The 49th Annual Country Music Association Awards were held on November 4, 2015, at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville and were hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, marking their eighth year as co-hosts.
The nominations for the 49th CMA Awards were announced on September 9, 2015, on Good Morning America by Steven Tyler and Kelsea Ballerini.
Winners and nominees The winners are in Bold. Entertainer of the Year Album of the Year Luke Bryan Garth Brooks Kenny Chesney Eric Church Miranda Lambert Traveler — Chris Stapleton Pageant Material — Kacey Musgraves Pain Killer — Little Big Town The Big Revival — Kenny Chesney Old Boots, New Dirt — Jason Aldean Male Vocalist of the Year Female Vocalist of the Year Chris Stapleton Dierks Bentley Luke Bryan Eric Church Blake Shelton Miranda Lambert Kelsea Ballerini Kacey Musgraves Carrie Underwood Lee Ann Womack Vocal Group of the Year Vocal Duo of the Year Little Big Town Lady Antebellum Rascal Flatts The Band Perry Zac Brown Band Florida Georgia Line Brothers Osborne Dan + Shay Maddie & Tae Thompson Square Single of the Year Song of the Year "Girl Crush" — Little Big Town "American Kids" — Kenny Chesney "I Don't Dance" — Lee Brice "Take Your Time" — Sam Hunt "Talladega" — Eric Church "Girl Crush" — Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna, and Liz Rose "American Kids" — Rodney Clawson, Luke Laird, and Shane McAnally "Like a Cowboy" — Randy Houser and Brice Long "Like a Wrecking Ball" —Eric Church and Casey Beathard "Take Your Time" — Sam Hunt, Josh Osborne, and Shane McAnallyNew Artist of the YearMusician of the Year Chris Stapleton Kelsea Ballerini Sam Hunt Maddie & Tae Thomas Rhett Mac McAnally, Guitar Sam Bush, Mandolin Jerry Douglas, Dobro Paul Franklin, Steel Guitar Dann Huff, GuitarMusic Video of the YearMusical Event of the Year "Girl in a Country Song" — Maddie & Tae; (Dir. TK McKamy) "Biscuits" — Kacey Musgraves; (Dir. Marc Klasfeld) "Girl Crush" — Little Big Town; (Dir. Karla Welch and Matthew Welch) "Little Red Wagon" — Miranda Lambert; (Dir. Trey Fanjoy) "Something in the Water" — Carrie Underwood; (Dir. Raj Kapoor) "Raise 'Em Up" — Keith Urban and Eric Church "Lonely Tonight" — Blake Shelton and Ashley Monroe "Django and Jimmie" — Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard "Smokin' and Drinkin'" — Miranda Lambert and Little Big Town "Wild Child" —Kenny Chesney and Grace PotterWillie Nelson Lifetime Achievement AwardJohnny Cash (posthumous)
Award Recipient Ref Joe Talbot Award George Jones (posthumus)
Performers Performer(s) Song(s) Keith Urban "John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16" Little Big Town "Girl Crush" Chris Stapleton Justin Timberlake "Tennessee Whiskey""Drink You Away" Maddie & Tae "Girl in a Country Song" Miranda Lambert "Bathroom Sink" Blake Shelton "Gonna" Kacey Musgraves Dime Store Cowgirl Eric Church Mr. Misunderstood Carrie Underwood "Smoke Break" Thomas RhettFall Out Boy "Crash And Burn""Uma Thurman" Brooks & DunnReba McEntire "Why Haven't I Heard From You?""Play Something Country" Sam Hunt "Take Your Time" Jason Aldean "Gonna Know We Were Here" Luke Bryan "Strip It Down" John MellencampKeith Urban "Pink Houses" Kelsea Ballerini "Love Me Like You Mean It" Kenny Chesney "Save It For a Rainy Day" Hank Williams, Jr Eric Church "Are You Ready For the Country?" Dierks Bentley Lindsey Stirling "Riser" Pentatonix Tribute to Oak Ridge Boys"Elvira" Zac Brown Band "Beautiful Drug" Florida Georgia Line "Confession" Brad Paisley "Country Nation"
Presenters Presenter(s)AwardEdie Brickell and Steve MartinSingle of the YearBetty Cantrell and Darius RuckerSong of the YearCole Swindell, Heather O'Reilly, and Megan RapinoeVocal Duo of the YearPentatonixVocal Group of the YearLee Ann Womack and Keifer SutherlandAlbum of the YearBrett Eldredge and CamNew Artist of the YearCharles Kelley and Hannah DavisFemale Vocalist of the YearErika Christensen and Jennifer NettlesMale Vocalist of the YearReba McEntireEntertainer of the Year
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