Country’s best are ready to party in Nashville for the 53rd annual CMA Awards. The genre’s biggest names are recognized for all their work the past year, but only few will win. Before the show gets underway, see who’s in the running (and most likely to win) with our 2019 CMA Awards predictions. Check out all the nominees below with our predicted winners signified in bold.
Entertainer of the Year
Garth Brooks
Eric Church
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood
Keith Urban
She was passed up for the night’s top prize when she was first nominated three years ago, but expect Carrie Underwood to win EOTY this time around. Her second nomination came in the thick of her Cry Pretty Tour 360, which was her most ambitious tour to date and emphasized her powerful, unwavering vocals. A win for her would also be a big win for women in country after a flood of criticism regarding lack of airplay. Taylor Swift was the last woman to be named Entertainer of the Year, doing so in 2009 and 2011.
Female Vocalist of the Year
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Maren Morris
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood
This category honors the same five women as last year, though Underwood and Lambert have dominated every year since 2010. But as the most nominated artist of the night, Morris is due to earn her first win in this category. Of course you can never count out Underwood, especially with her also nabbing an Entertainer of the Year nomination.
Male Vocalist of the Year
Dierks Bentley
Luke Combs
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban
Chris Stapleton’s raw, rugged voice earned him this prize the past four years. The Country Music Association has a tendency to fall back on old favorites which gives him a good chance to win a fifth straight time. However, Luke Combs has bulldozed his way through the industry as of late. He is anything but a dark horse to edge the veterans in this category and continue his rapid rise to the top.
Vocal Group of the Year
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion
Zac Brown Band
Last year, Old Dominion ended Little Big Town’s six-year winning streak. This year, they are on track to begin a streak of their own. The band’s self-titled third studio album has kept them steady fixtures on airwaves with Top 10 lead singles “Make It Sweet” and “One Man Band.” They’ve maintained a relevancy in the business and have proven themselves to be in it for the long haul.
Vocal Duo of the Year
Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Maddie & Tae
Dan + Shay have been shut out at the CMAs thus far, but expect that to change. Their smash singles “Tequila” and “Speechless” both topped the country charts and went multi-Platinum. The former even earned them their first Grammy win. In an otherwise lackluster year for the other nominees, this hardware handily belongs to Dan + Shay.
New Artist of the Year
Cody Johnson
Ashley McBryde
Midland
Carly Pearce
Morgan Wallen
Ashley McBryde’s successful breakthrough brought her a Grammy nomination and ACM Award for New Female Vocalist. She’ll likely add a first CMA win to her resume to cap a year filled with triumphs. Not too shabby for the self-proclaimed girl going nowhere.
Single of the Year
“Burning Man” – Dierks Bentley ft. Brothers Osborne
“Girl” – Maren Morris
“God’s Country” – Blake Shelton
“Millionaire” – Chris Stapleton
“Speechless” – Dan + Shay
Stapleton is a perennial CMA favorite, so it’d be unheard of for him to go home empty-handed. His best shot appears to be for “Millionaire.” Five-time Male Vocalist of the Year winner Shelton arguably had the bigger hit with “God’s Country.” However, as evidenced by Sam Hunt’s “Body Like A Back Road” and Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line’s “Meant to Be,” the most-played songs don’t necessarily ensure CMA success.
Song of the Year
“Beautiful Crazy” – Luke Combs
“Girl” – Maren Morris
“God’s Country” – Blake Shelton
“Rainbow” – Kacey Musgraves
“Tequila” – Dan + Shay
“Tequila,” “Girl” and “Beautiful Crazy” were bona fide radio hits, but it’s Musgraves’ understated ballad that deserves this prize. The Grammy winner is pegged to continue her Golden Hour hot streak for this gem of a tune that pairs inspiring lyrics with an equally beautiful melody.
Album of the Year
Center Point Road – Thomas Rhett
Cry Pretty – Carrie Underwood
GIRL – Maren Morris
Dan + Shay – Dan + Shay
Desperate Man – Eric Church
Eric Church has won in this category twice before (in 2012 for Chief and 2016 for Mr. Misunderstood). He’s proven himself a worthy contender yet again with Desperate Man, despite a strong field of nominees that earned equal acclaim.
Musical Event of the Year
“All My Favorite People” – Maren Morris ft. Brothers Osborne
“Brand New Man” – Brooks & Dunn ft. Luke Combs
“Dive Bar” – Garth Brooks ft. Blake Shelton
“Old Town Road (Remix)” – Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus
“What Happens in a Small Town” – Brantley Gilbert ft. Lindsay Ell
The final category is by far the easiest pick of our 2019 CMA Awards predictions. Despite initial controversy over whether it was even considered country, “Old Town Road” defied the odds and spent a record 19 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 chart. CMA officials will likely recognize the song’s staying power if nothing else, for it might end up drawing even more controversy if not chosen here.
The 2019 CMA Awards air Wednesday, November 13 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Carrie Underwood takes on hosting duties once again. But instead of longtime co-host Brad Paisley, she’ll get help from special guest-hosts Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton. Garth Brooks, Blake Shelton, Kacey Musgraves, Thomas Rhett and more are slated to perform.
Do you agree with our 2019 CMA Awards predictions? Let us know in the comments below!