NOTE FROM THE FOUNDER
NASHVILLE BRIEFING FACULTY AND STAFF
ZAK KUHN FOUNDER/PUBLISHER
BLAIR MILLER GENERAL MANAGER
ALEX PARRY HEAD OF SALES
HANNAH BARNES MANAGING EDITOR GRACE CAIN DESIGNER
Here’s the problem:
Looking at all the amazing CMA categories and nominees online can require a lot of scrolling. Who has time for that? Let’s flip pages instead. Introducing the Nashville Briefing debut CMA Voter Guide. Don’t vote without a plan! Use our pocket guide to help.
Why the school theme? Because if you’re anything like me, you probably spent your school days doodling in your notebook and dreaming about working in the music industry. This is a reminder that all of us who work in and around this industry are living out our childhood dreams. Let’s tap into the excitement we had back in school as we get into the awards season spirit and make sure you tune into The CMAs November 20th on ABC!
Zak - Founder, Nashville Briefing
BOBBY THE BRIEFING BOBCAT
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
LUKE COMBS JELLY ROLL CHRIS STAPLETON
MORGAN WALLEN LAINEY WILSON
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
DEEPER WELL KACEY MUSGRAVES
Producers: Ian Fitchuk, Kacey Musgraves, Daniel Tashian
Mix Engineers: Shawn Everett, Konrad Snyder
Record Company-Label: Interscope Records / MCA Nashville / Universal Music Group Nashville
FATHERS & SONS
LUKE COMBS
Producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton
Mix Engineer: Chip Matthews
Record Company-Label: Seven Ridges Records / Columbia Nashville
LEATHER CODY JOHNSON
Producer: Trent Willmon
Mix Engineer: Jack Clarke
Record Company-Label: CoJo Music / Warner Music Nashville
HIGHER
CHRIS
STAPLETON
Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton, Morgane Stapleton
Mix Engineer: Vance Powell
Record Company-Label: Mercury Nashville / Universal Music Group Nashville
WHITSITT CHAPEL JELLY ROLL
Producers: Andrew Baylis, Brock Berryhill, Zach Crowell, Jesse Frasure, David Garcia, Kevin “Thrasher” Gruft, Austin Nivarel, David Ray Stevens
Mix Engineers: Jeff Braun, Jim Cooley
Record Company-Label: BBR Music Group / Stoney Creek Records
YOUR PICK:
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
KELSEA BALLERINI ASHLEY MCBRYDE MEGAN MORONEY
KACEY MUSGRAVES LAINEY WILSON
YOUR PICK:
LUKE COMBS JELLY ROLL CODY JOHNSON
CHRIS STAPLETON MORGAN WALLEN YOUR PICK:
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
LADY A LITTLE BIG TOWN
ZAC BROWN BAND
OLD DOMINION
THE RED CLAY STRAYS
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
YOUR PICK:
YOUR PICK:
BROOKS & DUNN
BROTHERS OSBORNE
THE WAR AND TREATY
DAN + SHAY
MADDIE & TAE
MEGAN MORONEY SHABOOZEY NATE SMITH
MITCHELL TENPENNY
ZACH TOP
BAILEY ZIMMERMAN
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
YEAR
SONG
“DIRT CHEAP” CODY JOHNSON
Director: Dustin Haney
“I HAD SOME HELP” POST MALONE (FEAT. MORGAN WALLEN)
Director: Chris Villa
“THE PAINTER” CODY JOHNSON
Director: Dustin Haney
“WILDFLOWERS AND WILD HORSES” LAINEY WILSON
Director: Patrick Tracy
BUKOVAC GUITAR
MCNELLEY GUITAR
“I’M NOT PRETTY” MEGAN MORONEY
Directors: Jeff Johnson, Megan Moroney
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
“COWBOYS CRY TOO” KELSEA BALLERINI (WITH NOAH KAHAN)
Producer: Kelsea Ballerini, Alysa Vanderheym
Record Company-Label: Black River Entertainment
FLEENOR FIDDLE
WORSHAM GUITAR
FRANKLIN STEEL GUITAR
“I HAD SOME HELP” POST MALONE (FEAT. MORGAN WALLEN)
Producers: Louis Bell, Charlie Handsome, Hoskins
Record Company-Label: Mercury Records / REPUBLIC / Big Loud Records
“MAN MADE A BAR” MORGAN WALLEN (FEAT. ERIC CHURCH)
Producer: Joey Moi
Record Company-Label: Big Loud Records / Mercury Records / Republic Records / EMI Records Nashville / Universal Music Group Nashville
“I REMEMBER EVERYTHING” ZACH BRYAN (FT. KACEY MUSGRAVES)
Producer: Zach Bryan
Record Company-Label: Belting Bronco Records / Warner Records
“YOU LOOK LIKE YOU LOVE ME” ELLA LANGLEY (FEAT. RILEY GREEN)
Producer: Will Bundy
Record Company-Label: SAWGOD Records / Columbia
CAN YOU MAKE IT TO THE CMA S ?
GET THE ANSWERS HERE
NASHVILLE BRIEFING
LUKE COMBS
JELLY ROLL
ZAK KUHN
LAINEY WILSON
KELSEA BALLERINI
AWARD SHOW
ASHLEY MCBRYDE
BMEGAN MORONEY
KACEY MUSGRAVES
LITTLE BIG TOWN
OLD DOMINION
BRIDGESTONE ARENA
THE WAR AND TREATY
RED CARPET
SHABOOZEY
GET THE ANSWERS HERE
BAILEY ZIMMERMAN
MORGAN WALLEN
COUNTRY MUSIC
CMA
