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61st ACM Awards Breakdown: Biggest Snubs, Surprises & More
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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.
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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_03Well, the moment has arrived. We're super excited about the 61st annual Academy of Country Music Awards returning back to Las Vegas.
SPEAKER_01Yes, I feel like that's where they belong.
SPEAKER_03They I know, right? Yeah. Yeah, I definitely agree. And of course, I'm super excited it's gonna be Amazon Prime again.
SPEAKER_01So we all get to watch it at the same time. We're not watching it from time zones.
SPEAKER_03No.
SPEAKER_01Excuse me, there's no spoilers. Like, yeah.
SPEAKER_03It's right from the get-go.
SPEAKER_01Yes, I think that's great.
SPEAKER_03And 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_02Right.
SPEAKER_03But when it comes to being in Vegas, being there so many times and family.
SPEAKER_01You have an idea of where to go, how far it is, all that stuff.
SPEAKER_03There's lots of great things. Riley Green's doing his golf tournament.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, top golf, which looks super cool.
SPEAKER_03Which 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_01Well, and especially now, I think everybody's pumped because the masters just finished. Yeah. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03And 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_02Right.
SPEAKER_03And it could be another one of those moments at Top Golf, like, oh my gosh, we need security now.
SPEAKER_02Exactly. You don't know who's gonna show up. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03So 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_01I mean, it's that would be easy to do.
SPEAKER_03It'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_01Again, you know, we're just this is our year of manifesting things, so you never know. We we may end up in Vegas.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, exactly. So, yeah. So I'm excited because the nominations came out, and there's a lot of great nominations.
SPEAKER_01There is. There's a lot to unpack with these nominations.
SPEAKER_03Boy, 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_01Yeah, I yes.
SPEAKER_03Right?
SPEAKER_01Very 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_03Yeah, people that should be on the nomination list aren't, and people that shouldn't be on there are.
SPEAKER_01Uh-huh.
SPEAKER_03Uh yeah, let's let's just go digging right into it.
SPEAKER_01But 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_03Yeah, and if you haven't heard the the nomination list already, Megan Moroni is leading with nine nominations this year.
SPEAKER_02Which is yeah, yeah, crazy.
SPEAKER_03Miranda Lambert's got eight. Ella Langley's got seven. Laney Wilson's got like six or seven in there.
SPEAKER_02Yep.
SPEAKER_03Um, 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_01So there's Kelsey, Kelsey Ballerini, Miranda Lambert, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, and Lainey Wilson.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. And I don't want to get into the nominal, I don't want to who I'm gonna pick just yet.
SPEAKER_01Not yet, yeah.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, 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_01I 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_03Sure. 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_01This one's gonna be a tough one.
SPEAKER_03Um, yeah, for sure. Especially since Kelsey's in there because I haven't seen Kelsey in a lot of stuff.
SPEAKER_01She'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_03Right. 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_01Right.
SPEAKER_03This is a completely different thing. I think these run from March through December.
SPEAKER_01I think you might be right, yeah, you might be right.
SPEAKER_03Because 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_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Um, great category.
SPEAKER_01I 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_03Gabby 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_01Right.
SPEAKER_03And 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_01Actually, 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_03Yeah, she was kind of quiet the last year as well.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, 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_03And that's gonna fall in that timeline again where we're like, what happened?
SPEAKER_01And I think that's what's tough because we're all in the now.
SPEAKER_03Right.
SPEAKER_01So 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_03Yeah, 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_02They really have.
SPEAKER_03They 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_02Oh, yes.
SPEAKER_03It was the duet.
SPEAKER_02Yes. Yep.
SPEAKER_03Which 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_01Yeah, so I don't see Thomas Rhett on there.
SPEAKER_03Nope.
SPEAKER_01I 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_04Yes.
SPEAKER_01You 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_03And again, these shows are are are you have to be a member. Yes.
SPEAKER_02So it's not like a fan vote. It's totally different.
SPEAKER_03So, 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_04Yes.
SPEAKER_03People 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_01Yeah. 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_03Another Keith Urban.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, same one. Keith Urban, you know, yeah, exactly.
SPEAKER_03So yeah, working hard.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_03The 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_01So 49 Winchester, okay, Flatland Calvary, Old Dominion, Rascal Flats, and Red Clay Strays.
SPEAKER_03I'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_01My gosh, Parmalee. Like, really?
SPEAKER_03I know they're like the Susan Lucci.
SPEAKER_01Like what is going on? Like some of the hardest workers who are consistent.
SPEAKER_03They've had three number ones since then.
SPEAKER_01Like, 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_04Okay.
SPEAKER_01And 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_03Massive following.
SPEAKER_01I 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_03No, 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_01But 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_03That 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_01Yeah, I was I was definitely surprised and bummed with that one.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, 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_01Yeah, right.
SPEAKER_03Instead of like, don't get your hopes up.
SPEAKER_01Like at least make it make sense. Yeah, for sure. You know, I don't know.
SPEAKER_03Um and nothing against these groups.
SPEAKER_01No, 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_03Right.
SPEAKER_01Um, so there's three bands on here that I'm not super familiar with.
SPEAKER_03Right. And you're like, hmm.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_03And 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_01Um 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_03Yeah, 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_01I've heard of them as well.
SPEAKER_03Uh 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_02Right.
SPEAKER_03So 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_01Maybe. I don't know. Yeah, the timing was definitely on their side for this.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, for sure. So they've been quiet.
SPEAKER_01Um Brothers Osborne's been super quiet.
SPEAKER_03Yep.
SPEAKER_01Brooks, but again, where is Low Cash?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, um they've been out working hard.
SPEAKER_01Again, 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_03No.
SPEAKER_01They're just they're basically just doing their greatest hits, which hey, that is amazing. Right. Well, Garth exactly.
SPEAKER_03Garth has repackaged his his greatest hits ten times.
SPEAKER_01I 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_03Yeah. And when you said when you just said icon, I I think we could do like an icon award, right?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, exactly. Maybe put some of these people in there for that. Yeah, like Braskell Flats could be perfect for that.
SPEAKER_03Right.
SPEAKER_01Bricks and Dunn. Right.
SPEAKER_03Um Chris Stapleton.
SPEAKER_01You know, you can take some of these people out of some of these other categories and put into one of their own.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, for sure. I mean, you could even put in like Wynona's touring again this year.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, that's true.
SPEAKER_03So 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_01I 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_03It'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_01But 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_03Ian Munsick.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_03I 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_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_03But 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_01It 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_03It'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_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Um, 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_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Caroline 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_01Yes.
SPEAKER_03Uh what I don't see on here is a May Estes.
SPEAKER_01I was thinking of her. I was thinking of um Elena Springsteen.
SPEAKER_03Yep.
SPEAKER_01I I yeah, I was thinking of her.
SPEAKER_03Um there's a few of them in there.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_03You 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_01Exactly. Like I feel like there's that there used to be that stepping stone. Right. Like you you were here first.
SPEAKER_03Right.
SPEAKER_01Like, 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_03Just because well, because she's so popular right now.
SPEAKER_01I mean, yeah, and I'm not saying it's not well deserved because again, I feel like that category they did get right.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Um 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_03I'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_01I'm not super familiar with her yet.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. 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_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_03So 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_01Um, and then we have new male artists of the year. So Gavin Adcock, Vincent Mason, Shabuzi, Hudson Westbrook, and Tucker Wetmore.
SPEAKER_03Uh 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_01Uh 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_03So when somebody's somebody's daughter, right, was there. I mean, it could have been like he he just missed it.
SPEAKER_01Maybe just missed it. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. 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_01But Tucker, of course. Tucker, of course.
SPEAKER_03We're gonna obviously, I'm not gonna lie. I'm just gonna, I mean, Tucker's my guy.
SPEAKER_01Well, yeah. He's a hometown guy.
SPEAKER_03I love to see him get it, and he has had some serious momentum.
SPEAKER_01He 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_03Yeah, 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_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_03And 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_01They would be cute.
SPEAKER_03They would be really cute together. Like, I uh yeah, I'm all about it. I'm all about it.
SPEAKER_01So he's preferred brunette. Right.
SPEAKER_03Well, 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_01That was my soundtrack all weekend. I listened to it a couple of times. So good.
SPEAKER_03I 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_01Yeah, she's so good. She's something special. Yeah. She really is.
SPEAKER_03One 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_01I think it's We Gotta Quit. Yeah. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03I mean, the 70s vibe.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Oh my God, it gave me goosebumps. It was, I got goosebumps now just talking about it. It was so good.
SPEAKER_01She'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_04Yeah.
SPEAKER_01And 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_03I do too.
SPEAKER_01Because I love Dandelion, but she's still telling a story. Right. Like she's probably one of the greatest ones right now.
SPEAKER_03And she co-wrote every one of those songs.
SPEAKER_01She 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_03Yeah. 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_02Okay.
SPEAKER_03And 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_01So is Keith Urban.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I know. He's got a new album coming out. And I cannot wait to hear it.
SPEAKER_01Yes.
SPEAKER_03But 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_01Yeah, 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_03But where would he fall and I know? And that's what I was trying to do.
SPEAKER_01I 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_04Yeah.
SPEAKER_01You know, because like both of those guys, but yeah, I was kind of surprised there was no Russell and no Bailey.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. So and that's another thing. Like, do they fall in that category of like they missed the deadline?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, maybe, yeah.
SPEAKER_03But you're right.
SPEAKER_01Because I know Russell was nominated for ACM new uh new male artist of the year. He's been nominated before.
SPEAKER_04Yeah.
SPEAKER_01And 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_03They do.
SPEAKER_01Um, 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_03Yep. 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_01Yeah, exactly. Exactly. Um, okay, so album of the year.
SPEAKER_03Album 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_01I 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_03Uh not gonna lie. No.
SPEAKER_01Um, 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_03I 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_01Because 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_03Yeah. 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_01They're like, They kind of have to take control at something.
SPEAKER_03They'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_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Um, 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_01Like, this is a list.
SPEAKER_03Right. Yeah, this is a great list.
SPEAKER_01Yes.
SPEAKER_03Like everyone hit the nail on the head with this one.
SPEAKER_01I 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_03Yeah. 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_01Because it's anybody's award at this point. It is, right?
SPEAKER_03Because 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_02Yep.
SPEAKER_03And 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_01And I think they're nominated both. I think they both have seven.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01So they're they're doing really well.
SPEAKER_03Do you have one in there that you you see that you maybe like that you think is the best as a runaway?
SPEAKER_01I'm not sure.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_01They'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_03I 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_01So 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_03Yeah. 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_01So 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_03Right.
SPEAKER_01I I just kind of feel like these two are kind of a monotonous category.
SPEAKER_03And 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_01Same 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_03Exactly. 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_01So these are we some collabs, yeah, which is which is great.
SPEAKER_03Uh 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_01I have not.
SPEAKER_03Uh 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_01Is she portraying Dolly in any way? No, no, not at all.
SPEAKER_03But 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_01You 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_03Yeah. She is all about Texas, let me tell you. Um, and good.
SPEAKER_01Not Oklahoma.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, 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_01Maybe because you're watching and it's just kind of I don't know, you're more focused.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, 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_01You're driving. So your mind, it's just it's just I don't want to say noise, but it's just on.
SPEAKER_03When 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_01I I I mean not familiar with it.
SPEAKER_03No, 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_04Yeah.
SPEAKER_03I 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_02Yep.
SPEAKER_03And she opened with him and sang with him. So I mean, cool, good for them. They've got that kind of a relationship.
SPEAKER_01Uh, but another one I was kind of like, I just feel like there's been so many collabs that, yeah, they're yeah.
SPEAKER_03Where was the Bailey and Luke?
SPEAKER_01Right. Right? Right, exactly. That could have been where Bailey got in here. Right.
SPEAKER_03That could have easily been in there.
SPEAKER_01Um I mean, Thomas Rhett, he did collabs.
SPEAKER_03Where was the one this year um with Morgan Wallen, Hardy, Tim McGraw?
SPEAKER_01See, that may have missed the church. That one may have missed the cutoff though.
SPEAKER_03I think you're right. Maybe maybe next year.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, that one probably missed the cutoff.
SPEAKER_03Because 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_01I kind of feel like we're gonna see that.
SPEAKER_03I 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_01I think they'll I have a feeling they'll perform it at the awards, maybe.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. I would like to think about it.
SPEAKER_01I feel like it's it's either gonna be performed there for the first time or CMA Fest.
SPEAKER_03It has to be.
SPEAKER_01I 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_03I think they would save it for something completely different. Yeah, not exactly.
SPEAKER_01Agreed.
SPEAKER_03This is a new one this year.
SPEAKER_01Uh yeah, visual media. Is this the same as video of the year?
SPEAKER_03I 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_01I I heard it once when he played it live when I saw him.
SPEAKER_03Okay. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Everybody else seemed to know it because again, right, everybody knew his stuff, but I felt like, but me.
SPEAKER_03By the way, he's coming back to town.
SPEAKER_01I saw that.
SPEAKER_03He'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_02Right, right.
SPEAKER_03Um, 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_01Artist, songwriter of the year. Yeah. Uh Luke Combs, Riley Green, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, Morgan Wallen.
SPEAKER_03Again, another strong category. Songwriter.
SPEAKER_01Where the hell is Hardy?
SPEAKER_03I 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_01For so many others, that just kind of blew me away.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. I when I first saw that, I was like, okay, here's another snub. Like we're missing people.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_03You know, easily him.
SPEAKER_01Um again, all these are artists or songwriters, amazing. Right. Super strong. Like, I don't disagree with them.
SPEAKER_03Right.
SPEAKER_01I just feel like Hardy needed to be in there.
SPEAKER_03The 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_01Where's our where's Ernest?
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Now, if I if I remember correctly, I think Hardy won last year.
unknownOkay.
SPEAKER_01So 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_03Of course.
SPEAKER_01So that that to me says that's not probably the rule here. Yeah. So again, my question, where's Hardy?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, where's Hardy? And earnest now that I'm in Ernest, yeah.
SPEAKER_01I 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_03Yeah. 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_01It's a lot bigger. It's usually five.
SPEAKER_03Right. 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_01Yeah, but again, we gotta remember the time frame.
SPEAKER_03Right. So when did this come into play? Cody Johnson.
SPEAKER_01He's just been he's been on tour a lot.
SPEAKER_03He has, and not to mention that he had the biggest show this year at the Houston Roderick. Sold out more than George Strait.
SPEAKER_01So which is huge. Yeah, huge. I wonder if he feels bad about that.
SPEAKER_03Oh you know what I mean?
SPEAKER_01Because it's almost like, man, you know what I mean?
SPEAKER_03Took something away from the king? Yeah.
SPEAKER_01I would almost be like, no, no, I don't want it. Take it back.
SPEAKER_03But 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_01Um 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_03But I don't think she's ready for entertaining.
SPEAKER_01I 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_03And yeah, well, maybe in like next year.
SPEAKER_01But already entertainer of the year is my question. You know, like that is where I kind of struggle.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_01I mean, Ella's not even on here.
SPEAKER_03No, 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_01And 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_03Right, 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_01Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_03So uh, you know, for me to say that's the entertainer of the year, that's not the entertainer for me.
SPEAKER_01And they all entertain differently.
SPEAKER_03Right.
SPEAKER_01You 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_03No.
SPEAKER_01But 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_03Yeah, like all the things for those years was that guy jumping on the ropes, climbing the ladders, throwing off fireworks, right?
SPEAKER_01That'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_03Uh 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_02Yep.
SPEAKER_03And 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_01Oh, 100%.
SPEAKER_03The man is like, you know, he did a fantastic job last year getting to so many people and doing what he does best.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Uh, but yeah, it's interesting. So I don't know. We'll see.
SPEAKER_01Well, 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_03And yeah, I I do like the icon award. I think we need to do that.
SPEAKER_01I 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_04Right.
SPEAKER_01Um 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_03I wonder if it, you know, and I've heard this for years too, is that Oh, Jordan Davis.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. No Jordan Davis. What is going on?
SPEAKER_03And he won for Songwriter of the Year last year.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Um, 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_01A hundred percent. I could not agree with you more.
SPEAKER_03Like if they only came into this business just because I want that ACM or that CMA, they're not gonna, you know.
SPEAKER_01Exactly. 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_03Right. 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_01And that was days before Thanksgiving. Yes. It was like, I think he played what was it a Monday or Tuesday or Tuesday, Wednesday?
SPEAKER_03Tuesday, Wednesday. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Right before Thanksgiving week and selling out Motor Center.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, 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_01Yeah, now we want to do that.
SPEAKER_03Uh reach out to us for sure.
SPEAKER_01Yes. 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_03It'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_01Yeah, share it all. Danny likes the tea. So I do.
SPEAKER_03I like that. Oh, you should hear what this person said. I like those rumors, you know me.
SPEAKER_01Share the tea with Danny.
SPEAKER_03And if you agree with me that Tucker Wetmore and Ella Langley should be together, then bring it on.
SPEAKER_01There you go. Yeah. Yes, we want to hear it.
SPEAKER_03Uh, 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_01Yes, which is amazing.
SPEAKER_03So 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_01There'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_03We'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_01Yeah, everybody's there to have a good time. And yeah.
SPEAKER_03So book that vacation, head to Vegas, jump at the pool party. Dustin Lynch is gonna be down there.
SPEAKER_01Yep, they're doing a big ACM beach bash.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, it's crazy.
SPEAKER_01I think we're talking ourselves into this.
SPEAKER_03I think we are. I think we're manifesting and going to Vegas in a couple weeks.
SPEAKER_01Yes. Let's do it.
SPEAKER_03If 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.
unknownThanks.
