Little Big Town, Eric Church Top Nominees for 2015 CMA Awards

— -- Nominees for the 49th annual CMA Awards were announced live on “Good Morning America” today, and Eric Church and the group Little Big Town lead the list of nominees.

Church and Little Big Town each have five nominations, followed by Kenney Chesney and Miranda Lambert, with four nominations each. Sam Hunt, Maddie & Tae, Kasey Musgraves, and Chris Stapleton each received three nominations.

Church is nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Song of the Year, Musical Event of the Year and Single of the Year for the song “Talladega.”

Little Big Town is nominated for Single of the Year (for “Girl Crush"), Album of the Year, Musical Event of the Year, Song of the Year and Music Video of the Year categories.

Little Big town has had 21 total nominations for CMA Awards, which Church has had a total of 17 since his first in 2011.

The nominees were announced live on “GMA” by singers Steven Tyler and Kelsea Ballerini.

Tyler is the singer/songwriter and frontman of the iconic rock band “Aerosmith.” Ballerini rose to stardom with the release of her hit single “Love Me Like You Mean It,” and she earned two CMA Awards nominations this year, one each in the Female Vocalist and New Artist of the Year categories.

Here’s the full list of nominees:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Garth Brooks
Luke Bryan
Kenny Chesney
Eric Church
Miranda Lambert

SINGLE OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to Artist and Producer(s))
“American Kids,” Kenny Chesney. Produced by Buddy Cannon and Kenny Chesney. Blue Chair Records/Columbia Nashville

“Girl Crush,” Little Big Town. Produced by Jay Joyce. Capitol Records Nashville

“I Don’t Dance,” Lee Brice. Produced by Lee Brice. Curb Records.

“Take Your Time,” Sam Hunt. Produced Zach Crowell and Shane McAnally. MCA Nashville.

“Talladega,” Eric Church. Produced by Jay Joyce and Arturo Buenahora, Jr. EMI Records Nashville.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to Artist and Producer(s))
“Old Boots, New Dirt,” Jason Aldean. Produced by Michael Knox. Broken Bow.
“Pageant Material,” Kacey Musgraves. Produced by Kacey Musgraves, Luke Laird, and Shane McAnally. Mercury Nashville.
“Pain Killer,” Little Big Town. Produced by Jay Joyce. Capitol Records Nashville.
“The Big Revival,” Kenny Chesney. Produced by Buddy Cannon and Kenny Chesney. Blue Chair Records/Columbia Nashville.
“Traveller,” Chris Stapleton. Produced by Dave Cobb and Chris Stapleton. Mercury Nashville.
SONG OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to Songwriter(s))
“American Kids,”Rodney Clawson, Luke Laird, and Shane McAnally.
“Girl Crush,” Liz Rose, Lori McKenna, and Hillary Lindsey.
“Like a Cowboy,” Randy Houser and Brice Long.
“Like a Wrecking Ball,” Eric Church and Casey Beathard.
“Take Your Time,” Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally, and Josh Osborne.
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood
Lee Ann Womack
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Dierks Bentley
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Blake Shelton
Chris Stapleton
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts
The Band Perry
Zac Brown Band
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Maddie & Tae
Thompson Square
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to each artist)
“Django and Jimmie,” Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard. Legacy Recordings.
“Lonely Tonight,” Blake Shelton featuring Ashley Monroe. Warner Bros./Warner Music Nashville
“Raise ‘Em Up,” Keith Urban featuring Eric Church. Hit Red Records/Capitol Records Nashville
“Smokin’ and Drinkin,’” Miranda Lambert featuring Little Big Town. RCA Nashville
“Wild Child,” Kenny Chesney with Grace Potter, Blue Chair Records/Columbia Nashville.
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Sam Bush (Mandolin)
Jerry Douglas (Dobro)
Paul Franklin (Steel Guitar)
Dann Huff (Guitar)
Mac McAnally (Guitar)

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
“Biscuits,” Kacey Musgraves. Directed by Marc Klasfeld
“Girl Crush,” Little Big Town. Directed by Karla Welch and Matthew Welch
“Girl in a Country Song,” Maddie & Tae. Directed by TK McKamy.
“Little Red Wagon,” Miranda Lambert. Directed by Trey Fanjoy.
“Something in the Water,” Carrie Underwood. Directed by Raj Kapoor

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Kelsea Ballerini
Sam Hunt
Maddie & Tae
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton