked her how it felt, “I went to the awards as a fan last year!” She exclaimed, highlighting just how amazing the feat is.

Following a commercial break, Steven Tyler took to the studio’s mini-stage to perform his current (and debut country) single ‘Love Is Your Name’ with a spirited performance (despite the fact it was clearly done to a backing track).

It was then time to switch to ABC News Digital, for an online live stream of the second half of the nominees, which began on the CMA website after a short delay. The host spoke to Steven about his coming to country music and Kelsea on her two nominations thus far, before they got down to the announcements. Heading through Single, Music Video, Musician, Song, Musical Event, Vocal Duo and Vocal Group, they wrapped up to cheers from the small assembled crowd. The host once again talked briefly to the two of them, asking Steven whether he had immersed himself in the country scene (which he said he had, citing his playing with Zac Brown Band recently), and asking Kelsea which performance from the CMA Awards she’s looking forward to most. The jury was out on that one, but it was pretty clear both have a big future in country music. As they said, Steven was not eligible for the CMAs this time around, but next year he may be a force to be reckoned with.

Check out the full list of nominees below!

New Artist of the Year

Sam Hunt Maddie & Tae Thomas Rhett Chris Stapleton Kelsea Ballerini

Album of the Year

Kacey Musgraves Little Big Town Kenny Chesney Jason Aldean Chris Stapleton

Female Vocalist of the Year

Miranda Lambert Kacey Musgraves Carrie Underwood Lee Ann Womack Kelsea Ballerini

Male Vocalist of the Year

Dierks Bentley Luke Bryan Eric Church Blake Shelton Chris Stapleton

Entertainer of the Year

Garth Brooks Luke Bryan Kenny Chesney Eric Church Miranda Lambert

Single of the Year

‘American Kids’ Kenny Chesney (Kenny Chesney, Buddy Cannon)

‘Girl Crush’ Little Big Town (Jay Joyce) ‘I Don’t Dance’ Lee Brice (Lee Brice) ‘Take Your Time’ Sam Hunt (Zach Crowell & Shane McAnally) ‘Talladega’ Eric Church (Jay Joyce)

Music Video of the Year

‘Biscuits’ Kacey Musgraves (Marc Klasfeld) ‘Girl Crush’ Little Big Town (Karla and Matthew Welch) ‘Girl In A Country Song’ Maddie & Tae (TK McKamy) ‘Little Red Wagon’ Miranda Lambert (Trey Fanjoy) ‘Something In The Water’ Carrie Underwood (Raj Kapoor)

Musician of the Year

Sam Bush (mandolin) Jerry Douglas (dobro) Paul Franklin (steel guitar) Dann Huff (guitar) Mac McAnally (guitar)

Song of the Year

‘American Kids’ Kenny Chesney (Rodney Clawson, Luke Laird, Shane McAnally) ‘Girl Crush’ Little Big Town (Lori McKenna, Hillary Lindsey, Liz Rose) ‘Like A Cowboy’ Randy Houser (Randy Houser, Brice Long) ‘Like A Wrecking Ball’ Eric Church (Eric Church, Casey Beathard) ‘Take Your Time’ (Sam Hunt, Josh Osborne, Shane McAnally)

Musical Event of the Year

Django & Jimmie’ Willie Nelson & Merle Haggard ‘Lonely Tonight’ Blake Shelton & Ashley Monroe ‘Raise ‘Em Up’ Keith Urban & Eric Church ‘Smokin’ And Drinkin’’ Miranda Lambert & Little Big Town ‘Wild Child’ Kenny Chesney & Grace Potter

Vocal Duo of the Year

Brothers Osborne Dan + Shay Florida Georgia Line Maddie & Tae Thompson Square

Vocal Group of the Year

Lady Antebellum Little Big Town Rascal Flatts The Band Perry Zac Brown Band

Annette Gibbons
Hi, I’m Annette, I have been a huge country music fan since the early 90s those were the days we were lucky enough to have CMT in the UK. I enjoy nothing more than listening to country music whilst having a cold beer (or a moonshine) with friends. I try to as many gigs as I can here in the UK and in the USA; I think of Nashville as my second home and I am lucky to have made some amazing friends in Tennessee. Think Country is something I am very proud of, I just want to share my love and passion of all things country music related with you all.
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