The 2024 CMA Awards: A Look At The Nominees And What To Expect

Morgan Wallen is one of country music’s biggest stars but hasn’t won a coveted CMA Award since 2020. Thanks to a smash collaboration with Post Malone, this could be the year that finally changes. On Monday, Wallen received seven nominations—the most of any artist—for the 2024 CMA Awards. The 31-year-old Tennessee native is enjoying a huge year off the success of “I Had Some Help,” his chart-topping hit with Post Malone that Billboard recently named the Song of the Summer. That track alone earned Wallen four nominations: Song of the Year, Single of the Year, Musical Event of the Year, and Music Video of the Year.

Since being named the CMA New Artist of the Year four years ago, Wallen has left the annual country showcase empty-handed. In 2021, he was banned from attending the ceremony and ineligible for certain categories after he was caught using a racial slur on camera. He returned the following year as a performer and two-time nominee.

Wallen isn’t the only artist hoping for a big night at the November 20 ceremony in Nashville. Chris Stapleton and Cody Johnson collected five nominations each, while Lainey Wilson followed with four. Conversely, one of the big surprises is the absence of Beyoncé, who earlier this year became the first Black woman to lead the Top Country Albums chart with Cowboy Carter.

Entertainer of the Year Nominees

• Luke Combs
• Jelly Roll
• Chris Stapleton*
• Morgan Wallen
• Lainey Wilson

Is the eighth time finally the charm for Chris Stapleton? The 46-year-old has been a repeat Entertainer of the Year nominee since 2016 but has never won. Last year, he lost out to Lainey Wilson. However, there are signs this could be Stapleton’s time in the spotlight. In May, the “White Horse” singer won four ACM Awards, including Male Artist of the Year and Album of the Year for his 2023 record, Higher, which is also competing at the upcoming CMAs.

Male Vocalist of the Year Nominees

• Luke Combs
• Jelly Roll
• Cody Johnson
• Chris Stapleton
• Morgan Wallen

Female Vocalist of the Year Nominees

• Kelsea Ballerini
• Ashley McBryde
• Megan Moroney
• Kacey Musgraves
• Lainey Wilson*

Lainey Wilson, 32, was the big winner at the 2023 CMAs, taking home five trophies—a record for female artists and tied with Johnny Cash, Vince Gill, and Alan Jackson for the most ever in one night. Wilson won’t match that with only four total nominations this year but can defend her title in this category and Entertainer of the Year. (In case you were wondering, the singer’s brand new album Whirlwind wasn’t snubbed; it won’t be eligible for Album of the Year until the 2025 CMAs).

Song of the Year Nominees

• “Burn It Down,” Parker McCollum; written by Hillary Lindsey, Parker McCollum, Lori McKenna, and Liz Rose
• “Dirt Cheap,” Cody Johnson; written by Josh Phillips
• “I Had Some Help,” Post Malone (featuring Morgan Wallen); written by Louis Bell, Ashley Gorley, Charlie Handsome, Hoskins, Austin Post, Ernest Keith Smith, Morgan Wallen, and Chandler Paul Walters
• “The Painter,” Cody Johnson; written by Benjy Davis, Kat Higgins, and Ryan Larkins
• “White Horse,” Chris Stapleton; written by Chris Stapleton and Dan Wilson

Single of the Year Nominees

• “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” Shaboozey
• “Dirt Cheap,” Cody Johnson
• “I Had Some Help,” Post Malone (featuring Morgan Wallen)
• “Watermelon Moonshine,” Lainey Wilson
• “White Horse,” Chris Stapleton

Album of the Year Nominees

• Kacey Musgraves, Deeper Well
• Luke Combs, Fathers & Sons
• Chris Stapleton, Higher
• Cody Johnson, Leather
• Jelly Roll, Whitsitt Chapel*

Jelly Roll, who won New Artist of the Year in 2023—and subsequently dropped his trophy—is back with three nominations this year, including this one for Whitsitt Chapel. Although the album debuted on June 2, 2023—well within last year’s eligibility period—a new rule introduced two years ago allows for it to be considered this year, too. “It is eligible because the majority of its consumption occurred in the [current] eligibility period,” the CMA explained, according to Billboard.

New Artist of the Year Nominees

• Megan Moroney
• Shaboozey*
• Nate Smith
• Mitchell Tenpenny
• Zach Top
• Bailey Zimmerman

Shaboozey has experienced massive crossover success with his single “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” which hit No. 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Country Songs chart this summer. The 29-year-old rapper is just the fifth Black artist to be nominated in the New Artist category, formerly called the Horizon Award. Darius Rucker and Jimmie Allen won the category in 2009 and 2021, respectively. Ray Charles was nominated back in 1985, and Mickey Guyton competed for the trophy in 2021.

Vocal Group of the Year Nominees

• Lady A
• Little Big Town
• Old Dominion
• The Red Clay Strays
• Zac Brown Band

Vocal Duo of the Year Nominees

• Brooks & Dunn
• Brothers Osborne
• Dan + Shay
• Maddie & Tae
• The War and Treaty

Musical Event of the Year Nominees

• “Cowboys Cry Too,” Kelsea Ballerini (with Noah Kahan)
• “I Had Some Help,” Post Malone (featuring Morgan Wallen)
• “I Remember Everything,” Zach Bryan (featuring Kacey Musgraves)
• “Man Made A Bar,” Morgan Wallen (featuring Eric Church)
• “You Look Like You Love Me,” Ella Langley (featuring Riley Green)

Musician of the Year Nominees

• Guitarist Tom Bukovac
• Fiddler Jenee Fleenor
• Steel guitarist Paul Franklin
• Guitarist Rob McNelley
• Guitarist Charlie Worsham

How to Watch the 2024 CMAs

The 2024 CMA Awards will broadcast live on November 20 from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on ABC. The show will be available to stream the following day on Hulu. Luke Bryan has hosted the previous three years, including two in tandem with retired football player Peyton Manning, but this year’s emcee hasn’t yet been announced.