The CMA Awards air tonight on ABC at 8/7c. I thought I’d share my thoughts on some of the categories including who should win and who will win(And will be updated with winners as the show progresses). Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.

Music Video of the Year

• “Boots On,” Randy Houser, Directed by Eric Welch
• “Love Story,” Taylor Swift, Directed by Trey Fanjoy
• “People Are Crazy,” Billy Currington, Directed by The Brads
• “Start A Band,” Brad Paisley (duet with Keith Urban), Directed by Jim Shea
• “Troubadour,” George Strait, Directed by Trey Fanjoy

Should Win: Start A Band
Will Win: Love Story
Actual Winner: Love Story

Song of the Year

• “Chicken Fried,” Zac Brown/Wyatt Durrette
• “I Told You So,” Randy Travis
• “In Color,” Jamey Johnson/Lee Thomas Miller/James Otto
• “People Are Crazy,” Bobby Braddock/Troy Jones
• “Then,” Brad Paisley/Chris DuBois/Ashley Gorley

Should Win: Then
Will Win: In Color
Actual Winner: “In Color,” Jamey Johnson/Lee Thomas Miller/James Otto

Album of the Year

• American Saturday Night, Brad Paisley
  Produced by Frank Rogers and Chris DuBois, Arista Nashville
• Defying Gravity, Keith Urban
  Produced by Dann Huff and Keith Urban, Capitol Records Nashville
• Fearless, Taylor Swift
  Produced by Nathan Chapman and Taylor Swift, Big Machine Records
• Love On The Inside, Sugarland
  Produced by Byron Gallimore, Kristian Bush, and Jennifer Nettles, Mercury Nashville
• That Lonesome Song, Jamey Johnson
  Produced by The Kent Hardly Playboys, Mercury Records

Should Win: American Saturday Night
Will Win: American Saturday Night
Actual Winner: Fearless, Taylor Swift

Single of the Year

• “Chicken Fried,” Zac Brown Band
  Produced by Keith Stegall, Atlantic Records
• “I Run To You,” Lady Antebellum
  Produced by Victoria Shaw and Paul Worley, Capitol Records Nashville
• “In Color” Jamey Johnson
  Produced by The Kent Hardly Playboys, Mercury Nashville
• “People Are Crazy,” Billy Currington
  Produced by Carson Chamberlain and Billy Currington, Mercury Nashville
• “Then,” Brad Paisley
  Produced by Frank Rogers and Chris DuBois, Arista Nashville

Should Win: In Color
Will Win: In Color
Note: I am shocked that “She’s Country” by Jason Aldean is not nominated here.
Actual Winner: “I Run to You”, Lady Antebellum

Vocal Duo of the Year

• Big & Rich
• Brooks & Dunn
• Joey + Rory
• Montgomery Gentry
• Sugarland

Should Win: Joey + Rory
Will Win: Brooks & Dunn (Or Sugarland)
Actual Winner: Sugarland

Vocal Group of the Year

• Eagles
• Lady Antebellum
• Little Big Town
• Rascal Flatts
• Zac Brown Band

Should Win: Zac Brown Band
Will Win: Lady Antebellum
Actual Winner: Lady Antebellum

Musical Event of the Year

• “Cowgirls Don’t Cry” Brooks & Dunn ft. Reba McEntire
• “Down The Road” Kenny Chesney (with Mac McAnally)
• “Everything But Quits” Lee Ann Womack (duet with George Strait)
• “I Told You So” Carrie Underwood ft. Randy Travis
• “Old Enough” The Raconteurs ft. Ricky Skaggs and Ashley Monroe
• “Start a Band” Brad Paisley ft. Keith Urban

Should Win: Everything But Quits
Will Win: I Told You So
Actual Winner: “Start A Band,” Brad Paisley (duet with Keith Urban), Arista Nashville

New Artist

• Randy Houser
• Jamey Johnson
• Jake Owen
• Darius Rucker
• Zac Brown Band

Should Win: Zac Brown Band
Will Win: Jamey Johnson
Actual Winner: Darius Rucker

Male Vocalist

• Kenny Chesney
• Brad Paisley
• Darius Rucker
• George Strait
• Keith Urban

Should Win: Brad Paisley
Will Win: Brad Paisley
Actual Winner: Brad Paisley

Female Vocalist

• Miranda Lambert
• Reba McEntire
• Martina McBride
• Taylor Swift
• Carrie Underwood

Should Win: Miranda Lambert
Will Win: Taylor Swift or Carrie Underwood
Actual Winner: Taylor Swift

Entertainer of the Year

• Kenny Chesney
• Brad Paisley
• George Strait
• Taylor Swift
• Keith Urban

Should Win: Brad Paisley
Will Win: Kenny Chesney
Actual Winner:

Total: 6 of 11

Didn’t realize these were the “Taylor Swift Awards”. Unreal.

Author: Jamie: A 20-something music lover of all types. Some of my favorites include Garth Brooks, Lori McKenna, Patty Griffin, Jessica Harp, Elvis Presley, and Johnny Cash.