Following the announcement of this year’s nominees for the 33rd MusicRow Awards, we take a look at the MusicRow Artist of the Year category. This category is voted on by MusicRow’s subscribed members to honor outstanding achievements by a Nashville artist during the eligibility period of June 1, 2020 to May 31, 2021.

The MusicRow Awards will be announced virtually among multiple MusicRow platforms on Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021. Presenting Sponsor of the 2021 MusicRow Awards is City National Bank.

Click here to see the full list of MusicRow Awards nominees.

Winners are determined solely by MusicRow Magazine subscribed members. Voting is now open and closes on July 23 at 5 p.m.

To receive a ballot to vote in the MusicRow Awards, become a MusicRow subscribed member here.

Luke Bryan is one of country music’s most multifaceted personalities: perennial radio hitmaker, television star, touring juggernaut. He is currently riding the success of new single “Waves,” the fifth single from Born Here Live Here Die Here (Deluxe Edition) and the follow up to the project’s already four consecutive No. 1s. Among his other ongoing accomplishments are the recently wrapped fourth season as a celebrity judge on American Idol, and adding the 2021 ACM Entertainer of the Year trophy to his collection. Bryan is gearing up to hit the road for his Proud To Be Right Here Tour in July, as well as bringing back his Farm Tour this fall. His new ventures include his first headlining run of shows in Las Vegas in 2022, and the upcoming Luke Bryan: My Dirt Road Diary five-part docuseries. Since his debut, Luke Bryan has garnered 26 No. 1 hits.

Luke Combs recently notched his 11th consecutive No. 1 single with “Forever After All.” It is also the 6th consecutive No. 1 from Combs’ deluxe album, What You See Ain’t Always What You Get. He is the reigning CMA and ACM Male Artist and Album of the Year winner. His massive fall headlining arena tour will feature a new in-the-round stage design. Combs will also perform his first ever headlining stadium show in Boone, North Carolina on September 4. Combs recently made history as the first artist to have their first two studio albums spend 25 weeks or more at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart—breaking Taylor Swift’s previously held record at 24 weeks. Combs has been voted MusicRow Artist of the Year the last two years.

Eric Church is nominated in two categories this year: Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for “Hell Of A View.” The talented songman recently tallied his 10th career No. 1 with “Hell Of A View,” an endearing anthem about rebellious love featured on his critically acclaimed new triple album Heart & Soul. The project is the result of a month spent writing and recording a song per day while sequestered in rural North Carolina. The reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year returns to the road on his 55-city The Gather Again Tour where he will perform in-the-round sets for the first time in his career. Church’s longtime producer, Jay Joyce, is nominated for MusicRow Producer of the Year.

Miranda Lambert shined with versatility this year: releasing the celebrated The Marfa Tapes, continuing the success of her Wildcard album, and embarking on a wild night with Elle King on their infectious collaboration, “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home).” Continuing to diversify, Lambert made history by becoming the first female country star to have a bar and restaurant on Broadway in Nashville when she opened Casa Rosa. She collaborated with Jack Ingram and Jon Randall on The Marfa Tapes and an accompanying film, which was recorded raw and loose with just a pair of microphones and an acoustic guitar. Lambert earned her third Grammy Award when Wildcard was named Best Country Album. Wildcard producer Jay Joyce, is nominated for MusicRow Producer of the Year.

Thomas Rhett transitioned from the pop/rock stylings of his previous albums with a return to his roots. Country Again: Side A was released on April 30, with Side B planned for release later this year. Lead single “What’s Your Country Song” marks Rhett’s 17th career No. 1 and 11th consecutive No. 1. Other hits from the album include “Country Again.” Most recently Rhett dropped “Things Dads Do,” teaming up with his dad Rhett Akins. His headlining The Center Point Road Tour kicks off on Aug. 13 with back-to-back nights in Orange Beach, Alabama. His producer Dann Huff is nominated for Producer of the Year.

Chris Stapleton released the acclaimed album Starting Over in November, launching both the album and the title track straight to No. 1. It is Stapleton’s second chart-topping single as an artist following 2018’s “Broken Halos.” Produced by Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Cobb, the record won Album of the Year at the 56th ACM Awards. Cobb is also nominated for MusicRow Producer of the Year. Stapleton has returned to the road with his extensive All-American Road Show. Among his recent highlights are joining forces with fellow Grammy Award-winner H.E.R. for a special performance of her single, “Hold On,” during the 2021 CMT Music Awards. Stapleton’s newest single, “You Should Probably Leave,” is Top 30 and climbing at country radio.

Jon Pardi. Photo: Jim Wright

“Tequila Little Time” by Jon Pardi earns the top spot this week on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart. This marks his ninth MusicRow No. 1 including Thomas Rhett’s two week single, “Beer Can’t Fix” which Pardi was featured on.

Pardi co-wrote “Tequila Little Time” with Rhett Akins and Luke Laird and it appears on his album Heartache Medication.

It was recently announced that Pardi will headline Saturday night’s concert at The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix which is set to take place on Aug. 7.

Click here to view the latest edition of The MusicRow Weekly containing the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart.

Following the announcement of this year’s nominees for the 33rd MusicRow Awards, we take a look at the MusicRow Breakthrough Artist of the Year category. This category is voted on by MusicRow’s subscribed members to honor a Nashville artist who achieved significant career progress for the first time.

The MusicRow Awards will be announced virtually among multiple MusicRow platforms on Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021. Presenting Sponsor of the 2021 MusicRow Awards is City National Bank.

Click here to see the full list of MusicRow Awards nominees.

Winners are determined solely by MusicRow Magazine subscribed members. Voting is now open and closes on July 23 at 5 p.m.

To receive a ballot to vote in the MusicRow Awards, become a MusicRow subscribed member here.

Tenille Arts has had a stellar year, including her single “Somebody Like That” becoming the first No. 1 song in country music written, performed and produced by all females. A native of Weyburn, Saskatchewan, Arts is the first Canadian to reach No. 1 in the U.S. since 2007 and first Canadian female since Terri Clark in 2004. She also won the Rising Star award at the 2020 Canadian Country Music Association Awards. Arts is following up “Somebody Like That” with new single “Back Then, Right Now.”

BRELAND is a talented addition to the country music family. His autobiographical hit “Cross Country” is a well-written song with the dual meanings of literally moving across the country, while also crossing genre lines. Known for frequently tapping guest collaborators, he upped the ante by adding Mickey Guyton to a new version of “Cross Country.” With his career on the rise since his platinum debut song “My Truck” dropped in 2019, BRELAND has collaborated with Gary LeVox, Lauren Alaina, Chase Rice, and Sam Hunt, and most recently his second collaboration with Keith Urban on “Throw It Back.” BRELAND will kick off his first headlining tour at Bonnaroo Music Festival on Sept. 5.

Mickey Guyton had a hard-earned, much-deserved breakthrough year. Her important songs “What Are You Gonna Tell Her?” and “Black Like Me” made listeners sit up and take notice. Guyton made history as the first Black female solo artist to earn a Grammy nomination in a country category, for Best Country Solo Performance for “Black Like Me” which she performed on the show. In addition, she teamed with Keith Urban to co-host this year’s Academy of Country Music Awards. “Black Like Me” is nominated for MusicRow Song of the Year.

Parker McCollum is riding into the release of his full-length major label debut album with a No. 1 single and sold-out shows across the country. The upcoming project, Gold Chain Cowboy, was produced by the talented Jon Randall and features his No. 1 “Pretty Heart” and follow-up single “To Be Loved By You.” McCollum is a perfectionistic songwriter with the talent of being able to convey a feeling while leaving the lyrics open to interpretation, such as on his just-released solo-write “Rest of My Life.” He is also nominated for MusicRow Breakthrough Artist-Writer.

Niko Moon scored his first No. 1 as an artist with debut single “Good Time.” He followed that success with new release “No Sad Songs” and is finishing up his debut full-length album with longtime collaborator and co-producer Joshua Murty. Moon’s track record is strong, with writing credits on five No. 1 hits for Zac Brown Band, plus cuts by Dierks Bentley, Ashley Monroe and others. His hit “Good Time” earned MusicRow Breakthrough Songwriter nominations for his four co-writers, including Murty.

Jameson Rodgers charted a No. 1 debut with “Some Girls” as well as his latest Top 20 hit “Cold Beer Calling My Name,” which features labelmate Luke Combs. All are on his excellent new EP In It For The Money. The Mississippi native moved to Music City more than a decade ago, and in recent years his hard work has paid off as co-writer of hits for Florida Georgia Line (“Talk You Out of It”) and Chris Lane (“I Don’t Know About You”), as well as the title track of Luke Bryan’s latest album Born Here Live Here Die Here. Rodgers is the reigning MusicRow Discovery Artist of the Year.