ACM Awards: Who Will Win, Who Should Win

by Julian Spivey
Vocal Event of the Year
Nominees:
*”Old Alabama” Brad Paisley feat. Alabama
*”Don’t You Wanna Stay” Jason Aldean & Kelly Clarkson
*”Country Boy” Aaron Lewis feat. Charlie Daniels & George Jones
*”Remind Me” Brad Paisley & Carrie Underwood
*”You & Tequila” Kenny Chesney feat. Grace Potter

Who Should Win: “You & Tequila” – It’s almost a toss up between “You & Tequila” and “Remind Me,” as both were probably top 5 songs last year in country music, but I like the Chesney/Potter tune just a little bit more.
Who Will Win: “Don’t You Wanna Stay” - Despite “You & Tequila” and “Remind Me” being far superior, Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson’s “Don’t You Wanna Stay” duet was the bigger hit and will likely win.

Music Video of the Year
Nominees:
*”Tattoos On This Town” Jason Aldean
*”Just a Kiss” Lady Antebellum
*”Homeboy” Eric Church
*”Red Solo Cup” Toby Keith
*”Mean” Taylor Swift

Who Should Win: “Homeboy” – Alright, I know that this award is strictly for music videos, but I always like to see the best song win either way. For that reason, I think Eric Church’s “Homeboy” should be the winner. It’s a shame that guy hasn’t won a major award yet.
Who Will Win: “Mean” or “Red Solo Cup” – I can’t even make an official prediction as to who will take home this award, that’s how close it is. It really depends on whether the ACM Awards want to be serious or show a sense of humor. If serious, expect Taylor Swift’s “Mean” to win. If funny, expect Toby Keith’s “Red Solo Cup” to win.

Song of the Year

Nominees:
*”Just a Kiss” Lady Antebellum
*”Home” Dierks Bentley
*”Crazy Girl” Eli Young Band
*”Threaten Me With Heaven” Vince Gill
*”You & Tequila” Kenny Chesney feat. Grace Potter
Who Should Win: “You & Tequila” – Simply put Kenny Chesney’s “You & Tequila” was the best song nominated this year.

Who Will Win – “Crazy Girl” – I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised to see Lady Antebellum’s “Just a Kiss” or Dierks Bentley’s “Home” win this award, but I’ll go with Eli Young Band’s “Crazy Girl,” which was the most played country song of 2011.

Single of the Year:

Nominees:
*”Don’t You Wanna Stay” Jason Aldean & Kelly Clarkson
*”Crazy Girl” Eli Young Band
*”Red Solo Cup” Toby Keith
*”You & Tequila” Kenny Chesney feat. Grace Potter
*”Tomorrow” Chris Young

Who Should Win: “You & Tequila” – See reasoning above.

Who Will Win: “Crazy Girl” – See reasoning above.

New Artist of the Year
Nominees:
*Brantley Gilbert
*Hunter Hayes
*Scotty McCreery

Who Should Win: None of These – In fact, Sunny Sweeney should actually win this award, but wasn’t even nominated … oh, well.

Who Will Win: Scotty McCreery – I think that this award is fan voted (don’t hold me to it), which means Scotty McCreery and his crazy “American Idol” fans will run away with this.

Vocal Group of the Year

Nominees:
*Lady Antebellum
*The Band Perry
*Eli Young Band
*Zac Brown Band
*Rascal Flatts

Who Should Win: The Band Perry – Some might think I’m playing an April Fool’s Day joke here, but I’m not. Their performances of “You Lie” and “All Your Life” make them well-worthy of this honor.
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Who Will Win: Lady Antebellum – This award used to be the “Rascal Flatts Award,” but country music is no longer short on good vocal groups. This is a packed field this year, but Lady Antebellum seems to have somewhat of a hold on it.

Vocal Duo of the Year

Nominees:
*Love & Theft
*Montgomery Gentry
*Steel Magnolia
*Sugarland
*Thompson Square

Who Should Win: Thompson Square – Montgomery Gentry is the best, most talented duo in this category, no doubt, but they don’t deserve the honor this year. Thompson Square should get it just based on their smash “Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not.”

Who Will Win: Sugarland – This is pretty much the “Sugarland Award” now and that won’t change this year, despite a rather uneventful year for the duo.

Album of the Year:

Nominees:
*”My Kinda Party” Jason Aldean
*“Own The Night” Lady Antebellum
*”Hemingway’s Whiskey” Kenny Chesney
*”Chief” Eric Church
*”Four the Record” Miranda Lambert

Who Should Win: “Chief” – There’s no doubt in my mind that Eric Church’s third album “Chief” was the best in country music in 2011. Kenny Chesney’s “Hemingway’s Whiskey” and Miranda Lambert’s “Four the Record” are both great, as well, but Church should run away with this one.

Who Will Win: “My Kinda Party” – There’s little doubt in my mind that Jason Aldean’s “My Kinda Party” is the worst album nominated among this group this year, which is why I’ll be extremely pissed off when his name is announced as winner on Sunday night.
 
Female Vocalist of the Year

Nominees:
*Sara Evans
*Miranda Lambert
*Martina McBride
*Taylor Swift
*Carrie Underwood

Who Should Win: Miranda Lambert – Miranda Lambert is not the most popular female vocalist in this field, but she is world’s better than the other four nominees. This shouldn’t even be a competition.

Who Will Win: Miranda Lambert – This is one of the few awards that I actually think will turn out the way that it should.

Male Vocalist of the Year
Nominees:
*Jason Aldean
*Blake Shelton
*Brad Paisley
*Kenny Chesney
*Chris Young

Who Should Win: Kenny Chesney – Just listen to “You & Tequila” and “Somewhere with You” and tell me this guy doesn’t deserve this honor this year.

Who Will Win: Blake Shelton – This award is very wide open, as well, and I could honestly see any one of these guys taking home the statue. Blake Shelton has been winning this award lately, so I think he will again.

Entertainer of the Year
Nominees:
*Jason Aldean
*Kenny Chesney
*Brad Paisley
*Blake Shelton
*Taylor Swift

Who Should Win: Kenny Chesney – He wasn’t the most talked about country music artist of the last year, but of those nominated he had the best album and best songs. He should be the winner.

Who Will Win: Taylor Swift – Since this honor is one that is voted on by the fans (which makes the night’s biggest honor also the most bogus), Taylor Swift will likely win in a landslide.