Downtown Country's guide to the CMAs

The announcement of the CMA nominees is one of the most hotly anticipated dates in the country music calendar, for both artists and fans alike.

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Published 6th Sep 2017
Last updated 6th Sep 2017

The 51st annual awards ceremony takes place on November, 8, hosted by Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley for the tenth year in a row.

The contenders are some of the hottest current country acts in the industry. In the pick of the nominations, Grammy award winner Miranda Lambert secured five nominations while both Keith Urban and Little Big Town are up for four each.

We have put together all of the candidates and categories in your Downtown Country go-to guide to the CMAs:

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR:

Keith Urban

Garth Brooks

Luke Bryan

Eric Church

Chris Stapleton

SINGLE OF THE YEAR:

The weight of these wings, Miranda Lambert

The Breaker, Little Big Town

From a Room, Volume 1, Chris Stapleton

Heart Break, Lady Antebellum

The Nashville Sound, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

SONG OF THE YEAR:

Better Man, Taylor Swift

Tin Man, Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall

Dirt on my Boots, Rhett Atkins, Jesse Frasure, Ashley Gorley

Body like a Back Road, Zach Crowell, Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne

Blue Ain't your colour, Clint Lagerberg, Hillary Lindsey, Steven Lee Olsen

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR:

Carrie Underwood

Kelsea Ballerini

Miranda Lambert

Reba McEntire

Maren Morris

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR:

Keith Urban

Dierks Bentley

Eric Church

Thomas Rhett

Chris Stapleton

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR:

Zac Brown Band

Lady Antebellum

Little Big Town

Old Dominion

Rascal Flatts

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR:

Brothers Osborne

Maddie & Tae

LOCASH

Florida Georgia Line

DAN + Shay

MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR:

"Craving you," Thomas Rhett (feat. Maren Morris)

"Speak to a girl," Tim McGraw & Faith Hill

"Setting the world on fire," Kenny Chesney (With P!nk)

"Kill a word," Eric Church featuring Rhiannon Giddens

"Funny how time slips away," Glen Campbell with Willie Nelson

MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR:

Mac McAnally, Guitar

Jerry Douglas, Dobro

Paul Franklin, Steel Guitar

Dann Huff, Guitar

Derek Wells, Guitar

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR:

"Better man," Little Big Town

"Vice," Miranda Lambert

"It ain't my fault," directed by Wes Edwards and Ryan Silver

"Craving You," Thomas Rhett (feat. Maren Morris)

"Blue ain't your colour," Keith Urban

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR:

Old Dominion

Lauren Alaina

Brett Young

Jon Pardi

Luke Combs