The nominees for the 2024 CMA Awards have been announced, and while there are several surprising additions, like Mitchell Tenpenny, Riley Green and Nate Smith all receiving first-time nominations, there are also several artists who were inexplicably left out of the list of nominees. Keep reading to see ten artists who should have been nominated, but were not.

1. Kane Brown

Kane Brown‘s omission from the nominees for the 2024 CMA Awards is truly shocking. The father of three celebrated two back-to-back No. 1 singles, both with “Bury Me in Georgia” and “I Can Feel It,” and currently has a Top 10 hit with “Miles On It,” his collaboration with Marshmello. He also will soon wrap up his massive  In The Air Tour, playing arenas all over the country, where he was joined by acts like Chris Young, Tyler Hubbard, Cole Swindell, Jon Pardi and Bailey Zimmerman. If anyone deserved to be nominated this year, it’s Brown.

Photo Credit: Alex Alvga

2. Scotty McCreery

Scotty McCreery‘s elimination from being nominated once again is disappointing, especially considering the incredible year he has had. The 30-year-old released his Rise & Fall album, which debuted at No. 1, and was also named one of Billboard’s 50 Best Albums of 2024 (So Far). The debut single from the record, “Cab In A Solo,” became his sixth No. 1 single, and his current “Fall of Summer” single was the most-added at radio when it was released. McCreery was also inducted into the Grand Ole Opry, sealing his place in country music.

Artists with far less success have received multiple nominations, so it’s baffling how McCreery keeps getting passed over for nominations.

 

3. Chris Young

Chris Young continues to put out great music and sell out tour dates, but he can’t seem to get recognition for his accomplishments. Young, who just dropped his Young Love & Saturday Nights album, released two hit singles, both “Looking For You” and the title track of his latest record, and also headlined a record-breaking crowd for Nashville’s Let Freedom Sing! Music City July 4th celebration.

Inexplicably, Young hasn’t had an awards nomination since 2021, and has yet to win any CMA Award. It’s truly shocking.

 

4. Carly Pearce

Carly Pearce has, for the first time since 2019, not received a single nomination, although her career is only continuing to grow. The Kentucky native had a No. 1 hit with “What He Didn’t Do,” plus a Grammy-nominated Top 5 hit with Chris Stapleton for “We Don’t Fight Anymore.” She also spent a lot of the year opening for the legendary Tim McGraw, and released her soul-baring fourth studio album, hummingbird. It’s such a disappointment that Pearce wasn’t acknowledged for her hard work this year.

 

 

5. Luke Bryan

Luke Bryan‘s last CMA Awards nomination was in 2022, even though he hosted the show the last two years, working alongside Peyton Manning. Shockingly, his last CMA Awards win was in 2015, when he took home the night’s highest honor, Entertainer of the Year. His lack of acknowledgement from the country music industry is in no way an indication of his success, or his hard work.

Bryan had a hit single with “But I Got A Beer In My Hand,” and headlined his massive Mind Of A Country Boy Tour. He also served as a judge on American Idol, continues to maintain a strong presence on social media, and is one of country music’s biggest advocates.

 

6. Thomas Rhett

Thomas Rhett has had a string of consecutive No. 1 hits, including “Angels (Don’t Always Have Wings)” and “Mamaw’s House,” the latter a duet with Morgan Wallen. Rhett currently has a Top 20 hit with “Beautiful As You,” the debut single from his About A Woman album, out now. The father of four also spent much of 2023 on his Home Team Tour, and deserved to be recognized for all of his efforts in the last year.

 

7. Carrie Underwood

Carrie Underwood continues to outwork, and outperform, most country artists, even if she is no longer receiving industry recognition for her efforts. The American Idol alum, who one year ago was nominated for Entertainer of the Year, last won a CMA Award in 2018, for Female Vocalist of the Year. This year marks the first year Underwood hasn’t been nominated since 2006, when she won both the Horizon Award and Female Vocalist of the Year.

In addition to headlining her REFLECTIONS: The Las Vegas Residency, which she keeps extending due to fan demand, Underwood hat a hit single with “Out Of That Truck,” from her  Denim & Rhinestones (Deluxe Edition) album, which was released in 2023.

Underwood also announced this year that she would return to Idol, this time as a judge, in 2025.

 

8. Jason Aldean

Jason Aldean‘s elimination from the list of nominees is another head-scratcher. Aldean, who was also eliminated from the nominees list last year, continues to work hard in country music, with or without any recognition.

Aldean extended his successful Highway Desperado Tour into 2024, due to fan demand. He also released his Highway Desperado album, and had hit singles with “Try That In A Small Town” and “Let Your Boys Be Country.”

 

9. Kenny Chesney

Kenny Chesney‘s lack of receiving any nominations this year is truly a mystery. Chesney released his BORN album earlier this year, which included his 33rd No. 1 hit, with “Take Her Home,”

He also headlined his largely sold-out The Sun Goes Down Tour, playing in stadiums all over the country, which ended with an unprecedented three-night run at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. There isn’t an artist in country music who works harder, nor is there one who is more focused on their fans, than Chesney.

 

10. Jordan Davis

Jordan Davis deserved a few nominations, at least for his songwriting, if not for his outstanding career as a singer. Davis had two back-to-back No. 1 singles, with “Next Thing You Know” and “Tuscon Too Late,” two songs he wrote from his 2023 Bluebird Days album. Davis won a CMA Award in 2022 for Song of the Year for his “Buy Dirt” collaboration with Luke Bryan, the only CMA Award he has won so far. It’s truly a bummer that Davis’ hard work isn’t recognized more.