Lauren Alaina, Brothers Osborne and Dustin Lynch announced the final nominees for “The 51st Annual CMA Awards” Monday morning live from ABC’s “Good Morning America” studio in New York’s Times Square.

Alaina emerged as a first-time nominee, making her debut in the New Artist of the Year category. Brothers Osborne will once again vie for Vocal Duo of the Year and also received a first-time nomination for Music Video with their anthemic “It Ain’t My Fault.”

The artists revealed six categories live on-air, then announced the remaining six categories, along with finalists for the CMA Broadcast Awards, on GoodMorningAmerica.com as well as via “Good Morning America’s” Facebook page through Facebook Live and simulcast on “Good Morning America’s” YouTube channel.

Little Big Town and Keith Urban each garner four nominations, tying for the second most nominations this year.

Little Big Town’s nominations include Single, produced by Jay Joyce and mix engineered by Jason Hall and Joyce; Music Video of the Year directed by Becky Fluke and Reid Long for “Better Man”; Album of the Year for The Breaker, also produced by Joyce; and Vocal Group of the Year. This is Little Big Town’s fourth nomination for Music Video. They have been nominated in past years for “Pontoon” (2012), “Tornado” (2013), and “Girl Crush” (2015). They are seven-time CMA Awards winners and this year’s nods bring their career total to 26 nominations. Taylor Swift received her 23^rd nomination for writing “Better Man,” marking her second nomination for Song of the Year and first CMA Awards nod since 2014.

Urban tallied up nominations for Entertainer of the Year, Single and Music Video of the Year for “Blue Ain’t Your Color” and Male Vocalist. This is his thirteenth nomination for Male Vocalist and he is a three-time consecutive winner in this category (2004-2006). Urban is a 10-time CMA Awards winner. Songwriters for “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” Clint Lagerberg, Hillary Lindsey, and Steven Lee Olsen earned a nod for Song of the Year. “Blue Ain’t Your Color” Music Video Director Carter Smith is a first-time nominee. “Blue Ain’t Your Color” producer Dann Huff and mix engineer Chris Lord-Alge also earned nods. Urban received one nomination for Single of the Year, but can receive an additional trophy as producer.

Eric Church and Chris Stapleton each earned three nominations.

Church scored recognition in the Entertainer of the Year category, as well as Male Vocalist, his sixth consecutive nomination, and Musical Event of the Year for “Kill A Word” featuring first-time nominee Rhiannon Giddens. He is a three-time CMA Award winner with 25 total career nominations.

Five-time CMA Awards winner Stapleton is nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist and Album for From A Room: Volume 1, which was produced by Dave Cobb and Stapleton. He receives one nomination for album, but can receive an additional trophy as producer. This is Stapleton’s third consecutive nomination for Male, which he’s won the past two years. He was also nominated for Entertainer last year and won Album for Traveller in 2015. He is an 11-time CMA Awards nominee.

Brothers Osborne, Sam Hunt, Lady Antebellum and Jon Pardi garnered two nominations.

Reigning CMA Vocal Duo of the Year Brothers Osborne earns their third nomination in this category. They also received their first Music Video nod for “It Ain’t My Fault,” directed by Wes Edwards and Ryan Silver. They’ve earned five career nominations.

Hunt was recognized in the Single and Song categories for the record-setting “Body Like A Back Road,” produced and mix engineered by Zach Crowell, and written by Crowell, Hunt, Shane McAnally, and Josh Osborne. In 2015, Hunt received the same nods for “Take Your Time.” He is a five-time CMA Awards nominee.

Lady Antebellum is nominated for Vocal Group of the Year and Album for their latest effort Heart Break, produced by busbee. Their previous records Need You Now (2010) and Own The Night (2012) both received Album nods. They are a 10-time consecutive (2008-2017) Vocal Group nominee and have won the category three years back to back (2009-2011).

Newcomer Pardi burst onto the Awards scene with his first two CMA nominations this year. “Dirt On My Boots,” which he co-produced with Bart Butler, earned him a nod in the Single of the Year category. He receives one nomination as the artist, but can receive an additional trophy as producer. The song was mix engineered by Ryan Gore. “Dirt On My Boots” songwriters Rhett Akins, Jesse Frasure, and Ashley Gorley are also nominees. Additionally, Pardi received a New Artist of the Year nomination.

Other first time CMA Awards nominees include Alaina, Combs, and Young in the New Artist of the Year category, and LOCASH in Duo. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit debuted in Album of the Year with The Nashville Sound, produced by Cobb.

The 51st Annual CMA Awards, hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, will be broadcast live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, November 8th at 8pm ET on ABC.

For more information and a full list of nominees, visit CMAawards.com.

 
The Final Nominees for “The 51st Annual CMA Awards” (by ballot category order):

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

Garth Brooks

Luke Bryan

Eric Church

Chris Stapleton

Keith Urban

SINGLE OF THE YEAR

(Award goes to Artist, Producer(s), and Mix Engineer(s))

“Better Man” – Little Big Town

Producer: Jay Joyce

Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce

“Blue Ain’t Your Color” – Keith Urban

Producers: Dann Huff, Keith Urban

Mix Engineer: Chris Lord-Alge

“Body Like A Back Road” – Sam Hunt

Producer: Zach Crowell

Mix Engineer: Zach Crowell

“Dirt On My Boots” – Jon Pardi

Producers: Bart Butler, Jon Pardi

Mix Engineer: Ryan Gore

“Tin Man” – Miranda Lambert

Producers: Frank Liddell, Eric Masse, Glenn Worf

Mix Engineer: Eric Masse

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

(Award goes to Artist and Producer(s))

The Breaker – Little Big Town

Producer: Jay Joyce

From A Room: Volume 1 – Chris Stapleton

Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton

Heart Break – Lady Antebellum

Producer: busbee

The Nashville Sound – Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

Producer: Dave Cobb

The Weight of These Wings – Miranda Lambert

Producers: Frank Liddell, Glenn Worf, Eric Masse

SONG OF THE YEAR

(Award goes to Songwriter(s))

“Better Man”

Songwriter: Taylor Swift

“Blue Ain’t Your Color”

Songwriters: Clint Lagerberg, Hillary Lindsey, Steven Lee Olsen

“Body Like A Back Road”

Songwriters: Zach Crowell, Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne

“Dirt On My Boots”

Songwriters: Rhett Akins, Jesse Frasure, Ashley Gorley

“Tin Man”

Songwriters: Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Kelsea Ballerini

Miranda Lambert

Reba McEntire

Maren Morris

Carrie Underwood

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Dierks Bentley

Eric Church

Thomas Rhett

Chris Stapleton

Keith Urban

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR

Lady Antebellum

Little Big Town

Old Dominion

Rascal Flatts

Zac Brown Band

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR

Brothers Osborne

Dan + Shay

Florida Georgia Line

LOCASH

Maddie & Tae

MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR

(Award goes to each Artist)

“Craving You” – Thomas Rhett featuring Maren Morris

“Funny How Time Slips Away” – Glen Campbell with Willie Nelson

“Kill A Word” – Eric Church featuring Rhiannon Giddens

“Setting the World on Fire” – Kenny Chesney with P!nk

“Speak to a Girl” – Tim McGraw & Faith Hill

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR

(Award goes to Artist and Director(s))

“Better Man” – Little Big Town

Directors: Becky Fluke and Reid Long

“Blue Ain’t Your Color” – Keith Urban

Director: Carter Smith

“Craving You” – Thomas Rhett featuring Maren Morris

Director: TK McKamy

“It Ain’t My Fault” – Brothers Osborne

Directors: Wes Edwards and Ryan Silver

“Vice” – Miranda Lambert

Director: Trey Fanjoy

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Lauren Alaina

Luke Combs

Old Dominion

Jon Pardi

Brett Young

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The Music City Walk of Fame will pay tribute to the Ryman Auditorium in celebration of the historic venue’s 125^th anniversary with the induction and presentation of stars to Little Big Town, the Country Music mega-group in residency at the Mother Church, along with two luminaries in the Ryman’s past: Tom Ryman, the riverboat captain who was inspired by a revival preacher to build the Union Gospel Tabernacle; and Lula C. Naff, the theater manager who helmed the Auditorium for more than 40 years and famously booked the Grand Ole Opry there.

The induction ceremony that will take place on Thursday, September 14th, 2017 at 1 pm in Walk of Fame Park. The event is free and open to the public.

“Tom Ryman had a vision. Lula Naff had a plan. And their tenacity and skill created one of Nashville’s most beautiful and iconic buildings – and one of the greatest music venues the world has ever seen,” Mayor Megan Barry said. “Now Little Big Town is adding a new chapter to the story of the Mother Church of Country Music with its unprecedented Ryman residency. The induction of each of these legends into the Music City Walk of Fame couldn’t be more appropriate as the Ryman celebrates 125 years of gorgeous music and amazing history.”  Check out their reaction below.

The inductees will receive the 75^th, 76^th and 77^th stars on the Music City Walk of Fame. Inductees are recognized for their significant contributions to preserving the musical heritage of Nashville and for contributing to the world through song or other industry collaboration.

In celebrating the Ryman’s 125^th anniversary, Little Big Town will have performed 10 shows by the end of 2017 at the Ryman Auditorium during their year-long residency. Consisting of members Karen Fairchild, Phillip Sweet, Kimberly Schlapman, and Jimi Westbrook, Little Big Town is a member of the Grand Ole Opry, had the biggest country single of 2015 with “Girl Crush,” and earlier this year released their seventh studio album, The Breaker, which debuted No. 1 on the Billboard Country Charts.

The Music City Walk of Fame was created in 2006 on Nashville’s Music Mile, a roughly one-mile stretch that connects downtown to Music Row. Permanent sidewalk medallions with the names of the inductees are displayed in a star-and-guitar design.

Little Big Town’s currently making their way up the country charts with their latest single, “When Someone Stops Loving You.”
 

So incredibly grateful!#MusicCityWalkofFame • @VisitMusicCity pic.twitter.com/Xo19DFy0Hs

— Little Big Town (@littlebigtown) August 30, 2017

Thoughts & prayers are w/ all affected by the storm. My family & friends were personally affected in surrounding areas. God bless us all.-GS

— George Strait (@GeorgeStrait) August 29, 2017

We are working on putting together relief efforts with the whole country music community. – GS

— George Strait (@GeorgeStrait) August 29, 2017

Texas, we are praying for you. We love you. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/hPnmJLuCrr

— Kimberly Schlapman (@ohgussie) August 29, 2017

Remember to text HARVEY to 90999 to donate $10 to the Red Cross Hurricane Harvey relief fund. It literally takes seconds.

— Brothers Osborne (@brothersosborne) August 28, 2017

Praying for everybody in Texas effected by #HurricaneHarvey. God Bless all y'all and sending many prayers your way. pic.twitter.com/7yohwPvEih

— Clare Dunn (@ClareDunnMusic) August 28, 2017

https://twitter.com/KaceyMusgraves/status/902541631609548800

Got Texas on my heart today. Sending my love & prayers. #HoustonStrong https://t.co/Qg99qQrwBW

— Canaan Smith (@canaansmith) August 29, 2017

We can put words into action by texting HARVEY to 90999 to make a $10 donation ❤️ pic.twitter.com/92OtPEA0mW

— Mickey Guyton (@MickeyGuyton) August 28, 2017

As a native Texan I had to record a message about #HurricaneHarvey. Keep praying & call 1-800-RED CROSS or text HARVEY 90999 to donate $10. pic.twitter.com/oIDuRzuSir

— Eric Paslay (@ericpaslay) August 28, 2017

Please join Tae and I in donating to the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund and help my fellow Texans. Anything helps. – M https://t.co/VoGVVemp8P pic.twitter.com/7HDk5jSbXU

— Maddie & Tae (@MaddieandTae) August 30, 2017

Chris Stapleton and Alan Jackson have been added to the list of performers at this year’s ACM Honors. They join previously announced performers Little Big Town, George Strait, Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott, Vince Gill, Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, Thomas Rhett, Maren Morris and others. Eric Church, Reba McEntire, Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson are among the honorees, in addition to Strait and Kelsea Ballerini. The show, which tapes next week at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, will air September 15th on CBS.

Little Big Town’s Jimi Westbrook and Phillip Sweet took time out to catch the Tennessee Titans practice on Thursday (August 17th).

https://twitter.com/Titans/status/898261817213898752

Darius Rucker is set to perform in his hometown of Charleston, South Carolina for the first time in four years October 22nd. He will take the stage at Volvo Car Stadium on Daniel Island just two days after the release of his fifth studio album, When Was the Last Time. Tickets go on sale Friday (August 18th) at 10am at Ticketmaster.

Clare Dunn returned home to Colorado last week to headline the Sand and Sage Round-Up Kick-Off concert, drawing one of the largest crowds in event history. Prior to her performance, Clare hosted a VIP charity party including a silent auction, autographed memorabilia, an acoustic performance and more, which raised over $25,000 for the Colorado FFA Foundation and Children’s Hospital Colorado.

Last night was really something. Thanks for turning out in record numbers to @SandandSageRdup & welcoming me back home!!! #SEColorado pic.twitter.com/AzlsUncRUx

— Clare Dunn (@ClareDunnMusic) August 7, 2017

I’M SO VERY INCREDIBLE HUMBLED AND HONORED. Thank you to everyone who made our inaugural year a HUGE SUCCESS!!! https://t.co/yebLjSey0O pic.twitter.com/3cnHk4al82

— Clare Dunn (@ClareDunnMusic) August 16, 2017

Shania Twain will perform on NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Shania Twain on Wednesday night (August 16th).

Shania Twain joins the cast of John Travolta’s racing movie, Trading Paint, which is currently in production, according to Variety. The film, also featuring Michael Madsen (The Hateful Eight, Kill Bill, Donnie Brasco), Kevin Dunn (True Detective, Veep) and Toby Sebastian (Game of Thrones), is about a veteran race car driver and his son, a fellow driver, who overcome family and professional conflicts, balancing competition, ego, resentment and a racing nemesis to come out stronger on the other side.

Sam Hunt and Carrie Underwood picked up trophies at the 2017 Teen Choice Awards over the weekend. Carrie took home the Choice Country Artist trophy, while Sam’s “Body Like a Back Road” was named the Choice Country Song.

Little Big Town will perform on NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers on Thursday night (August 17th).

Josh Turner’s ”Hometown Girl” has been certified gold by the RIAA for more than 500,000 digital downloads.

Keith Urban’s “Blue Ain’t Your Color” has been certified double platinum (for two million copies sold), while “The Fighter,” featuring Carrie Underwood, has gone gold.

Shania Twain is scheduled to perform on NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon August 16th. Her new album, NOW, will be released September 29th.

Kacey Musgraves will appear on the season finale of CMT’s Nashville, which airs Thursday (August 10th) at 9pm ET.

https://twitter.com/KaceyMusgraves/status/894975691694915584

Hillary Scott has been nominated for Songwriter of the Year and Song of the Year for “Thy Will” for this year’s Dove Awards. Hillary and her family, the Scott Family, recorded and released “Thy Will” from their Love Remains album. The 48th Annual GMA Dove Awards will take place at Lipscomb University’s Allen Arena in Nashville October 17th at 7:30pm ET. The Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) will exclusively air the awards show on Sunday, October 22nd.

https://twitter.com/HillaryScottLA/status/895378170425298944

Chris Stapleton and Lady Antebellum have been added to the lineup for the all-star concert, All in For the Gambler: Kenny Rogers’ Farewell Concert Celebration. The event, which will be taped at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena October 25th, will also feature guest appearances by Little Big Town, Dolly Parton, Alison Krauss, Jamey Johnson and Elle King, among others.

Luke Bryan, Little Big Town and Kip Moore are among the artists performing at the Gulf Coast Jam in Panama City, Florida September 1st – 3rd. Jason Aldean, Brett Eldredge, Dan + Shay and Granger Smith will also perform.

George Strait, Little Big Town, Vince Gill, Hillary Scott and Toby Keith are among the first-round performers at this year’s ACM Honors, taking place at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium August 23rd. The concert event, which will also feature performances by Brad Paisley, Kelsea Ballerini, Thomas Rhett and Maren Morris, will air September 15th at 9pm ET/PT on CBS.

As previously announced, Special Award recipients celebrated at the 11^th Annual ACM Honors will include Kelsea Ballerini (Gene Weed Milestone Award), Toby Keith (Poet’s Award), Bob Kingsley (Mae Boren Axton Service Award), Reba McEntire (Mae Boren Axton Service Award), “Nashville” (Tex Ritter Film Award), Dolly Parton (Gary Haber Lifting Lives Award), Shel Silverstein (Poet’s Award, awarded posthumously), and George Strait (Cliffie Stone Icon Award). The evening will also honor winners of the Industry and Studio Recording Awards, along with Songwriter of the Year Award winner, Lori McKenna. The Academy of Country Music will present trophies to previously announced Special Award recipients Eric Church (Merle Haggard Spirit Award) and Willie Nelson (Poet’s Award) at a later date.

Catch several of this year’s hottest performances from CMA Music Festival during ABC’s CMA Fest television special. Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Sam Hunt and Lady Antebellum will take the stage, along with collaborations between Dierks Bentley and Cole Swindell and Darius Rucker with Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild, among others. The music event will air August 16th at 8pm ET on ABC.

Chris Stapleton’s From A Room: Volume 1 is the No. 1 country album in the nation this week. His Traveller album lands at No. 2, followed by Keith Urban’s Ripcord at No. 3.

Chris Stapleton‘s From a Room: Volume 1 has been certified gold by the R.I.A.A for more than 500,000 copies sold.

Kacey Musgraves (along with her fiancé Ruston Kelly) are among the singer-songwriters who are adding their vocals and music to poems Johnny Cash had written throughout the years that are being turned into a tribute album to the Man in Black. The collection, which will be called Johnny Cash Forever Words: The Music, will also feature contributions from Brad Paisley, Jewel, Jamey Johnson, T-Bone Burnett and the late Chris Cornell. Kacey and Ruston recently debuted their duet, “To June, This Morning,” at Blackberry Farm in East Tennessee. Johnny wrote the poem for his wife, June Carter Cash, more than 45 years ago.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BWX_GXrF1_G/?taken-by=spaceykacey

Sam Hunt garners more nominations at this year’s Teen Choice Awards, which just announced its second wave of nominees. He grabbed two more nods, including Choice Country Song for “Body Like a Back Road,” as well as Choice Summer Tour for his 15 in a 30 Tour. Sam was previously nominated for Choice Country Artist and the all-genre Choice Song for his huge smash hit, “Body Like a Back Road.” Voting is now open at TeenChoice.com or fans can tweet the category hashtag with the nominee’s name through July 19^th. The Teen Choice Awards will air live August 13^th at 8pm ET on FOX.

Keith Urban’s lovely wife, Nicole Kidman, has earned an Emmy nomination for her role as “Celeste Wright“ in HBO’s Big Little Lies, alongside her friend Reese Witherspoon. The show was also nominated in the Outstanding Limited Series category and ended up with 16 nominations. The Emmys will air live September 17^th at 8pm ET on CBS.

16 Emmy noms for Big Little Lies!!!! So proud of you baby- and ALL the BLL family!!!!! xxxx – KU

— Keith Urban (@KeithUrban) July 13, 2017

Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Schlapman joined CBS’s award-winning daytime series, “The Talk,” as guest co-hosts on Monday (July 10th) along with hosts Julie Chen, Sara Gilbert and Sheryl Underwood. Award-winning actress Edie Falco and Access Hollywood’s Natalie Morales served as the show’s guests.

The Platinum-selling, GRAMMY Award-winning group recently released their latest single, “When Someone Stops Loving You” off their #1 album The Breaker, which recieved critical acclaim for being “an album that’s one of their best from top to bottom” and was featured as one of the “Best Country and Americana Albums of 2017 So Far” by Rolling Stone.

The reigning CMA and ACM Vocal Group of the Year will return to Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium later this month for three additional “Little Big Town at the Mother Church” residency dates on July 28, 29, and 30th. For more information on Little Big Town, The Breaker and “Little Big Town at the Mother Church,” visit www.LittleBigTown.com.

Keith Urban will make a return appearance on HSN this weekend. He’ll be performing and chatting about his line of Urban Guitars, including The Keith Urban American Vintage Acoustic 40-piece Guitar Package and The Keith Urban Ripcord Series 40-piece Guitar Package. Watch him on Saturday (July 8th) from 7pm – 9pm ET and Sunday (July 9th) from 4pm – 6pm ET and 10pm – 12am ET.

Little Big Town, Darius Rucker and many more stars will perform during the Grand Ole Opry’s “Total Eclipse 2017” party. The Opry, positioned to be in the direct path of the Total Eclipse, will celebrate the historic event with a special Sunday Night show August 20th. The eclipse will take place the next day, August 21st.
Grand Ole Opry Total Eclipse 2017 Schedule of Events:

Sunday, August 20, 7p.m.       Grand Ole Opry Total Eclipse Show

Monday, August 21, 11 a.m.   Grand Ole Opry Total Eclipse Plaza Party

August 21 Eclipse Timing:

Partial eclipse begins: 11:58 a.m. CDT

Start of totality: 1:27 p.m. CDT

Partial eclipse ends: 2:54 p.m. CDT

Sam Hunt’s “Body Like a Back Road remains at the top of the Hot Country Songs chart — which in addition to radio airplay, also factors in streaming and digital sales – for a 21st week. Last week, the song broke the record for longest stay at No. 1 for a solo artist, bypassing Leroy Van Dyke’s 1961 hit “Walk on By.” By the way, Florida Georgia Line hold the record for longest time overall at No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs with “Cruise” at 24 weeks.