Walt Disney Television/Lorenzo BevilaquaMorgan Wallen and Ashley McBryde were helping unveil the 2019 CMA nominations on Good Morning America Wednesday when they found out they’re nominated for New Artist of the Year at the November awards.
Ashley admits she wasn’t quite sure what happened when she heard Jimmie Allen call her name.
“[My mind went] completely blank!” Ashley tells ABC Radio. “I don’t usually get nerves real bad, but my knees started wobbling.”
“I was like, ‘Did Jimmie just say my name?'” she continues. “And especially to hear Jimmie’s voice say it, because we get along so well and really have become pals. I can’t think of a more special way to find out that you’ve been nominated.”
Shortly afterwards, Morgan was still at a loss for words.
“[I’m feeling] just a lot of thankfulness and gratitude,” he reflects. “There’s a lot of people who have put in a lot of hard work — not just me — for this moment. And I’m really proud just to be mentioned in the same category as the other artists as well.”
The “Up Down” hitmaker was also feeling the love from the fans.
“I’ve been getting a lot of messages and things like, ‘I really think you deserve to be nominated,'” Morgan adds. “So I appreciate all that positivity. And it’s been a lot of hard work, but everything’s been worth it to get to this point.”
Whoever ends up with the trophy, Ashley sees it as a win/win.
“Cody [Johnson] and Midland and Morgan Wallen and Carly Pierce — two girls in the same category!” she points out. “And I’m a big Carly fan, too. So there’s there’s no way we could be unhappy with that outcome, no matter who takes it.”
We’ll find out who wins Wednesday, November 13 when the 53rd CMA Awards air live on ABC.
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