Shane McAnally Reflects on His Record-Breaking 11 CMA Song of the Year Nominations: ‘For a Songwriter, There’s No Bigger Acknowledgement’
Shane McAnally has earned a record 11 CMA Song of the Year nominations, surpassing his previous tie with Alan Jackson. His latest nomination is for Kacey Musgraves’ “Dry Spell”, and he describes the category as one of the highest forms of recognition for a songwriter.
McAnally’s first nomination came in 2013, when he was recognised for both Musgraves’ “Merry Go ‘Round” and Miranda Lambert’s “Mama’s Broken Heart”. He won in 2014 with Musgraves’ “Follow Your Arrow”; his other nominated songs include Sam Hunt’s “Body Like a Back Road”, which received nominations in both 2017 and 2018. His career has ranged from Lee Ann Womack’s country ballad “Last Call” to Kenny Chesney’s 2010 No. 1 “Somewhere With You”.
In short
- McAnally sets a new record with 11 CMA Song of the Year nominations.
- His latest nomination is for Kacey Musgraves’ “Dry Spell”.
- He says the award recognises songwriters’ contributions.
Explained simply
The Country Music Association (CMA) is a US organisation that honours achievements in country music through its annual awards. Song of the Year recognises the song’s writers, rather than its performers, so a nomination acknowledges the work behind the lyrics and melody.
Shane McAnally is an American songwriter and producer whose songs have been recorded by artists including Kacey Musgraves, Miranda Lambert and Sam Hunt. His first CMA Song of the Year nominations came in 2013, and he won the award the following year for “Follow Your Arrow”, recorded by Musgraves.
Songwriters can be nominated for different songs across several years, and the award’s record reflects repeated recognition over time. McAnally’s work spans country ballads and chart-topping songs, giving context to his long run of nominations.