Columbia Nashville
If you were paying close attention to the nominations for Sunday’s 54th Academy of Country Music Awards, you might’ve noticed that the names of the Male and Female Vocalist categories were changed to Male and Female Artist of the Year for 2019.
It’s a slight change, but one that nominee Maren Morris is happy to see.
“I’m excited! I love that the ACMs changed it from Female Vocalist to Female Artist,” she explains. “I never really understood the title of that category, even being a nominee.”
“Because what is it?” Maren asks. “Is it the best singer that year or is it the woman that had the biggest year? I always kinda thought it was the woman that had the biggest year.”
The “Girl” hitmaker believes changing the word Vocalist to Artist eliminates an unnecessary point of contention.
“You get industry and fans being like, ‘Well, she’s obviously the better singer,'” Maren points out. “And so, I just always thought, it’s like no it’s not about the subjectiveness of who’s a great singer and who’s not a great singer — they’re all great singers.”
“But I think it should be more about, work-wise, who had just, without a doubt, the biggest year,” she concludes.
Maren took home the New Female Vocalist of the Year trophy in 2016. This year, she competes against Miranda Lambert, Ashley McBryde, Kacey Musgraves, and Carrie Underwood for Female Artist of the Year.
Maren’s also set to sing her new collaboration with Brothers Osborne, “All My Favorite People,” on Sunday night’s show, which starts at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.
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