Country sensation Lainey Wilson continues to make history as she tops the nominations for the CMA Awards for the second year in a row. In 2022, Wilson surprised everyone by securing six nominations in her first-ever appearance on the ballot. Now, in 2023, she has surpassed expectations and earned an astounding nine nominations, solidifying her status as one of the biggest breakout stars in the genre.
This remarkable achievement also makes Wilson the first and only artist to lead the nominations list in their first two appearances at the CMA Awards. Her unparalleled success speaks volumes about her talent and the impact she has made in the country music industry.
Merely a newcomer last year, Wilson has now secured nominations in various prestigious categories, including album, song, music video, entertainer, and female vocalist of the year. Additionally, she has received recognition with multiple nominations in both the single of the year category (for her hit "Heart Like a Truck" and her collaboration with HARDY on "wait in the truck") and the musical event of the year category (once again for "wait in the truck" with HARDY and her feature on Jelly Roll's "Save Me").
With her nine nominations, Wilson joins the elite company of Merle Haggard and Miranda Lambert, who also received nine nominations in a single year. The record for the most nominations in one year is held by Alan Jackson, who received a staggering ten nods in 2002.
Following closely behind Wilson is Jelly Roll, who earns an impressive five nominations, marking his first-ever nomination at the CMA Awards. Luke Combs and HARDY also make a significant impact with four nominations each, placing them among the top contenders for the night.
While Wilson dominates in nominations, Combs and HARDY have the potential to sweep their respective categories and take home a total of six trophies. Combs, in addition to his nominations for entertainer and male vocalist of the year, is also celebrated as the performer and producer of his rendition of Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car," nominated for single of the year. Furthermore, his latest release, "Gettin' Old," on which he served as both performer and co-producer, earned a coveted nomination for album of the year.
Similarly, HARDY's nominations for both single and musical event of the year come from his contributions as both an artist and producer on "Wait in the Truck." These multi-talented artists continue to showcase their versatility and creative prowess.
Other notable nominees include Chris Stapleton, Carrie Underwood, and Morgan Wallen in the entertainer of the year category. The song of the year category is represented by Megan Moroney's heartfelt ballad "Tennessee Orange" and Jordan Davis' catchy tune "Next Thing You Know."
The 2023 CMA Awards will be broadcasted live on November 8th on ABC at 8 p.m. Eastern. As the anticipation builds, all eyes are on Lainey Wilson, who is undoubtedly proving to be a force to be reckoned with in the country music industry.