Nominees Revealed for 46th Annual CMA Awards

Earlier this morning, Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean announced the final nominees for the upcoming 46th annual CMA Awards, and their names along with the likes of Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Dierks Bentley, and Eric Church came up quite often.

There were certainly a number of names that are familiar to the nomination's list, but there were certainly a few suprises. One of the biggest surprises, at least to me, comes in the female vocalist of the year category. The nominees are the same as last year's list with one exception. Kelly Clarkson is up for this year's award. Now, don't get me wrong, I think Clarkson is one of the best singers in the world (no exaggeration), but she has not done much in the country music scene over the past year. But, now that I think about it, pickings are pretty slim in the solo female country music scene right now...once you get past some of the top name performers such as Miranda, Taylor, and Carrie, the only other female artists that are having big years are involved with duos or groups.

Another mild surprise is the exit of Brad Paisley and Kenny Chesney from the Male Vocalist category. They have been replaced by Eric Church and Luke Bryan.

The Awards show will be broadcast on November 1st on ABC. The list of nominations follow.

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Kelly Clarkson

Miranda Lambert

Martina McBride

Taylor Swift

Carrie Underwood

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Jason Aldean

Luke Bryan

Eric Church

Blake Shelton

Keith Urban

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR

Eli Young Band

Lady Antebellum

Little Big Town

The Band Perry

Zac Brown Band

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

Jason Aldean

Kenny Chesney

Brad Paisley

Blake Shelton

Taylor Swift

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

“Chief”/Eric Church

“Four the Record”/Miranda Lambert

“Home”/Dierks Bentley

“Own the Night”/Lady Antebellum

“Tailgates and Tanlines”/Luke Bryan

Music Video:
Come Over - Chesney
Over You - Lambert
Pontoon - Little Big Town
Red Solo Cup - Toby Keith
Springsteen - Church

Single
Dirt Road Anthem - Aldean
God Gave Me You - Shelton
Home - Bentley
Pontoon - Little Big Town
Springsteen - Church

Song of the Year:
Even If It Breaks Your Heart - Will Hoge and Eric Paslay (performed by Eli Young Band)
God Gave Me You - Shelton
Home - Bentley
Over You - Lambert and Shelton
Springsteen - Church

Musical Event:
Dixie Highway - Alan Jackson with Zac Brown Band
Feel Like a Rockstar - Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw
Roll Me Up And Smoke Me When I Do - Willie Nelson with Snoop Dogg, Kris Kristofferson and Jamey Johnson
Safe & Sound Taylor Swift and The Civil Wars
Stuck On You - Lionel Richie with Darius Rucker

Vocal duo
Big & Rich
Love And Theft
Sugarland
The Civil Wars
Thompson Square

New Artist
Lee Brice
Brantley Gilbert
Hunter Hayes
Love And Theft
Thompson Square