CMA Award Predictions: Who Will Win?
Take a look into the country crystal ball.
Nov. 9, 2010 — -- The 44th Annual Country Music Association (CMA) Awards will be handed out Wednesday night in Nashville, and all eyes will be on lead nominee Miranda Lambert.
She's got nine nods including Entertainer and Album of the Year for her platinum project "Revolution." That's the most nominations ever for a female act, and it ties her with Merle Haggard's nine nods back in 1970. Alan Jackson is the only artist to surpass that number, with 10 nominations in 2002.
Miranda is one of several acts taking over the top CMA categories this year. Here's a look at this year's nominees and an analysis of who should win the trophy -- versus who will actually take it home -- in each category.
Entertainer of the Year: Miranda Lambert, Lady Antebellum, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Zac Brown Band
Who Should Win?:
Three artists -- Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert and Zac Brown Band -- earned their first Entertainer of the Year nominations this year, going up against previous winner Keith Urban and six-time Entertainer nominee Brad Paisley. Many industry insiders think Paisley is overdue for a win in this category, and he's had a solid year with his H2O World Tour doing brisk business on the road.
Who Will Win?:
Expect to see one of the first-time nominees win CMA Entertainer of the Year. Miranda Lambert had a breakthrough year with her monster hit "The House That Built Me" and the launch of her first headlining tour. No country act had a bigger year than Lady Antebellum though. Their triple-platinum album "Need You Now," produced the international hit title track, and they've got the kind of career momentum behind them that excites voters. Look for Lady Antebellum to become the first vocal group to win the CMA's top prize since the Dixie Chicks back in 2000.
Female Vocalist of the Year: Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Taylor SwiftCarrie Underwood
Who Should Win?:
Taylor Swift isn't likely to repeat last year's win in this category since she was between albums when CMA voting occurred. Miranda Lambert is an industry darling who finally reached the masses this year with her chart toppers "White Liar" and "The House That Built Me," so the Female Vocalist trophy is hers to lose.
Who Will Win?:
Miranda Lambert.
Male Vocalist of the Year: Dierks Bentley, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, George Strait, Keith Urban
Who Should Win?:
Dierks Bentley and Blake Shelton are the only two artists in this category who haven't won the Male Vocalist trophy before. Paisley and Urban have both won it three times, and Strait is a five-time winner here. Look for it to go to one of the newcomers.
Who Will Win?:
Blake Shelton has really come into his own as a consistent hit-maker in the last year with the number one hits "Hillbilly Bone" with Trace Adkins and "All About Tonight." A recent induction into the Grand Ole Opry has kept Shelton's profile high with voters lately, so he is a favorite to pull off his first CMA win this year.
Album of the Year [award to artist and producer(s)]: Lady Antebellum -- "Need You Now," Carrie Underwood -- "Play On," Miranda Lambert -- "Revolution," George Strait -- "Twang," Dierks Bentley -- "Up on the Ridge."
Who Should Win?:
If this category was based on album sales alone, Lady Antebellum's "Need You Now" would be the clear winner. It's gone triple platinum in the United States and sold well around the world, thanks to the monster title cut.
Who Will Win?:
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