As anticipation for the 43rd Annual CMA Awards builds (watch it Wednesday at 8 p.m. on ABC), so does the debate over who will — and should — be crowned Entertainer of the Year. This year’s nominees include four-time winner and reigning champion Kenny Chesney; Brad Paisley and Keith Urban, who’ve each been nominated for five years straight (Urban won once, in 2005); category newcomer Taylor Swift (who is the first solo female artist to be nominated since Faith Hill in 2000); and two-time winner George Strait (who’s been nominated a total of 17 times, but hasn’t taken the title since 1990).
Make your picks in the polls below. Remember: Unlike the ACM’s fan-voted Entertainer of the Year, the CMA’s top prize is selected by “industry professionals.” For more CMA news, read Whitney Pastorek’s rehearsal coverage, and come back to Music Mix on Wednesday night, when she live blogs from Nashville.
Photo credit: Chris Hollo/ABC; Strait: Daniel Locke/PR Photos
I don’t particularly like Taylor Swift, but I can’t deny how much she has done recently for country music. The girl is everywhere! And a younger audience is opening up to country music because of her. She deserves this (Also, a female winner is over due, I mean, only 4 female solo and 1 group winners in 42 years? Really?)
All that is definately true but I dont see industry professionals giving it to her. Even though she is very popular, in country music overall she would probably come in last to those other four nominees. Kenny Chesney is so popular and sells out huge football stadiums for his concerts, making him hard to beat. But it may be time for someone new to win.
Actually, there were five solo female winners of Entertainer of the Year – Loretta Lynn (1972), Dolly Parton (1978), Barbara Mandrell (1980, 1981), Reba McEntire (1986), and Shania Twain (1999). Then the Dixie Chicks won it in 2000. I think Taylor is a long-shot, but she’s got a chance. She’s certainly opened more new ears to country music over the last two years than just about anyone else.
I will say Taylor will win. Thats why I dont watch these things, because the ones I do like never win
I actually feel like Carrie Underwood would make a more deserving female contender for this award. I realize she’s hosting, but it seems like she should have been nominated for this at some point.
Not really. She was in studio making her album when the nominees were announced, and Entertainer of the Year (as opposed to vocalists or other things) is really about being seen widely and entertaining people, on tour or otherwise. So while I get why you might prefer her, this probably wasn’t the year for a nod.
But the thing is that Carrie toured for more than half the eligibility period. The problem was that it was the first half as opposed to Taylor who toured for the latter half. The voters barely thing of this stuff so they would give their vote to whoever was here and now. Carrie was like out of sight out of mind. I’d be happy with 4 vocalist awards for Carrie. And I think Brad should win EOTY before Taylor does. It’s been long overdue for him
If Taylor Swift wins Entertainer of the Year and Miranda Lambert doesn’t at least win Female Vocalist, then there is truly something wrong with the world.
I 100,000% agree. Thank you for saying this. Miranda is amazing.
Now that’s certainly true. I *really* hope Miranda picks up something. She really doesn’t get the attention she deserves.
Agreed. Miranda is so underrated in country music. When in reality, she’s one of the best!
I think Taylor has it in her pocket. She is the “it” girl and caused a lot of casual fans to get interested to the genre.
Who should win? Keith Urban. That guy put a helluva show out there.
Brad Paisley or Keith Urban should win. Brad is the best representative of country music because he’s got the traditional side AND the contemporary side down, plus he’s a great writer and guitar player. Keith would deserve it because his live show is so amazing.
Taylor’s everywhere but she’s not bringing new fans to country. She remixes her songs for pop radio and her music is already very pop to begin with. I’m not even a country purist seeing as I like Keith Urban, Lady A, Carrie Underwood, Sugarland, Miranda Lambert, etc., but I don’t hear anything country about Taylor.
That being said Shania won Entertainer Of The Year for doing the same things Taylor does so I think Taylor will win it. I bet she’ll get the sympathy vote too after the Kanye thing at the VMAs.
You’re wrong! I wouldn’t be listening to country radio stations if not for Taylor. She picked up where Shania left off.
I say Brad Paisley or Keith Urban. Kenny has won way too many times. Given this is an industry voted award; I can’t see them awarding Taylor. Plus my biased shows in that I think she can’t sing and is too overexposed. If someone was deserving of being nominated it was Carrie Underwood; sure she was mainly recording this past year. But still she is much more deserving of being nominated than Taylor. Please don’t let Taylor win!
I agree with you totally! Taylor Swift may grab the younger audience, but that’s because she sings teenie-bopper songs and she can’t do that forever. One thing that really sticks out, her voice is flat. At least what I can hear on these CMA shows. Did anyone take music in school? Her voice cracks and is flat! How can she be nominated? Is her voice electronically enhanced on CD’s? During the CMA’s tonight, Carrie Underwood could belt out songs perfectly during the hosting part with Brad Paisley. And no one else’s voice appeared flat. So you can’t blame it on acoustics, etc. She may write and entertain, but hold a pitch? No Way! Common CMA?
Taylor is and should win. I’m not saying that the other people nominated aren’t doing things, I love them all but Taylor Swift has been doing the most this year be it hosting SNL, being the first Country Music to win and MTV award or touring in her first solo tour Fearless, Taylor has been huge this year which is why she deserves to win
I hope Taylor will win, I think she should win, and if she is overexposed it is because people cant get enough of her. She has a star power thing going on that I haven’t seen in a long time. Remember entertainer of the year is not best singer of the year.
Well, Taylor is certainly qualified as the “not best singer of the year”.
I agree that Taylor has been the most visible “country” star of late, but she’s not a country artist. Her music isn’t country. I don’t care if the CMAs give her the award, but at least acknowledge that she’s doesn’t sing country music. Adding a banjo to pop music doesn’t make it country.
Don’t tell me then that Keith Urban or Brad Paisley deserves to win because they add more rock instruments to their music and call it country.
I think Keith Urban should win EOTY. He puts on the best show I have ever seen! I saw Keith and Taylor on the same night and there was a HUGE difference in their shows. He show was more choreographed and rehearsed and a whole lotta hair and heading slinging. Her singing was not good either. Keith’s show on the other hand was mind blowing, full of spontaneity and his singing was right on and also playing that guitar like crazy!! How can he not win. Taylor is just the flavor of the month right now and new and different, but not a real entertainer. Maybe when she is a little older, but not now. She needs to work on that voice and stop slinging her head so much!
Taylor Swift was born to the saddle on a horse ranch and Christmas tree farm. Her music is as country as a teenage country singer can be!
What is more country than her current single “Fifteen” – heartbreak and angst, a solid coherent story line, advice from her present to her past self – what do you consider country?
If Taylor Swift wins EOTY then there’s something seriously wrong with the world. I don’t think the industry execs will vote her EOTY because quite simply, she doesn’t sing country, she sings true “pop” masked as country. Brad Paisley deserves EOTY, please don’t give it to some blonde teenager who can’t even sing live, that’s not an entertainer that’s studio-produced
Amen! Pop with a slight twang is what I call it. She obviously isn’t old school country, but I would not even classify her as new country. Carrie Underwood and Sugarland are new country. I’m not saying Swift is a bad singer or lyricist, but just not country. There’s definitely a struggle in the country music world. I don’t think many actually consider her style of music country. Some don’t think she’s country so she shouldn’t be up for awards. Others just like the teenage girls giving their award shows ratings and bringing more attention to the genre.
Keith Urban should definately win! The award is called ENTERTAINER of The Year. Keith is the best entertainer in the world! Every show he does is unique and he ticks all the other boxes as well. KEITH URBAN WITHOUT A DOUBT!!!
Keith Urban should win!!! He is so talented. Taylor Swift is cute and has brought a lot of attention to country music but she is so commercial. She does not have a strong voice. EOTY should go to someone who is a true entertainer-and that is KEITH URBAN!!!
I personally think Taylor Swift is overrated. I think she has amazing songwriting skills, but her vocals are not even close to the true female country powerhouses. I think Carrie Underwood should be up for the award. Taylor will probably win though, but Keith should. No one recognizes his talent enough! I love him!