CMA Awards nominees announced: Lainey Wilson, Chris Stapleton, Ashley McBryde and Carly Pearce lead pack

"The 56th Annual CMA Awards" event, hosted by Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning, will emanate live from Nashville's Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, November 9, from 7-10 p.m. CT and air on ABC.

The event's broadcast will feature first-time nominee Lainey Wilson, nominated in six categories -- Album of the Year (Sayin' What I'm Thinkin'), Female Vocalist of the Year, Music Video of the Year ("Never Say Never"), Musical Event of the Year ("Never Say Never"), New Artist of the Year, and Song of the Year ("Things A Man Oughta Know").

Ashley McBryde, Carly Pearce, and Chris Stapleton, songwriter, and producer Shane McAnally have five nominations, while Cody Johnson and songwriter/producer Josh Osborne are nominated four times. Moreover, Luke Combs, HARDY, Miranda Lambert, Midland, and Carrie Underwood have three nominations.

Notable as well, Morgan Wallen will contend for the night's most vaunted honor, Entertainer of the Year, against 2021 winner Combs, plus  Lambert, Stapleton, and Underwood.

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In 2021, 2020's CMA Award-winning Best New Artist Wallen was banned from even attending the ceremony where his "Dangerous: The Double Album" contended against Carly Pearce's "29," Eric Church's "Heart," Brothers Osborne's "Skeletons" and the winner, Chris Stapleton's "Starting Over."

This followed Wallen being seen using a racial slur in a February 2021 video. As a result, the CMAs ruled that he was not eligible for any solo awards -- namely Male Artist or Entertainer of the year, but his collaborative works were eligible.

Baskin, Louisiana native Wilson is the fourth artist in CMA Awards history to achieve six nominations in their first-ever nomination cycle (Glen Campbell, 1968; Brad Paisley, 2000; and Kacey Musgraves, 2013).

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Lambert's five nominations bring her career total to 61, allowing her to remain the most nominated female artist in CMA Awards history and the third most-nominated overall artist, following George Strait (83) and Alan Jackson (81). This is her 16th nomination for Female Vocalist since 2007 -- she has won the honor seven times. Also, 2022 finds her earning her sixth nomination for Album and Entertainer of the Year.

Overall, a sizable crop of first-time nominees includes First-time CMA Awards nominees include BRELAND, Alexa Campbell, Jack Clarke, Dan Grech-Marguerat, Jacob Davis, Dustin Haney, Walker Hayes, Josh Jenkins, Matt Jenkins, Jason Lehning, Blake Lively, Chip Matthews, Parker McCollum, Michael Monaco, Jason Nix, Mikey Reaves, Harper Smith, Trent Willmon, and the previously-mentioned Wilson.

"It's thrilling to celebrate these deserving nominees while our industry is returning to live music," says Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. "This year's slate is impressive, with some nominees logging historic milestones while others are just getting started. No matter what stage in their career, they each bring a unique voice and unforgettable story to life, showing that Country Music is stronger than ever! We look forward to honoring them this November."

CMA Awards nominees 2022 full list:

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

• Luke Combs

• Miranda Lambert

• Chris Stapleton

• Carrie Underwood

• Morgan Wallen

SINGLE OF THE YEAR

(Award goes to Artist(s), Producer(s) and Mix Engineer)

• “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

(Award goes to Artist(s), Producer(s) and Mix Engineer(s))

• 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

(Award goes to Songwriters)

• “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

• 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  

Award goes to Artist(s) and Producer(s)

• “Beers On Me” – Dierks Bentley with BRELAND & HARDY

• Producers: Dierks Bentley, Ross Copperman

• “If I Didn't Love You” – Jason Aldean & 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  

Award goes to Artist(s) and Directors

• “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

2022 CMA BROADCAST AWARDS – FINALISTS FOR BROADCAST PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR (by market size):    

Weekly National

• “American Country Countdown” (Kix Brooks) – Westwood One

• “The Country Top 40 with Fitz” (Cory Fitzner) – Hubbard Radio

• “The Crook & Chase Countdown” (Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase) – iHeartMedia

• “Today’s Country with Kelleigh Bannen” (Kelleigh Bannen) – Apple Music Radio

• “With Elaina” (Elaina Smith) – Westwood One

Daily National

• “Angie Ward” – iHeartMedia

• “The Big D and Bubba Show” (Derek “Big D” Haskins, Sean “Bubba” Powell, Patrick Thomas, and Carsen Humphreville) – Compass Media Networks

• “The Bobby Bones Show” (Bobby Bones, Amy Brown, “Lunchbox” Dan Chappell, Eddie Garcia, “Morgan #2” Huelsman, “Raymundo” Ray Slater, “Scuba Steve” Stephen Spradlin, “Mike D” Rodriguez, and “Phone Screener Abby” Anderson) – Premiere Networks

• “Nights with Elaina” (Elaina Smith) – Westwood One

• “The Sam Alex Show” (Sam Alex) – Sam Alex Productions, LLC

Major Market

• “The Andie Summers Show” (Andie Summers) – WXTU, Philadelphia, Pa.

• “Chris Carr & Company” (Chris Carr, Kia Becht, and McKaila Poppen) – KEEY, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.

• “Danny Dwyer” – KUPL, Portland, Ore.

• “Josh, Rachael & Grunwald” (Josh Holleman, Rachel Hunter, and Steve Grunwald) – WYCD, Detroit, Mich.

• “The Morning Wolfpack with Matt McAllister” (Matt McAllister, Emily Raines, and Joe Wallace) – KKWF, Seattle, Wash.

Large Market

• “Jim, Deb & Kevin” (Jim Denny, Deborah Honeycutt and Kevin Freeman) – WFMS, Indianapolis, Ind.

• “The Wayne D Show” (“Wayne D” Danielson and Tay Hamilton) – WSIX, Nashville, Tenn.

• “The Dale Carter Morning Show” (Dale Carter) – KFKF, Kansas City, Mo.

• “The Big Dave Show” (“Big Dave” Chandler, Chelsie Shinkle, Jason “Stattman” Statt, and Ashley Hempfling) – WUBE, Cincinnati, Ohio

• “The Wake Up Call with David and Kelli” (David Bugenske and Kelli Green) – KFRG, Riverside-San Bernardino, Calif.

• “The New Q-Morning Crew with Mike and Amanda” (Mike Wheless and Amanda Daughtry) – WQDR, Raleigh-Durham, N.C.

Medium Market

• “Buzz Jackson” – KIIM, Tucson, Ariz.

• “Cliff & Tanya in the Morning” (Cliff Dumas and Tanya Brakebill) – KUZZ, Bakersfield, Calif.

• “Julie and DJ in the Morning” (“Julie K” Kansy, “D.J. Thee Trucker” Dale Sellers, and Jon Dennis) – WPCV, Lakeland-Winter Haven, Fla.

• “New Country Mornings with Nancy and Woody” (Nancy Wilson and Aaron “Woody” Woods) – WHKO, Dayton, Ohio

• “Steve & Gina In The Morning” (Steve Lundy and Gina Melton) – KXKT, Omaha-Council Bluffs, Neb.-Iowa

Small Market

• “The Cat Pak Morning Show with Brent and Mel” (Brent Lane and Mel McCrae) – WYCT, Pensacola, Fla.

• “Dr. Shane and Tess in the Morning” (“Dr. Shane” Collins and Tess Connell) – WPAP, Panama City, Fla.

• “The Eddie Foxx Show” (Eddie Foxx and Amanda Foxx) – WKSF, Asheville, N.C.

• “Liz & Scotty in the Morning” (Liz Del Grosso and Scotty Cox) – KCLR, Columbia, Mo.

• “Officer Don & DeAnn” (“Officer Don” Evans and DeAnn Stephens) – WBUL, Lexington-Fayette, Ky.

2022 CMA BROADCAST AWARDS – FINALISTS FOR RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (by market size):  

Major Market

• KILT – Houston, Texas

• KNIX – Phoenix, Ariz.

• KSCS – Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas

• WXTU – Philadelphia, Pa.

• WYCD – Detroit, Mich.

Large Market

• KFKF – Kansas City, Mo.

• WIRK – West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, Fla.

• WMIL – Milwaukee-Racine, Wis.

• WQDR – Raleigh-Durham, N.C.

• WSIX – Nashville, Tenn.

Medium Market

• KXKT – Omaha-Council Bluffs, Neb.-Iowa

• WHKO – Dayton, Ohio

• WIVK – Knoxville, Tenn.

• WQMX – Akron, Ohio

• WUSY – Chattanooga, Tenn.

Small Market

• WCOW – La Crosse, Wis.

• WKML – Fayetteville, N.C.

• WKXC – Augusta, Ga.

• WXBQ – Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol, Tenn.-Va.

• WXFL – Florence-Muscle Shoals, Ala.
  

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: CMA Award nominations: Lainey Wilson leads nominees; see the full list