
Tess Taylor:
Entertainer of the Year – Garth Brooks
Female Vocalist of the Year – Maren Morris
Male Vocalist of the Year – Thomas Rhett
Album of the Year (Awarded to Artist(s) and Producer(s)) – Center Point Road, Thomas Rhett (Producers: Dann Huff, Jesse Frasure, Thomas Rhett, Julian Bunetta, The Stereotypes, Cleve Wilson)
New Artist of the Year – Carly Pearce
Song of the Year (Awarded to Songwriters) – “Beautiful Crazy,” Luke Combs (Songwriters: Luke Combs, Wyatt B. Durrette III, Robert Williford)
Single of the Year (Awarded to Artist(s), Producer(s) and Mix Engineer(s)) – “Speechless,” Dan + Shay (Producers: Dan Smyers, Scott Hendricks; Mix Engineer: Jeff Juliano)
Vocal Group of the Year – Old Dominion
Vocal Duo of the Year – Dan + Shay
Musical Event of the Year – Garth Brooks and Blake Shelton, “Dive Bar” (Producer: Garth Brooks)
Music Video of the Year (Awarded to Artist(s) and Director(s)) – “Some of It,” Eric Church (Director: Reid Long)
Musician of the Year – Mac McAnally
Wild Bill:
Entertainer of the Year: Garth Brooks. After experiencing the Garth at US Bank Stadium in May, I can’t imagine anyone being better than him ever.
Male Vocalist of the Year: Luke Combs. The guy is on fire. Nobody had a better year than Luke did.
Female Vocalist of the Year: Maren Morris. She is the new female sound of country. The first time I heard Rich off the album I was hooked.
Vocal group of the Year: Little Big Town. Because I WANT them to win. I will it to be so.
Vocal Duo of the Year: Brothers Osborn. I feel like even though Dan + Shay are totally in the wheel house for this they stray from the country purists too much for the CMA to go there.
New Artist of the Year: Ashley McBryde… all day every day forever and ever. After interviewing her at Lakes Jam I am a believer in that woman 100%. There are other great choices in that category… but all I saw was Ashely McBryde.
Album of the Year: Desperate Man by Eric Church.
Single of the Year: Millionaire by Chris Stapleton.
Song of the Year: Girl by Maren Morris. That song is just dripping in “Girl Power”. I’d be afraid to be in its way.
Musical Event: Dive Bar by Garth Brooks and Blake Shelton. Nothing else comes close IMHO.
Music Video: God’s Country by Blake Shelton. I pulled a straw to get this vote.
Musician of the Year: Mac McAnally!!!! Have you heard him play??? If you question me on this, were we even really ever friends? Really!
*You can also see Eric Grant’s picks by clicking here on his blog.