Come this Wednesday, a lot of cowboy hat-wearing playas and big-haired playettes will be at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena where the 56th Annual Country Music Association Awards will be taking place. But not everyone feels equally welcome at the annual shindig.
Yes, titans and titanesses of contemporary country music will be there to pick up awards—many of them with roots right here in Texas. Longview’s Miranda Lambert (the most decorated artist in ACM Awards history, with 37 trophies) is nominated for entertainer of the year and female artist of the year, while the new male artist of the year category has two Lone Star sons: Parker McCollum from Conroe and Cody Johnson from Sebastopol. As far as bands go, we got Midland from Dripping Springs nominated for best group, and Maddie & Tae, featuring Sugar Land-born Maddie Font, with a best duo nomination.
Petite country-pop princess Maren Morris, originally hailing from Arlington, is also nominated. Her latest album Humble Quest got an album of the year nod. But even though Morris has been a big winner at past CMAs, don’t expect her to show up this year. “Honestly, I haven’t decided if I’m gonna go,” she told the Los Angeles Times. I’m very honored that my record is nominated. But I don’t know if I feel [at] home there right now.”
