Kelly’s CMA Predictions

The 49th Annual CMA Awards take place tonight in Nashville, and the night is filled with performances, a few expected nominations, and a handful of surprises. Everyone has their guesses as to who the big winners will be, and here are mine!

Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley will resume their roles as hosts for the eighth time, and there are performances lined up by Kelsea Ballerini, Zac Brown Band, Kasey Musgraves, Luke Bryan, and Miranda Lambert. Additionally, there are a few performances showcasing collaborations. In a seemingly very strange pairing, Thomas Rhett performs alongside Fall Out Boy. Dierks Bentley is teaming up with YouTube star and violinist Lindsey Sterling, and while bringing in an internet star is a new move, highlighting musicianship makes sense. Eric Church and Hank Williams Jr. are a natural pairing, as are Reba McEntire and Brooks and Dunn. Keith Urban with John Mellencamp is cross genre but I think they will be a really compatible and sound great. In a surprise move, Chris Stapleton will be performing alongside Justin Timberlake. You may remember that Chris Stapleton was featured back in May on Music Monday, but if you're like me, you forgot that Justin Timberlake has actually played at the CMAs before, as a member of *NSYNC with Alabama.

Now, on to the awards! For Entertainer of the Year, my vote goes to Garth Brooks. All of the nominees are great, but only Garth sold out show after show in every city he went to after a long hiatus. I suspect that Miranda Lambert will walk away with the Female Vocalist of the Year award, although she has some good competition from Carrie Underwood. Kasey Musgraves and Lee Ann Womack both have loyal audiences and more traditional sounds, but haven't gotten as much attention, and I think Kelsea Ballerini is too new. For Male Vocalist of the Year, I am a fan of all of the artists, but I'm rooting for underdog and newcomer Chris Stapleton. My top contender for Album of the Year is "Pain Killer" by Little Big Town, and I think it has a good shot at winning. New artist of the year finds me again pulling for Chris Stapleton, but realistically, I think it will be between Thomas Rhett and duo Maddie and Tae (although being they are also up for Vocal Duo of the Year, so their placement in this category seems strange), both breaking onto the scene in a big way this year.

For Song of the Year, I suspect that one of the most talked about singles of the year, "Girl Crush" by Little Big Town, will be victorious. For Single of the Year, I think "I Don't Dance" by Lee Brice might take it. Given all the stir that "Girl Crush" caused, I would be shocked if Little Big Town didn't win Vocal Group of the Year. For Vocal Duo of the Year, there is little doubt in my mind that after calling out the boys in their breakout single "Girl in a Country Song" that Maddie and Tae will win. Musical Event of the Year finds me a bit divided, part of me thinks that legends Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard's "Django and Jimmie" will win, but "Raise 'Em Up" by Keith Urban and Eric Church has been a really popular song. For Music Video of the Year, I think Carrie Underwood will win with "Something in the Water."

Who do you think will walk away with the awards?