<p>Country fans, friends and family gathered at <strong><a title="Luke Bryan" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSLukeBryan/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fluke-bryan-tickets%2F">Luke Bryan</a></strong>&#8216;s 32 Bridge Bar in Nashville this morning for a special live broadcast that aired on <strong>Good Morning America</strong> to announce the first round of <strong>2018 CMA Award</strong> Nominees. <strong><a title="Sugarland" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/sugarland-concert-tour-tickets/">Sugarland</a></strong>, <strong>Dan &; Shay</strong>, and <strong>Midland</strong> were each honored with a nomination, while <a title="Luke Bryan" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSLukeBryan/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fluke-bryan-tickets%2F">Luke Bryan</a> will have to battle it out for Entertainer of the Year against best friend <strong><a title="Jason Aldean" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSAldean/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fjason-aldean-tickets%2F">Jason Aldean</a></strong>, <strong><a title="Kenny Chesney" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSChesney/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fkenny-chesney-tickets%2F">Kenny Chesney</a></strong>, <strong><a title="Keith Urban" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSKUrban/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fkeith-urban-tickets%2F">Keith Urban</a></strong> and <strong><a title="Chris Stapleton" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSStapleton/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fchris-stapleton-tickets%2F">Chris Stapleton</a></strong>.</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-35699" src="http://www.countrymusicnewsblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018-CMA-Awards-400x267.jpg" alt="2018 CMA Awards" width="400" height="267" />The 2018 <a title="CMA Awards" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/cma-awards-tickets-pre-sale-starts-now/">CMA Awards</a> will broadcast live from Nashville on Wednesday, Nov. 14 via ABC at 8PM ET. <a title="Carrie Underwood" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/carrie-underwood-tour-dates/">Carrie Underwood</a> and <a title="Brad Paisley" href="https://ticketmaster.evyy.net/c/1224809/264167/4272?subId1=WPScmnbBPaisley&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ticketmaster.com%2Fbrad-paisley-tickets%2Fartist%2F714837&partnerpropertyid=5213910&MediaPartnerPropertyId=5213910">Brad Paisley</a> are returning to host for the eleventh straight year.<!--more--></p>
<p><a title="CMA Awards" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/cma-awards-tickets-pre-sale-starts-now/">CMA Awards</a> nominees — and ultimately, the winners on Country Music&#8217;s Biggest Night — are determined by more than 7,400 professional members of the Country Music Association.</p>
<h3 data-reactid="187"><strong data-reactid="188">2018 CMA Awards Nominees:</strong></h3>
<p data-reactid="190"><strong data-reactid="191">Entertainer of the Year</strong></p>
<p data-reactid="193"><a title="Jason Aldean" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSAldean/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fjason-aldean-tickets%2F">Jason Aldean</a><br data-reactid="195" /><a title="Luke Bryan" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSLukeBryan/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fluke-bryan-tickets%2F">Luke Bryan</a><br data-reactid="197" /><a title="Kenny Chesney" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSChesney/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fkenny-chesney-tickets%2F">Kenny Chesney</a><br data-reactid="199" /><a title="Chris Stapleton" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSStapleton/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fchris-stapleton-tickets%2F">Chris Stapleton</a><br data-reactid="201" /><a title="Keith Urban" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSKUrban/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fkeith-urban-tickets%2F">Keith Urban</a></p>
<p data-reactid="203"><strong data-reactid="204">Female Vocalist of the Year</strong></p>
<p data-reactid="206"><a title="Kelsea Ballerini" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSKBallerini/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fkelsea-ballerini-tickets%2F">Kelsea Ballerini</a><br data-reactid="208" /><a title="Miranda Lambert" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSMLambert/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fmiranda-lambert-tickets%2F">Miranda Lambert</a><br data-reactid="210" /><a title="Maren Morris" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSMMorris/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fmaren-morris-tickets%2F">Maren Morris</a><br data-reactid="212" /><a title="Kacey Musgraves" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSMusgraves/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fkacey-musgraves-tickets%2F">Kacey Musgraves</a><br data-reactid="214" /><a title="Carrie Underwood" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/carrie-underwood-tour-dates/">Carrie Underwood</a></p>
<p data-reactid="216"><strong data-reactid="217">Male Vocalist of the Year</strong></p>
<p data-reactid="219"><a title="Dierks Bentley" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/dierks-bentley-concert-tour-dates/">Dierks Bentley</a><br data-reactid="221" /><a title="Luke Combs" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSLukeCombs/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fluke-combs-tickets%2F">Luke Combs</a><br data-reactid="223" />Thomas Rhett<br data-reactid="225" /><a title="Chris Stapleton" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSStapleton/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fchris-stapleton-tickets%2F">Chris Stapleton</a><br data-reactid="227" /><a title="Keith Urban" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSKUrban/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fkeith-urban-tickets%2F">Keith Urban</a></p>
<p data-reactid="229"><strong data-reactid="230">Album of the Year</strong></p>
<p data-reactid="232">TBA</p>
<p data-reactid="233"><strong data-reactid="234">New Artist of the Year</strong></p>
<p data-reactid="236"><a title="Lauren Alaina" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/lauren-alaina-concert-tour-tickets/">Lauren Alaina</a><br data-reactid="238" /><a title="Luke Combs" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSLukeCombs/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fluke-combs-tickets%2F">Luke Combs</a><br data-reactid="240" />Chris Janson<br data-reactid="242" />Midland<br data-reactid="244" /><a title="Brett Young" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/tour-dates-brett-young/">Brett Young</a></p>
<p data-reactid="246"><strong data-reactid="247">Song of the Year (Awarded to Songwriters)</strong></p>
<p data-reactid="249">TBA</p>
<p data-reactid="250"><strong data-reactid="251">Single of the Year</strong></p>
<p data-reactid="253">&#8220;Broken Halos,&#8221; <a title="Chris Stapleton" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSStapleton/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fchris-stapleton-tickets%2F">Chris Stapleton</a><br data-reactid="255" />&#8220;Drinkin&#8217; Problem,&#8221; Midland<br data-reactid="257" />&#8220;Drowns the <a title="Whiskey" href="https://whiskeychick.rocks/branded">Whiskey</a>,&#8221; <a title="Jason Aldean" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSAldean/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fjason-aldean-tickets%2F">Jason Aldean</a> Feat. <a title="Miranda Lambert" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSMLambert/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fmiranda-lambert-tickets%2F">Miranda Lambert</a><br data-reactid="259" />&#8220;Meant to Be,&#8221; Bebe Rexha Feat. <a title="Florida Georgia Line" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/florida-georgia-line-tour-tickets/">Florida Georgia Line</a><br data-reactid="261" />&#8220;Tequila,&#8221; <a title="Dan + Shay" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/dan-shay-concert-tour-tickets/">Dan + Shay</a></p>
<p data-reactid="263"><strong data-reactid="264">Vocal Group of the Year</strong></p>
<p data-reactid="266">TBA</p>
<p data-reactid="267"><strong data-reactid="268">Vocal Duo of the Year</strong></p>
<p data-reactid="270"><a title="Brothers Osborne" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/tour-dates-brothers-osborne/">Brothers Osborne</a><br data-reactid="272" /><a title="Dan + Shay" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/dan-shay-concert-tour-tickets/">Dan + Shay</a><br data-reactid="274" /><a title="Florida Georgia Line" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/florida-georgia-line-tour-tickets/">Florida Georgia Line</a><br data-reactid="276" />Maddie &; Tae<br data-reactid="278" /><a title="Sugarland" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/sugarland-concert-tour-tickets/">Sugarland</a></p>
<p data-reactid="280"><strong data-reactid="281">Musical Event of the Year</strong></p>
<p data-reactid="283">TBA</p>
<p data-reactid="284"><strong data-reactid="285">Music Video of the Year</strong></p>
<p data-reactid="287">TBA</p>
<p data-reactid="288"><strong data-reactid="289">Musician of the Year</strong></p>
<p data-reactid="291">TBA</p>