In April, local indie-country sensation Margo Price made history when her debut LP, Midwest Farmer's Daughter (Third Man), entered at No. 10 on Billboard's Top Country Album's chart. It was the first time in the chart's 52 years that a solo female artist had debuted in the chart's top bracket. Days later, Price appeared as musical guest on SNL. You'd think those cap-feathers alone — not to mention Daughter's widespread and well-deserved critical acclaim — would be enough to put Price on the Country Music Association's radar.

But apparently not?

The CMA announced nominees for its 50th annual awards and Price's name is nowhere to be found, at least not in the list of major categories that make the show's telecast (Nov. 2, on ABC). Curiously (or perhaps not so curiously), contemporary trad-country cult hero Sturgill Simpson's name is also missing. His 2016 album A Sailor's Guide to Earth (which was a pretty big deal to music fans who still wait with baited breath for full-length albums to drop) went to No.1 on Billboard's Folk Albums, Top Country Albums and Top Rock Albums charts, and No. 3 on the U.S. Billboard 200.

I'm an outcast, and I'm a stray and I plan to stay that way... — Margo Price (@MissMargoPrice) August 31, 2016



Meanwhile, in the wake of his coronation as credible country music's great hope at last year's CMAs, Chris Stapleton is nominated in five of the show's 12 major categories, including the coveted Entertainer of the Year. In light of Luke Bryan taking the top prize the last two years (he's up for it again this year), that's significant if not surprising.



But the fact that Stapleton stands out (and by such an overwhelming degree of contrast) speaks to the notion that these awards are celebrating a different genre entirely than the one the likes of Simpson and Price identify with. Or the CMA is just that ratings-focused and out of touch. With that in mind, it would be easy to write off the CMAs as irrelevant to the cause of elevating actual art, were it not for the fact the CMAs are indeed very relevant to exposing cream-of-crop country to masses who appreciate quality.

Last year Stapleton — a veteran band singer and Music Row songsmith — turned in a show-stopping performance, swept three of the show's major categories, sold 1.5 million records as a result and is now a genuine star. Is that not proof positive that the big-box radio audience Music Row is so concerned with is ready to hear (and probably love) a record like Midwest Farmer's Daughter?

Many of the nominees listed below — Garth Brooks, Kacey Musgraves, Eric Church and Miranda Lambert, to name a few — are great artists who make music that has nuance. Others are not so great. Sure, music is subjective, but if someone has a good argument for why nominating Cole Swindell for New Artist of the Year isn't tantamount to nominating the Olive Garden's corporate chef for a James Beard Award, I'd love to hear it.





Entertainer of the Year

Garth Brooks

Luke Bryan

Chris Stapleton

Carrie Underwood

Keith Urban



Album of the Year

Black, Dierks Bentley

Hero, Maren Morris

Mr. Misunderstood, Eric Church

Ripcord, Keith Urban

Storyteller, Carrie Underwood



Single of the Year

"Die a Happy Man," Thomas Rhett

"Humble and Kind"," Tim McGraw

"My Church," Maren Morris

"Nobody to Blame," Chris Stapleton

"Record Year," Eric Church



Song of the Year

"Burning House," Cam

"Die a Happy Man," Thomas Rhett

"Humble and Kind," Tim McGraw

"My Church"," Maren Morris

"Record Year," Eric Church



Male Vocalist of the Year

Dierks Bentley

Eric Church

Tim McGraw

Chris Stapleton

Keith Urban



Female Vocalist of the Year

Kelsea Ballerini

Miranda Lambert

Maren Morris

Kacey Musgraves

Carrie Underwood



New Artist of the Year

Kelsea Ballerini

Brothers Osborne

Maren Morris

Old Dominion

Cole Swindell



Vocal Duo of the Year

Brothers Osborne

Dan + Shay

Florida Georgia Line

Joey + Rory

Maddie & Tae



Vocal Group of the Year

Lady Antebellum

Little Big Town

Old Dominion

Rascal Flatts

Zac Brown Band



Music Video of the Year

"Burning House," Cam

"Fire Away," Chris Stapleton

"Humble and Kind," Tim McGraw

"Record Year," Eric Church

"Somewhere on a Beach," Dierks Bentley



Musical Event of the Year

"Different For Girls," Dierks Bentley feat. Elle King

"Home Alone Tonight," Luke Bryan featuring Karen Fairchild

"The Fighter,"Keith Urban (featuring Carrie Underwood)

"Think of You," Chris Young (duet with Cassadee Pope)

"You Are My Sunshine," Morgane Stapleton with Chris Stapleton



Musician of the Year

Jerry Douglas (Dobro/Lap Steel Guitar)

Paul Franklin (Steel Guitar)

Dann Huff (Guitar)

Brent Mason (Guitar)

Derek Wells (Guitar)

