Could a pop song win a CMA? Song categories are a hard bet
In a race between country pop-crossovers and traditional drinking songs, the CMA Awards top song categories are hard to predict
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The midterm elections are over, but the contest for the year's best country songs is just around the corner at the Country Music Association Awards.
The two categories, song and single of the year, look similar with three songs nominated in both, but the writers behind the hits say these awards are hard to predict.
Nominees include Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line's "Meant to Be," a pop song that became a monster country hit; country songs that went pop like Dan + Shay's "Tequila" and Sam Hunt's "Body Like a Back Road"; a message song for the #MeToo era and of course, drinking songs.
Songwriter-producer and nominee Shane McAnally called the song of the year category a five-way race with no clear leader.
The CMA Awards will air live on Nov. 14.