The nominations for this year's CMAs were revealed on "Good Morning America" yesterday, and MAREN MORRIS came out on top with SIX.
That includes nods for Single and Album of the Year, plus Female Vocalist of the Year . . . but she was snubbed in the Entertainer of the Year category. And I'm okay with that.
But, folks will be happy to know, Entertainer of the Year is NOT a total boys club again this year. CARRIE UNDERWOOD was nominated. And it's the first time in three years that a woman is up for the award, and no woman has won it since TAYLOR SWIFT in 2011.
Carrie is up against Garth Brooks, Eric Church, Chris Stapleton, and Keith Urban, who won last year.
Some people were surprised last year when CARLY PEARCE wasn't nominated for Best New Artist . . . but maybe she just didn't qualify, because she was nominated in that category THIS year. She's up against Ashley McBryde, Midland, Morgan Wallen, and Cody Johnson.
It's strange how the CMAs handle this category . . . it's nice that Cody was nominated, since he's become a big deal over the past year. But he just released his SEVENTH album, so he's hardly "new."
Speaking of strange, "Old Town Road" by LIL NAS X was, unfortunately, NOT ignored. It got a single nomination for Musical Event of the Year, but it was snubbed in the Single of the Year category.
The song is super divisive in country music, so one possibility is that the CMAs chose to recognize Billy Ray Cyrus' contribution by putting it in the Musical Event of the Year category, which honors collaborations.That's judt a guess on my part.
One EPIC surprise is BROOKS & DUNN being nominated in the Vocal Duo of the Year. 10 years ago, they were announcing their retirement, and now that they're back, it's cool to see them recognized.
The awards will be Wednesday, November 13th. Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire, and Dolly Parton are hosting.