Yes, I know what you may thinking. Bro-country with a spin on it. Wrong. This isn't bro-country at all. In fact it's rather depressing.

Basically the narrator has this honeymoon all planned out, but then he and his fiancee break up, but he can't return his plane tickets, so he tapes her picture to the seat next to his and gets drunk. On a plane. It's all quite hilarious.

Dierks is in fine form as a storyteller and dials in his inner flight alcoholic perfectly during the bridge where he drunk dials his ex and tells her to kiss his ass. And it's insanely catchy.

This is an outstanding single on all levels. It's hilarious, dark, and fun all at the same time. It's a gem.


Grade: A

Listen: "Drunk on a Plane"

Oh. Another new male artist. With another bro song. How original.

Yes, Dylan Scott's debut single is insanely dull lyrically. Same old topic. "Yo, girl you're so sexy" (not quite that bad but you get the point). But I kinda like this one.

It takes a fair bit to make a bro-country song enjoyable. You need to have a kick-ass melody, production and vocal performance. Here's the good news: "Makin' This Boy Go Crazy" perfects those 3 elements.

This is catchy. Like, really catchy. The line of "oh, girl you make me feel like whoa" will be stuck in your head for days. This sounds good. It's fairly light on the production. Which is good because Dylan Scott is an excellent vocalist. He sounds really similar to Brett Eldredge. Which is a good thing.

So yeah. Poor lyrically, outstanding on all other fronts. I like it.


Grade: B
Listen: "Makin' This Boy Go Crazy"

2 albums into his career, Lee Brice has accomplished a fair bit. 5 top 10 singles, 3 of those being #1's, along with the longest chart run in country music history ("Love Like Crazy") and a bunch of CMA, ACM, and Grammy nominees. To make all that even more impressive, is it was done under Curb Records, and hasn't resorted to selling out to the bro crowd.

He maintains his status as a quality artist recording quality material with lead single "I Don't Dance", and looks likely to continue his red hot radio stretch.

Yes, it's a ballad. Radio hates ballads. Radio has become so anti-ballad that even if you're a star like Keith Urban, you still can't get one up the charts with ease. If you're a female artist, just forget about it. But Lee Brice has somehow managed to get a few of them to the top, and "I Don't Dance" shows no signs of breaking this stretch.

It's a heartfelt love ballad about a man who, despite having no dancing ability whatsoever, is still spinning her around in circles. Paired up with a restrained production, a nice melody, and a sincere performance, and you have another excellent single from one of the most consistent male artists on radio today.


Grade: A-
Listen: "I Don't Dance"

Entertainer of the year

Should win:

Luke Bryan - S14
Blake Shelton
Miranda Lambert
George Strait- MM
Taylor Swift

Will win:

Luke Bryan - S14, MM
Blake Shelton
Miranda Lambert
George Strait
Taylor Swift

sabre14: If you want to talk about who's truly been the best entertainer, I think it's hands down Luke Bryan. Though he had a sub-par single last year to frankly put it nicely that caused some controversy with the Bro-country movement. But he's become the must see touring act of any country superstar today. Plus having three #1 singles and a platinum album doesn't hurt either.

Markus: Another year, another Carrie Underwood snub. I'm not even a big Carrie fan, but come on. It's ridiculous. Out of these, Bryan had the biggest year but it would be awesome if George could snag the ACM entertainer as well. 


Male Vocalist of the year


Should win:


Blake Shelton
Luke Bryan
Jason Aldean - S14
Keith Urban - MM
Lee Brice

Will win:

Blake Shelton - S14
Luke Bryan - MM
Jason Aldean
Keith Urban
Lee Brice

sabre14: Not exactly crazy about any of the nominees, but if I had to pick, Jason has had both chart success and touring success to nab this award. Unfortunately very little seems to stop team Blake right now. Everything he touches turns to gold and this award I believe will be no different.


Markus: Keith released one of my favorite albums of last year with Fuse, so he gets my vote based on personal preference. It's a 2 horse race between the two hosts for this award, I'll give the slight edge to Luke. On another note, yay for new blood!

Female vocalist of the year

Should win:

Carrie Underwood
Miranda Lambert - S14
Taylor Swift
Kacey Musgraves - MM
Sheryl Crow

Will win:

Carrie Underwood
Miranda Lambert - S14, MM
Taylor Swift
Kacey Musgraves
Sheryl Crow


sabre14: I love Kacey and Carrie but Kacey is still too new and didn't have enough success to justify this award, and Carrie went dark the second half of last year. Miranda I feel has had the success to get the Female vocalist award once again.


Markus: Kacey released my favorite album of the year, and one of my favorite singles of the year. If it were up to me she'd get it but the voters love Miranda so she'll get it again.



Vocal Group of the year

Should win:

Little Big Town
The Band Perry - S14
Zac Brown Band - MM
Lady Antebellum
Eli Young Band

Will win:

Little Big Town
The Band Perry - S14, MM
Zac Brown Band
Lady Antebellum
Eli Young Band

sabre14: I know I said this is was The Band Perry's time to win this award at the CMA's, but I really can't see them not winning here. I'm personally not a big fan of their most recent album or the music in general, but they have had the best success of the group's this year.


Markus: How has ZBB not won this damn award yet. They've been the most consistent group in terms of success (and quality in my opinion). Yet they have never won this at the CMA's, or the ACM's. Highly doubt it changes this year, it's TBP's to lose.



Duo of the year

Should win:

Thompson Square - S14
Dan + Shay
Florida-Georgia Line - MM
Big & Rich
Love and Theft

Will win:

Thompson Square
Dan + Shay
Florida-Georgia Line - S14, MM
Big & Rich
Love and Theft

sabre14: Before you say, wait, how could you think that Thompson Square should win after the year FGL has had. Thompson Square for my personal taste has the better overall music, and they had a pretty nice year themselves. A #1 single and another long lasting top 5. But nothing I feel will stop from FGL getting the win, with the unmatched success of 2013 that maybe has never been seen before.

Markus: FGL have had 4 (!) #1 singles within the eligibility period. That's insane. No way they lose this.



New Artist of the year

Should win: 

Kip Moore - S14, MM
Justin Moore
Brett Eldredge

Will win:

Kip Moore
Justin Moore - MM
Brett Eldredge - S14

sabre14: Very close call between all three nominees. Personally I feel Justin Moore should not even be in this category but it is what it is. I will give the slight edge to Kip on who I feel should win for musical execution alone. But Brett's massively successful single "Don't Ya" will give him the win.


Markus: Kip is one of my favorite artist right now, but Justin has the biggest fanbase and is the most familiar name, despite the fact he shouldn't even be nominated... 



Single of the year

Should win:

Florida-Georgia Line, "Cruise" - MM
Tim McGraw f/ Taylor Swift and Keith Urban, "Highway Don't Care"
Lee Brice, "I Drive Your Truck"
Miranda Lambert, "Mama's Broken Heart"
Darius Rucker, "Wagon Wheel" - S14

Will win:

Florida-Georgia Line, "Cruise"
Tim McGraw f/ Taylor Swift and Keith Urban, "Highway Don't Care"
Lee Brice, "I Drive Your Truck"
Miranda Lambert, "Mama's Broken Heart"
Darius Rucker, "Wagon Wheel" - S14, MM

sabre14: "Wagon Wheel" dominated every category in terms of chart success. It's recurrent play was strong and finished #2 on Billboard year end chart. It's currently the fifth best selling song by a country male solo artist. "Cruise" peaked in December of 2012, and though it too had a ridiculously strong recurrent play, it's overall body of work wasn't as deep into the past year as "Wagon Wheel" was.


Markus: Strong group of nominees. Thinking "Wagon Wheel" will barely squeak it out over "Cruise".



Song of the year

Should win:

"Every Storm (Runs Out Of Rain)", Gary Allan
"I Drive Your Truck", Lee Brice - MM
"Mama's Broken Heart", Miranda Lambert - S14
"Mine Would Be You", Blake Shelton
"Wagon Wheel", Darius Rucker


Will win:

"Every Storm (Runs Out Of Rain)", Gary Allan
"I Drive Your Truck", Lee Brice - S14, MM
"Mama's Broken Heart", Miranda Lambert
"Mine Would Be You", Blake Shelton
"Wagon Wheel", Darius Rucker

sabre14: Lee's song seems to have struck a major chord with the award shows and fans alike. Miranda's, which was written by Kacey Musgraves, Shane MacAnally, and Brandy Clark, saw a unique style of song that was both well executed and refreshing on country radio this past year. Though I believe the hot streak that "I Drive Your Truck" is on will continue like it did at the CMA's, and will get Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington, and Jimmy Yeary the win.

Markus: Another fine group of nominees. I'm guessing "I Drive Your Truck" will on emotional heft.


Album of the year

Should win:

Kacey Musgraves, Same Trailer Different Park - S14, MM
Luke Bryan, Crash My Party
Blake Shelton, Based on a True Story...
Tim McGraw, Two Lanes of Freedom
Florida-Georgia Line, Here's to the Good Times


Will win:

Kacey Musgraves, Same Trailer Different Park
Luke Bryan, Crash My Party - S14
Blake Shelton, Based on a True Story... - MM
Tim McGraw, Two Lanes of Freedom
Florida-Georgia Line, Here's to the Good Times

sabre14: I just can't give the benefit of the doubt for the ACM's to see it my way. Kacey to me had the very best album in the past year. It had a very well done under produced production, amazing lyrical content and clever song subjects like her first two singles. But Luke I predict will ride the hot streak he's on and the success of Crash My Party and it's singles will be too much to look past. 

Markus: Kacey should win and it's not even close.


Vocal Event of the year

Should win:

"Boys 'Round Here", Blake Shelton feat. Pistol Annies and Friends
"Cruise (Remix)", Florida-Georgia Line feat. Nelly
"We Were Us", Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert
"Highway Don't Care", Tim McGraw f/ Taylor Swift and Keith Urban - S14, MM
"Wagon Wheel", Darius Rucker feat. Lady Antebellum

Will win:

"Boys 'Round Here", Blake Shelton feat. Pistol Annies and Friends
"Cruise (Remix)", Florida-Georgia Line feat. Nelly
"We Were Us", Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert
"Highway Don't Care", Tim McGraw f/ Taylor Swift and Keith Urban - S14, MM
"Wagon Wheel", Darius Rucker feat. Lady Antebellum

sabre14: To me this was one of the very best singles of 2013, and proves that McGraw is still capable of good music, though his recent offering makes me wonder if he's feeling OK. The trade off of vocals and the writing of this song were top notch and features some serious star power with Swift and Urban.


Markus: One of my favorites of 2013, I think the star power will be too much too handle.



Music Video of the year

Should win:

"Better Dig Two", The Band Perry
"Blowin' Smoke", Kacey Musgraves
"Highway Don't Care", Tim McGraw f/ Taylor Swift and Keith Urban - S14
"I Drive Your Truck", Lee Brice
"Mama's Broken Heart", Miranda Lambert
"Two Black Cadillacs", Carrie Underwood

Will win:

"Better Dig Two", The Band Perry - S14
"Blowin' Smoke", Kacey Musgraves
"Highway Don't Care", Tim McGraw f/ Taylor Swift and Keith Urban
"I Drive Your Truck", Lee Brice
"Mama's Broken Heart", Miranda Lambert
"Two Black Cadillacs", Carrie Underwood

sabre14: For some reason I feel "Better Dig Two" will pull this one out. I do believe that in terms of quality, there was no better video this past year than "Highway Don't Care". Don't sleep on "Two Black Cadillacs" from Carrie as well.