Rossville native Lauren Alaina picked up a second consecutive nod as New Artist of the Year from the Country Music Association Tuesday morning. She is the only female in the category, which also includes Luke Combs, Chris Janson, Brett Young and Midland.
Additionally, WUSY-FM returned as a contender for Medium Market Radio Station of the Year and its morning team - Ken Hicks, Kelley Bradshaw and Daniel Wyatt - was nominated for Medium Market Personality of the Year.
Chris Stapleton, a mainstay in the awards since his breakout in 2015, leads the musical pack with five nominations. The "Broken Halos" singer is up for Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year for "From A Room: Volume 2," and Single and Song of the Year for "Broken Halos."
Other leading nominees include Dan + Shay, Chris Janson, Midland, Thomas Rhett, Dierks Bentley, Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert, Keith Urban and Florida Georgia Line, all with three nominations each.
Buoyed by the critical and commercial success of her sophomore album, "Road Less Traveled," Alaina was nominated in the same category last year, her first acknowledgement from the CMA. Jon Pardi picked up the trophy. She also was nominated for Best New Female Artist by the Academy of Country Music and claimed that prize.
The CMA Awards nominees are determined by more than 7,900 professional members of the CMA.
Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood return to host the awards show live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 8 p.m. Eastern on ABC.
2018 CMA AWARDS NOMINATIONS
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR Jason Aldean Luke Bryan Kenny Chesney Chris Stapleton Keith Urban SINGLE OF THE YEAR "Broken Halos" – Chris Stapleton "Drinkin' Problem" – Midland "Drowns the Whiskey" – Jason Aldean (featuring Miranda Lambert) "Meant To Be" – Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line "Tequila" – Dan + Shay 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 VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR Brothers Osborne Dan + Shay Florida Georgia Line Maddie & Tae Sugarland NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR Lauren Alaina Luke Combs Chris Janson Midland Brett Young ALBUM OF THE YEAR "From A Room: Volume 2" – Chris Stapleton "Golden Hour" – Kacey Musgraves "Graffiti U" – Keith Urban "Life Changes" – Thomas Rhett "The Mountain" – Dierks Bentley SONG OF THE YEAR "Body Like a Back Road" Songwriters: Zach Crowell, Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne "Broken Halos" Songwriters: Mike Henderson, Chris Stapleton "Drowns the Whiskey" Songwriters: Brandon Kinney, Jeff Middleton, Josh Thompson "Drunk Girl" Songwriters: Scooter Carusoe, Tom Douglas, Chris Janson "Tequila" Songwriters: Nicolle Galyon, Jordan Reynolds, Dan Smyers VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR Lady Antebellum Lanco Little Big Town Midland Old Dominion MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR "Burning Man" – Dierks Bentley featuring Brothers Osborne "Dear Hate" – Maren Morris (featuring Vince Gill) "Drowns the Whiskey" – Jason Aldean (featuring Miranda Lambert) "Everything's Gonna Be Alright" – David Lee Murphy (with Kenny Chesney) "Meant To Be" – Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR Jerry Douglas (Dobro) Paul Franklin (Steel guitar) Dann Huff (Guitar) Mac McAnally (Guitar) Derek Wells (Guitar) MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR "Babe" – Sugarland (featuring Taylor Swift) "Cry Pretty" – Carrie Underwood "Drunk Girl"– Chris Janson "Marry Me" – Thomas Rhett "Tequila" – Dan + Shay