Morgan Wallen Leads the 2024 CMA Nominees
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."
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 and 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.
Below are the 2024 CMA nominees in each category, with notable nominations starred.
Entertainer of the Year
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.
But there are signs this finally 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
Luke Combs
Cody Johnson
Female Vocalist of the Year
Ashley McBryde
Megan Moroney
Kacey Musgraves
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’s won’t eligible for Album of the Year until the 2025 CMAs).
Song of the Year
“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
“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
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
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.
Also of note, both Megan Moroney and Bailey Zimmerman were previously nominated for New Artist. CMA rules allow for an artist to be nominated twice in the category.
Vocal Group of the Year
Lady A
Little Big Town
Old Dominion
The Red Clay Strays
Zac Brown Band
Vocal Duo of the Year
Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Maddie & Tae
The War and Treaty
Musical Event of the Year
“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
Guitarist Tom Bukovac
Fiddler Jenee Fleenor
Steel guitarist Paul Franklin
Guitarist Rob McNelley
Guitarist Charlie Worsham
Music Video of the Year
“Dirt Cheap,” Cody Johnson; directed by Dustin Haney
“I Had Some Help,” Post Malone (featuring Morgan Wallen); directed by Chris Villa
“I’m Not Pretty,” Megan Moroney; directed by Jeff Johnson and Megan Moroney
“The Painter,” Cody Johnson; directed by Dustin Haney
“Wildflowers and Wild Horses,” Lainey Wilson; directed by Patrick Tracy
How to Watch the 2024 CMAs
The 2024 CMA Awards will broadcast live 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.
You Might Also Like
