61st ACM Awards Breakdown: Biggest Snubs, Surprises & More

The nominations are in for the 61st ACM Awards, and we’re breaking it all down on this week’s episode of the Country Music Rocks Podcast. There’s a lot to unpack on this one, so we’re diving into all the categories, spotlighting the nominees, and sharing who we think got snubbed this year. Trust us, we’ve got thoughts. 

 Be sure follow along as we'll have a new episode each week! Follow the Country Music Rocks Podcast on all streaming platforms:  Apple Podcasts,  Spotify, iHeart Radio, YouTube and more.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Turn it up. You're listening to the Country Music Rocks podcast with Danny and Julia, your whole access pack to all your favorite artists, untold stories, and the real behind the scenes of country music.

SPEAKER_03 0:15

Well, the moment has arrived. We're super excited about the 61st annual Academy of Country Music Awards returning back to Las Vegas.

SPEAKER_01 0:22

Yes, I feel like that's where they belong.

SPEAKER_03 0:24

They I know, right? Yeah. Yeah, I definitely agree. And of course, I'm super excited it's gonna be Amazon Prime again.

SPEAKER_01 0:30

So we all get to watch it at the same time. We're not watching it from time zones.

SPEAKER_03 0:34

No.

SPEAKER_01 0:34

Excuse me, there's no spoilers. Like, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 0:36

It's right from the get-go.

SPEAKER_01 0:37

Yes, I think that's great.

SPEAKER_03 0:38

And I'm super excited because it seems like when it's in Vegas, there's a lot more action in Vegas. I now, granted, I I love Texas. I have lots of friends that live in Texas, but I never got a chance to go to the Moody Center, so I didn't know where everything was in retrospective.

SPEAKER_02 0:52

Right.

SPEAKER_03 0:52

But when it comes to being in Vegas, being there so many times and family.

SPEAKER_01 0:56

You have an idea of where to go, how far it is, all that stuff.

SPEAKER_03 1:01

There's lots of great things. Riley Green's doing his golf tournament.

SPEAKER_01 1:05

Yeah, top golf, which looks super cool.

SPEAKER_03 1:07

Which is really fun because I know everybody loves to golf. We talked about this a couple weeks ago on the podcast about the masters.

SPEAKER_01 1:13

Well, and especially now, I think everybody's pumped because the masters just finished. Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:18

And so it was really cool. So I it was one of those scenes, like a couple years ago, we went when I got nominated. Uh, it was fun because like all of a sudden, Kane Brown just came out of nowhere, and then Cassie Ashton was there, and then Restless Road was there. Like, all of a sudden, these people just started showing up.

SPEAKER_02 1:32

Right.

SPEAKER_03 1:32

And it could be another one of those moments at Top Golf, like, oh my gosh, we need security now.

SPEAKER_02 1:36

Exactly. You don't know who's gonna show up. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:39

So it's gonna be really cool coming up on Amazon Prime May 17th. Yes. And I'm thinking that it could be just like one of those overnighters, real quick, to Vegas.

SPEAKER_01 1:49

I mean, it's that would be easy to do.

SPEAKER_03 1:51

It's not far. It's close. It's two hours, and I know Southwest is always, you know, trying to get you down there. I don't know, maybe it's worth a hundred bucks.

SPEAKER_01 1:58

Again, you know, we're just this is our year of manifesting things, so you never know. We we may end up in Vegas.

SPEAKER_03 2:03

Yeah, exactly. So, yeah. So I'm excited because the nominations came out, and there's a lot of great nominations.

SPEAKER_01 2:09

There is. There's a lot to unpack with these nominations.

SPEAKER_03 2:12

Boy, there really is. Um, I agree with some of them. Some of them I don't, uh, but there was a lot of snubs, and I'm not gonna lie, there is a lot, a lot of upset people.

SPEAKER_01 2:24

Yeah, I yes.

SPEAKER_03 2:26

Right?

SPEAKER_01 2:27

Very much so. Um I I guess let's just get into it because I yeah, there was just so much. I don't know, I feel like there was more, I almost want to say there was more misses than anything. That's a great line. Yes, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 2:40

Yeah, people that should be on the nomination list aren't, and people that shouldn't be on there are.

SPEAKER_01 2:45

Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_03 2:46

Uh yeah, let's let's just go digging right into it.

SPEAKER_01 2:49

But speaking of misses, right. We'll start with female artists of the year. First of all, I mean, women kind of dominated all the nominations. Yes. Which, you know, in hindsight, that is so great to see because I feel like women have they've needed, they've needed that, you know, especially women in country. We've had so many years where it was just so male dominated. So it is kind of nice to see the spin on things with kind of females getting the notoriety they deserve.

SPEAKER_03 3:13

Yeah, and if you haven't heard the the nomination list already, Megan Moroni is leading with nine nominations this year.

SPEAKER_02 3:18

Which is yeah, yeah, crazy.

SPEAKER_03 3:20

Miranda Lambert's got eight. Ella Langley's got seven. Laney Wilson's got like six or seven in there.

SPEAKER_02 3:26

Yep.

SPEAKER_03 3:26

Um, so yeah, it's the year of the female for the ACM. It's cool. Yeah, it's cool. Yep. So yeah, let's dig in. Let's go. Female artists of the year. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 3:34

So there's Kelsey, Kelsey Ballerini, Miranda Lambert, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, and Lainey Wilson.

SPEAKER_03 3:40

Yeah. And I don't want to get into the nominal, I don't want to who I'm gonna pick just yet.

SPEAKER_01 3:44

Not yet, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 3:45

Yeah, because I want to look at it because I do I agree on some of it. I don't agree with all of it. Um, it's a strong list of the ladies.

SPEAKER_01 3:54

I do feel like this list is very strong. I feel like this was a good this one was good. Yeah. In my in my opinion. You may have a different opinion. I feel like they this one they got right.

SPEAKER_03 4:02

Sure. Well represented. Yes. And we know for the past few years it's been Laney. Before that, it was Carrie and Miranda. Exactly. Before that, it was, you know, it could have been anybody. But for for a long time it was Carrie and Miranda. Yeah. Um, and I feel like Laney for the last couple years has taken the charge, but I I'm I'm not really agreeing. Yeah, there's some tough competition this year.

SPEAKER_01 4:24

This one's gonna be a tough one.

SPEAKER_03 4:26

Um, yeah, for sure. Especially since Kelsey's in there because I haven't seen Kelsey in a lot of stuff.

SPEAKER_01 4:31

She's been a little quiet this year. Yeah, well, even towards the end of last year. Um, yeah, she's been she's been pretty quiet. But I know it goes I and I think it is, I should have looked looked it up. Um, it's not necessarily calendar year. I can't remember when the year starts for when you are able to get nominated. Right. So um, but still, she's been quiet as of late.

SPEAKER_03 4:53

Right. As it like March instead of a fiscal year, when everyone puts their budgets together in July and then October, you gotta be done.

SPEAKER_01 5:00

Right.

SPEAKER_03 5:00

This is a completely different thing. I think these run from March through December.

SPEAKER_01 5:05

I think you might be right, yeah, you might be right.

SPEAKER_03 5:07

Because when we put together the packages that we have to submit for our for ACM nominations for radio, they have to be done at a certain timeline. Yeah. Uh between December 31st of one year through March of the following year. So they give us a whole like a year and four months to get stuff done. Yeah. So yeah, it's in that timeline. So it's kind of interesting.

SPEAKER_01 5:26

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 5:26

Um, great category.

SPEAKER_01 5:28

I think that I think this one's a good category. I think it's well represented. There's no, I don't know. I I don't know. Is there any you would want to see on this one that you think kind of no, not on this one. I I don't think so on this one.

SPEAKER_03 5:40

Gabby Barrett would be maybe the only female that I would put in there, but I I she hasn't really done anything. Yeah. She, you know, I mean, hey, more power to her. Her and Cade went and did the family thing, had their kids, fantastic. Yeah. I think she needs to get back into it though. She's gonna continue because she was on a roll.

SPEAKER_01 5:56

Right.

SPEAKER_03 5:57

And and the momentum is kind of Yeah, it's it's taken it's taken its turn to the left. So I'd like to see her get back. I don't know if she wants to continue to do what she was doing. Right. I haven't heard a lot from her or her team, so I don't know, but I'd like to see her on that list. I think she'd give them all a good run for her money.

SPEAKER_01 6:13

Actually, there is one, and I know you'll agree with it, Ashley McBride. Yeah, I would have loved to have seen her on this list.

SPEAKER_03 6:18

Yeah, she was kind of quiet the last year as well.

SPEAKER_01 6:21

Yeah, I guess you're right. I guess it's just been recent that she's been out there, you know, she's got a new single out, album coming up. So yeah, I guess that is a little bit more recent.

SPEAKER_03 6:28

And that's gonna fall in that timeline again where we're like, what happened?

SPEAKER_01 6:31

And I think that's what's tough because we're all in the now.

SPEAKER_03 6:34

Right.

SPEAKER_01 6:35

So we're thinking of the things in the now versus things that maybe they were doing at the beginning when this opening enrollment, or not enrollment, but this opening period for nominations started. Yeah. So it it is kind of hard because you gotta go back and trigger your memory.

SPEAKER_03 6:49

Yeah, could be. Um okay, so let's jump to male artists of the year. Uh, I don't have any issues with this one as well, as you would say. I think these are all great category guys. Uh there's one in there though, I'm like, every time his name comes up, it's just one of those like, okay, this could probably be his. Uh male artists of the year for the 61st annual Academy of Country Music Awards this year's nominees are Luke Combs, Riley Green, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton, and Zach Topp. Uh Zach, I think it's fantastic. He came in like Ella, kicked the door open, said, I'm here. Yeah. It made some noise. Same for Luke. Luke is has really kind of um been ready for this new tour, but he hasn't, he put the new album out on 420, which was cool. So it's it's one of those things. Riley and Cody have been working hard.

SPEAKER_02 7:40

They really have.

SPEAKER_03 7:41

They really have. Chris hasn't really done anything since I don't know when. I don't remember the last single he put out. Uh, I do actually, it was with him and Miranda.

SPEAKER_02 7:50

Oh, yes.

SPEAKER_03 7:52

It was the duet.

SPEAKER_02 7:52

Yes. Yep.

SPEAKER_03 7:53

Which is fine. Uh, but again, it's just Stapleton's one of those guys when it comes to male vocalists of the year, there's gonna be an argument. I don't see Morgan Wallin on there, but Morgan just restarted his new tour, and I don't see Hardy on there.

SPEAKER_01 8:04

Yeah, so I don't see Thomas Rhett on there.

SPEAKER_03 8:07

Nope.

SPEAKER_01 8:07

I don't see Kane Brown on there, nope. Jason Aldean, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, you know. So that's the thing. It's like those guys, I feel like are just to the grind. You know, their tours every year. I feel like they're consistently coming out with music.

SPEAKER_04 8:20

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 8:22

You know, Zach Top, I think is again fantastic. He's so I almost feel like originally, like when these first started, you had to work to get to these to get nominated. Yes. You know, so I feel like man, Zach's already getting nominated versus some of these guys had to go they went through the ringer before they finally got their nomination. You know, same with some of the females, but yeah, again, not to say that it's not deserved, it's a hundred percent deserved. It's just it came so quick, right, versus some others where they were they put in years.

SPEAKER_03 8:55

And again, these shows are are are you have to be a member. Yes.

SPEAKER_02 9:00

So it's not like a fan vote. It's totally different.

SPEAKER_03 9:03

So, you know, at the time that all this was hot, Zach was at the top of the list. Zach was touring, so he's fresh on everyone's mind.

SPEAKER_04 9:10

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 9:11

People weren't thinking about the Jason Aldean or the Luke Bryan because they knew that Luke was off doing American Idol or some other stuff. Jason had Jason's been consistent last couple years, got a couple hits now of a sudden. But you're right, it's like they used to have to work for it. Now I think it's just one of those things like, oh, he's my guy. I'm gonna put him down the list. And if he makes it, great.

SPEAKER_01 9:28

Yeah. I'm not saying I'm not mad seeing seeing his name on there. I'm I'm thrilled for him. It's just it's it's just different because there's so many others that I would have loved to also have seen on this list.

SPEAKER_03 9:39

Another Keith Urban.

SPEAKER_01 9:40

Yeah, same one. Keith Urban, you know, yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_03 9:42

So yeah, working hard.

SPEAKER_01 9:44

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 9:45

The next one though is is really where I think some people are kind of losing their mind. Yep. Um, when we talk about the snubs and everything else that comes with it, there's just there's a couple groups on here that for some reason never make the list, and we just shake our heads and go, don't understand why. Because they're like so cool. So I'll let you read this one.

SPEAKER_01 10:03

So 49 Winchester, okay, Flatland Calvary, Old Dominion, Rascal Flats, and Red Clay Strays.

SPEAKER_03 10:11

I'm gonna be honest with you, I don't know anything about 49 Winchester or Flatland Calvary. I've seen a lot of their stuff through the socials. Um, I haven't I haven't taken the time to listen to the music. I really haven't. I need to. Um, Old Dominion, right? I mean, not gonna lie, my second favorite next to Rascal Flats. The Boys of Flats are coming back because of the tour, but the red clay strays are in there because they were making some noise and the new group of the year at the CMA's different story, but the people were not seen on this list. Zach Brown band, yep, parmole. Parmalee, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 10:44

My gosh, Parmalee. Like, really?

SPEAKER_03 10:46

I know they're like the Susan Lucci.

SPEAKER_01 10:48

Like what is going on? Like some of the hardest workers who are consistent.

SPEAKER_03 10:54

They've had three number ones since then.

SPEAKER_01 10:56

Like, literally, what's it take to yeah, yeah, low cash? Well, that would be duo, so we'll get there. But yeah, it's just crazy. So I it's interesting when I saw 49 Winchester because last year when I was in Nashville or a couple days before CMA Fest, um we we were at some uh it was an outdoor, it was Whiskey Jam, actually.

SPEAKER_04 11:19

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 11:20

And they had a bunch of bands, and I didn't recognize really many of the names on there, but Warren Ziders was he was on there and he was closing it out. So I was like, Oh, I want to go catch his set. 49 Winchester was on maybe right before him or or two before him. The amount of people that were there in 49 Winchester shirts and hats, and knowing all their music, I mean, they they have a following. I was shocked.

SPEAKER_03 11:43

Massive following.

SPEAKER_01 11:44

I had no idea who they were who they were. But I think they just recently got signed, or they may have been signed then, but it's just now because I think yeah, because I think they're with Universal, one of the tiers, I think maybe MCA, not exactly sure. I think. Don't even quote me on that. But um they they have a following. Flatline Calvary, I'm not familiar with them at all. Flatline Calvary.

SPEAKER_03 12:04

No, and it's it's it's great because this gives me a chance to go read the book that I got from them that kind of gives us a little insight. They kind of give us like the history of the band, right, where they came from, who they're with, and then it tells you what they're up for. So it's kind of a cool thing. But I have not uh I have not had that chance to go see them. So I do want to go listen to music. Maybe I'm missing out on something. I probably am. But uh but it's hard when I look at Old Dominion and Rascal Flats, I'm like, well, those are my guys. Yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_01 12:31

But I'm just I was really, really bummed that Parmalee wasn't on there. Yeah, I I just definitely I just feel like, again, I mean, they probably tore 360 days out of the year. They're always going consistently putting music out, constantly active on socials and with fans, and I mean just giving it a hundred and fifty percent.

SPEAKER_03 12:50

That was one of the snubs that I had seen and and said uh when this first landed, uh, you know, I was kind of like, okay, I'll go through the list, and then all of a sudden, like, uh, what were they saying instead of like no King's Day? It was like no Parmely, what? Yeah, it was one of those situations. So, yeah, because they are great guys and they're especially good friends of radio and and and influencers and stuff. They're always willing to work with us. They really are, they're really cool people, and unfortunately, they just did not make this list. So uh it's a bummer. And I think that they should.

SPEAKER_01 13:21

Yeah, I was I was definitely surprised and bummed with that one.

SPEAKER_03 13:24

Yeah, and also I want to reiterate that the nothing against programming of radio stations. There's some great programmers out there, but and when it comes to the people that are members of the CMAs, a lot of them are programmers and music directors and stuff. Like we we tend to forget because there's so much music being thrown at us, like, oh shoot, so maybe it was too late or maybe it just didn't make the cut. I don't know. Yeah, but I don't think we can next year we really seriously have to look at that because if they're gonna continue to keep putting out great music and consistent number one songs, that has to be a situation like, okay, are they just black flagged? People don't like them. If that's the case, I want to know.

SPEAKER_01 14:03

Yeah, right.

SPEAKER_03 14:04

Instead of like, don't get your hopes up.

SPEAKER_01 14:06

Like at least make it make sense. Yeah, for sure. You know, I don't know.

SPEAKER_03 14:10

Um and nothing against these groups.

SPEAKER_01 14:12

No, again, nothing against them. It's just more of back to where was when you had a I don't want to say you had to work work for it to get nominated, but I don't know. Like, again, like we didn't know, you know, at least we're not familiar with two, I'm not as familiar with Red Clay Strays.

SPEAKER_03 14:30

Right.

SPEAKER_01 14:30

Um, so there's three bands on here that I'm not super familiar with.

SPEAKER_03 14:33

Right. And you're like, hmm.

SPEAKER_01 14:35

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 14:35

And it could be, again, it's a changing of the guards. Yeah, you're probably you know, like I said this before, that for years it was always Brooks and Dunn as the duo. Then it was the Juds, and then you know, it just kind of worked its way up. And then now it's changing, and we're like, man, music's being changed so often and so fast that we're seeing it that way. So it's kind of interesting to see it that way.

SPEAKER_01 14:57

Um duo of the year. So speaking of Brooks and Dunn, they were nominated, Brothers Osborne, Dan and Shay, um Muscadine Bloodline, and Thelma and James.

SPEAKER_03 15:08

Yeah, Thelma and James, a new group. Yes, uh, but it's McKenzie Porter. Yeah, it's McKenzie Porter that's in that. And I don't know who the James is, if it's a friend or family member, I'm not sure. Uh Muscadine Bloodline, I've heard of them.

SPEAKER_01 15:21

I've heard of them as well.

SPEAKER_03 15:22

Uh I've had I've heard samples of the music. I've never actually just got a chance to sit down and listen to the whole thing myself.

SPEAKER_02 15:27

Right.

SPEAKER_03 15:27

So I need to check that out. But uh boy, perfect timing for Dan and Shay dropping some new music you know on us. Yeah, and I don't know if they got the heads up.

SPEAKER_01 15:37

Maybe. I don't know. Yeah, the timing was definitely on their side for this.

SPEAKER_03 15:42

Yeah, for sure. So they've been quiet.

SPEAKER_01 15:44

Um Brothers Osborne's been super quiet.

SPEAKER_03 15:47

Yep.

SPEAKER_01 15:47

Brooks, but again, where is Low Cash?

SPEAKER_03 15:49

Yeah, um they've been out working hard.

SPEAKER_01 15:52

Again, another one 360 days out of the year, pretty much. They're on the road, new music. I mean, fans love them. The energy they deliver is incredible. Um yeah, like I was really again disappointed. I mean, again, all these they're all great. Love Brooks and Dunn. I mean, they're icons, they're absolutely amazing, but also are they putting out anything new?

SPEAKER_03 16:18

No.

SPEAKER_01 16:19

They're just they're basically just doing their greatest hits, which hey, that is amazing. Right. Well, Garth exactly.

SPEAKER_03 16:25

Garth has repackaged his his greatest hits ten times.

SPEAKER_01 16:28

I mean, they're at a point in their career, they don't need to even really release new music if they don't want to. They have such an amazing catalog that they can, you know, they're on tour with Morgan Lop Morgan Wallen. So I mean, but at the same time, part of this I feel like should be, you know, you're putting out new stuff, you're I don't know. I was I was disappointed with these two categories.

SPEAKER_03 16:50

Yeah. And when you said when you just said icon, I I think we could do like an icon award, right?

SPEAKER_01 16:54

Yeah, exactly. Maybe put some of these people in there for that. Yeah, like Braskell Flats could be perfect for that.

SPEAKER_03 16:59

Right.

SPEAKER_01 17:00

Bricks and Dunn. Right.

SPEAKER_03 17:01

Um Chris Stapleton.

SPEAKER_01 17:03

You know, you can take some of these people out of some of these other categories and put into one of their own.

SPEAKER_03 17:08

Yeah, for sure. I mean, you could even put in like Wynona's touring again this year.

SPEAKER_01 17:12

Yeah, that's true.

SPEAKER_03 17:13

So you know, she's touring Melissa Etheridge. So it could be one of those scenes where it's an icon award. It could be or Shania Twain. She's back in Vegas touring. So yeah, it's one of those. I know it's really a bummer. And and I don't want to mention names of friends in radio, but they're like some of them were clearly upset that they didn't see Kristen Preston from Low Cash on this along with Parmalake, you know. And it was one of those scenes I was like, because those guys really have been hammering.

SPEAKER_01 17:37

I feel like those were the two that people were really like and Kane came down to Kane as well, and then I saw a lot on Thomas too. So I don't know, I feel like there was a lot of a lot of upsets.

SPEAKER_03 17:49

It's it's been an interesting year, and of course, it it falls back again on us as voters, yes, and who we can nominate. And all the ones that I did, I mean, yes, a couple of them made it, but the rest didn't. I was like, man, okay, I guess maybe I'm missing a picture and I just don't know it.

SPEAKER_01 18:05

But that's also interesting too, because when you have fan voted awards, again, that can go either way as well, because some of these artists have such a fierce and large fan base.

SPEAKER_03 18:15

Ian Munsick.

SPEAKER_01 18:16

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 18:17

I mean, when I saw that show here at downtown uh back in February at the Roseland, literally every phone was up and everybody was singing word for word. And I was thinking to myself, I've seen Ian twice.

SPEAKER_02 18:31

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 18:31

But same thing, like you said, when the everybody was there for the, you know, the group, the Winchester 49. I was looking around that room going, Wow. Yeah, I just couldn't believe it.

SPEAKER_01 18:40

It was, you know, it is pretty incredible because it's kind of like, how do they know? Yeah, you know, because sometimes I'm like, I didn't even know. How did they know? Yeah. It's yeah.

SPEAKER_03 18:48

It's it's a it's an interesting thing because like I'll use my daughter Alexis for example. Like she's said to me, Have you heard this group? Have you heard this group? Because she's always on Instagram or Snapchat or or or TikTok and stuff. And I try to get on there as much as I can, but of course, with doing radio and this on the side, we're already like digging into everything we possibly can. Exactly. So to find new stuff, it's like, wow, it's kind of difficult. So yeah, that was uh it's interesting to see this year.

SPEAKER_02 19:15

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 19:16

Um, all right, new female artist of the year is Avery Anna. Uh, I've seen her in Nashville. She was super cool. She's really talented, loves to play the keyboards. Yep. She's great. Mackenzie Carpenter, uh, very cute, very, very personable. She's out on the road now. Dasha obviously made a big splash a year ago. She's now doing line dancing. She's doing more music. Um, she's doing a little bit of a change to herself, which is actually cool.

SPEAKER_02 19:43

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 19:43

Caroline Jones, who was Caroline Jones by herself for a long time, and then she joined Zach Brown's band. So she's the only female in the band. Which is pretty cool. Which is really cool. And uh, and then of course Emily Ann Roberts, all those new female artists. Um, I didn't see Ella. I don't but Ella's to me is still new.

SPEAKER_01 20:04

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 20:05

Uh what I don't see on here is a May Estes.

SPEAKER_01 20:07

I was thinking of her. I was thinking of um Elena Springsteen.

SPEAKER_03 20:12

Yep.

SPEAKER_01 20:13

I I yeah, I was thinking of her.

SPEAKER_03 20:15

Um there's a few of them in there.

SPEAKER_01 20:16

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 20:17

You know, it's and it's interesting. It's gonna be it's one of those things, like it's this changing of the guards. We're not used to seeing those. So at this point, like a new female artist of the year to me, uh seeing Ella already in female artist of the year.

SPEAKER_01 20:30

Exactly. Like I feel like there's that there used to be that stepping stone. Right. Like you you were here first.

SPEAKER_03 20:35

Right.

SPEAKER_01 20:36

Like, and I think Ella was probably nominated last year, but I mean, I don't know, I feel like they're almost skipping skipping some of these categories and going straight for the big ones. Right.

SPEAKER_03 20:46

Just because well, because she's so popular right now.

SPEAKER_01 20:49

I mean, yeah, and I'm not saying it's not well deserved because again, I feel like that category they did get right.

SPEAKER_03 20:54

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 20:54

Um and she was probably nominated last year. I mean, she may have even won last year. I don't remember who won last I don't remember either.

SPEAKER_03 21:01

I'll have to go back and look at the list that we have and we can find out. But yeah, it's a great list. All great artists. I I've seen Caroline Jones perform, I've seen Dasher perform, and I've seen Averrianna perform. So as far as Mackenzie Carpenter, I've just only seen the videos of her of what she's doing, and then um Emily Ann Roberts. I've seen her in a lot of posts and stuff around that she's gonna be.

SPEAKER_01 21:22

I'm not super familiar with her yet.

SPEAKER_03 21:24

Yeah. Um it'll it'll they'll make us learn a lot about her, which is cool in the coming months, which is awesome.

SPEAKER_02 21:30

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 21:30

So yeah, that's another great category to keep an eye on. I already have my favorite that I think will probably end up walking away with that category. Uh, but I'm gonna go do some investigation. So just kind of dig into it.

SPEAKER_01 21:42

Um, and then we have new male artists of the year. So Gavin Adcock, Vincent Mason, Shabuzi, Hudson Westbrook, and Tucker Wetmore.

SPEAKER_03 21:51

Uh great lineup. Great lineup. And I can't think of anybody else that's missing on that list off the top of my head that's super fast. Uh

SPEAKER_01 22:00

Uh no, I I think and I he probably wouldn't even be new male artist at this point in his career. Uh Drew Baldridge, it would have been nice to have seen him nominated somewhere. Yes. But again, I I I don't know. It might might have missed the female part, which is kind of a bummer. But again, it does. I have to go back and look at the criteria for that because I think it's just a matter of well, no, I think it has to do with single out between a certain time. Yeah, it is time. It's still timing.

SPEAKER_03 22:28

So when somebody's somebody's daughter, right, was there. I mean, it could have been like he he just missed it.

SPEAKER_01 22:35

Maybe just missed it. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 22:36

Yeah. It's a bummer. Yeah. But all great artists, Vincent Mason got a new hit out, Shabuzi. I mean, it since I I every time I hear his name, I think of the performance that he put on at the CMA Music Fest like a year and a half ago or two years now with Jelly Roll. And then he's, you know, he's a God, he's all over this year. He was at the Academy Awards as representative singing. Yep. And he's been doing so much. So good for him. Hudson Westbrook really making a name. Yes. Big time. He really is. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 23:03

But Tucker, of course. Tucker, of course.

SPEAKER_03 23:06

We're gonna obviously, I'm not gonna lie. I'm just gonna, I mean, Tucker's my guy.

SPEAKER_01 23:10

Well, yeah. He's a hometown guy.

SPEAKER_03 23:12

I love to see him get it, and he has had some serious momentum.

SPEAKER_01 23:15

He really, I mean, he has. And he's just been full throttle, just going for it. And I just, yeah, I I agree. I feel like this might be his year.

SPEAKER_03 23:25

Yeah, it could, it could be his year, and and hopefully it is. And if it is, uh, hang on, because it's gonna get crazy for him. For sure. Yeah, he's gonna be. He already goes a hundred miles an hour.

SPEAKER_02 23:34

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 23:34

And and there's I don't know if you heard this or not, and I'm just speculating. I love rumors. You love the tea? I love the tea. But like him and Ella Langley, okay. I'm on board. Okay. Right? Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 23:48

They would be cute.

SPEAKER_03 23:49

They would be really cute together. Like, I uh yeah, I'm all about it. I'm all about it.

SPEAKER_01 23:53

So he's preferred brunette. Right.

SPEAKER_03 23:56

Well, there's that, and then now he's got this new song, and it kind of hints that he was on a beach and he met this girl, and it fits her description. And yeah, but then I listened to Dandelion, which is an amazing album.

SPEAKER_01 24:09

That was my soundtrack all weekend. I listened to it a couple of times. So good.

SPEAKER_03 24:14

I listened to it over the weekend as well because I was driving to and from all over the place. Um, and I was like, okay, I knew it landed last night, but I didn't stay up late enough to download it. So I downloaded the next morning and then and I listened, and it was fantastic.

SPEAKER_01 24:27

Yeah, she's so good. She's something special. Yeah. She really is.

SPEAKER_03 24:30

One of my favorite songs on there. I mean, obviously, I love Be Her and Choose in Texas. Dandelion, I like. Um, but the duet with her and Miranda Lambert. It's so good. So good. Uh, Bottom of My Boots is really good. And then I also says We Gotta Quit or I Gotta Quit is the one song.

SPEAKER_01 24:47

I think it's We Gotta Quit. Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 24:49

I mean, the 70s vibe.

SPEAKER_01 24:51

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 24:51

Oh my God, it gave me goosebumps. It was, I got goosebumps now just talking about it. It was so good.

SPEAKER_01 24:56

She's just, again, she's incredible. Yeah. I feel like even like with her, and that's totally get off track, but like when she first came out with her duet with Riley and they were kind of like talking through through like that part of the song.

SPEAKER_04 25:07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 25:08

And now we're hearing her actually like just sing. And I didn't spend a whole ton of time on her debut album. So like this, and I now I want to go back and like really listen to that album.

SPEAKER_03 25:16

I do too.

SPEAKER_01 25:17

Because I love Dandelion, but she's still telling a story. Right. Like she's probably one of the greatest ones right now.

SPEAKER_03 25:26

And she co-wrote every one of those songs.

SPEAKER_01 25:29

She co-wrote them all. And then but the way she delivers every word on these tracks, she's truly telling a story, whether she's talking it out or singing it out. It's just incredible.

SPEAKER_03 25:40

Yeah. If you haven't downloaded the album or heard the album, you've got to. You've got to. It's got the 70s vibe. I don't know what I'm doing lately, but I've been into this very traditional. Like I'm going to admit it. I love Tucker. I love Tucker Wetmore. I love the Tucker Mar, the Marshall Tucker band.

SPEAKER_02 26:00

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 26:00

And I love that kind of vibe of music. I'm I'm drawing on not Americana. Um, but like I just dig that whole thing and I'm really into the yacht rock. Again, it's that time of year I start to feel good. I get into it.

SPEAKER_01 26:13

So is Keith Urban.

SPEAKER_03 26:14

Yeah, I know. He's got a new album coming out. And I cannot wait to hear it.

SPEAKER_01 26:17

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 26:17

But the cool thing is, is like this gave me all that. Yeah. So when I heard, I was like, okay, I love Ella Langley. I need to get me an I'm an Ella fella.

SPEAKER_01 26:25

Yeah, there you go. I love it. There you go. Um before we get into the album and single, I there was a couple other artists that I thought of that I didn't see any Russell, which I kind of thought he would be nominated for something.

SPEAKER_03 26:38

But where would he fall and I know? And that's what I was trying to do.

SPEAKER_01 26:40

I was as I was thinking about that, I'm like, I feel like there needs to be another category. I don't know what or what we would call it, but like where's Russell? Where's Bailey? Maybe we need one like for energy.

SPEAKER_04 26:52

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 26:52

You know, because like both of those guys, but yeah, I was kind of surprised there was no Russell and no Bailey.

SPEAKER_03 26:58

Yeah. So and that's another thing. Like, do they fall in that category of like they missed the deadline?

SPEAKER_01 27:03

Yeah, maybe, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 27:04

But you're right.

SPEAKER_01 27:05

Because I know Russell was nominated for ACM new uh new male artist of the year. He's been nominated before.

SPEAKER_04 27:10

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 27:11

And Bailey may have as well. Um I was just kind of sad to not see their names somewhere on the list. But again, it's kind of like where where would it be? I mean, but they've also had great songs, you know.

SPEAKER_03 27:21

They do.

SPEAKER_01 27:22

Um, so it could have been from one of the songs. Could have been, you know. Um happened to me. I would have loved to have seen nominated, and Bailey's got some great stuff out.

SPEAKER_03 27:31

Yep. But yeah, I know. Um it's just one of those situations like it's kind of out of our our reach, but we'll, you know, we can we can argue all day long on it.

SPEAKER_01 27:40

Yeah, exactly. Exactly. Um, okay, so album of the year.

SPEAKER_03 27:44

Album of the year. Zach Top ain't in it for my health. Carter Faith, Cherry Valley, Riley Green, don't mind if I do, Morgan Wallen on the problem, and Parker McCollum, Parker McCollum. Uh, so there's four there that I'm clearly aware of. Yeah. Zach Top, Riley, Morgan, and Parker. Carter Faith, still fairly new to me. Yes. Um, I think that's one of those moments, like maybe just the timing was right. People were following in place for that. I don't know if that's really the album of the year. Like Dandelion just came out, so that's not gonna last. No, you know, um, I don't see Megan's album in there.

SPEAKER_01 28:19

I know. That's actually kind of surprising to me. Yeah. Very, very, very soon. Or Laney's. Or Laney's. Right. Yeah. So I feel like this one a couple misses. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 28:29

Uh not gonna lie. No.

SPEAKER_01 28:30

Um, I am gonna, I will say, I'm a little excited for Parker, only because I had heard in an interview where he was like, he made that in when I saw him in where was I? Austin for a raisin canes event we did with him. And he was talking about his new album. And he was like, you know, I did this album for me. He wanted to get back to because he he has I don't know how many albums out already. I think this was his fifth, but he kind of felt like he was losing who he well, no, kind of like he wasn't putting out what he really wanted to put out or kind of what like he was putting out what was it for the time. So he wanted to kind of get back to himself, and that's why this is a uh self-titled album. Right. And he even said he's like, you know what, I know the streaming numbers aren't probably what they could be. Um but now to get nominated was pretty incredible. And when Cody Allen called him, I don't know if you saw the video, you could definitely tell you. Yeah, he was pretty touched by it.

SPEAKER_03 29:23

I didn't see the whole thing, I just saw snippets of him and Cody talking. Yeah, and he didn't have a baseball hat on, so it threw me out.

SPEAKER_01 29:27

Because he was working out in the gym and Cody called him. Yes, and it was just really kind of cool because I feel like he felt people appreciated what he was actually putting out there.

SPEAKER_03 29:38

Yeah. Yeah, and it's in and it's another one of those situations, like when you first get signed to a label, you check in with your label and be like, here's the four songs that I put together that I think would be really good. And then they all go and decide, yeah, we don't necessarily like that one. We want to maybe go to this one instead. That's happened before. So it could be one of those situations, like he's like, This is what I'm putting out, this is what you're getting. Because I've heard that through Brothers Osborne as well.

SPEAKER_01 30:02

They're like, They kind of have to take control at something.

SPEAKER_03 30:04

They're artists, they do what they do best, right? Yeah, and but sometimes they don't always listen to the right people, right? And that's where arguments happen. A lot of times people are like, No, I want to go this way. No, I'm gonna go this way. And then that's when artists separate from family and go from there. So yeah, uh, good for him. Congratulations to Parker. Way to go.

SPEAKER_02 30:21

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 30:22

Um, song of the Year. This is an interesting one. Uh, this is awarded to the songwriters, publishers, and artists. And I think this is cool. Uh, this is the one we were talking about earlier. A song to sing with Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton. Uh, I really enjoy that one. Megan Moroni, am I okay? Choose in Texas, Ella Langley, Zach Top, I Never Lie, and Lainey Wilson, somewhere over Laredo. When I look at that list, I'm like, man, I know every song. I love every song.

SPEAKER_01 30:48

Like, this is a list.

SPEAKER_03 30:49

Right. Yeah, this is a great list.

SPEAKER_01 30:50

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 30:51

Like everyone hit the nail on the head with this one.

SPEAKER_01 30:53

I think this is this is a good one. I, you know, would I have loved to have seen happen to me in there? Sure, because I think that was, or maybe that could have been single of the year. Sure. Um, but yeah, I think this is a great, great list.

SPEAKER_03 31:03

Yeah. And again, it this is gonna be another one of those categories. It's really tough and it's gonna come down to the very last second, like who walks away with it?

SPEAKER_01 31:11

Because it's anybody's award at this point. It is, right?

SPEAKER_03 31:13

Because Miranda and Chris, obviously, everyone's favorites. Uh Ella, like, you can't stop her. She's been on a runaway train. Megan's still doing her thing. Yep. Um, and then Zach, like everyone's loving the guy.

SPEAKER_02 31:24

Yep.

SPEAKER_03 31:25

And Lainey, who's been representing for Lord knows how long now, right? She's been she's the same thing. I think her and her and Ella were on that same train track. Yeah. Just side by side.

SPEAKER_01 31:34

And I think they're nominated both. I think they both have seven.

SPEAKER_03 31:37

Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 31:38

So they're they're doing really well.

SPEAKER_03 31:41

Do you have one in there that you you see that you maybe like that you think is the best as a runaway?

SPEAKER_01 31:47

I'm not sure.

unknown 31:48

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 31:49

They're all there's probably two that I'm kind of like, I it's gonna be when when I have to submit my ballot by Monday. Yeah. Um, it's gonna be, I think I'm gonna close my eyes and just be like, okay, yeah. Yeah. That one's gonna be a tough one.

SPEAKER_03 32:03

I know it really is. I'm gonna be the same as you. I'm just gonna be like, oh, okay. What did I picture myself last summer driving around? What did I hear the most of? You know, it's gonna be one of those moments. So I kind of feeling I know which one I want to go with to vote for. We'll see what happens, who it comes out to be. So yeah. Um, all right, single of the year.

SPEAKER_01 32:21

So six months later, Megan Moroney, Choose in Texas, Ella Langley, I never lie, Zach Top, Somewhere Over Laredo, Laney Wilson, and the fall, Cody Johnson.

SPEAKER_03 32:31

Yeah. Again, it's almost like a you know, song of the year and single of the year, which is a weird it really, yeah. When you look at like they're almost exactly the same. Exactly the only thing you're missing is Chris and Miranda. Yeah. And you're replacing it with Cody.

SPEAKER_01 32:45

So it's kind of like so. Is this where there's room for other people, you know? So maybe the single of the year is good point, you know, song. And I and I get it. Maybe they they should all be going to the songwriter and publishers, you know, in addition to single, because those just go to the artist.

SPEAKER_03 33:01

Right.

SPEAKER_01 33:01

I I just kind of feel like these two are kind of a monotonous category.

SPEAKER_03 33:06

And going back to what we said earlier about Drew, and that I mean, that could have been single of the year, right? Like everybody in country music and everybody was rooting for Drew to get that very first number one with somebody's daughter. And it finally could that could have been one of those songs. Yeah, same for Russell.

SPEAKER_01 33:23

Same with Russell. Happened to me. I mean, that was the song of the summer last year. It's still the song. Like, I it's yeah, yeah. Uh definitely could be a good thing. So I feel like I feel like this category here could use some work. Not saying I don't love all these songs because I do, but I feel like we just saw them all right here.

SPEAKER_03 33:39

Exactly. Yeah. No, I and and I'm with you 100%. It's seems weird, and I don't know the exact criteria of song uh single of the year, so I have to go back and look as well when I go to choose. But like Cody Johnson, the fall, it's just I I love that song. It's yeah, I I have an image in my head of that video of what it looks like, and yeah, it's so good. Yeah, such a great song, but they're all good. They're it's exactly, yeah. All right, uh, music event of the year.

SPEAKER_01 34:04

So these are we some collabs, yeah, which is which is great.

SPEAKER_03 34:08

Uh and but there's always one that throws me off, and there's one in here I'm just like, okay. Uh, you know, whatever, that's cool. Uh, music event of the year is a song to sing, Miranda Lambert and Chris Stableton. Have you seen that video, by the way, of them two singing?

SPEAKER_01 34:22

I have not.

SPEAKER_03 34:23

Uh there, he's wearing like a polyester suit. It's like a Kenny, a new version of Kenny and Dolly. Okay. To me, but their voices, oh, it's like butter. They just merge, man. It's so good.

SPEAKER_01 34:35

Is she portraying Dolly in any way? No, no, not at all.

SPEAKER_03 34:37

But she's wearing a cowboy hat. She's going through her lifestyle changes. She is. We've seen a lot of different changes in Miranda Lambert.

SPEAKER_01 34:45

You know, that vibe. But you're right, she's kind of now into her. I don't always say cowgirl phase, because I mean she's definitely a cowgirl through and through, but I think she's she's to her roots. Oh, yeah, for sure. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 34:55

Yeah. She is all about Texas, let me tell you. Um, and good.

SPEAKER_01 34:59

Not Oklahoma.

SPEAKER_03 35:00

Yeah, no, that's true. Um, uh Shabuzy Jelly Roll, Amen. Uh, and I think about the CMA fest that we watched that one time when they sang that together, so that sticks in my head. I don't know why, but I I relate so much to videos. It's because I feel like I learned the music a little bit better through the videos. I don't know why.

SPEAKER_01 35:19

Maybe because you're watching and it's just kind of I don't know, you're more focused.

SPEAKER_03 35:23

Yeah, I learned more from that way, is just to listen to it because sometimes I'm always well, you're listening, you're you're looking at something else, maybe driving.

SPEAKER_01 35:30

You're driving. So your mind, it's just it's just I don't want to say noise, but it's just on.

SPEAKER_03 35:35

When I was a kid, I loved vinyl records, still have vinyl records to this day. But I think a lot of people relate to this growing up, even in cassette tapes, that's how we learn the music. Yes. Like the lyrics were lit written on so you could learn it all, which was fantastic. Yeah, that's why I think I love the videos so much. Um, and I'm sad to see that CMT and those guys don't do the videos like they used to. I know. You know, I think they should. Um, don't mind if I do, Riley Green and Ella Langley. Uh, the one that threw me, I I mean, good for her. She got another uh nomination, Reba, Miranda, and Laney with Trailblazer.

SPEAKER_01 36:09

I I I mean not familiar with it.

SPEAKER_03 36:11

No, I I mean I've seen the video, I saw when they performed it at the CMAs, and I was like, all right. Yeah, um, you had to be there, Megan Moroni and Kenny Chesney. Another one I just don't get.

SPEAKER_04 36:21

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 36:21

I mean, I know they're really good friends. Yeah. They're trying to help one another out, and and she she just came out in Tortuga.

SPEAKER_02 36:27

Yep.

SPEAKER_03 36:28

And she opened with him and sang with him. So I mean, cool, good for them. They've got that kind of a relationship.

SPEAKER_01 36:33

Uh, but another one I was kind of like, I just feel like there's been so many collabs that, yeah, they're yeah.

SPEAKER_03 36:39

Where was the Bailey and Luke?

SPEAKER_01 36:41

Right. Right? Right, exactly. That could have been where Bailey got in here. Right.

SPEAKER_03 36:45

That could have easily been in there.

SPEAKER_01 36:46

Um I mean, Thomas Rhett, he did collabs.

SPEAKER_03 36:50

Where was the one this year um with Morgan Wallen, Hardy, Tim McGraw?

SPEAKER_01 36:55

See, that may have missed the church. That one may have missed the cutoff though.

SPEAKER_03 36:57

I think you're right. Maybe maybe next year.

SPEAKER_01 36:59

Yeah, that one probably missed the cutoff.

SPEAKER_03 37:01

Because I was like, why did it not? So maybe that's the case. But ACMs, CMAs, you guys are listening. Please make it happen. Just make it happen. Give it a performance because you know everyone wants to see it for sure.

SPEAKER_01 37:13

I kind of feel like we're gonna see that.

SPEAKER_03 37:15

I I I really hope so, but I was like, where's MacArthur on this list? I don't see it anywhere. It's kind of bumming.

SPEAKER_01 37:20

I think they'll I have a feeling they'll perform it at the awards, maybe.

SPEAKER_03 37:23

Yeah. I would like to think about it.

SPEAKER_01 37:24

I feel like it's it's either gonna be performed there for the first time or CMA Fest.

SPEAKER_03 37:28

It has to be.

SPEAKER_01 37:29

I just I you know it's gonna happen. Yeah. So those are like the two biggest things coming up right now. Um I was like, is Stagecoach, but it's neither not a lot of them are performing at Stagecoach. So yeah, I think that those are the two opportunities.

SPEAKER_03 37:42

I think they would save it for something completely different. Yeah, not exactly.

SPEAKER_01 37:45

Agreed.

SPEAKER_03 37:46

This is a new one this year.

SPEAKER_01 37:47

Uh yeah, visual media. Is this the same as video of the year?

SPEAKER_03 37:52

I don't know. I don't understand. I'll have to go back and read the criteria on it because I'm not sure. And what the book that they give to us just says, you know, who it goes to and what it is. I think it could be um like for socials or YouTube or something like that. Megan Moroni, six months later. A song to sing, Miranda Lambert and Chris Stableton, Cuckoo, Steven Wilson Jr. Uh, I don't know, I don't know that song at all.

SPEAKER_01 38:15

I I heard it once when he played it live when I saw him.

SPEAKER_03 38:18

Okay. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 38:19

Everybody else seemed to know it because again, right, everybody knew his stuff, but I felt like, but me.

SPEAKER_03 38:23

By the way, he's coming back to town.

SPEAKER_01 38:25

I saw that.

SPEAKER_03 38:25

He'll be in Forest Grove at Grand McMinimum's Land Grand Lodge in September. Yeah. We need to go. We're gonna go. We're going. Uh Laney Wilson, somewhere over Laredo, uh uh, and then the fall, Cody Johnson. If I had to say YouTube views, I see them. I just don't see the Stephen Wilson Jr. in the world.

SPEAKER_02 38:43

Right, right.

SPEAKER_03 38:43

Um, but I know all the rest because I've watched them, but I just don't know that one. But I would still like to uh go back and read on that one because I don't know if it's for the producer, for the artist, for the artist and the producer. I'm not sure. Um okay, next one.

SPEAKER_01 38:58

Artist, songwriter of the year. Yeah. Uh Luke Combs, Riley Green, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, Morgan Wallen.

SPEAKER_03 39:07

Again, another strong category. Songwriter.

SPEAKER_01 39:10

Where the hell is Hardy?

SPEAKER_03 39:11

I know, right? And like he doesn't have anything. A few of my favorite country songs. Yeah. MacArthur. I mean, MacArthur again could have fallen that day. But he's still a writer.

SPEAKER_01 39:20

For so many others, that just kind of blew me away.

SPEAKER_03 39:24

Yeah. I when I first saw that, I was like, okay, here's another snub. Like we're missing people.

SPEAKER_01 39:28

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 39:29

You know, easily him.

SPEAKER_01 39:31

Um again, all these are artists or songwriters, amazing. Right. Super strong. Like, I don't disagree with them.

SPEAKER_03 39:38

Right.

SPEAKER_01 39:39

I just feel like Hardy needed to be in there.

SPEAKER_03 39:42

The other thing that I don't know on this list, and we'll have to read investigate just a little bit, is this a songwriter of the year for just a track or for all the tracks? Because like looking at Ella, she wrote every song on Dandelion. Morgan, I don't think wrote every song on that album. Right. But I think he probably wrote 16 of the 20 or whatever's on that album. Because Hardy wrote some of them with Ernest, another writer. Yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_01 40:07

Where's our where's Ernest?

SPEAKER_03 40:08

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 40:08

Now, if I if I remember correctly, I think Hardy won last year.

unknown 40:13

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 40:14

So this may be one I I don't know. We we need to look. Like it's kind of like CRS every other year. But if that's the case, it should be like that for several other categories.

SPEAKER_03 40:25

Of course.

SPEAKER_01 40:25

So that that to me says that's not probably the rule here. Yeah. So again, my question, where's Hardy?

SPEAKER_03 40:34

Yeah, where's Hardy? And earnest now that I'm in Ernest, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 40:36

I was thinking of him earlier today. I heard one of his songs, and yeah, I'm a little bummed that they're they're not on here.

SPEAKER_03 40:43

Yeah. And of course, the the big one that we're always waiting for and looking at is uh the entertainer of the year. This is where it gets interesting because I feel like this year is a large list. It's it's way bigger.

SPEAKER_01 40:56

It's a lot bigger. It's usually five.

SPEAKER_03 40:58

Right. Now there's two ladies. So I'll go and you go, okay? Entertainer of the year, Luke Holmes, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, Megan Moroney, Chris Stapleton, Morgan Wallen, and Lainey Wilson. Now, looking at this list, again, Luke's just now coming on the road. So I don't think it's him. Jelly Roll, maybe, but he he just came off the tour with Posty.

SPEAKER_01 41:23

Yeah, but again, we gotta remember the time frame.

SPEAKER_03 41:26

Right. So when did this come into play? Cody Johnson.

SPEAKER_01 41:29

He's just been he's been on tour a lot.

SPEAKER_03 41:31

He has, and not to mention that he had the biggest show this year at the Houston Roderick. Sold out more than George Strait.

SPEAKER_01 41:39

So which is huge. Yeah, huge. I wonder if he feels bad about that.

SPEAKER_03 41:43

Oh you know what I mean?

SPEAKER_01 41:44

Because it's almost like, man, you know what I mean?

SPEAKER_03 41:45

Took something away from the king? Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 41:47

I would almost be like, no, no, I don't want it. Take it back.

SPEAKER_03 41:51

But on the other hand, you're like, give it to me. I want it, right? I can say I could have that. Yeah. Megan Moroni.

SPEAKER_01 41:56

Um This is and this is back to these artists. Like, how are they already getting a nomination for the most prestigious category out of all of them? Right. You know what I mean? Like, again, Megan, fantastic, you know.

SPEAKER_03 42:10

But I don't think she's ready for entertaining.

SPEAKER_01 42:14

I don't and again, I I don't know how to say it, but like I don't know. You gotta work for it. You know what I mean? And not to say she's not busting her butt out there. She's again touring, she's doing a ton of stuff.

SPEAKER_03 42:28

And yeah, well, maybe in like next year.

SPEAKER_01 42:31

But already entertainer of the year is my question. You know, like that is where I kind of struggle.

SPEAKER_03 42:36

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 42:36

I mean, Ella's not even on here.

SPEAKER_03 42:39

No, and she might have been at that point where she had just landed in the right time. Maybe it was somebody's she's been like you said, she's been doing cane, she's been doing radio tours, she's been doing so many things. It could have just been one of those moments, like they just checked her off the list, like, okay, she made the category, yeah, you know, whatever.

SPEAKER_01 42:55

And this is it's an industry um nominated nomination. So again, I mean, she's got a lot of people behind her in the industry.

SPEAKER_03 43:03

Right, and clearly. And I think everyone looks at it a different way, too, because like when you say entertainer of the year, well, like the entertainer, like Chris didn't really entertain last year. Right. He was on four shows with George Strait, Little Big Time.

SPEAKER_01 43:15

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 43:16

So uh, you know, for me to say that's the entertainer of the year, that's not the entertainer for me.

SPEAKER_01 43:20

And they all entertain differently.

SPEAKER_03 43:22

Right.

SPEAKER_01 43:23

You know, so kind of like we talked about CMAs, I almost don't even like this category because a lot of these people they don't entertain the same.

SPEAKER_03 43:30

No.

SPEAKER_01 43:30

But they all entertain great. Right. They're all fantastic. Right. But it's like when I think of entertainment, I think of like high energy, I think of the fire, the fireworks, the the lights, the the guards.

SPEAKER_03 43:44

Yeah, like all the things for those years was that guy jumping on the ropes, climbing the ladders, throwing off fireworks, right?

SPEAKER_01 43:49

That's kind of what I think of. But and I know there's so much more into how this category comes into play, but absolutely.

SPEAKER_03 43:56

Uh and again, the when I look at this list, the only two that I see. That were entertaining last year was Morgan Wallen. I mean, he saw that stadium after stadium after stadium with those famous walkouts of every football stadium. And then Lainey Wilson. She didn't nonstop. I mean, she was the same way. She was on that train track, just rolling forward, doing what she does best.

SPEAKER_02 44:16

Yep.

SPEAKER_03 44:17

And this is one of those things. So if I if I had to pick out of the two, those would be the two that I would say definitely deserve to be on that list for sure. Yep. Absolutely. And and not that the others, again, aren't great artists. Yes. Love me some jelly roll.

SPEAKER_01 44:30

Oh, 100%.

SPEAKER_03 44:30

The man is like, you know, he did a fantastic job last year getting to so many people and doing what he does best.

SPEAKER_01 44:37

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 44:38

Uh, but yeah, it's interesting. So I don't know. We'll see.

SPEAKER_01 44:42

Well, we'll see. Yeah, we'll see on May 17th. Yes. Um, how it all un unfolds. But you know, prior to that, we'll have to uh dig deep and yeah, we'll share our picks on an upcoming episode.

SPEAKER_03 44:55

And yeah, I I do like the icon award. I think we need to do that.

SPEAKER_01 44:59

I think we I feel like we have enough icons that we could have a solid category, and you know, then it gives a place for you know, Rascal Flats and Brooks and Dunn and you know, the people that are still relevant and still doing stuff, but they're just it's not necessarily like they're putting out new stuff.

SPEAKER_04 45:15

Right.

SPEAKER_01 45:16

Um and then maybe that might free up some areas for some of these other artists that really should have a lane to get into. Yeah, because like I said, we we definitely missed some people here. Um I was trying to look back if there was a couple more.

SPEAKER_03 45:30

I wonder if it, you know, and I've heard this for years too, is that Oh, Jordan Davis.

SPEAKER_01 45:34

Yeah. No Jordan Davis. What is going on?

SPEAKER_03 45:37

And he won for Songwriter of the Year last year.

SPEAKER_01 45:40

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 45:40

Um, it's one of those moments where I also go, you know, I I think that they do this uh because they love being an entertainer or a performer. Yeah, they're not doing this for the awards. This is obviously our way of gifting them something that we think that they deserve by being that person that they are.

SPEAKER_01 46:00

A hundred percent. I could not agree with you more.

SPEAKER_03 46:01

Like if they only came into this business just because I want that ACM or that CMA, they're not gonna, you know.

SPEAKER_01 46:08

Exactly. And I feel like, especially like when you say it like that, like the low caches and the parmel, they are definitely not in it for that because if they they would have quit years ago. How many award shows ago? Right. You know what I mean? So they're still they're not in it for that. They are in it because they truly love what they do, they love the fans, they love the genre.

SPEAKER_03 46:26

Right. Um but another one that I see that's that was here that's not here, and and and I know he doesn't care about the awards whatsoever is Zach Bryan. Yeah, although another following that like you're like, you have gotta be kidding me. So many people are so I mean, you know, he was here a couple years ago, sold out two nights at the Motor Center that fast.

SPEAKER_01 46:48

And that was days before Thanksgiving. Yes. It was like, I think he played what was it a Monday or Tuesday or Tuesday, Wednesday?

SPEAKER_03 46:54

Tuesday, Wednesday. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 46:55

Right before Thanksgiving week and selling out Motor Center.

SPEAKER_03 46:58

Yeah, it was pretty crazy. So it's one of those things. I don't know. If there's uh anybody on this list that you feel got snubbed and you want to share, we shared our opinions.

SPEAKER_01 47:08

Yeah, now we want to do that.

SPEAKER_03 47:10

Uh reach out to us for sure.

SPEAKER_01 47:11

Yes. Um, actually can email us. We have one big giant email, cmr at country musicrocks.net. That will go to both Danny and I. Um, so yeah.

SPEAKER_03 47:19

It's easy. And I I'd like to know who you think should be on this list. Or is there anybody on this list that you don't like that shouldn't be here?

SPEAKER_01 47:25

Yeah, share it all. Danny likes the tea. So I do.

SPEAKER_03 47:28

I like that. Oh, you should hear what this person said. I like those rumors, you know me.

SPEAKER_01 47:32

Share the tea with Danny.

SPEAKER_03 47:34

And if you agree with me that Tucker Wetmore and Ella Langley should be together, then bring it on.

SPEAKER_01 47:38

There you go. Yeah. Yes, we want to hear it.

SPEAKER_03 47:40

Uh, listen, please write us, let us know your favorite artist who you'd like to see win at the 61st Annual Academy of Country Music Awards live from Las Vegas. You can get down there. I don't know if you've ever been to Vegas just to go. Uh, like CMA week is just to go and have a good time. It's a two-hour flight. There's people everywhere. In fact, one of our really good friends, Mojo Roberts, is throwing a show with 955 the Bull down in Las Vegas. He's got an incredible lineup, and all that money goes to St. Jude.

SPEAKER_01 48:08

Yes, which is amazing.

SPEAKER_03 48:09

So if you want to get tickets to his show, just check out uh 955 the Bull in Las Vegas. Mojo Mojo will get you all set up with tickets for that. Yeah. They got the links to get those, and you can go meet some of your favorite artists. Riley Green's gonna be at Top Golf. You could probably meet somebody there. Just get down there and have some fun.

SPEAKER_01 48:25

There's so much to do. Even you don't even have to go to the awards. Yeah. You don't even have to go to the show. There's so many other things to do. Yep. And when you're walking around the casinos, you're probably definitely gonna run into somebody because especially after midnight. Yeah. I mean, I feel like that's an area where or Vegas is just an area artists actually want to go and have fun too. Right. You know, so they're wandering around, they're gambling, they're they're there to have a good time too. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 48:49

We've been there enough times, we've seen Chris Young gambling late at night, Brooks and Dunn dropping, you know, a few thousand dollars a hand.

SPEAKER_01 48:56

Yeah, everybody's there to have a good time. And yeah.

SPEAKER_03 48:58

So book that vacation, head to Vegas, jump at the pool party. Dustin Lynch is gonna be down there.

SPEAKER_01 49:02

Yep, they're doing a big ACM beach bash.

SPEAKER_03 49:05

Yeah, it's crazy.

SPEAKER_01 49:06

I think we're talking ourselves into this.

SPEAKER_03 49:07

I think we are. I think we're manifesting and going to Vegas in a couple weeks.

SPEAKER_01 49:10

Yes. Let's do it.

SPEAKER_03 49:12

If you want to join us, let us know. And of course, thanks for always subscribing to watch us on YouTube and checking out all the socials, Amazon Prime. Uh, you can find all your Spotify uh on what is it, iHeart, Spotify, Odyssey, all the platforms. They're everywhere. But we just want to say thanks for joining us this week on the CMR country podcast.

unknown 49:31

Thanks.