People’s Choice Country Award Nominees: Blake, Lainey + More
The nominees have been revealed for the first-ever People’s Choice Country Awards, which will air live on NBC and Peacock from Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House on September 28. Voting…
The nominees have been revealed for the first-ever People's Choice Country Awards, which will air live on NBC and Peacock from Nashville's Grand Ole Opry House on September 28. Voting is now open, and fans worldwide can vote for their favorite nominees across 12 categories, including the night's top honor, The People's Artist of 2023. The nominees in the top category are Blake Shelton, Kane Brown, Kelsea Ballerini, Lainey Wilson, Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, Old Dominion, and Zach Bryan.
Little Big Town is set to host the show. Jimi Westbrook, Kimberly Schlapman, Karen Fairchild, and Phillip Sweet will also perform a medley of their greatest hits as part of the two-hour celebration. All awards and honors will be chosen entirely by the fans across various categories.
The group said, "We are honored to host the inaugural 'People's Choice Country Awards,' especially on one of our most beloved stages in the world. We look forward to welcoming so many of our talented peers to take the Opry stage for this magical night of music."
The press release also noted, "The awards ceremony will lean on the country music genre's rich history with the Grand Ole Opry and feature musical performances, collaborations, and tributes to the genre's biggest legends and surprise moments." Adding that "along with awards for this years best in the genre, the show will also give out several honorary awards during the program."
You can vote for nominees for the first People's Choice Country Awards here.
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THE PEOPLE'S ARTIST OF 2023
Blake Shelton
Kane Brown
Kelsea Ballerini
Lainey Wilson
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
Old Dominion
Zach Bryan
THE MALE ARTIST OF 2023
Bailey Zimmerman
Blake Shelton
HARDY
Jelly Roll
Kane Brown
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
Zach Bryan
THE FEMALE ARTIST OF 2023
Ashley McBryde
Carly Pearce
Carrie Underwood
Elle King
Kelsea Ballerini
Lainey Wilson
Megan Moroney
Miranda Lambert
THE GROUP/DUO OF 2023
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Lady A
Little Big Town
Maddie & Tae
Old Dominion
Parmalee
The War and Treaty
THE NEW ARTIST OF 2023
Bailey Zimmerman
Corey Kent
ERNEST
Megan Moroney
Ingrid Andress
Jelly Roll
Priscilla Block
Zach Bryan
THE SOCIAL COUNTRY STAR OF 2023
Bailey Zimmerman
Blake Shelton
Carrie Underwood
Dolly Parton
Kelsea Ballerini
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
Shania Twain
THE SONG OF 2023
"Fast Car" - Luke Combs (Songwriter: Tracy Chapman)
"Last Night" - Morgan Wallen (Songwriters: Ashley Gorley, Jacob Kasher Hindlin, John Byron, Ryan Vojtesak)
"Love You Anyway" - Luke Combs (Songwriters: Dan Isbell, Luke Combs, Ray Fulcher)
"Need A Favor" - Jelly Roll (Songwriters: Austin Nivarel, Jason DeFord/Jelly Roll, Joe Ragosta, Rob Ragosta)
"Tennessee Orange" - Megan Moroney (Songwriters: Ben Williams, David Fanning, Megan Moroney, Paul Jenkins)
"Thank God" - Kane Brown, Katelyn Brown (Songwriters: Christian Stalnecker, Jared Mullins, Jaxson Free, Josh Hoge, Kyle Fishman)
"Thinkin' Bout Me" - Morgan Wallen (Songwriters: Ashley Gorley, John Byron, Ryan Vojtesak, Taylor Phillips)
"wait in the truck" - HARDY feat. Lainey Wilson (Songwriters: Hunter Phelps, Jordan Schmidt, Michael Hardy, Renee Blair)
THE COLLABORATION SONG OF 2023
"Beer With My Friends" - Kenny Chesney & Old Dominion (Songwriters: Bryan Simpson, David Lee Murphy, Shy Carter)
"Cowgirls" - Morgan Wallen feat. ERNEST (Songwriters: Ashley Gorley, Ernest Keith Smith, James Maddocks, Milan Modi, Rocky Block, Ryan Vojtesak)
"red" - HARDY feat. Morgan Wallen (Songwriters: Michael Hardy, Rhett Akins, Ben Hayslip, Jacob Rice)
"Save Me" - Jelly Roll with Lainey Wilson (Songwriters: David Ray Stevens, Jason DeFord/Jelly Roll)
"Thank God" - Kane Brown, Katelyn Brown (Songwriters: Christian Stalnecker, Jared Mullins, Jaxson Free, Josh Hoge, Kyle Fishman)
"wait in the truck" - HARDY feat. Lainey Wilson (Songwriters: Hunter Phelps, Jordan Schmidt, Michael Hardy, Renee Blair)
"We Don't Fight Anymore" - Carly Pearce, Chris Stapleton (Songwriters: Shane McAnally, Carly Pearce, Pete Good)
"You, Me, And Whiskey" - Justin Moore, Priscilla Block (Songwriters: Brock Berryhill, Jessi Alexander, Cole Taylor)
THE CROSSOVER SONG OF 2023
"Dawns" - Zach Bryan feat. Maggie Rogers (Songwriters: Maggie Rogers, Zachary Lane Bryan)
"Just Say I'm Sorry" - P!nk, Chris Stapleton (Songwriters: Alecia Moore, Chris Stapleton)
"Life Goes On" - Ed Sheeran feat. Luke Combs (Songwriter: Ed Sheeran)
"Seasons" - Bebe Rexha, Dolly Parton (Songwriters: Bebe Rexha, Ido Zmishlany, Sarah Solovay)
"Texas" - Jessie Murph feat. Maren Morris (Songwriters: Alex Niceforo, Amy Allen, Jessie Murph, Warren "Oak" Felder)
"That's Not How This Works" - Charlie Puth feat. Dan + Shay (Songwriters: Jordan Reynolds, Charlie Puth, Dan Smyers)
"UNHEALTHY" - Anne-Marie feat. Shania Twain (Anne-Marie Nicholson, CASTLE, Connor McDonough, Riley McDonough)
"Wasted" - Diplo feat. Kodak Black & Koe Wetzel (Songwriters: Bill K. Kapri, Richard Cook Mears IV, Ropyr Wetzel, Thomas Wesley Pentz)
THE ALBUM OF 2023
Bell Bottom Country - Lainey Wilson
Different Man - Kane Brown
Gettin' Old - Luke Combs
One Thing At A Time - Morgan Wallen
Religiously. The Album. - Bailey Zimmerman
Rolling Up The Welcome Mat - Kelsea Ballerini
the mockingbird & THE CROW - HARDY
Whitsitt Chapel - Jelly Roll
THE MUSIC VIDEO OF 2023
"In Your Love" - Tyler Childers
"Need a Favor" - Jelly Roll
"Tennessee Orange" - Megan Moroney
"Thank God" - Kane Brown, Katelyn Brown
"Thought You Should Know" - Morgan Wallen
"wait in the truck" - HARDY feat. Lainey Wilson
"Where We Started" - Thomas Rhett, Katy Perry
"You Proof" - Morgan Wallen
THE CONCERT TOUR OF 2023
Blake Shelton: Back to the Honky Tonk Tour
Carrie Underwood: Denim & Rhinestones Tour
Chris Stapleton's All-American Road Show Tour
Kenny Chesney: I Go Back 2023 Tour
Luke Combs World Tour
Morgan Wallen: One Night At A Time World Tour
Shania Twain: Queen of Me Tour
Zach Bryan: The Burn, Burn, Burn Tour
Blake Shelton is loved by many for his wonderful personality and fun-loving ways. He made people worldwide laugh every week on NBC's The Voice before his final season, which just wrapped up last month to a lot of fanfare, and praise for the country star who just received a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame (5/12).
While he may not be a TV star anymore, he recently said quitting music was not an option. Shelton told People late last year, after it was first announced that he would be leaving The Voice, that he wouldn't leave music. He said, "Walking away from music, you might as well just poison me or something. That's not something I can go without. I can't help it."
He continued, "I'm not getting away from music! Now I can control the timing, and I'm not on anybody else's schedule when it comes to making a record or touring. I can fit it in a way that makes more sense for us."
Blake said of country music these days, "I'm really at a crossroads right now. The country music lane is changing so rapidly, and there's some really good stuff out there. These young kids coming up, it's amazing to see the music that they're making and how creative they are."
He added, "I'm enjoying watching what's happening and putting a song out once in a while. That's another reason that I'm excited to get some time back away from The Voice and concentrate more on, 'What kind of record do I want to make? Is it going to fit in? Do I care? Do I not care?'
While Blake's personality has always shined bright as we celebrate his 47th birthday today (6/18) on this Father's Day, we countdown what we believe are Blake's eighteen best songs.
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18. "Come Back As A Country Boy" (2021)
WBBlake said of the song when it came out, "It's a song about just having so much pride about being country and living the country lifestyle that, even if you come back to life, you wouldn't do it unless you could be country again... If you can't do it again — if you're lucky enough to come back to life — you'd rather just stay dead."
17. "No Body" (2022)
WBA wonderful ode to 1990s country music. When filming the music video, Shelton wore a cowboy hat and a fake mullet, to mimic the appearance the singer had very early in his career.
16. "Came Here to Forget" (2016)
WBReleased as the lead single from Blake's tenth studio album, ‘If I'm Honest.’ It was hailed for its progressive production and his expressive performance.
15. "Who Are You When I'm Not Looking" (2010)
WBThe title says it all. It's a ballad in which the narrator wants to know the characteristics his lover's hiding from him (e.g. "Do you paint your toes 'cause you bite your nails?"). It was another chart-topper for Shelton.
14. "God Gave Me You" (2011)
WBBlake has a lot of songs with "God" in them; in this one Shelton heard Dave Barnes' version of the song on a contemporary Christian station and said that it had inspired him to propose to then-girlfriend Miranda Lambert.
13. "Minimum Wage" (2020)
WBFollowing the live debut of "Minimum Wage" in December 2020, the general public described the money-centric lyrics as insensitive and tone-deaf, amidst the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Shelton later addressed the criticism, revealing he felt that some people misinterpreted the song.
12. "Lonely Tonight" (featuring Ashley Monroe) (2014)
WB"Lonely Tonight" is a bittersweet song about a one-night stand, with Blake and Monroe playing ex-lovers who reconnect for one last night. The song received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Country Duo/Group Performance.
11. "I'll Name the Dogs" (2017)
WBThis song was released on September 11, 2017, as the first single of Shelton's 2017 album ‘Texoma Shore.’
10. "Some Beach" (2004)
WBOn this fun twist of the song title, Blake sings of dealing with frustrations, such as being flipped off in traffic on the highway and having to wait all afternoon at the dentist's office, by wishing that he were "on some beach, somewhere."
9. "Dive Bar" (with Garth Brooks) (2019)
WBt’s never a bad thing when Garth Brooks asks you to join him on a duet and this song hits the mark. This song was released in 2019 in part to promote Brooks’ "Dive Bar Tour."
8. "Boys 'Round Here"(featuring Pistol Annies and Friends) (2013)
WBA fun collaboration with his then-wife Miranda Lambert and her trio, the Pistol Annies. Shelton said of the song, "That song had me from the first because I thought about all the guys I know back in Tishomingo. None of them listened to The Beatles. They listened to Hank, or these days you'll hear Jason Aldean blaring out of somebody's car coming from a mile away. It's just how they are, and that song is just written exactly how I live."
7. "Honeybee" (2011)
WBAn up-tempo joy of a song that reached number one on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in July 2011. The song also received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Country Solo Performance, but it lost to Taylor Swift's "Mean."
6. "Hillbilly Bone"(featuring Trace Adkins) (2009)
WBA monster song and a big hit featuring Blake and his buddy Trace Adkins, who like Shelton stands 6’6. The song won the 2010 Academy of Country Music award for "Vocal Event of the Year," giving Blake his first Academy of Country Music award.
5. "Ol' Red" (2002)
WBA true classic for Shelton. This song is a remake. It was first recorded by George Jones, then Kenny Rogers but it was Blake that put the real stamp on it and it’s one of his signature songs.
4. "Happy Anywhere" (featuring Gwen Stefani) (2020)
WBThe second duet from Blake and Gwen. The song was recently nominated for an Academy of Country Music awards and Shelton joked with us if it didn’t win, the awards were rigged. It did not win. The lyrics pertain to the couple's relationship and describe being able to find happiness anywhere, which alludes to the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.
3. "Austin" (2001)
WBBlake’s very first single and his first number one song. "Austin" tied a record set by Billy Ray Cyrus in 1992. Cyrus' "Achy Breaky Heart" stayed atop the chart for five weeks, setting the mark for an artist's debut single in the Broadcast Data Systems era of the chart.
2. "God's Country" (2018)
WBA powerful song. Shelton first heard the song while working on his farm in Oklahoma. He said at the time, "I had to stop and just listen to this song because the song was talking to me about a place that I was in at that moment, which was a place in the middle of nowhere that meant something to me that probably nobody else could ever understand, what that is and what it is inside of me and what my connection is to the land."
1."Nobody but You" (with Gwen Stefani) (2020)
WBAn infectious song sung by two people in love. A duet with his soon-to-be wife Gwen Stefani, the song received the Collaborative Video of the Year accolade at the 2020 CMT Music Awards.
