Luke Bryan, Sugarland, and Dan + Shay announced the 2018 CMA nominations on "Good Morning America" yesterday. And CHRIS STAPLETON came up big with five, including Entertainer of the Year.
After that it's pretty spread out with NINE different acts getting three nominations each. One big surprise is LUKE COMBS as Male Vocalist of the Year. And one disappointment is CARLY PEARCE NOT getting a New Artist of the Year nomination.
And here we go again . . . NO female acts got an Entertainer of the Year nomination.
As for snubs, how about SHANIA TWAIN? She released her album "Now" last year, and then showed up everywhere promoting it . . . including her massive Shania Now Tour.
KANE BROWN was also shut out despite being the first artist to be Number One on all five of the mainstream "Billboard" country charts at the same time.
The awards will be Wednesday, November 14th. Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, with her beautiful baby bump, will be hosting for the 11th straight year.
Here are the four biggest categories:
Entertainer of the Year:
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Kenny Chesney
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban
Male Vocalist of the Year:
Dierks Bentley
Luke Combs
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban
Female Vocalist of the Year:
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Maren Morris
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood
New Artist of the Year:
Lauren Alaina
Luke Combs
Chris Janson
Midland
Brett Young
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The Brett Eldredge and Meghan Trainor episode of "CMT Crossroads" is set to debut September 3rd . . . but you can get a taste now. They released a video of them performing Meghan's song "No Excuses".
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Kelly Clarkson performed at the opening ceremony for the U.S. Open on Monday night. She did a medley of six of her biggest hits, including "Since You Been Gone", "Miss Independent", and "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)".And she impressed her fans so much that they started a social media campaign, demanding that she headline the Super Bowl Halftime Show this winter.
See Kelly's performance... Check it out HERE