Little Big Town, Eric Church top CMA nominations

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Little Big Town crushed it with their song “Girl Crush” and are tied with Eric Church with five nominations each at the 49th annual Country Music Association Awards.

In the nominations announced Wednesday, the four-part vocal group rode the success of the song to nominations for album of the year for “Pain Killer”; vocal group; musical event for a duet with Miranda Lambert; music video; and single of the year. The songwriters for “Girl Crush,” Liz Rose, Lori McKenna and Hillary Lindsey, also received a nomination for song of the year.

Church earned his first nomination for entertainer of the year and was also nominated for male vocalist, single, song and musical event of the year for a duet with Keith Urban.

Six-time CMA winner Lee Ann Womack returned to the nomination list for the first time since 2010 with her nomination for female vocalist, alongside Lambert, Kelsea Ballerini, Kacey Musgraves and Carrie Underwood.

Kenny Chesney earned four nominations: entertainer, single, musical event and album. The songwriters for “American Kids,” Rodney Clawson, Luke Laird and Shane McAnally, also earned a nomination for song of the year.

Underwood and Brad Paisley will host the Nov. 4 awards show at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. The show will air on ABC.