CMA AWARDS 2018: Male Vocalist of the Year

Artists: Chris Stapleton; Dierks Bentley; Keith Urban

Chris Stapleton, Dierks Bentley and Keith Urban are all vying for Male Vocalist of the Year at this year’s CMA Awards.

Chris receives his fourth consecutive nomination for Male Vocalist of the Year, a category he remains undefeated in, having won the past three years. Chris is also nominated for Entertainer, Album, Single and Song of the Year (“Broken Halos”).

Dierks marked his fifth consecutive nomination for Male Vocalist of the Year. He also lands a nod for Album of the Year for The Mountain, as well as Musical Event of the Year alongside Brothers Osborne for their collaboration “Burning Man.” With this year’s nominations, Bentley collects 24 total career nominations.

Keith has the chance to take home several awards going into next week’s CMA Awards, including Male Vocalist, Entertainer and Album of the Year for Graffiti U. This year marks his 14th nomination for Male Vocalist of the Year.

The 52nd Annual CMA Awards, hosted by Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley, will be broadcast live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena November 14th at 8pm ET on ABC.

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Dierks Bentley
Luke Combs
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban

Dierks Bentley (CMA nomination) OC: …as it is. :38
“People always say it’s good to be nominated, but you think about how crowded the country music field is, how many people are trying to get in and no one’s really trying to get out. I mean, just packing more singers into one format, so to be one of the five performers to be nominated, it is pretty cool. Yeah, I’d obviously like to win one. I got one in the previous decade, it’d be fun to get one in the teens, but yeah, either way, it’s not where, you know … the reward really lies in getting the chance to tour and get up in front of your audience every night. A trophy would be awesome, to get recognized by your peers and all that, but I get to go out there and be recognized every night by the fans that cheer for us and sing for us, so my cup is pretty overflowing as it is.”

Dierks Bentley (CMA Horizon memory) OC: …down the road. :43
“There’s a lot of Jager bombs between then and now and three kids. Looking at that is like looking at a totally different person. My wife was there. It was helpful to see her. It kinda gave me a frame of reference where I was in my life. I think we had just gotten married that year, but gosh, that is a long, long time ago. I’d like to win one again sometime. Have more fresh memories. I’m sure it felt great. Winning a CMA must, is, obviously I’ve won one, it’s a great feeling. I’ve been nominated a bunch. I know what that feels like. Nominations are probably, that roller coaster ride is something I’m more familiar with than actually winning. But it’s cool and hopefully happens again down the road.”

Chris Stapleton (grateful for awards) OC: …grateful for the moment. :30
“Well I’ll take ’em home with me I guess once they send ’em Yeah I guess you have to at some point, but it still is a very… I’m thankful for it and it’s very nice and there’s a lot of great people doing a lot of great things making a lot of great music and working really hard and so when you get this kind of a thing going, I don’t think anybody deserves it. It’s a lot of luck and a lot of stars lining up so, I’m grateful for the moment.”

Keith Urban (winning 1st Male Vocalist award) OC: …my life. :27
“In 2004, I won Male Vocalist of the Year, and again it was that same feeling I had when I’d won the Horizon Award, but it was like the next level. It just felt so humbling really. Really to be in that category and then to win was again just one of those sort of moments that I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”