ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Kenny Chesney
Toby Keith
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
Keith Urban
Zac Brown Band
Reasoning: It’s partially fan-voted.
TOP MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
Darius Rucker
George Strait
Keith Urban
Reasoning: Won it last year, has released a critically-lauded album and toured continuously since then. Safest choice, though I wouldn’t count Rucker out either.
TOP FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Miranda Lambert
Reba McEntire
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
Lee Ann Womack
Reasoning: Won it last year. Swift will be sufficiently recognized elsewhere that they won’t feel the need to give this one to her, and Lambert probably doesn’t have the support to beat Underwood in this category.
TOP VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Randy Rogers Band
Rascal Flatts
Zac Brown Band
Reasoning: It’d be nice to see ZBB take it, but Lady Antebellum has the buzz. I don’t think Rascal Flatts can hold them off for another year.
TOP VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Brooks & Dunn
Joey + Rory
Montgomery Gentry
Steel Magnolia
Sugarland
Reasoning: Wholly undeserved on the basis of their work this past year, but they’re breaking up.
TOP NEW SOLO VOCALIST OF THE YEAR *
Luke Bryan
Jamey Johnson
Chris Young
Reasoning: Fan-voted and Bryan is the most vanilla of the lot.
TOP NEW VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR *
Bomshel
Joey + Rory
Steel Magnolia
Reasoning: This video is adorable.
TOP NEW VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR *
Eli Young Band
Gloriana
The Lost Trailers
Reasoning: Fan-voted, young/tech-savvy fanbase, lack of serious competition.
ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company(s)]
‘American Saturday Night’ – Brad Paisley (Arista Nashville)
‘Lady Antebellum’ – Lady Antebellum (Capitol Records Nashville)
‘Play On’ – Carrie Underwood (19/Arista Nashville)
‘Revolution’ – Miranda Lambert (Columbia Nashville)
‘The Foundation’ – Zac Brown Band (Southern Ground / Bigger Picture / Atlantic)
Reasoning: Presence of 3/5 solid contenders shows they’re pretty serious about recognizing actual quality in this category, and Lambert’s album was the strongest.
SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company(s)]
‘Need You Now’ – Lady Antebellum (Capitol Records Nashville)
‘People Are Crazy’ – Billy Currington (Mercury)
‘Red Light’ – David Nail (MCA Nashville)
‘Toes’ – Zac Brown Band (Southern Ground / Bigger Picture / Atlantic)
‘White Liar’ – Miranda Lambert (Columbia Nashville)
Reasoning: This song was everywhere.
SONG OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Composer(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
‘Cowboy Casanova’ – Carrie Underwood
‘Need You Now’ – Lady Antebellum
‘People Are Crazy’ – Billy Currington
‘White Liar’ – Miranda Lambert
‘You Belong With Me’ – Taylor Swift
Reasoning: People really liked it.
VIDEO OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]
‘Boots On’ – Randy Houser
‘Need You Now’ – Lady Antebellum
‘Welcome to the Future’ – Brad Paisley
‘White Liar’ – Miranda Lambert
‘You Belong With Me’ – Taylor Swift
Reasoning: Swift and Paisley had the most elaborate productions, and I expect they’ll be looking to reward someone other than Paisley (the winner two years running) this time around.
VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
‘Hillbilly Bone’ – Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins
‘Honky Tonk Stomp’ – Brooks & Dunn featuring Billy Gibbons
‘I Told You So’ – Carrie Underwood featuring Randy Travis
‘I’m Alive’ – Kenny Chesney with Dave Matthews
‘Seeing Stars’ – Jack Ingram featuring Patty Griffin
Reasoning: The most ubiquitous of the lot. Was awarded off-screen last year, so it makes sense that this is where they would recognize an actually country act like Randy Travis. Wouldn’t want to let him talk on TV!
HUMANITARIAN AWARD
Montgomery Gentry
Reasoning: I got this one in the bag.
Reasoning: The most ubiquitous of the lot. Was a”warded off-screen last year, so it
makes sense that this is where they would recognize an actually country act like
Randy Travis. Wouldn’t want to let him talk on TV!”
Dummest comment in this blog. It has nothing to do with who the artist is; this category is seldom recognized on TV due to time constrains no matter who it is. they’d rather let the hollywood celebs talk even though they have nothing to do with music.
Sorry to be so dum.
I’m still very disappointed Martina McBride got snubbed for a Female Vocalist nod for the 2nd year in a row, yet they nominated Lee Ann Womack again!?… Crazy. Guess her album, 3 singles, 2 videos and major tour wasn’t enough. Oh well.
I can also see them giving FV to Taylor, not that she deserves it but they’ll want to jump on the AMA, Grammy, CMA, MTV Swift-sweep train.
The only place I will disagree with you CM is on the “Top New Vocal Duo Of The Year” category. Steel Magnolia’s current single is at # 13 on the Mediabase Chart and still climbing. Joey + Rory never had much chart impact even with “Cheater, Cheater”, and although “Fight Like a Girl” did well for BOMSHEL the follow up single “19 and Crazy” hasn’t done so hot. Steel Magnolia is hot right now and the other acts are “also rans” at country radio, and I expect the voting to reflect this in spite of a cute video by Joey + Rory.
I agree with most of your picks, CM. I DO think Taylor will take FVOTY and Eli Young Band could possibly hold off Gloriana (they seem to have a pretty loyal base).
Hope you’re right about EYB, Carolyn. They’re the only act I like in that category.
I agree with most all of your predictions. I think Carrie will win FVOTY, However I would much rather see Lambert take home FVOTY as well as Video of the Year.
Top New Solo Vocalist, Top New Vocal Group, and Top New Vocal Duo winners were announced today: Luke Bryan, Gloriana, and Joey + Rory. I’m 3/3 so far.
One of those three acts will win Top New Artist (also fan-voted). My money’s on Luke Bryan.
I think that taylor swift should take home all of the categories that she is nominated for. She deserved the awards that she has already won. She wrote and co-wrote all of the songs on both of her albums. She has plenty fans and she also deserves more awards. Her album is the best album there.
WTF r u thinking??
All of us know that Swift wrote all of her songs
All of us know that she sells the hell out of everybody
All of us know she has (OMG) a lots of fans
But WHEN UR A FAN, U SHOULDNT WORSHIP UR IDOL SO MUCH THAT U CANT REALIZE THAT UR IDOL CANT SING!!!!
She cant sing for god’s shake
Want evidence?
Youtube it! Google it!
Carrie will won EOTY for a second consecutive year. Miranda will take home Top Female Vocalist. Both being well deserved. Taylor’s reign of pity awards are bound to end soon.
Agreed 100%.
My thoughts exactly. Miranda’s year has finally arrived because of “White Liar”.
Carrie will take Musical Event of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year without any problem. Both are well deserved for her.
For Album of the Year, it’s going to come down to Carrie or Miranda. I would love to see either of them take it. If you judge by album sales, chart positioning, and how well singles have done, it would go to Carrie. But if you’re going to judge based on the “countriest” album and the strongest songs, it will probably go to Miranda. It all depends on which perspective it’s looked upon.
Song of the Year – Lady Antebellum, Taylor and Carrie. Those are the only 3 competitors. The other 2 should just take the nomination as an honor. I don’t know who it will go to. All 3 are crossover hits. “You Belong with Me” – 2x platinum. “Need You Now” – 2x platinum. “Cowboy Casanova” – 1x platinum and fastest-climbing country song of 2009.
Single of the Year: It’ll be “Need You Now”, with “White Liar” having the potential to edge it out.
Entertainer of the Year – It’s going to come down to Carrie & Taylor. Taylor has had an immense year; Grammys, AMAs, 6x platinum album, huge tour, etc. Carrie has had just as big of a year; Grammys, PCAs, 3x platinum album (Carnival Ride) and a platinum album (Play On), Superbowl performance, her own variety show, an engagement, Symphony Award, the EOTY for ACM last year, 11 #1 hits, biggest selling “Idol” album to date, sold out some tour shows in 2 minutes or less, etc. As for the voting part: Taylor has the tweeny-bopper voters, but Carrie not only has other tweens & adults for her, but she has her American Idol backing that has stuck with her since her audition 5 years ago.
Chris I do hope Carrie wins some but you are forgetting about Taylor fans. Since she sold out some shows overseas..she now has the power of the world behind her. It will be hard to beat that for Entertainer and also I worry about the new artist….if Gloriana wins that..they will know who will definitely win Entertainer.
Gloriana is very, very pop-oriented, but very popular, and we can thank Ms. Swift for that one (promoting them excessively on YouTube, on tour, etc.), so they will probably take it.
And Carrie Underwood has received a very large worldwide backing with this last album, which could easily match Swift’s. Sure, Underwood’s album wasn’t released in as many foriegn countries as Swift’s, but Carrie has sold a lot more worldwide than Taylor between her past 3 albums compared to Swift’s 2 (yes, I’m aware of the 1 album difference).
Then Taylor has the little girl/tween backing, while Carrie has some of them, then young adults, adults, and elderly, and anyone else who falls into any other categories who followed her through Idol. That show gave Carrie one of the biggest fanbases in country music today, so she may very well take the trophy. Plus, the ACMs like to make history, and Carrie winning 2x in a row will be very historic (first woman to every win twice in a row), so they may give it to Carrie for that reason, too. Also, Taylor has not been very active at all ever since her Grammy wins 3-4 months ago, which could set her back a little bit.
When I read all these ACM 2010 nominations, I ask myself: “Where is George Strait’s Album “Twang”; where is his hot single “Living for the Night”.
What’s happening to the minds of the ACMs and CMAs?
Carrie Underwood all the way!!! Taylor Swift can’t do ANYTHING!!!!!
Sorry but Carrie hasn’t had half the year that Taylor has. You can’t name things like a Variety Special (put on by idol), Superbowl, Engagement, biggest selling IDOL contestant as an accomplishment for her second album. What have those things got to do with her current album and how it relates to Taylor Swift’s success?….absolutely nothing. Taylor on the other hand, with fearless being twice as old as Carrie’s current disc has out sold her album each and every week since it’s release (minus the first week when Carrie did manage to hit #1 but has slide down to Taylor each week since). Couple that with larger concert venues, higher album sales, Top album of the year honor at the grammy awards and winning many other major awards that underwood could only hope to be nominated for. I’m sorry but you have to be deluded to think Underwood had half the year Taylor had. Perhaps at her peak she did (on her first album) but then she still wasn’t as big as Fearless was and continues to be. Sorry deluded Carrie Fans. Taylor is the more successful music artist by far.
Are you delusional???? Are you forgetting that Carrie won American Idol and has sold more albums than Taylor Swift will ever dream of? Sure, Taylor got the sympathy votes from people LAST YEAR. You know why Taylor will NOT win FVOTY…it’s because she CAN’T sing!!! Taylor would be eaten up by Simon on American Idol…Taylor doesn’t have the staying power in this business…she can’t continue to sing about 15 year olds and be taken seriously in country music!! I voted for Carrie for EOTY…and I pray the ACM gets it right!!
Took the words right out of my mouth.
[quote]Are you forgetting that Carrie won American Idol and has sold more albums than Taylor Swift will ever dream of? [/quote]
I am hardly delusional.
Carrie’s firs album off idol sold 7 million copies
Carrie’s Second album sold 3 million copies
Carrie’s third album album won’t sell 2 million
The girl has clearly PEAKED. So out of THREE albums Carrie has sold about 10.5 million copies us
Taylor’s First album sold 5 million copies
Taylor’s Second album sold 6 million copies and as mentioned earlier is still outselling Carrie’s latest album.
Two albums in and Taylor has already sold what Carrie has with three albums. So you’re the delusional one, when it comes to sales and acclaim Taylor WINS HANDS DOWN. Only the deluded think otherwise.
You are truly demented.
And while you’re at it, get TRUE FACTS.
Carrie has sold 16 million WORLDWIDE (including US), while Taylor has barely sold 10 WORLDWIDE (including US).
Carrie has had just as huge of a year as Taylor. Hate to break it to ya. And Taylor’s 4 month absense from the limelight since the Grammys has set her back, and put Carrie up in front even more.
QUOTE: Two albums in and Taylor has nearly sold what Carrie has with three albums and since “fearless” continues to outsell “play on” taylor will no doubt pass her in total sales BEFORE she even releases a third CD. So you’re the delusional one, when it comes to sales and acclaim Taylor WINS HANDS DOWN. Only the deluded believe otherwise. Furthermore, Taylor has been far more consistent in album sales UNQUOTE.
I cannot even describe as to how idiotic and wrong you are when you say all of this. First off, the ACMs like artists who can sing well on CD and live, not autotune themselves through the music industry. So that kills Taylor anyways. “Fearless Tour” outsold “Play On Tour” because Carrie’s JUST STARTED, dummy! And it’s already doing 10x better than Taylor’s start. And last time I checked, Taylor could never and will never pull off such an extravagant show as Carrie’s (swinging from trees, riding over the audience in a pickup truck, several rising pieces of the set, virtual backdrops, and doing it all with pitch-perfect vocals–again, the thing Taylor never had and never will have).
Carrie hasn’t been as consistent with album sales because of the dropping economy. In 2005 when Carrie released the BIGGEST SELLING DEBUT COUNTRY ALBUM OF ALL TIME and the #1 COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE DECADE, there weren’t really any economic problems. As for Taylor, she’s only sold more because she’s a cliche, bubble-gum, stale, Pop crap artist. She labels her noise as “Country”, but it will always be “Pop”. Labeling it one thing is different from it actually being the other.
I guess I’m very deluded for believing pure facts.
Taylor has a lame tweeny-bopper following, while Carrie has that and all other age groups due to her immense following from American Idol.
I truly cannot wait to see Taylor get shut out tomorrow night. :)
[quote]Are you forgetting that Carrie won American Idol and has sold more albums than Taylor Swift will ever dream of? [/quote]
I am hardly delusional.
Carrie’s first album off idol sold 7 million copies
Carrie’s Second album sold 3 million copies
Carrie’s third album album won’t sell 2 million
The girl has clearly PEAKED. So out of THREE albums Carrie has sold about 10.5 million copies us
Taylor’s First album sold 5 million copies
Taylor’s Second album sold 6 million copies and as mentioned earlier is still outselling Carrie’s latest album.
Two albums in and Taylor has nearly sold what Carrie has with three albums and since “fearless” continues to outsell “play on” taylor will no doubt pass her in total sales BEFORE she even releases a third CD. So you’re the delusional one, when it comes to sales and acclaim Taylor WINS HANDS DOWN. Only the deluded believe otherwise. Furthermore, Taylor has been far more consistent in album sales.
some of you can bicker all day long about album sales and who has more fans..this or that, and who’s better and who’s not……..it’s a waste of one’s time because no one will ever know how many fans follow these ladies, if you go buy the # of sales they sell…rememeber not everyone buys albums anymore especially in the downloading world….these two young women are both very powerful superstars in their own right. ultimately it is fan voted and we are the ones who make them win…taylor and carrie have a lot of fans and they both have amazing careers, i wouldnt be surprised if either one of these ladies take the EOTY award and beat out the men…im personally going for carrie, she obviously has the talent to be in this industry and she definitely has the career to back it up. her songs are inspirational and has meaning, she doesnt sing about fiction, but real life situations. she plays the piano and guitar and she puts on a great show. “Play on” is the best show i have been to in a long time, she was entertaining, engaging, fun and comfortable on that stage she has come a long way from being a small town girl from checlotah oklahoma and it shows…and not to mention her vocals are insane…everyone was left in awe of her when she reached those notes its unhuman…and some people were left in tears with “just a dream” and “temporary home”….she’s has the ability to connect with her fans and move people with her songs and vocals..shes a beautifull vocalist, just beautifull. i think she has earned a lot of respect from a lot of people, she has proven to alot of people shes not some contestant who won a show, she has outgrowned american idol in her own right, and she has become a huge country bonafide superstar…carrie underwood will always appreciate american idol but i think the carrie who won that show 5years ago is a different carrie of today…she’s earned the right to be amongst the greatest and im so proud of her. as for taylor i respect her as a songwriter/musician and entertainer, thats is what taylor is…”entertainer/performer”..she is a descent vocalist, a great vocalist? NO. however, i give her credit that a lot of people dont like to give her, she doesnt lypsync on stage, and i respect any artist who doesn’t sing “a-la-britney”..these days. she has a soft voice and sometimes pleasant. she works hard, and she is a great role model for her teenybopper fans out there. if taylor grows out of her fiction storytelling lyrical theatrics, i think i may like her, because as a person im a fan of hers but thats where it ends.i like real life story tellers i dont like to feel as if im reading a cinderella book…none the less…whoever wins i think they both deserve it.
im rooting for carrie and im voting for carrie because i think she is the most deserving, lets hope all her fans pull thru and give her a wonderful night…..best of luck to all the fans…from all nominees!
all i can say is that i’m glad TS did not win EOTY. I would have loved George Strait walk away with EOTY or male vocalist. I find Brad very boring as a singer.