The 55th Annual CMA Awards, hosted by Country music star and American Idol judge Luke Bryan air live tonight (Nov 10) from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. The event airs on ABC beginning at 8 pm EST.
American Idol judges TOGETHER! Katy Perry and Lionel Richie give Luke an assist.
Carrie Underwood, Jimmie Allen, Gabby Barrett, Luke Bryan, Mickey Guyton, Jennifer Hudson, Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, Kane Brown and more are performing. Scotty McCreery, Hayley Orrantia, Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, Kelsea Ballerini and more are presenting. See the full list HERE.
American Idol 2018 alum Gabby Barrett is up for four awards, including Female Vocalist of the Year, New Artist of the Year, Single of the Year and Song of the Year for “The Good Ones.” She is the most nominated female artist of 2021, but was shut out of all four categories.
It’s tough to compete when Chris Stapleton has eligible music in the running. He won Male Vocalist, Best Song, Best Single and Best album. Fellow American Idol alum and Dancing with the Stars contestant Jimmie Allen nabbed Best New Artist.
In the Female Artist category, Carly Pearce finally won an award. She was surprised AND crying. Gabby will simply have to wait her turn.
Check out the CMA Awards nominations by the numbers HERE.
2021 CMA NOMINEES
Entertainer of the Year
Eric Church
Luke Combs – WINNER
Miranda Lambert
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood
Female Vocalist of the Year
Gabby Barrett
Miranda Lambert
Ashley McBryde
Maren Morris
Carly Pearce – WINNER
Male Vocalist of the Year
Dierks Bentley
Eric Church
Luke Combs
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton – WINNER
Vocal Group of the Year
Lady A
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion – WINNER
Zac Brown Band
Vocal Duo of the Year
Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne – WINNER
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Maddie & Tae
New Artist of the Year
Jimmie Allen – WINNER
Ingrid Andress
Gabby Barrett
Mickey Guyton
HARDY
Album of the Year
29
Carly Pearce
PRODUCER(S): Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Jimmy Robbins
MIX ENGINEER: Ryan Gore
Big Machine Records
Dangerous: The Double Album
Morgan Wallen
PRODUCER(S): Dave Cohen, Matt Dragstrem, Jacob Durrett, Charlie Handsome, Joey Moi
MIX ENGINEER: Joey Moi
Big Loud Records / Republic Records
Heart
Eric Church
PRODUCER(S): Jay Joyce
MIX ENGINEER: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
EMI Records Nashville / Universal Music Group Nashville
Skeletons
Brothers Osborne
PRODUCER(S): Jay Joyce
MIX ENGINEER: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
EMI Records Nashville / Universal Music Group Nashville
Starting Over – WINNER
Chris Stapleton
PRODUCER(S): Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
MIX ENGINEER: Vance Powell
Mercury Nashville / Universal Music Group Nashville
Single of the Year
“Famous Friends”
Chris Young with Kane Brown
PRODUCER(S): Corey Crowder, Chris Young
MIX ENGINEER: Sean Moffitt
RCA Nashville
“The Good Ones”
Gabby Barrett
PRODUCER(S): Ross Copperman, Zach Kale
MIX ENGINEER: Chris Galland, Manny Marroquin
Warner Music Nashville
“Hell Of A View”
Eric Church
PRODUCER(S): Jay Joyce
MIX ENGINEER: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
EMI Records Nashville / Universal Music Group Nashville
“One Night Standards”
Ashley McBryde
PRODUCER(S): Jay Joyce
MIX ENGINEER: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
Warner Music Nashville
“Starting Over” – WINNER
Chris Stapleton
PRODUCER(S): Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
MIX ENGINEER: Vance Powell
Mercury Nashville / Universal Music Group Nashville
Song of the Year
“Forever After All”
Luke Combs, Drew Parker, Robert Williford
“The Good Ones”
Gabby Barrett, Zach Kale, Emily Landis, Jim McCormick
“Hell Of A View”
Casey Beathard, Eric Church, Monty Criswell
“One Night Standards”
Nicolette Hayford, Shane McAnally, Ashley McBryde
“Starting Over” – WINNER
Mike Henderson, Chris Stapleton
Musical Event of the Year
“Buy Dirt”
Jordan Davis and Luke Bryan
PRODUCER(S): Paul DiGiovanni
MCA Nashville / Universal Music Group Nashville
“Chasing After You”
Ryan Hurd with Maren Morris
PRODUCER(S): Aaron Eshuis, Teddy Reimer
Arista Nashville
“Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)”
Elle King & Miranda Lambert
PRODUCER(S): Martin Johnson
RCA Records / Columbia Nashville
“Famous Friends”
Chris Young with Kane Brown
PRODUCER(S): Corey Crowder, Chris Young
RCA Nashville
“half of my hometown” – WINNER
Kelsea Ballerini (featuring Kenny Chesney)
PRODUCER(S): Kelsea Ballerini, Ross Copperman, Jimmy Robbins
Black River Entertainment
Music Video of the Year
“Chasing After You”
Ryan Hurd with Maren Morris
DIRECTOR: TK McKamy
“Famous Friends”
Chris Young with Kane Brown
DIRECTOR: Peter Zavadil
“Gone”
Dierks Bentley
DIRECTORS: Wes Edwards, Travis Nicholson, Ed Pryor, Running Bear, Sam Siske
“Younger Me”
Brothers Osborne
DIRECTOR: Reid Long
“half of my hometown” – WINNER
Kelsea Ballerini (featuring Kenny Chesney)
DIRECTOR: Patrick Tracy
Musician of the Year
Jenee Fleenor – WINNER
FIDDLE
Paul Franklin
STEEL GUITAR
Aaron Sterling
DRUMS
Ilya Toshinskiy
BANJO
Derek Wells
GUITAR
