Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood will be back in the saddle tonight, hosting the 2018 CMA Awards.

Keith, Carrie and Lauren Alaina are also scheduled to perform during the show, and we’ve also been promised a glimpse at some aspiring Season 17 American Idol contestants.

Following online submissions, three singers have been invited to perform country covers that will air during the show. Fans will vote for their favorite. The winner will be announced during Good Morning America on Friday and receive an automatic golden ticket to Idol’s Hollywood round.

As for the awards themselves, Keith’s competition for the night’s premier honor includes Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney and Chris Stapleton.

Keith was Entertainer of the Year back in 2005. He was nominated in the same category last year, but Garth Brooks took home the award.

Carries has two nominations, including female vocalist of the year, a category she won every year from 2006-2008 and again in 2016. Her other nomination is for video of the year.

And, somehow, Lauren was eligible for a best new artist nomination for a second straight year, which sorta defies logic because … well, it’s a second straight year and because she released a debut album that didn’t exactly go unnoticed back in 2011.

Below are the singing show nominees and the competition they face. Head here for a complete list of performers and presenters tonight.

Oh, and if you love red carpet strolls, you can stream that on the CMA website between at 6:30. Former Idol standout Kellie Pickler, Ben Aaron and Kelly Sutton will host.

Male Vocalist of the Year: Keith Urban, Dierks Bentley, Luke Combs, Thomas Rhett, Chris Stapleton

Female Vocalist of the Year: Carrie Underwood, Kelsea Ballerini, Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves

Album of the Year: Graffiti U, Keith Urban; From a Room Vol. 2, Chris Stapleton; Golden Hour, Kacey Musgraves; Life Changes, Thomas Rhett; The Mountain, Dierks Bentley

New Artist of the Year: Lauren Alaina, Luke Combs, Chris Janson, Midland, Brett Young

Song of the Year (for songwriters): “Tequila,” Dan + Shay (Dan Smyers, Nicolle Galyon, Jordan Reynolds); “Body Like a Back Road,” Sam Hunt (Sam Hunt, Zach Crowell, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne); “Broken Halos,” Chris Stapleton (Chris Stapleton, Mike Henderson); “Drowns the Whiskey,” Jason Aldean with Miranda Lambert (Josh Thompson, Brandon Kinney, Jeff Middleton); “Drunk Girl,” Chris Janson (Chris Janson, Scooter Caruso, Tom Douglas)

Music Video of the Year: “Cry Pretty,” Carrie Underwood; “Babe,” Sugarland; “Drunk Girl,” Chris Janson; “Marry Me,” Thomas Rhett; “Tequila,” Dan + Shay