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Chris Stapleton, Eric Church & Gabby Barrett Lead CMA Awards 2021 Nominations

September 9, 2021 12:30 pm GMT
Last Edited February 26, 2024 10:10 am GMT

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The 55th Annual CMA Awards take place November 10th 2021, but today we're learning who's been nominated. See the full list below.

Eric Church and Chris Stapleton lead this year's nominations with five. Both were nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year (Heart for Church and Starting Over for Stapleton), Single of the Year and Song of the Year ('Hell of a View' for Church and for 'Starting Over' for Stapleton).

Gabby Barrett continues her big year with four nominations. She's up for New Artist of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, Single of the Year and Song of the Year (for 'The Good Ones').

As for Entertainer of the Year, arguably the night's biggest award, there are two women nominated in the category: Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood will vie with Church, Stapleton and Luke Combs for the honor. Church won last year.

Album of the Year contenders include Chris Stapleton, Carly Pearce, Brothers Osborne, Eric Church and Morgan Wallen, who was suspended by his label Big Loud earlier this year after a video circulated showing Wallen making racial slurs. They have since resumed working with him.

Earlier this year, Barrett won Top Female Country Artist at the Billboard Music Awards, and her song 'I Hope' took home Top Country Song and the fan-voted Top Collaboration.

The single became the longest-running No. 1 by a solo female act on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart. Maren Morris previously held that title.

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

Eric Church 
Luke Combs
Miranda Lambert
Chris Stapleton 
Carrie Underwood

SINGLE OF THE YEAR

'Famous Friends' – Chris Young with Kane Brown
Producers: Corey Crowder, Chris Young
Mix Engineer: Sean Moffitt

“The Good Ones” – Gabby Barrett
Producers: Ross Copperman, Zach Kale
Mix Engineers: Chris Galland, Manny Marroquin

“Hell Of A View” – Eric Church
Producer: Jay Joyce
Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce

“One Night Standards” – Ashley McBryde
Producer: Jay Joyce
Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce

“Starting Over” – Chris Stapleton
Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
Mix Engineer: Vance Powell

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

29
 – Carly Pearce
Producers: Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne and Jimmy Robbins
Mix Engineer: Ryan Gore

Dangerous: The Double Album – Morgan Wallen
Producers: Dave Cohen, Matt Dragstrem, Jacob Durrett, Charlie Handsome and Joey Moi
Mix Engineer: Joey Moi

Heart – Eric Church
Producer: Jay Joyce
Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce

Skeletons – Brothers Osborne
Producer: Jay Joyce
Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce

Starting Over – Chris Stapleton
Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
Mix Engineer: Vance Powell

SONG OF THE YEAR


'Forever After All'
Songwriters: Luke Combs, Drew Parker, Robert Williford

'The Good Ones'
Songwriters: Gabby Barrett, Zach Kale, Emily Landis, Jim McCormick

'Hell Of A View'
Songwriters: Casey Beathard, Eric Church, Monty Criswell

'One Night Standards'
Songwriters: Nicolette Hayford, Shane McAnally, Ashley McBryde

'Starting Over'
Songwriters: Mike Henderson, Chris Stapleton

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR


Gabby Barrett
Miranda Lambert
Ashley McBryde
Maren Morris
Carly Pearce

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR


Dierks Bentley
Eric Church
Luke Combs
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton

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
Florida Georgia Line
Maddie & Tae

MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR


'Buy Dirt' – Jordan Davis and Luke Bryan
Producer: Paul DiGiovanni

'Chasing After You' – Ryan Hurd with Maren Morris
Producers: Aaron Eshuis, Teddy Reimer

'Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)' – Elle King & Miranda Lambert
Producer: Martin Johnson

'Famous Friends' – Chris Young with Kane Brown
Producers: Corey Crowder, Chris Young

'half of my hometown' – Kelsea Ballerini (featuring Kenny Chesney)
Producers: Kelsea Ballerini, Ross Copperman, Jimmy Robbins

MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR 


Jenee Fleenor, Fiddle
Paul Franklin, Steel Guitar
Aaron Sterling, Drums
Ilya Toshinskiy, Banjo
Derek Wells, Guitar

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

'half of my hometown' – Kelsea Ballerini (featuring Kenny Chesney)
Director: Patrick Tracy

'Younger Me' – Brothers Osborne
Director: Reid Long

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR


Jimmie Allen
Ingrid Andress
Gabby Barrett
Mickey Guyton
HARDY

Written by Jof Owen
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