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2012 ACM Thoughts & Predictions Part 2

All right, so I've talked about Entertainer and Male and Female Vocalist of the year and now it's time to focus on the Duos, the Groups, the Albums and Singles & Songs of the Year. Lots of ground to cover this time, so I'm going to jump right in:



VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Love and Theft
Montgomery Gentry
Steel Magnolia
Sugarland
Thompson Square

I want to say that I love that Love and Theft got nominated for this. I loved them when they were a trio and I was so happy when the other two decided to continue on as a duo. I'm hoping that they have a lot of success and so it's great to see them getting included in this group. They won't win, but in this case, the nomination itself is good for them.

Meanwhile, my first reaction to this was that it was going to go to Sugarland since they are probably the biggest duo of the five at the moment. But the more I think about it, the more I think that they won't win. Because if we're talking about which one of these five had the biggest years, I'm not convinced that it was them. Sugarland was on the road for most of last year and their live show is one of the best; it amazes me that we don't see them get up for Entertainer. Something that I hope changes in the years to come. But really, when I think of what duos had a great year last year the first one that comes to mind isn't Sugarland. They are a definite second. The first would be Thompson Square. They had a big year and seem to be on the move. I predict that their new single "Glass" will be huge for them and they're just going to get bigger and bigger.

It might be a bold choice, but hey, I'm feeling bold: I'm calling this one for Thompson Square.



VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
The Band Perry
Eli Young Band
Lady Antebellum
Rascal Flatts
Zac Brown Band


As a Little Big Town fan, it pains me that they are not included in this list. But while they are one of the best vocal groups in country music, it wouldn't have been right for them to make the cut over the others. 2011 was good to all of these groups. This is another tough one to call.


First you have Rascal Flatts who I feel are the best vocal group of the bunch by far. Then you have Lady Antebellum who has more or less dominated this category lately - they're going to be tough to beat. You have The Band Perry who just had "All Your Life" go #1 and "If I Die Young" reach 4 million digital sales. And you have Eli Young Band who might have the smallest chance to win, but did have a breakout hit with "Crazy Girl". Zac Brown Band had a pretty good year, but I don't see them getting this one. 


This one is Lady A's to lose, but there's a good chance we might have a bit of an upset and watch The Band Perry take this one home. I'm going to stick with my little streak of boldness and go ahead and call it for The Band Perry. 


That all said, my gut is telling me that from here on out the other groups are going to have to watch their backs at the next awards shows because I have a feeling that Rascal Flatts will be reclaiming their spot as the top vocal group after their next CD comes out. Just a hunch.


ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Chief – Eric Church
Four The Record – Miranda Lambert
Hemingway’s Whiskey – Kenny Chesney
My Kinda Party – Jason Aldean
Own The Night – Lady Antebellum

I'd be lying if I said that this category didn't cause me some pain. Namely because it's pitting Chief and My Kinda Party up against each other and those are two of my favorite albums right now. I love that Eric Church is in the running for this and there's a small part of me that wants him to win and thinks he should. The problem for Eric is that he's up against My Kinda Party and Own the Night. The former is the CMA album of the year; the latter won the Grammy for best country album this year. There's been a lot of buzz about Miranda's new album and I don't think she can be ruled out completely. Out of the five, hers and Lady A's do the least for me personally - I have them both, but hardly ever get the urge to listen to them. I'd be stunned if Kenny Chesney won. Not because I think his album isn't good; it is; but because the other nominees are too strong. 


My instincts tell me it's between Jason and Lady A and I'm going to call it for Jason. My Kinda Party is kind of like the energizer bunny of the album world. It keeps going and going and going. If I'm not mistaken, it has been in the top five on the country charts ever since it came out near the end of 2010. The CD has done so well that it's even pushed back the release of his upcoming album and made them release a fifth single, "Fly Over States", off of it. Like I said: it keeps going and going and going.


And so, I'm calling it for Jason. 


What do you all think? Let me know and as always, thanks for reading!

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