Get To Know Your 2022 CMA Awards Nominees

The reigning Entertainer of the Year, Luke Combs is on the CMA list in 2022 with his third straight Entertainer nomination; his fifth consecutive run at Male Vocalist, which he’s won twice; and his second inclusion among the Album of the Year finalists, with Growin’ Up. His previous release, What You See Is What You Get, took the Album honors in 2020. Thus far, Combs has placed CMA hardware on his mantel a half-dozen times, thanks to his powerful resonance, on-stage conviction and ability to write about familiar subjects in unique ways. This year, that’s included his professional mission statement, “Doin’ This,” and his romantic anthem, “The Kind of Love We Make,” both of which hit No.1. Combs received marketing boosts as the Red Kettle halftime act at last year’s Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day game and for his “Living Lucky with Luke Combs” lottery scratch off game, which includes a $500,000 grand prize.

Miranda Lambert continues to solidify her place at the CMA Awards. She’s won the most Female Vocalist of the Year trophies (seven), and has more total wins (14) and more nominations (61) than any other woman. Her three entries on this year’s ballot give her more ways to pad those numbers, including the potential of her first Entertainer victory. Palomino could be her third Album win, behind 2010’s Revolution and 2014’s Platinum. Co-produced by Luke Dick and Jon Randall, Palomino exemplifies Lambert’s ongoing passion for creative renewal, awash with sounds she hasn’t previously explored, including the western-themed lead single, “If I Was a Cowboy,” and the follow-up, “Strange.” That ever-evolving spirit helped her earn a spot on the TIME100 list of the most influential people, alongside Mary J. Blige, Oprah Winfrey and Sarah Jessica Parker. Following this year’s Bandwagon Tour, Lambert is headed west for a 24-date residency in Las Vegas. 

With this year’s five nominations, Chris Stapleton has appeared 31 times on the CMA ballot since 2015. This year’s Music Video of the Year nod recognizes his collaboration with Taylor Swift on “I Bet You Think About Me (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault),” which features harmonies from Stapleton. Elsewhere, Stapleton picks up his sixth Entertainer nomination and his eighth straight Male Vocalist nod. Since “Starting Over” won Single and Song in 2021, if “You Should Probably Leave” claims both of those categories this year and he takes Male again, he would be the first person to repeat in all three fields in back-to-back ceremonies. As it is, the Kentucky native has won 14 times, putting him in a four-way tie for fifth place on the all-time winners list.

Her vocal strength is fierce, her productions are big and her position among the genre’s top acts has been steady for the last 15 years. Carrie Underwood has seven CMA trophies in her possession, including five as Female Vocalist of the Year, and she has three more avenues to additional hardware on the current ballot, including her fifth Entertainer nomination, her 16th Female Vocalist nod and her fourth Musical Event entry, the latter for her Jason Aldean collaboration “If I Didn’t Love You.” Underwood earned four RIAA certifications during the eligibility period, including one for her Christmas album My Gift, and she continued her string of gripping mini-dramas with “Ghost Story,” lifted from Denim & Rhinestones, which released June 10. The project provides the title for her latest tour. Even fans that can’t snag a ticket can still catch her weekly in her 10th season performing NBC’s Sunday Night Football theme. 

Morgan Wallen earns his first nominations for Entertainer and Male Vocalist of the Year this year. He’s already won the 2020 New Artist trophy among three previous nominations. Wallen’s grainy vocal tone and attention to rough-cut lyrical themes have made him a fan favorite, with his 2021 release Dangerous: The Double Album setting an all-time record with more than a year at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums. If that’s not enough, he launched three more recent tracks, “Don’t Think Jesus,” “Thought You Should Know” and “You Proof,” to the top of Hot Country Songs, notched a hit duet with ERNEST on “Flower Shops” and attained the summit on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart by teaming with Lil Durk on “Broadway Girls.” Meanwhile, Wallen’s collected nine billion streams and booked his first stadium-headlining date Oct. 8 in Arlington, TX.

Eric Church’s ninth final-ballot consideration for Male Vocalist of the Year gives him three dozen career nominations, dating back to 2011. The nod recognizes the depth of expression he brings to his work, from fiery social commentator to introspective confessor. He takes on the latter persona in his current single, “Doing Life With Me,” a frank examination of the rough patches and sacrifices involved in a relationship – particularly one with a touring musician. “Doing Life With Me” is featured in his Heart & Soul trilogy, released in 2021 – the song is specifically on the & disc, which was exclusively available as a vinyl-only product for the Church Choir before its wide release in August 2022. Prior to that, Church wrapped his Gather Again Tour in May at New York’s Madison Square Garden, one of several impressive venues on his 2022 schedule, including Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena and stadiums in Minneapolis and Milwaukee.

The reigning Entertainer of the Year, Luke Combs is on the CMA list in 2022 with his third straight Entertainer nomination; his fifth consecutive run at Male Vocalist, which he’s won twice; and his second inclusion among the Album of the Year finalists, with Growin’ Up. His previous release, What You See Is What You Get, took the Album honors in 2020. Thus far, Combs has placed CMA hardware on his mantel a half-dozen times, thanks to his powerful resonance, on-stage conviction and ability to write about familiar subjects in unique ways. This year, that’s included his professional mission statement, “Doin’ This,” and his romantic anthem, “The Kind of Love We Make,” both of which hit No.1. Combs received marketing boosts as the Red Kettle halftime act at last year’s Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day game and for his “Living Lucky with Luke Combs” lottery scratch off game, which includes a $500,000 grand prize.

“If you got a dream, chase it. ‘Cause a dream won’t chase you back.” Cody Johnson’s pursuit of Country Music glory brought him to a new pinnacle this year, upping his total CMA nominations from one, in 2019, to five. “’Til You Can’t,” a life lesson about making every second count, delivered with Garth Brooksian drama, brought his first Single of the Year nod, and its Music Video gave the message real-life dimension. Johnson’s gripping vocal is one reason he’s up for Male Vocalist as well, and his in-person conviction supports his second New Artist nomination. A former rodeo rider and prison guard, Johnson has seen danger up close, which gives him the confidence to be a risk-taker as an artist. He remained doggedly independent for years, despite major label interest. Two Top 5 albums, including Human: The Double Album, have paid off for him.

With this year’s five nominations, Chris Stapleton has appeared 31 times on the CMA ballot since 2015. This year’s Music Video of the Year nod recognizes his collaboration with Taylor Swift on “I Bet You Think About Me (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault),” which features harmonies from Stapleton. Elsewhere, Stapleton picks up his sixth Entertainer nomination and his eighth straight Male Vocalist nod. Since “Starting Over” won Single and Song in 2021, if “You Should Probably Leave” claims both of those categories this year and he takes Male again, he would be the first person to repeat in all three fields in back-to-back ceremonies. As it is, the Kentucky native has won 14 times, putting him in a four-way tie for fifth place on the all-time winners list.

Morgan Wallen earns his first nominations for Entertainer and Male Vocalist of the Year this year. He’s already won the 2020 New Artist trophy among three previous nominations. Wallen’s grainy vocal tone and attention to rough-cut lyrical themes have made him a fan favorite, with his 2021 release Dangerous: The Double Album setting an all-time record with more than a year at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums. If that’s not enough, he launched three more recent tracks, “Don’t Think Jesus,” “Thought You Should Know” and “You Proof,” to the top of Hot Country Songs, notched a hit duet with ERNEST on “Flower Shops” and attained the summit on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart by teaming with Lil Durk on “Broadway Girls.” Meanwhile, Wallen’s collected nine billion streams and booked his first stadium-headlining date Oct. 8 in Arlington, TX.

Thirty years since they first appeared on a CMA ballot, Brooks & Dunn own 18 wins, which ties them with Vince Gill for the most wins in the association’s history. Their haul includes 14 Vocal Duo of the Year trophies, giving them more awards in a single category than any other act. This year’s nomination finds them on another upsurge. “Neon Moon” became a trending TikTok title, appropriate since Brooks & Dunn keep connecting with younger artists. They joined Blake Shelton for a collaboration on his Body Language album, made an appearance on Kane Brown’s “Like I Love Country Music,” and pulled Miranda Lambert on stage during a Nashville concert. Plus, Ronnie Dunn joined Lainey Wilson on a version of “Cowgirls Don’t Cry” for “Apple Music Sessions.” They’re also continuing their individual pursuits. Kix Brooks remains host of “American Country Countdown,” which is a CMA Broadcast Award finalist for Weekly National Personality of the Year this year, while Dunn issued a solo album, 100 Proof Neon. 

When Brothers Osborne claimed the Vocal Duo trophy in 2021, just months after lead singer T.J. Osborne came out publicly, the crowd at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena gave them an outsized standing ovation, a signal that the Country Music community values authenticity in every form. That award marked the act’s fourth win in the category. To date, the duo has appeared among the final five in the category for eight consecutive years and collected 16 nominations overall. Raised in Maryland, the Osbornes signed with EMI Nashville 10 years ago and have carved out their own sonic space behind T.J.’s grainy lead vocals and brother John Osborne’s blistering guitar work, particularly evident in extended solos during concert appearances. This year’s live schedule, the We’re Not For Everyone Tour, supported a deluxe edition of their Skeletons album, released in January with three new songs. 

This year will mark 10 years since Dan Smyers was introduced to Shay Mooney at a house party in East Nashville. They wrote their first song together the next day, and a professional relationship was officially born, creating a harmony act built around Mooney’s gliding vocal prowess and Smyers’ unpredictable productions. Dan + Shay have now been Vocal Duo of the Year finalists during nine straight CMA Awards ceremonies, accounting for more than half their 16 total career nominations. They walked off with the Vocal Duo hardware in 2019 and 2020. After releasing the album Good Things in August 2021, they completed the tour they started before the pandemic, headlining New York’s Madison Square Garden and Los Angeles’ Staples Center for the first time. Dan + Shay subsequently spent much of 2022 on Kenny Chesney’s Here & Now Tour, playing 19 stadium dates.  

Chris Lucas and Preston Brust have made it abundantly clear – they love this life. LOCASH has built its reputation on uplifting messages and good-time grooves, beginning with their first No.1 single, which came as co-writers of the 2012 Keith Urban hit “You Gonna Fly.” They also penned the Tim McGraw single “Truck Yeah,” and put their own gritty, blue-collar sound on “I Love This Life,” “I Know Somebody,” “Ring on Every Finger” and “One Big Country Song.” Following their first CMA nomination in 2017, LOCASH makes waves on the list again this year behind “Beach Boys,” a collaboration with Bruce Johnston and Mike Love that has seen them serve up fun, fun, fun with one of America’s signature acts in key venues around the nation, including Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, Los Angeles’ Greek Theatre and the Stagecoach Country Music Festival in Indio, CA, plus a stint on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”  

Maddie & Tae reach double digits with 10 career CMA nominations, including their eighth straight appearance on the ballot among Vocal Duo of the Year contenders. They earned their place in the genre with well-bonded, sister-like harmonies. Natives of Texas and Oklahoma, the two friends first attained national attention as teenagers, lampooning the bro-Country trend in 2014’s “Girl In A Country Song,” which won CMA Music Video of the Year in 2015. As they’ve matured in their personal lives, Maddie Font and Taylor Kerr have become more serious women in their own Country songs, exploring family and marital relationships, and revealing their distinctive quirks and philosophies. The pair embarked on a CMT Next Women of Country Tour Presents: All Song No Static Tour this fall, headlining at 17 venues in September and October. That trek overlapped with the release of Through the Madness, Vol. 2, their second self-penned, eight-song project of 2022. 

Growin' Up by Luke Combs
Producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton
Mix Engineers: Jim Cooley, Chip Matthews
River House Artists/Columbia Nashville

The reigning Entertainer of the Year, Luke Combs is on the CMA list in 2022 with his third straight Entertainer nomination; his fifth consecutive run at Male Vocalist, which he’s won twice; and his second inclusion among the Album of the Year finalists, with Growin’ Up. His previous release, What You See Is What You Get, took the Album honors in 2020. Thus far, Combs has placed CMA hardware on his mantel a half-dozen times, thanks to his powerful resonance, on-stage conviction and ability to write about familiar subjects in unique ways. This year, that’s included his professional mission statement, “Doin’ This,” and his romantic anthem, “The Kind of Love We Make,” both of which hit No.1. Combs received marketing boosts as the Red Kettle halftime act at last year’s Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day game and for his “Living Lucky with Luke Combs” lottery scratch off game, which includes a $500,000 grand prize.

Humble Quest by Maren Morris
Producer: Greg Kurstin
Mix Engineer: Serban Ghenes
Columbia Nashville

Her March 25 release Humble Quest underscores the artistic drive behind Maren Morris’ music. The project reteams her with producer Greg Kurstin, who also guided the sessions for much of her 2019 CMA Album of the Year, GIRL, but the tone of Humble Quest is significantly different – more acoustic, more folk-tinged and more introspective than its soul-tinged predecessor. This run at the Album of the Year honor gives Morris a grand total of 25 nominations since she first appeared on the list in 2016, with five of those nods leading to hardware. She notched hits in the last year with the autobiographical “Circles Around This Town” and “Chasing After You,” a duet with husband Ryan Hurd, and she’s new on the charts with “I Can’t Love You Anymore.”

Palomino by Miranda Lambert
Producers: Luke Dick, Miranda Lambert, Jon Pandall, Mikey Reeves
Mix Engineer: Jason Lehning
Vanner Records/RCA Records Nashville

Miranda Lambert continues to solidify her place at the CMA Awards. She’s won the most Female Vocalist of the Year trophies (seven), and has more total wins (14) and more nominations (61) than any other woman. Her three entries on this year’s ballot give her more ways to pad those numbers, including the potential of her first Entertainer victory. Palomino could be her third Album win, behind 2010’s Revolution and 2014’s Platinum. Co-produced by Luke Dick and Jon Randall, Palomino exemplifies Lambert’s ongoing passion for creative renewal, awash with sounds she hasn’t previously explored, including the western-themed lead single, “If I Was a Cowboy,” and the follow-up, “Strange.” That ever-evolving spirit helped her earn a spot on the TIME100 list of the most influential people, alongside Mary J. Blige, Oprah Winfrey and Sarah Jessica Parker. Following this year’s Bandwagon Tour, Lambert is headed west for a 24-date residency in Las Vegas.

Sayin' What I'm Thinkin' by Lainey Wilson
Producer: Jay Joyce
Mix Engineer: F. Reid Shippen
Broken Bow Records/BBR Music Group

Here’s one of those things “A Man Oughta Know”: Lainey Wilson is a force to be reckoned with. She goes from zero to six in total nominations in a single year, a feat only preceded by Glen Campbell in 1968, Brad Paisley in 2000 and Kacey Musgraves in 2013. Wilson’s done it with a sound and image she calls “Bell Bottom Country,” a fashionable form of modern Country smartly informed by old-school ideals. The nods recognize the Louisiana native for her sharp-edged vocal tone, her songwriting skills on Song of the Year entry “Things a Man Oughta Know” and her consistent taste in Album nominee Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’. Her Cole Swindell collaboration, “Never Say Never,” also appears twice, in the Musical Event and Music Video of the Year categories. The awards interest comes as she works yet another collab, taking the featured role in the new HARDY single “wait in the truck.”

Time, Tequila & Therapy by Old Dominion
Producers: Shane McAnally, Old Dominion
Mix Engineer: Justin Niebank
Arista Nashville

The winner of the Vocal Group of the Year trophy each of the last four years, Old Dominion is on the ballot in that category for the seventh consecutive time. Plus, Time, Tequila & Therapy, which they co-produced with Shane McAnally, is the second straight Old Dominion project in the running for Album of the Year. Time, Tequila & Therapy was written and recorded in three weeks at the Echo Mountain Studios in Asheville, NC, where the band convened to renew its friendship after the pandemic separated them for months on end. The album has thus far yielded hits with “I Was On a Boat That Day” and “No Hard Feelings,” and teamed them with R&B legend Gladys Knight on “Lonely Side of Town,” thanks to an introduction by Echo Mountain’s owner. Old Dominion hit the road again this summer, playing 19 stadium dates with Kenny Chesney.

Written by Jacob Davis, Jordan Davis, Josh Jenkins and Matt Jenkins

Jacob Davis Passionate since his youth about outdoor activities, Jacob Davis grew up in Shreveport – the former home of the historic “Louisiana Hayride” – and pursued a degree in environmental science at LSU. Ultimately, music made him chuck that line of work after a short stint on an oil rig. Influenced by folk singer/songwriters John Prine and James Taylor, as well as ’90s Country, he headed to Nashville and joined the roster at Universal Music Publishing within his first six months in town. It’s perhaps appropriate that Davis’ first CMA nomination recognizes his environmental sensibilities. “Buy Dirt,” recorded by brother Jordan Davis with Luke Bryan, celebrates family ties through the lens of property and coyly recognizes the threat of climate change to the land, since – as the lyrics suggest – God “ain’t makin’ any more of it.” “Buy Dirt” is hardly Jacob’s only claim to fame. He also co-penned Jordan’s “Take It From Me.”

Jordan Davis The song is a family affair, and so was the writing process. Jordan Davis earns Single and Song of the Year nominations this year for “Buy Dirt,” a philosophical piece that germinated at a cabin near Murfreesboro, TN in the summer of 2020. Davis crafted it with brother Jacob Davis and another pair of siblings, Matt Jenkins and Green River Ordinance member Josh Jenkins, during two days of creative work. “Buy Dirt” topped Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart in January and went double-Platinum in September. It’s also collected a total of three CMA nominations, following last year’s appearance as a Musical Event of the Year finalist. “Buy Dirt” is Davis’ fifth single to reach Country’s Top 5. His current single, “What My World Spins Around” shows signs of becoming his sixth. Davis slated his first two headlining shows at the historic Ryman Auditorium Sept. 27-28.

Josh Jenkins A year ago, Josh Jenkins was, like the rest of us, hearing “Fancy Like” practically on repeat in Applebee’s commercials built around the Walker Hayes TikTok dance. Unlike most of us, Jenkins was also reaping the rewards of writing it. It’s quite the contrast with another Jenkins co-write, “Buy Dirt,” the philosophical Jordan Davis/Luke Bryan collaboration that’s up for CMA Song of the Year. He came to prominence originally as the front man for Dallas-based rock band Green River Ordinance, which took a break from performing in 2018, though the act still works some, playing two shows in October. Jenkins keeps busy even without Green River Ordinance, releasing solo music and working as one-half of the progressive-folk duo SAILR. Signed to SMACKSongs, Jenkins piled up a bundle of writing credits in 2021 and 2022, including cuts by Warren Zeiders, Adam Doleac, Alana Springsteen, Kolby Cooper, Drake Milligan and Brandon Ratcliff.

Matt Jenkins Songwriter Matt Jenkins does pretty well with collaborations. His catalog includes the Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani duet “Happy Anywhere,” the Kenny Chesney and P!nk title “Setting the World on Fire,” and even a Sam Palladio and Clare Bowen collaboration from the “Nashville” TV show, “Fade Into You.” Then there’s the Jacob Davis and Luke Bryan project “Buy Dirt.” Jenkins was part of a four-man writing crew in July 2020, that constructed it as a commentary on life priorities. It brought Jenkins’ first CMA nomination in the Song of the Year category, though he’s certainly found success in other ways before. He picked up a CMA Triple Play Award in 2017 for penning three No.1 singles in a 12-month period, and he’s snagged hits with Keith Urban’s “Cop Car,” Florida Georgia Line’s “Confession,” Old Dominion’s “Song for Another Time” and Dustin Lynch’s “Where It’s At.”

Written by Shane McAnally, Ashley McBryde and Carly Pearce

Shane McAnally Shane McAnally has piled up 21 CMA nominations by making the final ballot nine of the last 10 years. The 2022 competition yields five nods, his best mark so far. McAnally’s work as songwriter and producer on the Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde single, “Never Wanted To Be That Girl,” earned tabs in Single, Song and Musical Event of the Year, and he has another Musical Event entry as producer of the Midland/Jon Pardi collaboration “Longneck Way To Go.” McAnally also appears among the Album finalists as a producer on Old Dominion’s Time, Tequila & Therapy. The head of SMACKSongs and co-president of Monument Records, McAnally earned his stripes with a fearless devotion to finding unique sounds and angles. He won Song of the Year with “Follow Your Arrow,” produced the multi-artist CMA mashup “Forever Country” and co-produced a new, melancholy version of “9 To 5” by Dolly Parton and Kelly Clarkson.

Ashley McBryde The 2019 New Artist of the Year, Ashley McBryde has been a CMA Awards finalist four straight years, with 2022 becoming her best showing to date. She has a personal best five nominations this year, four of them coming for her participation as a vocalist and songwriter on the Carly Pearce duet “Never Wanted To Be That Girl,” which topped Billboard’s Country Airplay chart on May 14. It’s up for Single and Song of the Year, categories she was in a year ago with “One Night Standards.” “Never Wanted To Be That Girl” is also in the running for Musical Event and Music Video of the Year, while McBryde competes a third consecutive time for Female Vocalist. She set Sept. 30 for the release of her third album, Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville, a concept project that includes a cover of “When Will I Be Loved” with Brandy Clark, Caylee Hammack and Pillbox Patti.

Carly Pearce Carly Pearce had quite the year during the eligibility period for the 2022 CMA Awards. She joined the Grand Ole Opry on Aug. 3, 2021, performing the 2020 Musical Event of the Year, “I Hope You’re Happy Now,” during the induction ceremony. Taylor Mill, KY, unveiled a sign one month later proclaiming, “Welcome to Taylor Mill, Hometown of Country Music Star, Carly Pearce.” She also won CMA Female Vocalist in November, and was so emotionally struck that duet partner Ashley McBryde came to the stage to give Pearce support to get through the speech. Pearce and McBryde could be side-by-side on stage again this year, since their duet “Never Wanted To Be That Girl” is on the ballot in four different categories. They’re also both up for the Female Vocalist trophy. Pearce has another all-female collaboration on the market, following the Sept. 23 release of “You’re Drunk, Go Home,” teaming her with Kelsea Ballerini and Kelly Clarkson.

Written by Ashley Gorley, Michael Hardy and Josh Osborne

Ashley Gorley When Ashley Gorley snagged Song of the Year nominations with Morgan Wallen’s recording of “Sand In My Boots” and the Chris Stapleton hit “You Should Probably Leave,” it marked the 12th time someone appeared twice in the category in the same year. It brought Gorley’s personal total of CMA tabs to five, including one – the 2017 finalist “Dirt On My Boots” – with a title that sounds remarkably similar to “Sand In My Boots.” Gorley’s other two entries, 2008 nominee “You’re Gonna Miss This” and 2009 competitor “Then,” were among the first hits in an impressively prolific career. He’s won ASCAP’s Songwriter of the Year honor a record eight times and has, of late, appeared on the Country charts with “Holy Water,” “She Had Me At Heads Carolina” and “Take My Name.” Gorley also owns Taperoom Music, where the roster includes songwriters Ben Johnson, Zach Crowell, Hunter Phelps and Will Weatherly.

Michael Hardy Hailing from Philadelphia, MS, HARDY has the same territorial roots as Country Music Hall of Famer Marty Stuart, and he notches his second straight New Artist of the Year nomination behind a tough-edged live persona. However, it’s his songwriting that has brought Michael Hardy – as he’s credited in the parentheses behind the song title – to particular prominence in Country Music, thanks to a wicked ability to twist a phrase into a brand new slogan. Co-writing the Blake Shelton single “God’s Country” landed his first Song of the Year nomination three years ago, and he returns to the category with the Morgan Wallen one-that-got-away ballad “Sand In My Boots.” His Musical Event entry with Dierks Bentley and BRELAND, “Beers On Me,” is also a HARDY co-write, as are such recent titles as “Give Heaven Some Hell,” “Come Back As A Country Boy,” “New Truck” and HARDY’s current Lainey Wilson collaboration, “wait in the truck.”

Josh Osborne Songwriter/producer Josh Osborne leans on the composing part of his job description with one of his four 2022 CMA nominations snagging a Song of the Year nod for “Sand In My Boots.” Osborne’s additional three nominations are production credits, with “Never Wanted To Be That Girl” earning Single and Musical Event recognition, and “Longneck Way To Go” providing a second Musical Event entry. He now has 10 career nominations. One could argue Osborne was destined to a job in music, since he hails from the same Kentucky region as Dwight Yoakam, Patty Loveless and Loretta Lynn. To date, Osborne has notched 25 No.1 Country singles, including “Body Like A Back Road,” “Happy Anywhere” and “One Man Band.” This year is the 10th anniversary of Osborne’s first chart-topper, Kenny Chesney’s “Come Over,” which featured Osborne on background vocals.

Written by Jason Nix, Jonathan Singleton and Lainey Wilson

Jason Nix The old Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty hit “Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man” has an imperfect relevance for singer/songwriter Jason Nix and Country hitmaker Lainey Wilson. Nix grew up in southern Mississippi about an hour away from Wilson’s Louisiana home, but she now counts him among her closest friends since meeting in Nashville. It was Nix who supplied the title for her breakout hit, “Things A Man Oughta Know,” and it results in his first CMA nomination for Song of the Year. Oddly enough, Nix met Vince Gill at a gas station the day he moved to Music City, and Gill produced the newest Keb’ Mo’ album, featuring a song that Nix co-wrote. Bred on bluegrass, Motown and classic rock, Nix is pursuing his own recording career, and his six-song EP Money On You demonstrates that he’s folded all those influences into his own urgent, melodic and promising brand of Country.

Jonathan Singleton Introduced in 2008 as the front man for the Universal South act Jonathan Singleton & The Grove, Singleton has emerged as a songwriting force, helping create such titles as Billy Currington’s “Don’t,” Josh Turner’s “Why Don’t We Just Dance,” Maddie & Tae’s “Die From A Broken Heart” and Tyler Farr’s “A Guy Walks Into a Bar.” His Lainey Wilson hit “Things A Man Oughta Know” becomes his second Song of the Year finalist in three years, joining the Carly Pearce/Lee Brice duet “I Hope You’re Happy Now,” which counts Luke Combs among its co-writers. There’s a definite partnership there. Singleton also gets a CMA nomination in 2022 as a co-producer of Combs’ Album of the Year finalist Growin’ Up, and the two are also in business together as co-owners of 50 Egg Music, a publishing company with a writing staff that includes Shane Minor, Tyler Braden, Reid Isbell and Ashland Craft.

Lainey Wilson Here’s one of those things “A Man Oughta Know”: Lainey Wilson is a force to be reckoned with. She goes from zero to six in total nominations in a single year, a feat only preceded by Glen Campbell in 1968, Brad Paisley in 2000 and Kacey Musgraves in 2013. Wilson’s done it with a sound and image she calls “Bell Bottom Country,” a fashionable form of modern Country smartly informed by old-school ideals. The nods recognize the Louisiana native for her sharp-edged vocal tone, her songwriting skills on Song of the Year entry “Things a Man Oughta Know” and her consistent taste in Album nominee Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’. Her Cole Swindell collaboration, “Never Say Never,” also appears twice, in the Musical Event and Music Video of the Year categories. The awards interest comes as she works yet another collab, taking the featured role in the new HARDY single “wait in the truck.”

Written by Chris DuBois, Ashley Gorley and Chris Stapleton

Chris DuBois Songwriter/producer Chris DuBois and Brad Paisley remain co-owners of Sea Gayle Music, a publishing company they started in 1999, the year Paisley released his debut album. One of the company’s prize signings is former staff writer Chris Stapleton, who brought the slow-boiling “You Should Probably Leave,” penned in 2014, out of the vaults for his album Starting Over. It topped Billboard’s Country Airplay and Hot Country Songs charts in 2022 and went Platinum in July. It also brings DuBois his second CMA Song of the Year nomination, joining 2009 contender “Then.” Overall, DuBois has snagged eight nominations, the other six all recognizing his producer role in Paisley projects. A native of Stillwater, OK, DuBois’ catalog includes Josh Turner’s “Your Man,” Mark Wills’ “19 Somethin',” Chris Janson’s “Buy Me a Boat” and Darius Rucker’s “It Won’t Be Like This For Long.” He’s also an adjunct instructor for Belmont University’s songwriting program.

Ashley Gorley When Ashley Gorley snagged Song of the Year nominations with Morgan Wallen’s recording of “Sand In My Boots” and the Chris Stapleton hit “You Should Probably Leave,” it marked the 12th time someone appeared twice in the category in the same year. It brought Gorley’s personal total of CMA tabs to five, including one – the 2017 finalist “Dirt On My Boots” – with a title that sounds remarkably similar to “Sand In My Boots.” Gorley’s other two entries, 2008 nominee “You’re Gonna Miss This” and 2009 competitor “Then,” were among the first hits in an impressively prolific career. He’s won ASCAP’s Songwriter of the Year honor a record eight times and has, of late, appeared on the Country charts with “Holy Water,” “She Had Me At Heads Carolina” and “Take My Name.” Gorley also owns Taperoom Music, where the roster includes songwriters Ben Johnson, Zach Crowell, Hunter Phelps and Will Weatherly.

Chris Stapleton With this year’s five nominations, Chris Stapleton has appeared 31 times on the CMA ballot since 2015. This year’s Music Video of the Year nod recognizes his collaboration with Taylor Swift on “I Bet You Think About Me (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault),” which features harmonies from Stapleton. Elsewhere, Stapleton picks up his sixth Entertainer nomination and his eighth straight Male Vocalist nod. Since “Starting Over” won Single and Song in 2021, if “You Should Probably Leave” claims both of those categories this year and he takes Male again, he would be the first person to repeat in all three fields in back-to-back ceremonies. As it is, the Kentucky native has won 14 times, putting him in a four-way tie for fifth place on the all-time winners list.

"I Bet You Think About Me (Taylor's Version) (From The Vault)" by Taylor Swift (featuring Chris Stapleton)
Director: Blake Lively

Taylor Swift Ten years after releasing her Red album, Taylor Swift competes for Music Video of the Year with a clip full of scarlet messages, the red guitar, the red-velvet cake, the multiple red outfits and the red middle finger, flashed at actor Miles Teller, who plays a groom haunted by the wedding-crasher memory of an ex. Directed by Blake Lively, “I Bet You Think About Me (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault)” marks the fifth time Swift’s been a finalist in the category, which she won with “Love Story” in 2009 and with “Highway Don’t Care” in 2013. Appropriately, “I Bet You Think About Me (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault)” runs six minutes, 15 seconds, mirroring the 615 area code of Nashville, where she began her rise to global prominence. Swift has since totaled 25 CMA nominations, winning nine trophies in the process. “I Bet You Think About Me (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault)” emanates from her re-recorded Red (Taylor’s Version). A new project, Midnights, is due Oct. 21.

Chris Stapleton With this year’s five nominations, Chris Stapleton has appeared 31 times on the CMA ballot since 2015. This year’s Music Video of the Year nod recognizes his collaboration with Taylor Swift on “I Bet You Think About Me (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault),” which features harmonies from Stapleton. Elsewhere, Stapleton picks up his sixth Entertainer nomination and his eighth straight Male Vocalist nod. Since “Starting Over” won Single and Song in 2021, if “You Should Probably Leave” claims both of those categories this year and he takes Male again, he would be the first person to repeat in all three fields in back-to-back ceremonies. As it is, the Kentucky native has won 14 times, putting him in a four-way tie for fifth place on the all-time winners list.

"Longneck Way To Go" by Midland (featuring Jon Pardi)
Director: Harper Smith

Midland Midland is occupying one of the five slots in the Vocal Group of the Year category for the fifth year in a row. Thanks to their ’90s-influenced Jon Pardi collaboration “Longneck Way To Go,” the trio has entries in two other categories, too, their first appearance in both the Music Video and Musical Event of the Year categories. The duo’s 2018 entry in the Single of the Year category, “Drinkin’ Problem,” went triple-Platinum in December 2021. Lead vocalist Mark Wystrach, bass player Cam Duddy and guitarist Jess Carson have now racked up 10 total CMA nominations, recognizing their clever wordplay, multi-generational sound and good-timin’ vibe, captured well by Duddy’s wife, director Harper Smith, in the bowling-themed “Longneck” video. The track comes from their third studio album, The Last Resort: Greetings From, which doubles as the title for their current concert tour, on which the group is headed to Australia in December.

Jon Pardi Jon Pardi won CMA’s New Artist of the Year award in 2017, owing to his playful, irreverent attitude and his mix of classic honky tonk with modern Country sensibilities. That high-energy blend of music and personality made him a perfect foil for Midland’s ’90s-influenced “Longneck Way To Go,” a deceptively carefree-sounding barroom tale about a lonely patron attempting to drown his broken heart. It’s up for Musical Event and Music Video of the Year, thanks in part to a strikingly humorous bowling-party clip shot overnight at Eastside Bowl in Nashville in April. The nominations boost Pardi to five total CMA nominations. The song’s emergence and awards attention overlaps with Pardi’s solo efforts. “Last Night Lonely” worked its way to No. 1 in September, the same month that he released his album Mr. Saturday Night. It contains both “Last Night Lonely” and “Longneck Way To Go.”

"Never Say Never" by Cole Swindell (with Lainey Wilson)
Director: Michael Monaco

Cole Swindell Georgia native Cole Swindell’s shadowy “Never Say Never” video with Lainey Wilson was shot at Brushy State Prison near Knoxville with a plot line that finds a female guard romantically involved with a prisoner who she helps escape. The video has proven good results for Swindell in 2022, collecting his third and fourth career nominations. He’s also racked up 12 No.1 singles including “Never Say Never” and its Jo Dee Messina-inspired follow-up, “She Had Me At Heads Carolina.” Both are included, along with previous No.1 “Single Saturday Night,” on his fourth standard studio album, Stereotype. The album and his CMA nominations precede his 10-year anniversary as a hitmaker: Swindell’s debut, “Chillin’ It,” arrived in 2013.

Lainey Wilson Here’s one of those things “A Man Oughta Know”: Lainey Wilson is a force to be reckoned with. She goes from zero to six in total nominations in a single year, a feat only preceded by Glen Campbell in 1968, Brad Paisley in 2000 and Kacey Musgraves in 2013. Wilson’s done it with a sound and image she calls “Bell Bottom Country,” a fashionable form of modern Country smartly informed by old-school ideals. The nods recognize the Louisiana native for her sharp-edged vocal tone, her songwriting skills on Song of the Year entry “Things a Man Oughta Know” and her consistent taste in Album nominee Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’. Her Cole Swindell collaboration, “Never Say Never,” also appears twice, in the Musical Event and Music Video of the Year categories. The awards interest comes as she works yet another collab, taking the featured role in the new HARDY single “wait in the truck.”

"Never Wanted To Be That Girl" by Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde
Director: Alexa Campbell

Carly Pearce Carly Pearce had quite the year during the eligibility period for the 2022 CMA Awards. She joined the Grand Ole Opry on Aug. 3, 2021, performing the 2020 Musical Event of the Year, “I Hope You’re Happy Now,” during the induction ceremony. Taylor Mill, KY, unveiled a sign one month later proclaiming, “Welcome to Taylor Mill, Hometown of Country Music Star, Carly Pearce.” She also won CMA Female Vocalist in November, and was so emotionally struck that duet partner Ashley McBryde came to the stage to give Pearce support to get through the speech. Pearce and McBryde could be side-by-side on stage again this year, since their duet “Never Wanted To Be That Girl” is on the ballot in four different categories. They’re also both up for the Female Vocalist trophy. Pearce has another all-female collaboration on the market, following the Sept. 23 release of “You’re Drunk, Go Home,” teaming her with Kelsea Ballerini and Kelly Clarkson.

Ashley McBryde The 2019 New Artist of the Year, Ashley McBryde has been a CMA Awards finalist four straight years, with 2022 becoming her best showing to date. She has a personal best five nominations this year, four of them coming for her participation as a vocalist and songwriter on the Carly Pearce duet “Never Wanted To Be That Girl,” which topped Billboard’s Country Airplay chart on May 14. It’s up for Single and Song of the Year, categories she was in a year ago with “One Night Standards.” “Never Wanted To Be That Girl” is also in the running for Musical Event and Music Video of the Year, while McBryde competes a third consecutive time for Female Vocalist. She set Sept. 30 for the release of her third album, Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville, a concept project that includes a cover of “When Will I Be Loved” with Brandy Clark, Caylee Hammack and Pillbox Patti.

"'Til You Can't" by Cody Johnson Director: Dustin Haney “If you got a dream, chase it. ‘Cause a dream won’t chase you back.” Cody Johnson’s pursuit of Country Music glory brought him to a new pinnacle this year, upping his total CMA nominations from one, in 2019, to five. “’Til You Can’t,” a life lesson about making every second count, delivered with Garth Brooksian drama, brought his first Single of the Year nod, and its Music Video gave the message real-life dimension. Johnson’s gripping vocal is one reason he’s up for Male Vocalist as well, and his in-person conviction supports his second New Artist nomination. A former rodeo rider and prison guard, Johnson has seen danger up close, which gives him the confidence to be a risk-taker as an artist. He remained doggedly independent for years, despite major label interest. Two Top 5 albums, including Human: The Double Album, have paid off for him.