Lisa, Jim and friends-of-the-show Elaina Doré Smith and John Shomby sit down to discuss their picks for this year’s CMA Awards winners.
Show Participants
- Lisa Konicki, Editor in Chief
- Jim Casey, Managing Editor
- Elaina Doré Smith, co-host of Nash Nights Live
- John Shomby, Nash Director of Programming at Cumulus Media
Show Links & Notes
The Writers Room’s 2016 CMA Awards Winner Picks
Entertainer of the Year
- Elaina: Garth Brooks
- Jim: Carrie Underwood
- John: Luke Bryan
- Lisa: Keith Urban
- NCD Reader Poll: Carrie Underwood
Female Vocalist of the Year
- Elaina: Carrie Underwood
- Jim: Carrie Underwood
- John: Carrie Underwood
- Lisa: Carrie Underwood
- NCD Reader Poll: Carrie Underwood
Male Vocalist of the Year
- Elaina: Keith Urban
- Jim: Chris Stapleton
- John: Chris Stapleton
- Lisa: Keith Urban
- NCD Reader Poll: Keith Urban
Album of the Year
- Elaina: Ripcord, Keith Urban
- Jim: Ripcord, Keith Urban
- John: Ripcord, Keith Urban
- Lisa: Ripcord, Keith Urban
- NCD Reader Poll: Storyteller, Carrie Underwood
Vocal Group of the Year
- Elaina: Little Big Town
- Jim: Zac Brown Band
- John: Little Big Town
- Lisa: Little Big Town
- NCD Reader Poll: Little Big Town
Vocal Duo of the Year
- Elaina: Florida Georgia Line
- Jim: Florida Georgia Line
- John: Florida Georgia Line
- Lisa: Florida Georgia Line
- NCD Reader Poll: Joey + Rory
New Artist of the Year
- Elaina: Kelsea Ballerini
- Jim: Kelsea Ballerini
- John: Kelsea Ballerini
- Lisa: Kelsea Ballerini
- NCD Reader Poll: Cole Swindell
Single of the Year
- Elaina: “Die a Happy Man,” Thomas Rhett
- Jim: “Die a Happy Man,” Thomas Rhett
- John: “Die a Happy Man,” Thomas Rhett
- Lisa: “Die a Happy Man,” Thomas Rhett
- NCD Reader Poll: “Humbe and Kind,” Tim McGraw
Song of the Year (Awarded to Songwriter)
- Elaina: “Humble and Kind,” Lori McKenna
- Jim: “Humble and Kind,” Lori McKenna
- John: “Burning House,” Cam, Tyler Johnson, Jeff Bhasker
- Lisa: “Humble and Kind,” Lori McKenna
- NCD Reader Poll: “Record Year,” Eric Church, Jeff Hyde
Musical Event of the Year
- Elaina: “Different for Girls,” Dierks Bentley feat. Elle King
- Jim: “Different for Girls,” Dierks Bentley feat. Elle King
- John: “Different for Girls,” Dierks Bentley feat. Elle King
- Lisa: “Different for Girls,” Dierks Bentley feat. Elle King
- NCD Reader Poll: “Think of You,” Chris Young with Cassadee Pope
Video of the Year
- Elaina: “Somewhere on a Beach,” Dierks Bentley, directed by Wes Edwards
- Jim: “Somewhere on a Beach,” Dierks Bentley, directed by Wes Edwards
- John: “Humble and Kind,” Tim McGraw, directed by Wes Edwards
- Lisa: “Burning House,” Cam, directed by Trey Fanjoy
- NCD Reader Poll: Vote Now!
Musician of the Year
- Elaina: Dan Huff, Guitar
- Jim: Dan Huff, Guitar
- John: Dan Huff, Guitar
- Lisa: Paul Franklin, Steel Guitar
- NCD Reader Poll: Vote Now!
The Writers Room, Ep. 41, 42 minutes
photos by Jason Simanek