The Country Music Association Awards, also known as the CMA Awards or CMAs, are presented to country music artists and broadcasters to recognize outstanding achievement in the county music industry.
The ABC Television Network and The Country Music Association have announced that The 49th Annual CMA Awards will air on Wednesday, November 4, 2015 at 8:00 PM EST. The ceremony will be held in the heart of “Music City” at The Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, and will be televised live on ABC. The CMA Awards nominees and winners are determined by the more than 7,400 industry professional members of CMA, which was the first trade organization formed to promote an individual genre of music in 1958. Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood will be hosting.
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
• Garth Brooks
• Luke Bryan (WINNER)
• Kenny Chesney
• Eric Church
• Miranda Lambert
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
• Old Boots, New Dirt, Jason Aldean
• Pageant Material, Kacey Musgraves
• Pain Killer, Little Big Town
• The Big Revival, Kenny Chesney
• Traveller, Chris Stapleton (WINNER)
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
• Miranda Lambert (WINNER)
• Kacey Musgraves
• Carrie Underwood
• LeAnn Womack
• Kelsea Ballerini
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
• Dierks Bentley
• Luke Bryan
• Eric Church
• Blake Shelton
• Chris Stapleton (WINNER)
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
• Lady Antebellum
• Little Big Town (WINNER)
• Rascal Flatts
• The Band Perry
• Zac Brown Band
SONG OF THE YEAR (AWARDED TO SONGWRITERS)
• “American Kids” – Kenny Chesney
• “Girl Crush” – Little Big Town (WINNER)
• “Like a Cowboy” – Randy Houser
• “Like a Wrecking Ball” – Eric Church
• “Take Your Time” – Sam Hunt
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
• Brothers Osborne
• Dan and Shay
• Florida Georgia Line (WINNER)
• Maddie and Tae
• Thompson Square
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
• Sam Hunt
• Maddie & Tae
• Thomas Rhett
• Chris Stapleton (WINNER)
• Kelsea Ballerini
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
• “American Kids” – Kenny Chesney
• “Girl Crush” – Little Big Town (WINNER)
• “I Don’t Dance” – Lee Brice
• “Take Your Time” – Sam Hunt
• “Talladega” – Eric Church
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
• “Django and Jimmie” – Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard
• “Lonely Tonight” – Blake Shelton feat. Ashley Monroe
• “Raise ‘Em Up” – Keith Urban feat. Eric Church (WINNER)
• “Smokin’ and Drinkin'” – Miranda Lambert feat. Little Big Town
• “Wild Child” – Kenny Chesney with Grace Potter
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
• “Biscuits” – Kacey Musgraves
• “Girl Crush” – Little Big Town
• “Girl in a Country Song” – Maddie & Tae (WINNER)
• “Little Red Wagon” – Miranda Lambert
• “Something in the Water” – Carrie Underwood
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
• Sam Bush
• Jerry Douglas
• Paul Franklin
• Dann Huff
• Mac McAnally (WINNER)