Chris Stapleton, Eric Church and Maren Morris lead the nominations for this year’s Country Music Awards with five nods apiece.
‘Tennessee Whisky’ singer Chris is up for the coveted Entertainer of the Year prize, alongside Garth Brooks, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban, while he also scored nominations in the Single of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Video of the Year and Musical Event of the Year categories, with the latter coming for ‘You Are My Sunshine’, his duet with wife Morgane.
Meanwhile, Eric is also up for Single of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, and Music Video of the Year, with his other two nominations coming in the Album of the Year and Song of the Year categories.
Newcomer Maren has been given the nod in the album, single, and song shortlists, while she is also up for Female Vocalist of the Year and New Artist of the Year, and is stunned by her haul.
She tweeted: "I just said "YAS QUEEN" to myself.
"But seriously, am so humbled by these nominations. Fight for your art and the rest follows suit. (sic)"
Hot on the heels of the trio are Dierks Bentley, Carrie Underwood, and Keith Urban, who picked up four nominations each, while Tim McGraw is up for three prizes.
Carrie will again team up with Brad Paisley to host the ceremony, which takes place in Nashville, Tennessee, on 2 November, and will broadcast live on ABC.
CMT Awards 2016 nominations:
Entertainer of the Year:
Garth Brooks
Luke Bryan
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood
Keith Urban
Album of the Year:
‘Black’ – Dierks Bentley
‘Hero’ – Maren Morris
‘Mr. Misunderstood’ – Eric Church
‘Ripcord’ – Keith Urban
‘Storyteller’ – Carrie Underwood
Single of the Year:
‘Die a Happy Man’ – Thomas Rhett
‘Humble and Kind’ – Tim McGraw
‘My Church’ – Maren Morris
‘Nobody to Blame’ – Chris Stapleton
‘Record Year’ – Eric Church
Song of the Year:
‘Burning House’- Cam
‘Die a Happy Man’ – Thomas Rhett
‘Humble and Kind’ – Tim McGraw
‘My Church’ – Maren Morris
‘Record Year’ – Eric Church
Male Vocalist of the Year:
Dierks Bentley
Eric Church
Tim McGraw
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban
Female Vocalist of the Year:
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Maren Morris
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood
New Artist of the Year:
Kelsea Ballerini
Brothers Osborne
Maren Morris
Old Dominion
Cole Swindell
Vocal Duo of the Year:
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Joey + Rory
Maddie & Tae
Vocal Group of the Year:
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Old Dominion
Rascal Flatts
Zac Brown Band
Music Video of the Year:
‘Burning House’ – Cam
‘Fire Away’ – Chris Stapleton
‘Humble and Kind’ – Tim McGraw
‘Record Year’ – Eric Church
‘Somewhere on a Beach’ – Dierks Bentley
Musical Event of the Year:
‘Different For Girls’ – Dierks Bentley feat. Elle King
‘Home Alone Tonight’ – Luke Bryan featuring Karen Fairchild
‘The Fighter’ – Keith Urban (featuring Carrie Underwood)
‘Think of You’ – Chris Young (duet with Cassadee Pope)
‘You Are My Sunshine’ – Morgane Stapleton with Chris Stapleton
Musician of the Year:
Jerry Douglas (Dobro/Lap Steel Guitar)
Paul Franklin (Steel Guitar)
Dann Huff (Guitar)
Brent Mason (Guitar)
Derek Wells (Guitar)