2020 CMA Awards Nominations: 13 Snubs & Surprises

by Jim Casey | @TheJimCasey | September 1, 2020

The nominations for the 54th CMA Awards were announce on Sept. 1, and there were more than a few questionable omissions—as well as surprising inclusions—in the nomination process.

Here are 13 Snubs and Surprises—off of the top of my head sans any deep research—from the 54th annual CMA Awards nominations, which recognized artists’ works from July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020.

Entertainer of the Year

Eric Church
Luke Combs
Miranda Lambert
Carrie Underwood
Keith Urban

Snub – Garth Brooks: Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know Garth respectfully requested to be removed from the nomination, but the G-man seemed like a shoo-in to win his record eighth Entertainer of the Year Award. After the COVID-19 pandemic halted his Dive Bar Tour and Stadium Tour, Garth kept the music coming with a drive-in concert event, prime-time performance on CBS, Grand Ole Opry showcase, Facebook Live concerts and more. Garth got his wish, but it’s still a snub. Do we need to put an asterisk (*) next to the name of the eventual winner?

Female Vocalist of the Year

Miranda Lambert
Ashley McBryde
Maren Morris
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood

Snub – Carly Pearce: She released a vocally stunning self-titled album, and No. 1 hit, “I Hope You’re Happy Now.”

Surprise – Kacey Musgraves: Love, love, love her vocals, but I don’t think Kacey released a single or album in the time frame of July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020.

Male Vocalist of the Year

Eric Church
Luke Combs
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban

Snub – Blake Shelton: After winning this award five times (2010-2014), Blake hasn’t been nominated since 2015, which is a little odd. He’s still got some of the best pipes in the business, and he scored another big No. 1 hit with “Nobody But You,” featuring Gwen Stefani.

Vocal Duo of the Year

Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Maddie & Tae

Surprise – Brooks & Dunn: For the second year in a row, Brooks & Dunn earned a Vocal Duo of the Year nomination. Iconic artists are often excluded from receiving nominations for no apparent reason (see below: Tanya Tucker/Album of the Year).

Snub – Locash: After one nomination in this category in 2017, the boys just can’t seem to get any love from the CMA crowd. The duo’s “One Big Country Song” topped the Mediabase chart in August 2020 (after the June 30, 2020, cutoff date).

New Artist of the Year

Jimmie Allen
Ingrid Andress
Gabby Barrett
Carly Pearce
Morgan Wallen

Surprise – Carly Pearce: She’s not new. I don’t care about the parameters of the category. Carly released her No. 1 debut single, “Every Little Thing,” in February 2017—more than three years ago. That ain’t new. She should be nominated in the Female Vocalist category.

Snub – Tenille Townes: She should have gotten Carly’s spot. Tenille had a breakout year.

Single of the Year (Awarded to Singer, Producer and Engineer)

“10,000 Hours” – Dan + Shay (with Justin Bieber)
Producer: Dan Smyers
Mix Engineer: Jeff Juliano
“Beer Never Broke My Heart” – Luke Combs
Producer: Scott Moffatt
Mix Engineer: Jim Cooley
“Bluebird” – Miranda Lambert
Producer: Jay Joyce
Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
“The Bones” – Maren Morris
Producer: Greg Kurstin
Mix Engineer: Greg Kurstin
“I Hope” – Gabby Barrett
Producers: Ross Copperman, Zach Kale
Mix Engineer: Buckley Miller

Looks good.

Album of the Year (Awarded to Artist & Producer)

Heartache Medication – Jon Pardi
Producers: Bart Butler, Ryan Gore, Jon Pardi
Never Will – Ashley McBryde
Producers: Jay Joyce, John Peets
Old Dominion – Old Dominion
Producers: Shane McAnally, Old Dominion
What You See Is What You Get – Luke Combs
Producer: Scott Moffatt
Wildcard – Miranda Lambert
Producer: Jay Joyce

Snub – While I’m Livin’ by Tanya Tucker: It won the 2020 Grammy for Best Country Album, but it didn’t get a nomination for CMA Album of the Year?

Vocal Group of the Year

Lady A
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion
Rascal Flatts

Snub – Zac Brown Band: The band scored another No. 1 album with The Owl.

Surprise – Rascal Flatts: Seems like a justifiably sentimental nomination, as the trio announced their disbandment after 2020. But their Farewell Tour was cancelled and they released just one single, “How They Remember You,” in the time frame.

Song of the Year (Awarded to Songwriters)

“Bluebird”
Songwriters: Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby, Miranda Lambert
“The Bones”
Songwriters: Maren Morris, Jimmy Robbins, Laura Veltz
“Even Though I’m Leaving”
Songwriters: Luke Combs, Wyatt B. Durrette III, Ray Fulcher
“I Hope You’re Happy Now”
Songwriters: Luke Combs, Randy Montana, Carly Pearce, Jonathan Singleton
“More Hearts Than Mine”
Songwriters: Ingrid Andress, Sam Ellis, Derrick Southerland

Snub – “10,000 Hours” by Dan Smyers, Shay Mooney, Justin Bieber, Jessie Jo Dillon, Jason Boyd and Jordan Reynolds: Maybe having six writers giving a thank-you speech was just too many to have on the stage at one time.

Musical Event of the Year

“10,000 Hours” – Dan + Shay (with Justin Bieber)
Producer: Dan Smyers
“Be A Light” – Thomas Rhett featuring Reba McEntire, Hillary Scott, Chris Tomlin, Keith UrbanProducer: Dann Huff
“The Bones” – Maren Morris with Hozier
Producer: Greg Kurstin
“Fooled Around And Fell In Love” – Miranda Lambert (feat. Maren Morris, Elle King, Ashley McBryde, Tenille Townes & Caylee Hammack)
Producer: Jay Joyce
“I Hope You’re Happy Now” – Carly Pearce and Lee Brice
Producer: busbee

Snub – “Nobody But You” by Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani: This felt like an event. Maybe it was because Blake and Gwen released approximately 100 different videos for the song. Just kidding, but there were a bunch.