Credit: Melissa Ruggieri
Credit: Melissa Ruggieri
BY MELISSA RUGGIERI
The usual crew of Georgia country artists represent in the nominations for the 49th Country Music Association Awards.
While Eric Church and Little Big Town – whose Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Schlapman hail from Georgia – lead the pack with five nominations each, there are Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean and Zac Brown Band sightings as well.
Leesburg's Bryan, the reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year who recently packed Philips Arena for a couple of concerts , is back in the running for the top honors this year. He'll compete with the un-retired Garth Brooks, Miranda Lambert, Kenny Chesney and Church (those two artists also visited Atlanta recently for a crowd-pleasing concert at the Georgia Dome).
Atlanta's ZBB missed out on an Album of the Year nod for their excellent "Jekyll + Hyde," but picked up a nomination for Vocal Group of the Year, where they are up against Rascal Flatts, Little Big Town and a couple of other acts with Georgia ties – Lady Antebellum and The Band Perry.
Credit: Melissa Ruggieri
Credit: Melissa Ruggieri
Aldean, meanwhile, was recognized for "Old Boots, New Dirt," in the prestigious Album of the Year lineup, along with the refreshingly original Kacey Musgraves (here's a review of her Buckhead Theatre tour kickoff a couple of weeks ago) for her "Pageant Material." Little Big Town's "Pain Killer," Chesney's "The Big Revival" and Chris Stapleton's "Traveller" also made the cut.
Stapleton, the acclaimed songwriter behind Bryan's touching "Drink a Beer" and Thomas Rhett's "Crash and Burn," is having a breakout year as a solo performer. Good timing for Atlanta fans, as he's part of the October Parklife festival at Piedmont Park.
Speaking of Rhett, the Valdosta native (and Zaxby’s current face along with Brett Eldredge) earned a New Artist of the Year nod, along with Stapleton, Sam Hunt, Maddie & Tae and Kelsea Ballerini.
Rounding out the Georgia representatives are Florida Georgia Line (Tyler Hubbard hails from Monroe), who nabbed a slot in the Vocal Duo of the Year category along with Brothers Osborne, Dan + Shay, Maddie & Tae and Thompson Square.
The CMAs will air live from Nashville at 8 p.m. Nov. 4 on ABC.
Here is the complete list of nominees.
Entertainer of the Year
Garth Brooks
Luke Bryan
Kenny Chesney
Eric Church
Miranda Lambert
Album of the Year
“Old Boots, New Dirt” - Jason Aldean
“Pageant Material” - Kacey Musgraves
“Pain Killer” - Little Big Town
“The Big Revival” - Kenny Chesney
“Traveller” - Chris Stapleton
Single of the Year
"American Kids" - Kenny Chesney
"Girl Crush" - Little Big Town
"I Don't Dance" - Lee Brice
"Take Your Time" - Sam Hunt
"Talladega" - Eric Church
Song of the Year
"American Kids" (Kenny Chesney)
"Girl Crush" (Little Big Town)
"Like a Cowboy" (Randy Houser)
"Like a Wrecking Ball" (Eric Church)
"Take Your Time" (Sam Hunt)
Male Vocalist of the Year
Dierks Bentley
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Blake Shelton
Chris Stapleton
Female Vocalist of the Year
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood
Lee Ann Womack
New Artist of the Year
Kelsea Ballerini
Sam Hunt
Maddie & Tae
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
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
Music Video of the Year
"Biscuits" - Kacey Musgraves
"Girl Crush" - Little Big Town
"Girl in a Country Song" - Maddie & Tae
"Little Red Wagon" - Miranda Lambert
"Something in the Water" - Carrie Underwood
Musical Event of the Year
"Django and Jimmie" - Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard
"Lonely Tonight" - Blake Shelton featuring Ashley Monroe
"Raise 'Em Up" - Keith Urban featuring Eric Church
"Smokin' and Drinkin'" - Miranda Lambert featuring Little Big Town
"Wild Child" - Kenny Chesney with Grace Potter
Musician of the Year
Sam Bush (Mandolin)
Jerry Douglas (Dobro)
Paul Franklin (Steel Guitar)
Dann Huff (Guitar)
Mac McAnally (Guitar)
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