Like many of the categories (rap and rock especially), the 2014 country nominees is a male-driven field – one which I’m anxiously hoping that newcomer Kacey Musgraves will be able to overcome (2013 list).

Best Country Solo Performance (Category 26)
Lee Brice – “I Drive Your Truck”
Hunter Hayes – “I Want Crazy”
Miranda Lambert – “Mama’s Broken Heart”
Darius Rucker – “Wagon Wheel”
Blake Shelton – “Mine Would Be You”

Who Should Win: Hunter Hayes’ “I Want Crazy”

Who Will Win: Miranda Lambert’s “Mama’s Broken Heart”

Miranda Lambert’s fifth album spawned five top 10 singles, which is very impressive for any other female country artist besides Carrie Underwood.

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Best Country Duo/Group Performance (Category 27)
The Civil Wars – “From This Valley”
Kelly Clarkson (feat. Vince Gill) – “Don’t Rush”
Little Big Town – “Your Side Of The Bed”
Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift, and Keith Urban – “Highway Don’t Care”
Kenny Rogers (feat. Dolly Parton) – “You Can’t Make Old Friends”

Who Should Win: Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift, and Keith Urban’s “Highway Don’t Care”

Who Will Win: Little Big Town’s “Your Side Of The Bed”

After winning this same category in 2013 for their smash single “Pontoon”, expect Little Big Town to win again for their latest hit.

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Best Country Song – Songwriter’s Award (Category 28)
Taylor Swift – “Begin Again”
Songwriters: Taylor Swift
Lee Brice – “I Drive Your Truck”
Songwriters: Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington, and Jimmy Yeary
Miranda Lambert – “Mama’s Broken Heart”
Songwriters: Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally & Kacey Musgraves
Kacey Musgraves – “Merry Go ‘Round”
Songwriters: Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves, and Josh Osborne
Blake Shelton – “Mine Would Be You”
Songwriters: Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington, and Deric Ruttan

Who Should Win: Kacey Musgraves’ “Merry Go ‘Round”

Who Will Win: Taylor Swift’s “Begin Again”

The second official single from Taylor Swift’s fourth album didn’t make as much of an impact as the mainstream single “I Knew You Were Trouble”, but the songwriting on “Begin Again” is possibly her most impressive work to date.

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Best Country Album (Category 29)
Jason Aldean – ‘Night Train’
Tim McGraw – ‘Two Lanes Of Freedom’
Kacey Musgraves – ‘Same Trailer Different Park’
Blake Shelton – ‘Based On A True Story’
Taylor Swift – ‘Red’

Who Should Win: Kacey Musgraves’ ‘Same Trailer Different Park’

Who Will Win: Jason Aldean’s ‘Night Train’

While Taylor Swift’s ‘Red’ is the most successful album in this category saleswise, Jason Aldean’s ‘Night Train’ became just as much (if not more) of a crossover success.