The 2018 CMA Awards nominations were announced on Tuesday morning (Aug 28) by Luke Bryan, Dan + Shay, and Sugarland on the long-running show Good Morning America.
There were some surprises and some snubs when they revealed the nominees for the biggest awards like Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, and Song of the Year – but no one was surprised when seeing the next few names for New Artist of the Year.
Lauren Alaina, Luke Combs, Chris Janson, Midland, and Brett Young have all had phenomenal years. For Midland and Chris Janson, it’s their very first CMA Awards nomination, while the other three were all in this category last year.
https://www.facebook.com/cma/videos/2148327168823350/
Despite already being in the New Artist category for the 2017 awards, this honor is not taken lightly, especially by Lauren Alaina and specifically this year, or this week, rather.
Just hours after her name was called as a CMA Award nominee, it was revealed that her stepfather, Sam Ramker, is in ICU battling Stage 4 melanoma, which spread to his liver, lungs, pelvis, sciatica, lumbar spine, and thoracic spine.
Lauren let fans know about her stepdad’s battle in a social media post on June 30, and revealed that the same week she found out she won an ACM Award back in March for New Female Vocalist of the Year, he was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer.
“We made sure he and my mom were there for the award show. That trophy is my very favorite thing I’ve ever gotten. It brought so much happiness in a week of sadness. That’s how God works,” she wrote.
https://www.facebook.com/LaurenAlaina/photos/a.591764360902284/1729037240508318/?type=3&theater
It seems that God knew that Lauren and her family needed another pick me up this week – and the “Road Less Traveled” singer was fully aware of that.
In a post thanking the CMAs for the nomination, and everyone who helped get her there, she wrote, “God always shines some light in a time of darkness. It’s been a tough week for my family, but this brightened everything up a little.”
God always shines some light in a time of darkness. It’s been a tough week for my family, but this brightened everything up a little. Thank you to all the people who made this nomination possible. You know who you are. @CountryMusic pic.twitter.com/0yQnuhUxyk
— Lauren Alaina (@Lauren_Alaina) August 28, 2018
According to a GoFundMe set up for Sam, Lauren’s mom Kristy Ramker revealed that he was put in the ICU due to an infection in his lungs. “Today they are going to be draining the fluid. Please keep us in your prayers,” she wrote.
If you would like to help out the Ramker family, click here to donate to the GoFundMe.
Lauren backed out of her Wednesday night (Aug 29) performance to be with her family, which all of her fans completely understood.
I’m really sorry I can’t be there. Love you guys. https://t.co/VhYXjovMcz
— Lauren Alaina (@Lauren_Alaina) August 29, 2018
We will keep Sam, Lauren, and their family in our prayers.