The CMA Awards Have Just Announced Who Won The New Artist Of The Year Award
Who received the coveted New Artist of the Year award and joined the ranks of prior winners Morgan Wallen, Lainey Wilson, and Luke Combs? Let’s find out!
Last year, in 2023, the award went to Jelly Roll, who has taken the country music world by storm! At 39 years old, he was one of the oldest winners of this award. During his speech, he said, “There’s something poetic about a 39-year-old man winning new artist of the year.”
He continued encouraging those watching his speech, “I don’t know where you’re at in your life or what you’re going through, but I want to tell you to keep going, baby.”
This year’s winner is…. just kidding, let’s meet the nominees first!
2024 New Artist Of The Year Nominees
6,200 CMA members picked these nominees based on the criteria that they have had “national recognition” this year and are projected to have continued success in the genre.
Nate Smith
The 39-year-old singer Nate Smith is not new to the country music scene. He has been releasing music since 2008, but broke out in a big way in 2024.
Smith’s “World on Fire” hit No.1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart in January of 2024. Watch below.
Bailey Zimmerman
Bailey Zimmerman started his journey on TikTok and began releasing music after his video “Never Comin’ Home” went viral. The artist currently has four No.1 tracks, making a splash in country music.
Zimmerman’s “Where It Ends” is his most recent No.1 hit. Listen below.
Zach Top
Zach Top has established himself in the country music scene with his classic style and sound. While many new artists have embraced a more modern approach, Top draws his influences from ’90s country artists such as Keith Whitley, Randy Travis, and George Strait.
Listen to Zach Top’s “Cold Beer & Country Music” below.
Mitchell Tenpenny
Mitchell Tenpenny is a Nashville native with deep roots in the music industry. He released his first track in 2014, and his song “Drunk Me” currently has 65 million views on YouTube.
Listen to Mitchell Tenpenny’s viral hit below.
Megan Moroney
Megan Moroney released her debut EP in 2022, and since then, Moroney has written and co-written all her music.
Watch Megan Moroney’s “Tennessee Orange,” which charted No. 1 on the Country Aircheck/Mediabase Country Airplay chart in 2023, below.
Shaboozey
Shaboozey released a country-pop crossover, “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” and took the charts by storm.
Listen to “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” which was No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 17 nonconsecutive weeks in 2024.
And The Winner Is…
Congratulations to Megan Moroney for being named New Artist of the Year!
During her speech, Moroney said, “Thank you, Jesus, for putting this dream on my heart, and thank you for the gift of songwriting.”