CMA Awards air tonight on ABC; Full list of nominees + my predictions

Hosted by Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley for the third time in a row, the 44th Annual Country Music Association Awards/The CMAs, air live from Music City at 8/7c, Wednesday night. Just prior to the show, WKRN, News 2, Nashville's local ABC affiliate will begin coverage of the stars' arrivals on this year's Red Carpet. Immediately following the CMAs and local news, News 2 will wrap up their night-long coverage with a post-awards telecast.

Here's a look at all the nominees with my predictions BOLDED.

2010 CMA Nominees

Entertainer of the Year

Lady Antebellum
Miranda Lambert
Brad Paisley
Keith Urban
Zac Brown Band

(By her record-breaking number of nominations alone, it should be Miranda, but don't be surprised if Lady A takes this one this year.)

Female Vocalist of the Year

Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Reba McEntire
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

(Probably the toughest category. While I'm rooting for Miranda on this one two. Taylor could take this one for a second consecutive year, or Carrie could reclaim the title for a fourth time. If either Martina or Reba win, it would tie their record of four wins each for this category.)

Male Vocalist of the Year

Dierks Bentley
Brad Paisley
Blake Shelton
George Strait
Keith Urban

(Another tough one. Dierks should win for his return to the roots of the genre, but Brad's had this one wrapped up the past three years-running. Blake's Hillbilly Bone (with guest vocals by Trace Adkins) has been sweeping the other country awards, CMT and ACMs. Before Brad's domination, there was three-time winner Keith.Before any of these kids, there was King George himself, who is tied with VInce Gill for most wins in this one with five so far.)

Album of the Year
(Award goes to Artist and Producer(s))

Need You Now
Lady Antebellum
Produced by Paul Worley and Lady Antebellum
Capitol Records Nashville

Play On
Carrie Underwood
Produced by Mark Bright and Max Martin
19 Recordings Limited/Arista Nashville

Revolution
Miranda Lambert
Produced by Frank Liddell and Mike Wrucke
Columbia Nashville

Twang
George Strait
Produced by Tony Brown and George Strait
MCA Nashville

Up On The Ridge
Dierks Bentley
Produced by Jon Randall Stewart
Capitol Records Nashville

(Dierks' album is fantastic, Miranda's is brilliant, but the combo of relative newcomers Lady A and phenominal producer Paul Worley or the legendary duo of George Strait and equally legendary producer Tony Brown will likely win. I can't pick just one on this one.)

Musical Event of the Year
(Award goes to each Artist)

“Bad Angel”
Dierks Bentley featuring Miranda Lambert and Jamey Johnson
Capitol Records Nashville

“Can’t You See”
Zac Brown Band featuring Kid Rock
Southern Ground/Atlantic Records

“Hillbilly Bone”
Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins
Reprise Records

“I’m Alive”
Kenny Chesney with Dave Matthews
BNA Records

“Till The End”
Alan Jackson with Lee Ann Womack
Arista Nashville

(Should be Bad Angel, but with the CMTs and ACMs already loving this one, Blake and Trace will likely win.)

New Artist of the Year

Luke Bryan
Easton Corbin
Jerrod Niemann
Chris Young
Zac Brown Band

(I just saw Jerrod Niemann make his Grand Ole Opry debut last week. He's great! That said, technically it should go to Easton Corbin, since Zac Brown was nominated in this same category last year and to my way of thinking, therefore no longer a "new artist". That said, It will likely go to Zac Brown Band.)

Vocal Group of the Year

Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts
The Band Perry
Zac Brown Band

(This is where the CMAs think they're edgy by voting for substance over style. Lady A is the popular, more commercial radio friendly choice, but Zac Brown has that gritty Southern Rocker thing we all want country to be.)

Vocal Duo of the Year

Brooks & Dunn
Joey + Rory
Montgomery Gentry
Steel Magnolia
Sugarland

(While I'd love it if my recent RAPID FIRE 20 Q subjects, Joey + Rory shocked the industry and took this one, let's face it, its between Sugarland, who's latest album, The Incredible Machine debuted at #1 or the soon to be retired Brooks & Dunn, if for no other reason than to allow them to go out on top, where they spent the majority of their career.)

Single of the Year
(Award goes to Artist and Producer(s))

“A Little More Country Than That”
Easton Corbin
Produced by Carson Chamberlain
Mercury Nashville

“Hillbilly Bone” (will win)
Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins
Produced by Scott Hendricks
Reprise Records

“Need You Now”
Lady Antebellum
Produced by Paul Worley and Lady Antebellum
Capitol Records Nashville

“The House That Built Me” (should win)
Miranda Lambert
Produced by Frank Liddell and Mike Wrucke
Columbia Nashville

“White Liar”
Miranda Lambert
Produced by Frank Liddell and Mike Wrucke
Columbia Nashville

(Here's a case where Miranda vs. Miranda could likely shift the vote to Lady A or Blake. At least if Blake wins, it will still end up in the soon to be married couple's trophy case!)

Song of the Year
(Award goes to Songwriter(s))

“A Little More Country Than That”
Rory Lee Feek, Don Poythress, and Wynn Varble

“Need You Now”
Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott, and Josh Kear

“The House That Built Me”
Tom Douglas and Allen Shamblin

“Toes”
Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette, John Driskell Hopkins, and Shawn Mullins

“White Liar”
Miranda Lambert and Natalie Hemby

(This is an interesting category, in that all but one song was written by a CMA nominated artist. In the case of A Little More Country Than That, co-writer Rory Lee Feek is none other than Rory of Joey + Rory, whereas all the others were co-written by the artist who recorded the nominated versions.. In-keeping with my Team Miranda votes, I'm going for White Liar.

Music Video of the Year
(Award goes to Artist and Director)

“Hillbilly Bone”
Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins
Directed by Roman White

“Need You Now”
Lady Antebellum
Directed by David McClister

“The House That Built Me”
Miranda Lambert
Directed by Trey Fanjoy

“Water”
Brad Paisley
Directed by Jim Shea

“White Liar”
Miranda Lambert
Directed by Chris Hicky

(This is why I love the CMAs! Each of these videos is well-deserving of a win, for a variety of reasons. Hillbilly Bone is pure country fun. Need You Now is sentimental country the likes of which hasn't been seen since the days of George & Tammy, Johnny & June or Loretta & Conway. Paisley's Water took on new meaning for Music City after the devastating floods that washed through our city back in May, so Nashville might lift up the video as an anthem. As for Miranda's two entries, The nostalgia of The House That Built Me is in direct contrast to White Liar, and country music fans have cheered on the jilted lover hell-bent on revenge since Wanda Jackson, the original country music riot grrrrl belted out Fujiyama Mama and This Gun Don't Care Who It Shoots!)

Musician of the Year

Paul Franklin – Steel Guitar
Dann Huff – Guitar
Brent Mason – Guitar
Mac McAnally – Guitar
Randy Scruggs – Guitar

(These men have all been nominated multiple time in this cateogry, with Franklin the lone hold-out as a winner, he's becoming the Susan Lucci of the CMAs. Here's hoping this is Paul's year. It's been a long time coming.)

Think I've got it wrong? Be sure and comment with your picks and pans of this year's nominees.

Tune into the CMAs on ABC tonight. ABC.com will stream coverage of the arrivals beginning at 6/5c, with commentary from Jillian Harris, Brett Chukeman and Jake Whetter. Taking a cue from CMT, Ellen DeGeneres has enlisted the help of country cutie Kellie Pickler, so be sure to tune into Ellen Thursday for Kellie's Red Carpet coverage.