Mark’s CMA Awards Predictions

The biggest of the country music award shows is tonight.

For those who are somewhat confused, there is also a second country music awards show put on by the Academy Of Country Music, but tonight's are held by the more prestigious Country Music Association. We need to either unify these two or eliminate one of these groups, but that's for a different blog.

Here's what you'll see tonight:

• Eric Church and Hank Jr. will open the show with the old Waylon tune, "Are You Ready For The Country." It won't be nearly as country as Waylon's version. That's prediction No. 1.
• Prediction No. 2 has to do with Dierks Bentley looking like he just woke up on some college buddy's couch and then rushed to the show in yesterday's clothes.

Now to my award winners:

Single: "Girl Crush" -- Biggest song of the year on country radio.

Song: Again, I like "Girl Crush." But one or both of these could be knocked out by Eric Church.

Musical event: Willie and Merle for Django & Jimmie

Album: If Little Big Town doesn't win either song or single, then they HAVE to give them album of the year for "Pain Killer." But if Little Big Town takes either song or single, then album will go to Jason Aldean. They have to give him something for all of those concert tickets he's selling.

Vocal Group: Little Big Town has had a great year, but Zac Brown is huge. Advantage goes to Little Big Town.

Male vocalist: Another close one, but I think Eric Church loses a close one to Luke Bryan.

And both Female Vocalist and Entertainer will go to Miranda Lambert.

And, now we wait.

P.S. Dear CMA's, when you get done awarding yourself, again, let's get John Denver in your Hall of Fame. It's overdue, and he sold more albums than MOST of the folks you already have enshrined.