The 2023 CMA Awards nominees are out, and while there are plenty of well-deserved nominations, including Lainey Wilson‘s nine nominations, Jelly Roll getting five nods, and Carrie Underwood‘s Entertainer of the Year nomination, there are also numerous artists who were surprisingly omitted. Keep reading to find ten artists who were inexplicably left off of the list of nominees this year.
1. Thomas Rhett
It’s completely baffling that Thomas Rhett didn’t score even one nomination. The country music superstar just celebrated his 20th No. 1 single, for his “Half of Me” collaboration with Riley Green. He also is on his headlining Home Team Tour, with Cole Swindell and Nate Smith, which sold out his show at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, prompting him to add a second show.
Rhett is currently back in the Top 10 with his song, “Angels,” written about his wife, Lauren Akins. It’s hard to think of an artist more worthy of multiple nominations than Rhett, and it’s unfortunate that he was shut out this year.
2. Scotty McCreery
It’s hard to believe that Scotty McCreery once again finds himself without a single nomination, since there is hardly an artist more worthy than him. The singer-songwriter has had five consecutive No. 1 singles, including his multi-week “Damn Strait” single last year. He followed that with his recent Top 5 “It Matters To Her” single, which is on his Same Truck and Same Truck: The Deluxe Album, and both headlined his own tours and opened for Brooks & Dunnon their REBOOT 2023 Tour.
McCreery, who recently had the most-added single at radio, with “Cab In A Solo” will be inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame this year, so at least he is being recognized for his talent and hard work. Still, it’s disappointing that he has yet to receive even one nomination from the Country Music Association.
3. Tyler Hubbard
Tyler Hubbard received plenty of CMA Awards nominations as one-half of Florida Georgia Line, but he has yet to be nominated for one as a solo artist, although this could have — and should have — been his year. Hubbard celebrated his second No. 1 single with “Dancin’ In The Country,” a song he wrote with Keith Urban, Ross Copperman and Jon Nite.
He spent a lot of the year on the road, and released his eponymous solo album this year. Even a nod for New Artist of the Year would have been a welcome addition for Hubbard.
4. Jon Pardi
Jon Pardi was very deserving of a few CMA Awards nominations this year, so it’s surprising, and disheartening that he didn’t get any. Pardi’s Mr. Saturday Night album came out in September, which included the No. 1 single, “Last Night Lonely,” and his recent hit, “Your Heart or Mine.” He also spent a lot of time on the road. Artists with less success than Pardi received nominations this year, so it’s disappointing that he was eliminated.
5. Luke Bryan
Luke Bryan will get to be on stage at the CMA Awards this year, since he is hosting the ceremony alongside Peyton Manning, but he unfortunately won’t hear his name called. The Georgia native received nominations the last two years, only for his “Buy Dirt” collaboration with Jordan Davis, but hasn’t been nominated for his own music since being nominated for Entertainer of the Year in 2018 — and hasn’t won an award since he won in the Entertainer category in 2015.
But it isn’t for lack of effort. Bryan has continuously released hit singles. He celebrated his 30th No. 1 single late last year with “Country On,” and spent a large part of the year on his headlining Country On Tour. Although he was omitted from the list this year, it definitely wasn’t for lack of effort or qualifications.
6. Carrie Underwood
Okay, we love that Underwood is nominated for Entertainer of the Year — a lot — but that’s her only nomination. Underwood not only has her headlining REFLECTION: The Las Vegas Residency, which had to be extended due to fan demand, as well as her Denim & Rhinestones Tour. She also had her hit single, “Hate My Heart,” plus her current “Out Of That Truck” hit.
Miranda Lambert received a nod in the Female Vocalist of the Year category, even though she only released one recent single, “Strange,” which didn’t crack the Top 40. While we love Lambert’s nomination, it’s maddening that Underwood didn’t receive the same acknowledgment.
7. Jason Aldean
Jason Aldean didn’t receive even one nomination this year, although he more than earned it. Aldean has had a long list of recent hit singles, including “Trouble With a Heartbreak” and “That’s What Tequila Does.” and is spending a large part of the year on his Highway Desperado Tour. There aren’t many artists who work as hard as Aldean, and to see that go unnoticed this year is unfortunate.
8. Kenny Chesney
Kenny Chesney‘s career hasn’t slowed down in almost 30 years, with this past year no exception. Chesney released “Everyone She Knows” and “Beer With My Friends,” his fun collaboration with Old Dominion. He also had his successful I Go Back Tour, with three-time nominee, Kelsea Ballerini. Few country music artists have managed to have a consistent career as long as Chesney, but it would be nice of he received industry recognition for his accomplishments.
9. Dierks Bentley
Not seeing Dierks Bentley‘s name anywhere on the list of CMA Awards nominees is truly shocking. The country music hitmaker had a massive Gravel & Gold Tour, which just wrapped up. He also recently celebrated his 22nd No. 1 hit, with “Gold,” from his Gravel & Gold album, released in February, a project he poured himself into, to make sure it was right. Bentley is known for his work ethic, but raised the bar this year, and more than earned receiving a nomination or two.
10. Parmalee
Parmalee has never, ever been nominated for a CMA Award, but it isn’t because they aren’t trying, at least in recent years. The four-man group, led by Matt Thomas, had two back-to-back No.1 singles, with “Just the Way,” their collaboration with Blanco Brown, followed by their mega-hit, “Take My Name.” That song became the No. 1 song on Billboard‘s year-end Country Airplay chart, an impressive feat that should have earned them at least one nod.
They also toured with Walker Hayes in 2022, opening for Hayes on his Glad You’re Here Tour, While it, disappointingly, wasn’t enough to get them any industry recognition this year, hopefully soon they will receive the attention that is by now long overdue.