2016 CMA Award nominations: Eric Church, Maren Morris, Chris Stapleton lead pack
Eric Church, Maren Morris, and Chris Stapleton lead the pack heading into the 50th annual CMA Award ceremony. They each were awarded five nominations.
Morris, who released her excellent debut, Hero, in June and Church, who surprise-released Mr. Misunderstood on the day of the 2015 broadcast, each scored a nod from the Album of the Year category, while Stapleton found his name in Entertainer of the Year for the first time.
Dierks Bentley’s excellent eighth LP Black and Keith Urban’s Ripcord are also competing for Album of the Year, and both artists were honored with four nominations. Same for Carrie Underwood, who is vying for her first ever Entertainer award. That group is rounded out by four-time winner Garth Brooks, Urban, and last year’s winner, Luke Bryan.
The full list of nominees is below. The awards will air live on Wednesday, Nov. 2 on ABC.
Entertainer of the Year
Garth Brooks
Luke Bryan
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood
Keith Urban
Album of the Year
Black, Dierks Bentley
Hero, Maren Morris
Mr. Misunderstood, Eric Church
Ripcord, Keith Urban
Storyteller, Carrie Underwood
Single of the Year
“Die a Happy Man” – Thomas Rhett
“Humble and Kind” – Tim McGraw
“My Church” – Maren Morris
“Nobody to Blame” – Chris Stapleton
“Record Year” – Eric Church
Song of the Year
“Burning House”- Cam
“Die a Happy Man” – Thomas Rhett
“Humble and Kind” – Tim McGraw
“My Church” – Maren Morris
“Record Year” – Eric Church
Male Vocalist of the Year
Dierks Bentley
Eric Church
Tim McGraw
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban
Female Vocalist of the Year
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Maren Morris
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood
New Artist of the Year
Kelsea Ballerini
Brothers Osborne
Maren Morris
Old Dominion
Cole Swindell
Vocal Duo of the Year
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Joey + Rory
Maddie & Tae
Vocal Group of the Year
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Old Dominion
Rascal Flatts
Zac Brown Band
Music Video of the Year
“Burning House” – Cam
“Fire Away” – Chris Stapleton
“Humble and Kind” – Tim McGraw
“Record Year” – Eric Church
“Somewhere on a Beach” – Dierks Bentley
Musical Event of the Year
“Different For Girls” – Dierks Bentley feat. Elle King
“Home Alone Tonight” – Luke Bryan featuring Karen Fairchild
“The Fighter” – Keith Urban (featuring Carrie Underwood)
“Think of You” – Chris Young (duet with Cassadee Pope)
“You Are My Sunshine” – Morgane Stapleton with Chris Stapleton
Musician of the Year
Jerry Douglas (Dobro/Lap Steel Guitar)
Paul Franklin (Steel Guitar)
Dann Huff (Guitar)
Brent Mason (Guitar)
Derek Wells (Guitar)