61st ACM Awards Preview: Our Top Picks & Predictions

 A huge weekend is on deck with the 61st ACM Awards coming up on Sunday, May 17, and we’re diving into all of it on this week’s episode of the Country Music Rocks Podcast! We’re breaking down our top picks, who we think and who we hope will walk away with those coveted ACM trophies. The lineup, the surprises, the performances, we’re ready for all of it. 

 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 all access packed to all your favorite artists, untold stories, and the real behind the scenes of country music.

SPEAKER_01 0:15

We are on the countdown to the ACMs in Vegas.

SPEAKER_02 0:18

I know. Just a few more days. And we are gonna find out who is taking home one of the prestigious awards.

SPEAKER_01 0:23

I know. We've already found out a few. Of course, uh Tucker Wetmore, very cool for our old local Kalama boy.

SPEAKER_02 0:29

I know. Was he your pick?

SPEAKER_01 0:31

He was. Yeah. So him and Zach Top. I I've I realized quickly that I'm like, he is definitely no, not Zach Top, Gavin Addock is who I made.

SPEAKER_02 0:38

Oh, okay, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 0:39

Yeah. I realized quickly, I'm like, it's gotta go to Tucker, like he's making some noise on the road with with Thomas Rhett. So for sure.

SPEAKER_02 0:45

And just kind of looking at because it was Gavin Adcock, uh Vincent Mason, Shabuzi, Hudson Westbrook, and Tucker Wetmore. I felt like that that was definitely my pick as well. And of course, he's from our you know, our local boy. Yeah. Um, and I just felt like he's done so much.

SPEAKER_01 1:00

Sure. So the only one that I think could really have taken it away from him because he's made a lot of noise is Shaboozy. Yeah. It seems like like I was watching the basketball finals last week.

SPEAKER_02 1:10

Is he part of that?

SPEAKER_01 1:11

Yeah, he was in New York, he didn't go to the Met Gala. I think he might have gone to the Met Gala later. Like I think he was the first half of the Knicks game.

SPEAKER_02 1:18

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 1:18

Sitting with a cowboy hat on the floor next to Jimmy Fallon, and then you know, he's probably at the Met Gala. So I'm like, it could have been Shabozy because he's he's very popular.

SPEAKER_02 1:27

I feel like he pops up in the most random places.

SPEAKER_01 1:29

It's wild.

SPEAKER_02 1:30

It is wild, and I could totally see him being part of the Met Gala in some just form of fashion.

SPEAKER_01 1:36

Exactly.

SPEAKER_02 1:37

Some form of fashion that is very like wild but crazy and cool.

SPEAKER_01 1:42

Like a suit with a cool bolo tie.

SPEAKER_02 1:44

Yeah, like he just has such a vibe that is literally like no other, and he carries it so well.

SPEAKER_01 1:49

He does, he does.

SPEAKER_02 1:50

He owns it, and I love it.

SPEAKER_01 1:52

For sure. So yes, we're both proud of Tucker Wetmore. I was super pumped to see that one. Yeah. Uh and when the news broke, we saw that with his mom delivering it to him.

SPEAKER_02 2:00

That was so cool. Fantastic. Yeah. I love that. I love that Thomas was involved in the whole thing. I thought that was really cool.

SPEAKER_01 2:05

And then Averyna, we saw, got the announcement at Stagecoach.

SPEAKER_02 2:08

Stagecoach, yes.

SPEAKER_01 2:09

From Sam Barber, which was really cool.

SPEAKER_02 2:11

Yep. I thought that was really neat.

SPEAKER_01 2:12

I love the fact that she was literally speechless and couldn't say anything, like didn't know what to say.

SPEAKER_02 2:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 2:17

Those are the kind of moments when you're around how many ever fans were there, like 50 or 60,000 fans were there.

SPEAKER_02 2:22

That was a big moment.

SPEAKER_01 2:23

That day was cool to see.

SPEAKER_02 2:24

It was a big moment for her in general, just to be playing in front of that many people on the big stage at Stagecoach and then to win new female artists of the year. Yeah. Which I mean, again, I that was a tough one for me because I wasn't. It's not that I'm I guess I'm not super familiar with all these artists. You know, so it was Avery Anna, Mackenzie Carpenter, Dasha, Carolyn Jones, and Emily Ann Roberts. So yeah, I mean, again, I I don't I mean, I'm very happy for all of them that got nominated. Um, but now I get to kind of dig into each of these. And I was actually listening to some Avery music uh recently. Yeah, because I'm like, okay, I need to know who this new female artist of the year is now, and I want to get familiar with her.

SPEAKER_01 3:05

I met her and saw her a year ago uh at the CMAs. She did like a private luncheon party for Warner. And she was with Bailey Zimmerman and Chase Matthew. They did this like little white church uh place in Nashville. It was very cool. And she came out and just played the piano, and her voice was very pure and raw. It was super cool. That's so I was glad to see her win it. Although I I love Dasha, I think she's great. Caroline Jones, we've known her for years now with Zach Brown. Um, and Mackenzie Carpenter, we're gonna get a chance to see when she rolls through town in July with Jason Aldean. Yes. So that'll be really cool. So I was super, I mean, it was a tough category, but I was glad to see that Avery, it's a nice way to start for a new beginner.

SPEAKER_02 3:43

For sure. And she's following. So last year Ella won. So she's following right behind Ella, which I mean, if Ella's year says anything, you know, Avery's on a great path. And then you mentioned Zach Topp, and that's who um Tucker is following. So Zach got it last year.

SPEAKER_01 3:56

Yeah, they're they're both on that same train track. Yeah, it's crazy.

SPEAKER_02 4:00

So I just realized we're jumping right into this, and we're we didn't even say like we're giving out our picks. No, no, no, we're gonna do it now. Yeah. Oh, that's true. That's because these were already yeah, that's true. Yeah, I mean, we were like so excited for the award, kind of like the other night. Yeah. So fun fact, Danny and I, we have this really bad habit of when we're heading somewhere to a show, once again.

SPEAKER_01 4:21

We start talking.

SPEAKER_02 4:22

We start talking, and I don't know, we almost ended up in Eugene because we had like two exits to go and we were just flying by him, and then he's like, Did I miss the exit? And I'm like, I think a few.

SPEAKER_01 4:32

Yeah, a while ago. So we had to do a quick U-turn to get back.

SPEAKER_02 4:35

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 4:35

That's what always happens. We just get so excited to talk about it all.

SPEAKER_02 4:38

So we're jumping right into this, but um, yeah, so the awards are this Sunday.

SPEAKER_01 4:41

Yep. On Amazon Prime, live from Las Vegas.

SPEAKER_02 4:45

Which I'm really happy about because we all get to watch it at once. Yes. All the time zones, no spoilers.

SPEAKER_01 4:50

I love that.

SPEAKER_02 4:50

It's kind of like if you miss it and you get a spoiler, it's your own fault.

SPEAKER_01 4:53

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 4:53

Because you have the opportunity to watch it live. Yes. So I think that's great.

SPEAKER_01 4:57

I still have a few days. Like uh my buddy Mojo lives down in Vegas and he's like, bro, there's there's flights available. Come on down. So I I may fly down Friday night and then Saturday, I'm not sure yet, and then just come home because I have no plans that weekend.

SPEAKER_02 5:10

Okay. So keep your calendar clear. I know. The rest of the week, just in case.

SPEAKER_01 5:14

If Southwest Airlines throws me that $69 flight, I'm gone.

SPEAKER_02 5:17

I mean, hey, at least we at least we weren't booked on spirit.

SPEAKER_01 5:21

Yeah, exactly. Yeah, exactly. That flight would be canceled.

SPEAKER_02 5:24

Yeah, you really have some issues.

SPEAKER_01 5:26

Oh, all right, let's get into it. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 5:28

So let's start with female artist of the year. Okay. So we have Kelsey Ballerini, Miranda Lambert, Ella Langley, Megan Moroni, and Lainey Wilson. So Lainey, I kind of did a little digging. She won last year and the year before. So 2024 and 2025, Laney got female artist of the year.

SPEAKER_01 5:46

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 5:47

So who are you thinking, or who's your pick for this year?

SPEAKER_01 5:51

I I know Miranda is the all-time female leader when it comes to the ACMs, but unfortunately, it's not her year this year. Uh, I'm strictly going with Ella Langley. There's no stopping this girl.

SPEAKER_02 6:02

Same.

SPEAKER_01 6:02

Literally, with Dandy Lyons dropping, she's like Morgan Wallen. Every day there's a new song coming out. I'm like, holy cow.

SPEAKER_02 6:07

She's just doing so much. And so that was another thing I know when we had talked about when we went through the nominations. I was just kind of looking up, like, okay, what's the criteria? And it's basically it's a calendar year. So January 1st, 2025 to December 31st, 2025. Yeah. It's what they've done in that calendar year. Um, that's where their the nominations are coming from and how they're eligible to get to this point.

SPEAKER_01 6:31

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 6:32

So Ella's done so much. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 6:35

Three songs, four songs already.

SPEAKER_02 6:36

And not even just music. I mean, she's just her involvement with on so many things and so many levels, just bringing so much attention to the country music genre has been pretty incredible.

SPEAKER_01 6:47

Yeah, and then I think it was last year that her and Miranda performed in Texas.

SPEAKER_02 6:51

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 6:51

And she was wearing Miranda's uh sweat t-shirt or uh wife beater tank.

SPEAKER_02 6:56

And maybe they were both wearing each other's. I can't remember. I know Ella was for sure. She was definitely wearing a Miranda.

SPEAKER_01 7:00

Yeah, gunpowder lead. And it was cool. Uh and I and I think to this moment, is she gonna perform with her again this year? I don't know. I hope so. I can't even remember the list of performers because it seems like everybody performing.

SPEAKER_02 7:12

Yeah, and they keep adding and they're gonna add more. Right.

SPEAKER_01 7:15

And that's the cool thing about Amazon Prime, like they can do it in three hours, but they could easily do that show in four hours and give us full-on production and absolutely I mean, with so much talent there, it's crazy and take advantage of it while you can.

SPEAKER_02 7:28

Well, while you have all these artists together, and that's when like award shows like this, there's always cool collabs and they always put together something you wouldn't expect. And I think the app the performances are always kind of next level. Right. Um so we'll see. So I'm excited about that to kind of see if it, you know, kind of continues that way. Or, you know, like some years, like we talked about CMAs. It was kind of like uh, I don't know, kind of fell flat a little bit. You know, we weren't like we weren't wowed, but I feel like you know, with their back in Vegas.

SPEAKER_01 7:56

This is a different story. This is our first year back in Vegas for for a while. For a while, so this could be really big, and you know how Vegas is, it's home of the stars. Anybody and everybody's gonna be there. Exactly.

SPEAKER_02 8:04

So I think it's gonna be pretty exciting.

SPEAKER_01 8:06

Yeah, it was a great it's a great category. Uh I I love Kelsey Ballerini and I love Miranda, Megan uh and Laney. I think Laney's not saying she's done, but I think No, she's definitely not done. She's definitely not done, but I think this is gonna be Ella's year to walk through the city.

SPEAKER_02 8:18

I think it's just been some fierce competition. Yeah, I think that you know, between all of them, honestly. I mean, even Megan, she's had she's been all over the place this year as well. Um, and Miranda, I mean, Miranda's Miranda. Right. You know, so we'll we'll see, but yeah, I I think Ella is gonna take this one.

SPEAKER_01 8:36

Okay, there's there's one for us. All right. All right. Uh let's jump over to male artists of the year. Uh the nominees are Chris Stapleton, Luke Combs, Riley Green, Cody Johnson, and Zach Topp. This is a tough category.

SPEAKER_02 8:49

I so I have two artists highlighted because I couldn't decide. Right. Chris has won the past two years as well, 2024 and 2025. So I'm ready to see somebody else.

SPEAKER_01 8:59

I'm not gonna lie. I am so ready to see somebody else pass that torch. I'm gonna say thanks. Hey man, this has been a fun ride. I appreciate it. Yep. I unfortunately don't think it's gonna happen just yet because Chris is when it comes to male vocalist, I don't know if there's anybody that's any better besides Ronnie Dunn. Ronnie Dunn could be the only if it was Chris Stapleton and Ronnie Dunn, I think Ronnie Dunn would win this actual category. But in this print, you know, I mean, I would love to see Zach get it. I would love to see Cody get it. Even Riley, even Luke Combs, he's already got it. Yeah, it's not that I don't want him to have it. Sure. He's been kind of quiet this year until recently. He just started his new tour. Riley's been touring.

SPEAKER_02 9:38

He's been doing a lot. I'm kind of torn between Riley and Cody, but I I feel like I don't know, this might be Cody's year.

SPEAKER_01 9:45

I would like to see that happen. If I had if I could pick three, it would be the Chris, Cody, and Zach. Yeah. Um, but I I I'm just gonna go with my heart and say Chris Stapleton still. Yeah, unfortunately. I mean, not unfortunately. I don't mean to be reading. No, no, I know what you're saying, but it's time to like it's not time to hear he's not gonna pass that torch just yet. I don't think so.

SPEAKER_02 10:03

I mean, if it was me, I'd probably want to hang on to that too. Yeah, right? No, but at the same time, I mean, I think that I don't know, I think we might see kind of a turn this year. It would be it'll be interesting. I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 10:12

It'll be really wild to see. Again, this is voted on from the members of radio and the industry. So you gotta think about tour managers, label managers, label assistants, uh DJs, right, program directors, assistant program directors, music directors. There's a lot of going on with this. If they're a member of the academy, if you're not, you can't just vote.

SPEAKER_02 10:35

Exactly. No.

SPEAKER_01 10:36

So some of those people aren't, but the more important people are. Right. And so that's really kind of cool. So yeah, I think it's Chris's year. We'll see.

unknown 10:42

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 10:43

Okay, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 10:44

Um group of the year.

SPEAKER_01 10:46

Sure.

SPEAKER_02 10:47

49 Winchester, Flat Lane Calvary, Old Dominion, Rascal Flats, Red Clay Strays. Um, again, Old Dominion Old Dominion, last two years, 24 and 25. They took this award. I mean, I don't know, I kind of feel like they're just because it's their year. I just feel well, I mean, they're always doing something. I feel like Old Dominion is one of those groups that never really slows down.

SPEAKER_01 11:10

Right. Um They do a lot of writing.

SPEAKER_02 11:12

They do a lot of writing. They're always I feel like they were really busy the first half of the year. Right.

SPEAKER_01 11:19

Like the end of 24, end of 25. Yeah, beginning they crushed it, and then end of twenty-five, they've been gone.

SPEAKER_02 11:24

Yeah, and maybe that could be, you know, just kind of some rest and relaxation, writing, getting ready for new material.

SPEAKER_01 11:30

Yep.

SPEAKER_02 11:30

Um, you know, the others, I just I don't know. I I don't know much on. I mean, of course, Rascal Flats, they are who they are. They are, you know.

SPEAKER_01 11:38

And they're touring.

SPEAKER_02 11:39

They're touring. Yeah, again. Um, I mean, there's they are still out there. You know, this is where I yeah, I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 11:45

I don't believe that it's gonna be 49 Winchester or Flatland Calvin.

SPEAKER_02 11:48

I think it's just too early for them. Yeah. I mean I mean, if yeah.

SPEAKER_01 11:51

Great group. I like some of their music. It's just too early for them.

SPEAKER_02 11:54

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 11:54

So I'm going with the red clay straight. Are you?

SPEAKER_02 11:57

Yeah, because CMA awards, they they took that and it was a dominant they took it.

SPEAKER_01 12:02

I mean, like hands down. So it could just be that year, like, okay, it's we're seeing the tides change.

SPEAKER_02 12:07

And you're right, maybe that's we we just saw that with CMAs because we saw that with you know Cody winning big and you know, so yeah, I that very well could be.

SPEAKER_01 12:16

Could be interesting. I I and again, I think Rascal Flats could I'm old Dominion could be a very close second, or you know, but I don't, I just don't in the last year I think about all their stuff and I've only heard one song from them, but I hear the red clay strays are just you know everywhere they were at stagecoach, they were at this festival and that festival, they're being booked at a lot of places. Yeah, not that old Dominion and Rascal Flats haven't, they've been on touring as well, but still. So yeah, Red Clay Strays, I'm going with that one for this year. So we'll see.

SPEAKER_02 12:44

All right, so so far we are the same on one category.

SPEAKER_01 12:47

Yep, exactly. Um, all right, let's jump into Duo of the Year, which is always interesting. Uh and this one still baffles me. I'm kind of like, okay, yeah, Brothers Osborne, Dan Shea, Muscadine Bloodline, and Thelma and James and Brooks and Dunn. Um, Brothers Osborne.

SPEAKER_02 13:06

Last year was Brooks and Dunn.

SPEAKER_01 13:08

Yeah, last year was Brooks and Dunn. Uh, I think about the same timeline as like when does music come out? When have they toured? When have they done anything? Haven't seen any music from them. Yeah, they've been writing, they're always writing.

SPEAKER_02 13:19

They're always writing and they're writing for others, maybe not just for themselves. John, for sure.

SPEAKER_01 13:23

Um, Dan and Shay, we've talked about them recently. We just saw that they just dropped a new duet with Brandon Lake. Right. They just dropped the other song. Yeah, they're they're one by themselves. Yep. So they're in that process, they're coming back.

SPEAKER_02 13:37

And I feel like there's that, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 13:39

There's that running thing with Dan and Shay. Like they disappear for a while, they write five songs that on the top of the three or four hundred they probably already have. Then they get in the studio, they produce, they get the whole thing running. So I don't think it's Dan and Shea's year. If it is, fantastic. Sure. I think it's awesome. Uh Muscadine Bloodline, I just don't see it. Thelman and James, uh, I mean, great artists, yeah, really cool people, but I just don't know if it's the year. And so for my pick this year, I'm going Brooks and Dunn again.

SPEAKER_00 14:07

Same.

SPEAKER_01 14:08

Only because the fact that they've been out with Morgan Wallen.

SPEAKER_00 14:10

Yep.

SPEAKER_01 14:11

And for every new person that's been introduced to country music that's come into the genre that's never understood it before, is now being introduced to Garth Brooks. Greatness. Brooks and Dunn. Yeah, exactly. Vince Gill. Like it's interesting as my young son Tanner is 21, and he's some of his friends are just now getting into country music. Right. And they love the older artists, which is really cool.

SPEAKER_02 14:35

Which I think is yeah, I think it's very cool.

SPEAKER_01 14:36

It's awesome. Like, I wore with a couple weeks ago, we were at dinner for something, and I wore a Whalen Jennings shirt, and this young kid came out of nowhere. He's like, I like your shirt. And I was like, I was not expecting that. Yeah, you know, it threw me for a loop. So I was like, all right, cool. Yeah. Young kid wanting to learn, you know, country music. So so I I like the fact that they're getting exposed thanks to Morgan part of that tour.

SPEAKER_02 14:55

So oh, for sure. I mean, I think people also are like, okay, which night is Bricks and Dunn playing because we want to go see them.

SPEAKER_01 15:01

Right.

SPEAKER_02 15:01

You know, um, so I do think that's very cool. And I do kind of I kind of think that they they've just done a lot between, you know, all of last year being on tour with him, um, doing it again this year.

SPEAKER_01 15:12

So and it's interesting you say that now because like they were at Stagecoach and then they were in Vegas with Morgan, but I don't know if they played, I didn't see Morgan's set list, so I don't know if they played both nights in Vegas or just one, because when they were in Seattle, the first night was Miranda, the second night was Brooks and Dunn.

SPEAKER_02 15:31

I think they just played the one night. I think they play one night, and I'm blanking on who plays the second night when he when it's not that.

SPEAKER_01 15:38

Was it Vincent Mason? It might have been Vincent Mason.

SPEAKER_02 15:40

Yep.

SPEAKER_01 15:41

I think it was. Okay. Okay, that's cool. So that's good. Yeah. Um yeah, so again, we agree. Brooks and done.

SPEAKER_02 15:47

Okay.

unknown 15:48

All right.

SPEAKER_01 15:49

So far, I think we're off to a good start.

SPEAKER_02 15:51

Yes. Okay, where are we going next?

SPEAKER_01 15:53

Uh, you want to go to album of the year? Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 15:56

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 15:57

This is always interesting to me.

SPEAKER_02 15:58

This is interesting. Um, so we got Ain't In It for My Health by Zach Topp, uh, Cherry Valley, Carter Faith, Don't Mind If I Do Deluxe by Riley Green, um, On the Problem, Morgan Wallen, and Parker McCollum, self-titled album Parker McCollum.

SPEAKER_01 16:14

Uh, you know, I've heard the whole album from Zach and saw him in Eugene, and I loved it. He performed almost every song from it. It was great. Yeah. Uh I don't, I don't necessarily think it's strong enough to go up.

SPEAKER_02 16:29

Uh album of the year, that's big.

SPEAKER_01 16:31

It's huge. Yeah. It's huge. Yep. Um, Parker McCollum, I mean, great album. Love Parker, super cool dude. Uh, I it's not mine that I'm picking. Um Riley, don't mind if I do. I I think last year with the video of him coming out, and then all the girls were talking about him, and now he's making his acting debut in Marshalls, he's getting that exposure. He is, yeah. I don't think it's him just yet.

SPEAKER_00 16:53

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 16:53

Um, Carter Faith, I still feel is fairly new to the scene. So people are like, who's Carter Faith? Is it a group? Is it a single person?

SPEAKER_02 17:00

Exactly. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 17:01

I've had that question uh before. So I am going with what I think is probably gonna be the album of the year is is on the problem from Morgan.

SPEAKER_02 17:09

Yeah. I I'm a little torn. I mean, I kind of feel like on the problem is probably going to take it just because it's such a it's it's a massive album, everybody knows it. Um so many singles have come off of it. So many tour, you know, the the tour, you know, from last year and again this year, because he, you know, I'm still the problem tour. Um I'm not gonna lie, I would love to see as the dark horse Parker McCollum take it. Just because um it's a good album, first of all. I mean, it's a great album. I've listened to it uh several times, and also I feel like because he he went back to his roots and he made what he wanted to make.

SPEAKER_01 17:47

Right.

SPEAKER_02 17:47

It was either he steps away from music or he delivers something that he's proud of that's you know something true to his roots, and that an album for himself, basically.

SPEAKER_00 17:57

Yep.

SPEAKER_02 17:57

And I kind of commend that. So and the fact that he, you know, he's made it this far in the nominations, and you know, he could be the dark horse on this. So I think it's gonna be I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 18:05

He could be like the dark horse of the Kentucky Derby. Did you see that race?

SPEAKER_02 18:08

I I did not, but I heard it was really good.

SPEAKER_01 18:11

It was the greatest two minutes of sports. I'll never forget that race. It was unbelievable.

SPEAKER_02 18:16

The female one, correct?

SPEAKER_01 18:17

But the the trainer was a female, first female trainer to ever win the Kentucky Derby. That's cool. But her her horse that she trains, and it's something tempo, I can't remember the last name, uh, literally was in last place. Oh, wow. And running the Nylon and A's, and it was true dark horse. Literally, it got trapped behind others, and it just took the and there's this is the crazy story behind it, not to get off track. But there were two brothers the brother on her horse and the brother that was on the favorite renegade to win. They were one and two, and the brother that was on her horse, something tempo, actually ended up winning the race next to his brother.

SPEAKER_00 18:52

Oh wow.

SPEAKER_01 18:53

So her horse came from last to first.

SPEAKER_00 18:55

I love that.

SPEAKER_01 18:56

It was incredible. It was like goosebumps, and that could be for everybody if Parker McCollum walks away with that.

SPEAKER_02 19:02

Yeah, for sure. Literally. For sure. Yeah. That one's gonna be interesting. I'm really interested to see who takes this one.

SPEAKER_01 19:06

Yeah. Do you scream at the TV when you when we watch? Um I know I do.

SPEAKER_02 19:12

Come on, come on, come on. Internally, I'm just trying to like keep calm and just trying to almost like you know, kind of manifesting who they're gonna say, but yeah. Yeah, and then it's like oh or yeah, you know, or I'm super excited.

SPEAKER_01 19:24

We do. My wife, Kimmy, she'll be like, calm down, it's okay. But I'm like, no, you don't understand. Like it's a crazy thing. So yeah. So uh I probably will have that same feeling if if if Parker wins it, fantastic.

SPEAKER_02 19:36

Right.

SPEAKER_01 19:36

All of them, great nominations. Absolutely. I think so. You're nominated.

SPEAKER_02 19:40

Yeah, I I think it's I think it's I don't know, it's gonna be a good one.

SPEAKER_01 19:42

Yeah, but I think it's I'm I'm going with Morgan for sure.

SPEAKER_02 19:45

For yeah, I I can like I said, I was torn. I was I was really I have two highlights here, so I was definitely torn on that one.

SPEAKER_01 19:51

It is tough for sure. All right, go to the next one.

SPEAKER_02 19:54

Um Song of the Year.

SPEAKER_01 19:56

Okay. You want to read these ones off? Sure, I can read that. Uh, Song of the Year, a song to sing with Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton. Am I okay? Megan Moroney. Choosing Texas, Ella Langley. Uh, and I don't know if you know this or not. Ella Langley is this is where the song goes to the writers as well.

SPEAKER_02 20:15

Right, yes.

SPEAKER_01 20:16

And but um Miranda Lambert's a part of that song. Yeah, so which is really cool. Um, Zach Top, I Never Lie, and Somewhere Over Laredo, Laney Wilson. And I this is another category. I'm like, oh man, all great songs.

SPEAKER_02 20:31

It's a tough one.

SPEAKER_01 20:32

It really is. Um, and I love the video between Miranda and Chris Stable. That's a yeah, it's a very 70s vibe.

SPEAKER_02 20:40

They're all wearing polyester, and I think the blend of their voices together was pretty magical. Um, it's a great song. Yes, great song.

SPEAKER_01 20:48

100%. Um, oh I'll let you say who you're going with this year.

SPEAKER_02 20:51

You know, again, this is another one. I got two two artists highlighted because I I don't know. I mean, I feel like I never lie was huge. Yes. Um you know, and it's hard to remember because this is for last year, right? Excuse me, last year. So and we heard it nonstop and we were still hearing it.

SPEAKER_00 21:07

Right.

SPEAKER_02 21:08

Um, you know, Summer Over Laredo is just such a great song. It's Laney. I I love the, you know, and maybe it's just because I'm a love the Somewhere Over the Rainbow. You know, it just brings back that nostalgia, yeah, you know, with the Wizard of Ball. Like, I don't know, there's just something about that song I've always love and the way she just delivers it. It's just so beautiful. Um, and then Ella, she's in Texas. It's just this one's a hard one.

SPEAKER_01 21:29

It was, it is a hard one. And I'll I'll be honest with you. I like Somewhere Over Laredo, but I feel as though like we heard it, it went to the top of the charts, and then radio just dropped it. We didn't hear anything else. So I feel like I didn't hear it as much as I had heard Ella Langley or Zach Topp. Yeah, those songs stayed in consistent state all the time. Song to sing, I never hear it on the radio. Ever. Ever. To any the local radio stations here in town.

SPEAKER_02 21:56

Yeah, I'm trying to remember. Did I even hear it on local radio?

unknown 21:59

Probably.

SPEAKER_01 22:00

Probably not. Yeah. No, unless I mean a few stations played it. Um so yeah. So for me, Song of the Year is just it's choosing Texas with Ella.

SPEAKER_00 22:09

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 22:09

Again, she's on that train ride that's non-stop. And it's it, I just think it's one of those things, like it was we said this before, we've kept hearing it and kept hearing it and kept hearing it. Same with Zach.

SPEAKER_00 22:19

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 22:20

It's still being played today. And a couple weeks ago, I was looking at some stuff, uh, charts and stuff that we get in the trades that I read every day. Basically, it was like she's still it's sitting up top. Right. Um, so it's one of those things. I think this is the year of Ella Langley.

SPEAKER_02 22:35

I agree. I agree.

SPEAKER_01 22:36

And I just don't think there's anyone gonna be able to take it from her. And I and I I'm not saying they don't, but I mean I love Laney.

SPEAKER_02 22:41

Right.

SPEAKER_01 22:42

But I just I feel like that song just went peaked and gone. Like they just dropped it, didn't care about it. Yeah. The only other thing that would come close for me is the Zach top. I never lie.

SPEAKER_02 22:50

Yeah. Yeah, I think it's gonna be between Ella and Zach on that one.

SPEAKER_01 22:53

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 22:54

Um again, because we're and we're still hearing those between, you know, being on the radio and even on streaming, you know, on Pandora, on you know, Sirius XM. There's still I hear them all the time.

SPEAKER_01 23:05

It's in every meme. It's in, I mean, and now it's now what's really funny for me is I'm even seeing um like other artists sing her new song, be her. Like I saw Lauren Elena in an Instagram post singing, I want to be her. I've seen people now they know the lyrics, little girls sing it. So now she's a role model. Not that they're getting to vote because they're not members, sure, but that's the kind of rhythm and that's the kind of trajectory that she has going right now.

SPEAKER_02 23:32

So much exposure. Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_01 23:34

I just don't, I just don't think anyone's gonna grab it from her. Not for a while. Yeah, this could be the year of the is the year of Ella, you know.

SPEAKER_02 23:41

And it could be years.

SPEAKER_01 23:42

It could be, you know. Yeah, it could be a great start for her, just like Laney has.

SPEAKER_02 23:45

Just like Laney, just like Miranda, she's just on that same path.

SPEAKER_01 23:48

She'll be hosting soon, she'll be doing all these kind of things. So yeah, it's kind of interesting.

SPEAKER_02 23:53

Um, so then we have single of the year. And so this is hard because it's like, you know, you have the song of the year, and that goes to the songwriter, publishers, artists, and then you have single of the year. So this goes to the artist, producer, the and the record company. Right. Um so it anyways, uh, it's just hard because it's like to a lot of people, that's probably like, well, what's the really the difference? Right. When you're in the industry and you get it, but on the outside world, you're like, this is another song. Exactly. And that's where we talked about before. We probably could have another category to kind of pick up some of those artists that we kind of felt were left out.

SPEAKER_01 24:27

And like an icon award was one of them. Yes, yeah, just yeah, a different song. Yeah. Um, okay.

SPEAKER_02 24:32

So this one here we had six months later, Megan Moroni, Choose in Texas, Ella, I Never Lie, Zach Top, Somewhere Over Laredo, Laney Wilson, and The Fall, Cody Johnson.

SPEAKER_01 24:43

Man, um if again, if going back to the whole radio airplay, Somewhere Over Laredo, great song. I remember when it started to take off. I was like, I really like the sound of this, I like the vibe, it feels good. Heard it, gone.

SPEAKER_00 24:58

Gone. Never heard it again. Yeah, it got its peak and then moved off. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 25:01

Um, Zach Top, though, different story. Still hearing that. The fall, I feel like we're just starting to get to hear the repetitions more of it. Um, in their playlist of how they go from, you know, like an overnight record, you hear it a couple times, and then new music's mostly at night, and then during the days, you hear more of the originals that you're used to. Right. And then your powerhouses, which are the Ella's, the Cody's, the Morgans, the Luke Combs, stuff like that. So in this situation for me, um, this is another really tough, tough category, but I'm just gonna stick to the same train ride. It's Ella Langley.

SPEAKER_02 25:37

Yeah, that's who I selected.

SPEAKER_01 25:38

Yeah, just because like I look at the videos from everybody at Stagecoach. Like, I saw people running toward the words of the stage to catch Ella's show.

SPEAKER_02 25:46

Okay, nobody wants to miss Ella's set. Nobody.

SPEAKER_01 25:49

I think it was probably one of the earliest entries into Stagecoach because her show was on at 4 50 in the afternoon. Yeah, and there was already 70,000 people there because she hasn't been to the West Coast.

SPEAKER_02 26:00

So, of course, everybody wanted to see her, but and then I just it's just an Ella era right now. Seriously, I mean it really is.

SPEAKER_01 26:06

I wish I would have trademarked the name Ella's Fellas. I'd be a millionaire, right now. You probably would be, exactly. Makes me so mad. I'm always a day late and a dollar short. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_02 26:17

Has anybody trademarked Ella's era? The Ella era?

SPEAKER_01 26:20

You well, we better get on this. Exactly.

SPEAKER_02 26:23

Somebody did, somebody did now. Yeah, we just did. No, I do think it's her era right now.

SPEAKER_01 26:27

I totally do. 100%. She's she's just and again And I'm excited for her.

SPEAKER_02 26:32

Yeah, I think it's great, you know.

SPEAKER_01 26:33

She's a spokesmodel for American Eagle. She's got her own perfume coming out now that you can get at Ulta. I mean, she is literally doing all the right steps. She is. She's on a Citibank credit card. She is she's on a roll. She is. Yeah. She is.

SPEAKER_02 26:49

And it's just, you know, people are thinking, oh, it's it's more Ella, more Ella, more Ella. But it's like it does so much for the genre. Okay, because yeah, people listen to Ella, but then they hear so many other people because of her. Right. Or they go to her show and now they're getting introduced to other artists as well. So I think it's just really cool what she's doing for country music in general. I think is is pretty impressive.

SPEAKER_01 27:11

100%. And going back to like album of the year, her album, Dandelion, will be next year's.

SPEAKER_02 27:18

Oh, we're definitely gonna see that on the list.

SPEAKER_01 27:19

For sure.

SPEAKER_02 27:20

Without a doubt.

SPEAKER_01 27:21

18 tracks, two of them are like funny tracks. So there's really 16. But every track is so so my God, it is so good. I haven't felt this good about an album in a long time.

SPEAKER_02 27:34

Well, that's interesting because you're not normally an album person.

SPEAKER_01 27:37

I am not. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 27:38

So it's interesting. And I remember the first weekend that it came out, you were really excited about the album. You had look you had listened to it from you know start to finish a few times, and you're still talking about it. So I think that's really cool. Yeah. Because I'm an album person. I love albums.

SPEAKER_01 27:52

I love listening to them, and I'm excited about another another new album that's coming, and I cannot wait for this one. And I'm I'll tell you who it is in a second. But I had a chance because I don't normally get a chance to drive long distances. Yeah. And it gives me the to listen to the full album. Like I like Luke Combs' new album. I really do. I haven't listened to every single track, but I was so involved with Ella that I wanted to hear it. So now I need to go listen to every track of Luke to give him that fair shot because it's gonna be one of them as well. It totally will. Um and I'm hoping that this album is gonna be part of Album of the Year because it hands down is totally my vibe right now. It's the brand new one from Keith Urban.

SPEAKER_02 28:32

The one that's coming out?

SPEAKER_01 28:33

Yes, it's all your yacht rock.

SPEAKER_02 28:35

Yes, oh yeah.

SPEAKER_01 28:36

It is I he's already re-released a song with Michael McDonald, and then he just dropped Seals and Crofts Summer Breeze. Yeah, it's better than Summer Breeze. Yeah. I mean, I'm than Seals and Crofts. It is so good. Like I literally, I've I'm not kidding. The other night I was driving home and I played it seven times in my truck. Repeat.

SPEAKER_02 28:56

I love it.

SPEAKER_01 28:56

Repeat. And each time it got a notch louder.

SPEAKER_02 29:00

I'll do that too. Like when there's a song, I'm like, okay, nope, I'm not done. I need to hear it again. Yes. And I like I won't get sick of it. Like, I love that.

SPEAKER_01 29:06

You feel like you've missed something. And it was that was that a different note.

SPEAKER_02 29:09

Like you're just not ready for it to be over. Yes. You know, and I love songs like that because they don't come often.

SPEAKER_01 29:14

No.

SPEAKER_02 29:15

Um, so when you have one like that, it's really cool that you just kind of like, I want to hear it again. Yeah. And I want to hear it again.

SPEAKER_01 29:21

Um I hope he gets nominated for album of the year because it literally not say it's gonna change the way of country music, but there's so many people that are into yacht rock right now. Right. There's even a yacht country now.

SPEAKER_02 29:34

That's interesting. And it's funny because I was never really in, like, I didn't even know that was a I think and it might even have been you that had mentioned, oh, it's a yacht rock song. And I'm like, who's that? Like I never even knew that was a yacht rock was a term until I think it was actually at the nickelback show we went to. Oh, yeah. You had brought it up, and I was like, Oh, yacht rock. I'm like, you had said something like, Oh, yeah, we're listening to yacht rock. I'm like, oh, who's that?

SPEAKER_01 29:54

Yeah. And Chad and those guys loved it.

SPEAKER_02 29:56

Yeah, and I'm like, I don't know who that is.

SPEAKER_01 29:58

Because last year, Thomas Rhett, when we were doing the radio room backstage, he even brought up yacht rock, how much he loves it. Right. And he would like to do a couple remakes because he said there's a couple bangers that he wants to do. So he's never imagined. What Keith did I know, I know, but him and T him and Keith teaming together. That would be great. That would be awesome.

SPEAKER_02 30:17

Because they both like Thomas' soulful voice, and then next with Keith's Urban's like just smooth and oh yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 30:23

It'd be so good. So good. Yeah, that's crazy.

SPEAKER_02 30:26

Um okay, we're off track once again.

SPEAKER_01 30:28

Yeah, here we go.

SPEAKER_02 30:29

What else is new?

SPEAKER_01 30:30

We're looking at an album again, uh, but that's for next year. So just remember that because we we've called it here first.

SPEAKER_02 30:35

Exactly. We are we already know too that's gonna be on there.

SPEAKER_01 30:37

Yeah, it will be there for sure.

SPEAKER_02 30:38

Okay, so we've got this other category, visual media of the year. Where are we here?

SPEAKER_01 30:45

And we have music event of the year, too.

SPEAKER_02 30:47

Oh, did I skip music events? No, it's okay.

SPEAKER_01 30:48

We can go back to the episode.

SPEAKER_02 30:49

Oh no, let's do music events here. Music events.

SPEAKER_01 30:51

Yeah, um, yeah, this is where the duets get together and collabs. Yes, the collabs that you may see uh back in the days, or now it's I feel like this is kind of weird because CMT was like MTV. At first, it was all videos. Right. And and I feel like they still do videos, but they're not aired anywhere except for on Instagram.

SPEAKER_02 31:11

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 31:12

Or portions, they're not even a full video.

SPEAKER_02 31:14

Yeah, there's clips.

SPEAKER_01 31:15

Yeah, like I've seen clips of Ella Langley's choosing Texas where she's dancing with um Casey from Luke Grimes. Yeah, Luke Grimes. Uh that's who I was thinking of. And then I see, you know, this Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton. I I don't see full videos. Right. I see just portions of the game.

SPEAKER_02 31:32

I think if you go to their YouTube, but everybody's I don't think people are always on YouTube. They're watching you know social media. But if there's a link to go to it, then yeah, they're probably gonna click on it and go watch it there.

SPEAKER_01 31:43

100%.

SPEAKER_02 31:44

Um but I'll yeah, but I think what you were probably going to say was that on CMT they had the crossroads, yes, where it would be like artists coming together and collabing.

SPEAKER_01 31:54

Yeah, like Brett Young and Boys to May, party and nickel back.

SPEAKER_02 31:58

And I feel like collabs are, and this might be a good topic for a later episode, but I feel like collabs are all of a sudden constant. Right versus we would be surprised with a collab every now and again.

SPEAKER_01 32:10

Right.

SPEAKER_02 32:10

Um, now it's oh, so-and-so is teaming up with so-and-so, you know, so it's like you almost assume there's always gonna be a collab coming out every week.

SPEAKER_01 32:19

Yeah, I know, you're right. You would think it is. Um I I don't mind them. I love this, especially with this one. Uh music event of the year. The nominees are A Song to Sing with Miranda Lambert, Chris Stapleton, uh, Amen, Shabozy and Jelly Roll, Don't Mind If I Do, Riley Green and Ella Langley, Trailblazer with Reba, Miranda, and Laney Wilson, and Kenny Chesney and Megan Moroney, you had to be there. And then one more one more is Don't Mind If I Do with Riley Green and Ella Langley. Another tough category. Ella's in two of them.

SPEAKER_02 32:52

I know.

SPEAKER_01 32:52

Miranda, I I mean, she's, you know, in two of them. It's crazy. I but I do have my favorite because I keep thinking to myself, once again, here we go. Because when you think about this song, what's the first thing you think of? Ella and Riley and the controversy that went with it. Were they dating? Was he dating Megan Moroney? She's mad, he's mad, she's mad.

SPEAKER_02 33:17

Yeah, yep. Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 33:19

So for me, I'm going this year. Don't mind if I do with Riley and Ellen.

SPEAKER_02 33:23

That's what I went with as well. Yeah. I mean, I think Amen is a strong one. That was my second choice. I think that has a very real uh possibility of winning.

SPEAKER_01 33:32

Yeah. Um for sure. And I'd like to see Jelly Roll walk away with an ACM show. Same for Shabuzi.

SPEAKER_02 33:38

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 33:38

I just don't think that this is the year for them.

SPEAKER_02 33:40

Yeah, I just feel like, again, it's just back to that Ella Ella train. I think that it's and it was it was a huge song. I feel like it kind of, you know, it played a lot. We're still we're still hearing it. You know, it's still it's still a it's still a thing, you know. It's not one that dropped off. People still enjoy it.

SPEAKER_01 33:59

Right. And it's funny now that we say that because you'll you'll pay attention to the fact when you're listening to your favorite station, um, that you'll notice like, oh, I didn't, I haven't heard that song in a while. I haven't heard that song in a while. Yeah, you know, and if you hear it, if it's new music again, it plays mostly at nighttime.

SPEAKER_00 34:14

Right.

SPEAKER_01 34:14

So you'll you'll catch the newer stuff as opposed to the older stuff that's playing more or less in the daytime and a lot of 90s throwbacks and stuff like that, which I love even more.

unknown 34:23

Oh, of course.

SPEAKER_02 34:24

It is kind of cool though, just kind of what you just said when you don't hear it as much anymore. But then when it does get sprinkled in and you get to hear it, it reminds you like, oh, I miss hearing that song, or I love that song.

SPEAKER_01 34:33

The other day I was driving home and I heard Jelly Roll and Dustin Lynch's Chevrolet.

SPEAKER_02 34:38

Oh, okay. That was a great song. I hadn't heard that a lot.

SPEAKER_01 34:40

Haven't heard it in so long. And I was like, It's just a treat.

SPEAKER_02 34:43

It's like a little treat.

SPEAKER_01 34:44

I was like, oh, this is cool. And I just turned it up, kept driving.

SPEAKER_02 34:47

I love when little gems like that are sprinkled in.

SPEAKER_01 34:49

Yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure. It it it takes you back and you're like, why am I not hearing that? But there's so much music, obviously. It's it's hard to play everything. It is. So yeah, it's tough. It's a tough, it's a tough, it's a thing that will never get past because when people call the radio station and say, You play the same four songs over and over. Well, we do that for a reason because it's testing, it's what people like, and it's what they're drawn to, it's what draws you to the radio station. Now, when you've heard it for the millionth time, like we do on a different situation, right? It's a whole different ballgame because you're in and out of your car, you're running errands, and I'll you're bound to hear it on you know when you're getting out of the car, when you're getting back in the car.

SPEAKER_02 35:26

Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 35:26

Like if you've if you figure uh a power song usually runs about out every hour and 15 to hour and 30 minutes. So if you're in the grocery store, yeah, you hear it when you're pulling in, you shut it off, and you get back in your car and you still hear it. Right.

SPEAKER_02 35:39

And you probably have heard it streaming in the store as well. So that's when it's like you almost can't get away from it.

SPEAKER_01 35:44

And that's the way I feel with Ella. Like I can't get away from Ella. All I hear is Ella in my head.

SPEAKER_02 35:49

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 35:49

And it's not a bad thing. I love it. I love it.

SPEAKER_02 35:51

I'm I'm I'm here for it.

SPEAKER_01 35:52

For sure.

SPEAKER_02 35:53

Okay, so visual media.

SPEAKER_01 35:55

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 35:55

Um, six months later, Megamorone, a song to sing, Miranda and Chris.

SPEAKER_01 36:00

Yep.

SPEAKER_02 36:00

Um, Cuckoo, Steven Wilson Jr., Somewhere Over Laredo, Laney Wilson, and the fall, Cody Johnson. Honestly, I don't know. I don't I don't even remember honestly what I voted for when I was. I I think I was just kind of I I don't know, I closed my eyes and probably clicked on one because I wasn't I I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 36:19

Yeah. I I uh another dark horse, Steven Wilson Jr. in there.

SPEAKER_02 36:23

Very much so, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 36:24

Could easily come through. Like, you know, his performance at the CMAs when he sang that song. It I mean, stand by me, literally stopped everybody in their tracks. Right. And for days people were talking about that. So it could be one of those dark horses.

SPEAKER_02 36:37

People know his name now. Yeah, for sure. We're hearing Gary on the radio all the time.

SPEAKER_01 36:42

Right.

SPEAKER_02 36:42

Um, but even before that, like the true like Steven Wilson Jr. fans, like I said, I went to his show.

SPEAKER_01 36:49

It's almost like a cult following.

SPEAKER_02 36:50

I knew I was familiar with one song because friends of mine had, you know, told me about him and they played the one of their favorite songs of his. So I knew that song.

SPEAKER_00 36:58

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 36:59

But everybody else knew every other song as well. So including this one. Right.

SPEAKER_01 37:04

And that's what makes it makes it interesting for me because when I look at a crowd, if we go to a concert and I see phones up for a new artist, they're not getting exposed through radio. They're getting exposed through TikTok and Instagram and everything else, which is awesome.

SPEAKER_00 37:18

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 37:19

Because people are finding them and they're finding their niche. And when radio finally gets a hold of it, then it catapults even further. For sure.

SPEAKER_02 37:26

And you artists need that, you know. I mean, I think any artist, you know, at some unless you are like a Laney or even an Ella now, I mean, your songs are gonna get played.

SPEAKER_00 37:34

Right, right.

SPEAKER_02 37:35

But like those newer artists, they need, I don't say all the help that they can get, but in a way, it's true. It is all the help that they can get.

SPEAKER_01 37:41

With his his fan base, could easily make that the dark horse.

SPEAKER_00 37:45

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 37:46

Although I am gonna stick to my guns on this one. I am gonna go with Chris Stapleton and Miranda Lambert.

SPEAKER_00 37:50

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 37:51

Only because I know the ACMs, the the people at ACMs, the voting members love Miranda. Everyone loves Chris. I think that would just be the event of that category. What was it called? Visual event.

SPEAKER_02 38:01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 38:02

And I love the fact that they're wearing polyester suits from the 70s.

SPEAKER_02 38:06

Yeah, yeah. So I mean that one's gonna be an interesting one. Um, but I do think you're right. I think that I don't know, we might be surprised.

SPEAKER_01 38:12

Yeah, it'll be a shock on that one. I don't know. It's gonna be interesting. We'd love to hear who you think is gonna walk away with those beautiful ACM trophies. I have a feeling this year that we're gonna see Ella have her tailor moment.

SPEAKER_02 38:24

Yeah, have her hands full.

SPEAKER_01 38:28

We also will have to fight for her to come here now because I know. Yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_02 38:32

Once they start winning all these awards, then it's price tag goes woo that and their schedules get I mean, they're yeah, they're booked.

SPEAKER_01 38:39

And they only see them at bigger, bigger festivals like Stagecoach and stuff like that. And we already know that we're already in trouble, not in trouble, but we just don't have the shows or the festivals like we did anymore here. There's now one festival that's gonna be in Montana this year, and there's a lot of people that are going to that festival. They're gonna drive to it because it's so worth it. It's three days. Okay, it's almost like the Oregon Jamboree used to be.

SPEAKER_02 39:01

Yes, I do remember hearing on hearing about this one, and it's Montana. Like I think the location where it's set is supposed to be absolutely gorgeous. So I, you know, it's a vacation. Right.

SPEAKER_01 39:10

And Zach Top is, yeah, it's a bucket list, it's a stop, right? Make it a vacation for sure. Do some.

SPEAKER_02 39:14

Because I think it's close to Big Sky, or it might even be right in Big Sky.

SPEAKER_01 39:17

It might be. And they usually do the Big Sky festival as a separate thing, and that's where you hear, you know, the um some of the other acts, and I just went completely blank on the names, but those are the acts like the American's right, yes, the Tyler Childers and those kind of guys. It's just that it's a great festival. I've had so many friends go to that for sure, but this is in the same area. So it'd be kind of cool. So um, yeah, it we'd love to hear your thoughts on who you might think walk away an ACM winner.

SPEAKER_02 39:45

Well, wait, hang on.

SPEAKER_01 39:46

Oh, sorry.

SPEAKER_02 39:48

The biggest the biggest category of the night. Yes, how did I miss that? How did I miss it? Danny's already his bags are already on the plane. I'm like ready to go to Vegas. And he's clearing TSA before we even. I want to see Ella. I want to see Ella. This is your chance.

SPEAKER_01 40:03

Yeah. I haven't seen her before.

SPEAKER_02 40:05

Um Entertainer, yeah, entertainer of the year.

SPEAKER_01 40:08

All right, go for it.

SPEAKER_02 40:08

So in this one, seven, is it seven? Yeah. Yeah. Seven nominees, which are a lot. This I, if I'm not mistaken, I think this is the first year they've done seven. It's usually five. Yeah. So Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, Megan Moroni, Chris Stapleton, Morgan Wallen, Laney Wilson.

SPEAKER_01 40:26

Oh my gosh. It's just one of those categories like no matter what, everyone wins.

SPEAKER_02 40:31

100%.

SPEAKER_01 40:31

If you're a Luke Combs fan, you're super stoked. Jelly Roll. I like the other night, he was on Jimmy uh Fallon, not Jimmy Fallon, but Jimmy Kimmel. He's told so many great stories. I'm telling you, this man should be a TED Talk speaker. Incredible what he does. Yeah. Now he's a Grammy nominee. He's a CMA winner, uh a CMT winner. Yep. I'd love to see him walk away with this.

SPEAKER_02 40:53

Grammy winner as well. He won Grammy.

SPEAKER_01 40:55

I would love to see him walk away with this. I just don't know if it's his year yet. Because there's this is a tough, tough category.

SPEAKER_02 41:01

It is, it is.

SPEAKER_01 41:02

Cody Johnson. Yep. Same thing.

SPEAKER_02 41:04

They're all great, they all entertain in their own ways. I've said that a million times. Right. Um, so Laney, she got this the past two years as well, 2024 and 2025.

SPEAKER_01 41:12

Right. Um and the years before that, it was Chris Stapleton. So Megan, uh, I'm just gonna be honest and up front. Uh I I think she's too new to the industry for it. I don't think she's ready for it.

SPEAKER_02 41:23

Yeah, this is a big, I mean, this is the most coveted award. Yeah, the category. I mean, this is the category. I mean, I like her stuff.

SPEAKER_01 41:31

I like the album to Cloud Nine, but I just don't think this is her year as of yet.

SPEAKER_02 41:36

And Cloud Nine wasn't even part of this for this um date line.

SPEAKER_01 41:41

Yeah. Yeah, for sure. Definitely. Um I'm just gonna spit it out. My go-to is Morgan Waller. Same. I mean, if you think about the entertainers of the year who have been performing for the last year, Chris was gone, Megan was out, she was, but it's still fairly new. Laney kind of took a little time off because she was also hosting the CMAs, which was in November, so she had some time off. She did some stuff for like New Year's and a couple things. Um, Cody.

SPEAKER_02 42:11

I I he could be a dark horse in this one as well.

SPEAKER_01 42:14

Right.

SPEAKER_02 42:15

Um, you know, he's got it.

SPEAKER_01 42:18

80,000 people. The only other person to ever do that was George Strait.

SPEAKER_02 42:21

Right. So that's gonna to me, I I think it's either Cody or Morgan, but I think my gut is kind of telling me Morgan.

SPEAKER_01 42:27

Yeah, me too. And and I just because of the two years of touring all last year with the famous walkouts of every stadium with everybody, and now he's back at it again. Yeah, you know, he was just in Vegas.

SPEAKER_02 42:40

Massive album. I mean, he every time he releases an album, it's 30 plus tracks.

SPEAKER_01 42:43

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 42:44

Um it's crazy.

SPEAKER_01 42:45

And he's already got 10 new tracks for his new album. I mean, he's writing, yeah. Yeah, so I'm like he's putting the music industry to shame when it comes to writing.

SPEAKER_02 42:53

Well, yeah, and just albums in general, because people used to release, you know, 10 to 12 songs. And if you got 12, it was like, wow, this is a this big album. You know, like sometimes people would try to get away with eight, you know.

SPEAKER_01 43:03

Right.

SPEAKER_02 43:04

And now you got Morgan with 30.

SPEAKER_01 43:07

20, 25, 30. Yeah, it's crazy. It's nuts. So I I honestly believe that it is his year to take this one home for sure. Because if I look just in my mind back at all the things that I have seen over the last year, it's all Morgan Waller.

SPEAKER_00 43:22

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 43:23

It's all him.

SPEAKER_00 43:24

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 43:24

And then like I said, the famous walkouts, and now you know, like the other night he was in Vegas last week. Uh, you know, so it was just one of those moments I'm like, man, and you're filling football stadiums.

SPEAKER_02 43:35

That I mean, people are I mean, he's selling merch days before his show. Right. You know, so people are lining up before days before his show to get his to make sure they get his merch. Um yeah, I mean Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 43:48

I know. It's is that who you're going with too? Yeah. Okay, good.

SPEAKER_02 43:51

That's who I that's definitely who I went with as well. I think that's you know, I do think Cody could again, maybe surprise us.

SPEAKER_01 43:58

Yeah, it would be cool, definitely.

SPEAKER_02 44:00

But I kind of feel like this might be Morgan's to win.

SPEAKER_01 44:02

Yeah. It's going to be interesting is C. Don't wait. No, it's going to be cool.

SPEAKER_02 44:06

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 44:06

It is coming up on Sunday, May 17th on Amazon Prime. And we get a chance, like Julia said earlier, we get to watch it live. We don't have to watch it tape delayed. So you don't have to worry about anybody spoiling anything on Instagram or TikTok or Facebook. That was always the one thing I will admit. I hope the CMAs get it together. Yeah. And do it all. Just do it at five o'clock.

SPEAKER_00 44:26

Right.

SPEAKER_01 44:26

You know, do and I know they like to do their stuff on a Wednesday. And I don't, I don't know why they shoot it on Wednesdays, but I mean, move it to a Sunday and do it at five o'clock. Because on Sunday nights, everyone's home from church. Everyone's going to make dinner early. Yeah. And you can all run at the same time. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 44:40

I I wish. I think it's the way to go with that.

SPEAKER_01 44:42

I hate seeing that early because it always makes me mad.

SPEAKER_02 44:45

Like I know. I already know when I always staff on social media and then I get the email of the press release of all. And so it's like, oh man. I know. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 44:51

It's one day you just put your phone away. Exactly.

SPEAKER_02 44:53

Which is not a bad thing. So, but no, we get to all watch it together. So I think that's great.

SPEAKER_01 44:57

For sure. So enjoy the Academy of Country Music Awards and uh share your thoughts with us. We'd love to hear from you. And of course, thank you for always following us here at CMR. You can follow the podcast on all your favorite podcast channels, whether it's iHeart, Spotify, Odyssey. I mean, they're everywhere. YouTube. Yeah, definitely YouTube. You get to watch the video of us hanging out, chatting for sure. So subscribe and like and have yourself a great ACM weekend.