Nominations are out for country music’s biggest night!
On Wednesday, the Country Music Association announced the nominees for the 56th Annual Country Music Awards.
Leading the pack is Lainey Wilson, first-time nominee, whose February 2022 album Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’ garnered her no less than six nominations — including female vocalist of the year, new artist of the year, musical event of the year, music video of the year, album of the year, and song of the year.
She is just the fourth artist in history to ever make her debut on the CMA ballot with six nominations as a first-time nominee, following country music greats Brad Paisley, Glen Campbell, and Kacey Musgraves.
Also among the list of first-time nominees is Blake Lively, who is nominated in the music video category for directing the visual for “I Bet You Think About Me” by Taylor Swift in collaboration with Stapleton.
The 2022 CMA Awards will be hosted by Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning, and will air live from Nashville on November 9.
Here is the complete list of nominees:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Luke Combs
Miranda Lambert
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood
Morgan Wallen
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
“Buy Dirt” — Jordan Davis featuring Luke Bryan; Producer: Paul DiGiovanni; Mix Engineer: Jim Cooley
“half of my hometown” — Kelsea Ballerini (feat. Kenny Chesney); Producers: Kelsea Ballerini, Ross Copperman, Jimmy Robbins; Mix Engineer: Dan Grech-Marguerat
“Never Wanted to Be That Girl” — Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde; Producers: Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne; Mix Engineer: Ryan Gore
“‘Til You Can’t” — Cody Johnson; Producer: Trent Willmon; Mix Engineer: Jack Clarke
“You Should Probably Leave” — Chris Stapleton; Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton; Mix Engineer: Vance Powell
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Growin’ Up — Luke Combs; Producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton; Mix Engineers: Jim Cooley, Chip Matthews
Humble Quest — Maren Morris; Producer: Greg Kurstin; Mix Engineer: Serban Ghenea
Palomino — Miranda Lambert; Producers: Luke Dick, Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall, Mikey Reaves; Mix Engineer: Jason Lehning
Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’ — Lainey Wilson; Producer: Jay Joyce; Mix Engineer: F. Reid Shippen
Time, Tequila & Therapy — Old Dominion; Producers: Shane McAnally, Old Dominion; Mix Engineer: Justin Niebank
SONG OF THE YEAR
“Buy Dirt” — Songwriters: Jacob Davis, Jordan Davis, Josh Jenkins, Matt Jenkins
“Never Wanted to Be That Girl” — Songwriters: Shane McAnally, Ashley McBryde, Carly Pearce
“Sand In My Boots” — Songwriters: Ashley Gorley, Michael Hardy, Josh Osborne
“Things a Man Oughta Know” — Songwriters: Jason Nix, Jonathan Singleton, Lainey Wilson
“You Should Probably Leave” — Songwriters: Chris DuBois, Ashley Gorley, Chris Stapleton
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Miranda Lambert
Ashley McBryde
Carly Pearce
Carrie Underwood
Lainey Wilson
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Eric Church
Luke Combs
Cody Johnson
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Lady A
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion
Zac Brown Band
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
LOCASH
Maddie & Tae
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
“Beers On Me” — Dierks Bentley with BRELAND & HARDY; Producers: Dierks Bentley, Ross Copperman
“If I Didn’t Love You” — Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood; Producer: Michael Knox
“Longneck Way to Go” — Midland (featuring Jon Pardi); Producers: Dann Huff, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
“Never Say Never” — Cole Swindell (with Lainey Wilson); Producer: Zach Crowell
“Never Wanted to Be That Girl” — Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde; Producers: Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Jenee Fleenor, Fiddle
Paul Franklin, Steel guitar
Brent Mason, Guitar
Ilya Toshinskiy, Banjo
Derek Wells, Guitar
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
“I Bet You Think About Me” (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault) — Taylor Swift (featuring Chris Stapleton); Director: Blake Lively
“Longneck Way to Go” — Midland (featuring Jon Pardi); Director: Harper Smith
“Never Say Never” — Cole Swindell (with Lainey Wilson); Director: Michael Monaco
“Never Wanted to Be That Girl” — Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde; Director: Alexa Campbell
“‘Til You Can’t” — Cody Johnson; Director: Dustin Haney
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
HARDY
Walker Hayes
Cody Johnson
Parker McCollum
Lainey Wilson
