The stage is set for the 2023 CMA Touring Awards, as the Country Music Association proudly reveals this year’s nominees. With a spotlight on the unsung heroes of the Country Music touring industry, final round voting for the awards is set to open on December 13, concluding on December 28. The grand event is scheduled to take place on February 12, 2023, in the heart of Country Music, Nashville, TN, and will be hosted by none other than the legendary Keith Urban.
In a poignant moment, the late Ron Baird, a trailblazing figure and former head of Creative Arts Agency’s (CAA) Nashville office, will be posthumously honored with the esteemed CMA Touring Lifetime Achievement Award. This prestigious recognition is reserved for individuals who have left an indelible mark on the touring landscape, positively impacting both Country Music fans and the industry itself. Baird’s enduring legacy will continue to shape the future of Country Music and the CMA for generations to come.
Sarah Trahern, the CMA Chief Executive Officer, expresses her anticipation for the annual celebration of the touring community. Acknowledging the vital role played by these dedicated professionals, Trahern emphasizes the importance, dedication, and resilience of the touring community, a sentiment shared by all who appreciate the magic of live Country Music performances.
Country superstar Keith Urban, who will once again grace the stage as the host of the CMA Touring Awards, reflects on his own experiences as part of the touring crew. Urban highlights the tireless efforts that go into keeping shows on the road, expressing his honor in recognizing and appreciating the hardworking individuals behind the scenes.
Excitingly, the 2023 CMA Touring Awards will introduce five new categories, including Backline Technician, Stage Manager, Support Services Company, Unsung Hero, and Crew of the Year. This addition expands the recognition to encompass a broader spectrum of contributors who play pivotal roles in bringing the magic of Country Music to fans worldwide.
Deloitte, a renowned professional services organization, will once again oversee the balloting process, ensuring a fair and transparent selection of winners. As the excitement builds for the 2023 CMA Touring Awards, the Country Music Association looks forward to honoring excellence, paying tribute to industry trailblazers, and celebrating the vibrant community that keeps the spirit of Country Music alive around the globe.
Nominees
| CATEGORY 1 – CREW OF THE YEAR |
- “All American Road Show Tour” Crew – Chris Stapleton
- “The Outsiders Revival Tour” Crew – Eric Church
- “I Go Back Tour” Crew – Kenny Chesney
- “Country On Tour” Crew – Luke Bryan
- “2023 World Tour” Crew – Luke Combs
- “One Night At A Time World Tour” Crew – Morgan Wallen
- “No Bad Vibes Tour” Crew – Old Dominion
- “Home Team Tour 23” Crew – Thomas Rhett
| CATEGORY 2 – BACKLINE TECHNICIAN OF THE YEAR |
- Jason Baskin – Zac Brown Band
- Melvin “Melvis” Fults – Kenny Chesney
- Carlos Gutierrez – Dierks Bentley
- Jason Herndon – Blake Shelton
- Joel “Tico” Jimenez – Thomas Rhett
- Jeremiah Langdon – Jelly Roll
- Chris Miller – Keith Urban
- Zach Rickard – Brothers Osborne
| CATEGORY 3 – BUSINESS MANAGER OF THE YEAR |
- Renee Allen – Arnie Barn, Inc.
- David Boyer – Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Inc.
- Duane Clark – Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Inc.
- Catherine Morris – Farris, Self & Moore, LLC
- Caleb See – Curo Financial, LLC
- Michael Vaden – Vaden Group/Elliott Davis
- Kris Wiatr – Wiatr & Associates, LLC
| CATEGORY 4 – COACH/TRUCK DRIVER OF THE YEAR |
- Ronnie Brown – Zac Brown Band
- Josh Easter – Morgan Wallen
- Rhett Evens – Thomas Rhett
- Caleb Garrett – Luke Bryan
- Justin Pullin – Old Dominion
- Erin Siegfried – Lainey Wilson
- Chris Simms – Jelly Roll
- Wayne “Wayno” Sullivan – Blake Shelton/Keith Urban
| CATEGORY 5 – FOH (FRONT OF HOUSE) ENGINEER OF THE YEAR |
- Brendan Hines – Jelly Roll
- Aaron Lain – Morgan Wallen
- Todd Lewis – Luke Combs
- Ben Rigby – Eric Church
- Arpad Sayko – Chris Stapleton
- Trey Smith – Thomas Rhett
- Ian Zorbaugh – Old Dominion
| CATEGORY 6 – LIGHTING DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR |
- Zac Coren – Morgan Wallen
- Philip Ealy – Kenny Chesney
- Kevin Lichty – Old Dominion
- Mac Mosier – Chris Stapleton
- Kevin Northrup – Luke Combs
- Taylor Price – Miranda Lambert
- Austin Strain – Jelly Roll
- Alec Takahashi – Thomas Rhett
| CATEGORY 7 – MANAGER OF THE YEAR |
- Narvel Blackstock – Starstruck Entertainment
- Virginia Bunetta – G-Major Management
- Martha Earls – Neon Coast
- Kerri Edwards – KP Entertainment
- Clint Higham – Morris Higham Management
- Marion Kraft – ShopKeeper Management
- Mandelyn Monchick – Red Light Management
- John Peets – Q Prime South
| CATEGORY 8 – MONITOR ENGINEER OF THE YEAR |
- Bryan “Opie” Baxley – Kenny Chesney
- Mark Davis – Jelly Roll
- Logan Hanna – Brothers Osborne
- Andy Hill – Zac Brown Band
- Nathan Lowe – Eric Church
- Jimmy Nicholson – Thomas Rhett
- Dean Studebaker – Old Dominion
- Scott Tatter – Dierks Bentley
| CATEGORY 9 – PRODUCTION MANAGER OF THE YEAR |
- Chris Alderman – Blake Shelton
- John Garriott – Chris Stapleton
- Meesha Kosciolek – Eric Church
- Erik Leighty – Miranda Lambert
- Chris Nathan – Jake Owen
- Earl Neal – Jason Aldean
- Kevin Twist – Thomas Rhett
- Ed Wannebo – Kenny Chesney
| CATEGORY 10 – PUBLICIST OF THE YEAR |
- Janet Buck – Essential Broadcast Media
- Paul Freundlich – PFA Media
- Quinn Kaemmer – Big Machine Label Group
- Tyne Parrish – The GreenRoom PR
- Carla Sacks – Sacks & Co.
- Jessie Schmidt – Schmidt Public Relations
- Wes Vause – Press On Publicity
- Jennifer Vessio – 1220 Entertainment Publicity
| CATEGORY 11 – STAGE MANAGER OF THE YEAR |
- Sam “Sambo” Coats – Eric Church
- Donnie Floyd – Morgan Wallen
- Todd Green – Chris Stapleton
- Matt Hornbeck – Luke Combs
- Josh “Dude” Marcus – Jason Aldean
- Tom Nisun – Kenny Chesney
- Richard Rossey – Old Dominion
- Justin Sumrall – Thomas Rhett
| CATEGORY 12 – SUPPORT SERVICES COMPANY OF THE YEAR |
- 4 Wall Entertainment
- Clair Global
- Dega Catering
- Master Tour by Eventric
- Moo TV
- Richards & Southern
| CATEGORY 13 – TALENT AGENT OF THE YEAR |
- Meredith Jones – CAA
- Joey Lee – WME
- Jonathan Levine – Wasserman Music
- Darin Murphy – CAA
- Adi Sharma – The Neal Agency A
- aron Tannenbaum – WME
- Elisa Vazzana – UTA
- Jay Williams – WME
| CATEGORY 14 – TALENT BUYER/PROMOTER OF THE YEAR |
- Bradley Jordan – Peachtree Entertainment
- Patrick McDill – Live Nation Nashville
- Louis Messina – The Messina Group
- Rich Schaefer – AEG Presents
- Aaron Spalding – Live Nation Nashville
- Ed Warm – Joe’s Concerts
- Adam Weiser – AEG Presents
| CATEGORY 15 – TOUR MANAGER OF THE YEAR |
- Matt Anderson – Old Dominion
- Jason Hecht – Chris Stapleton
- Luke Holton – Brothers Osborne
- Chuck Hull – Keith Urban
- Meg Miller – Lainey Wilson
- Ethan Strunk – Luke Combs
- Chris Thacker – Dierks Bentley
- Jon Townley – Thomas Rhett
| CATEGORY 16 – TOURING MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR |
- Rob Byus (Bass Guitar) – Blake Shelton
- Paul Franklin (Steel Guitar) – Chris Stapleton/Vince Gill
- Ben Helson (Guitar) – Dierks Bentley
- Lee Hendricks (Bass Guitar) – Eric Church
- Harmoni Kelley (Bass Guitar) – Kenny Chesney
- Chris Kimmerer (Drums) – Thomas Rhett
- Danny Mitchell (Piano) – Miranda Lambert
- Kurt Ozan (Guitar) – Luke Combs
| CATEGORY 17 – TOUR VIDEOGRAPHER/PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR |
- Mason Allen – Old Dominion
- Andy Barron – Chris Stapleton
- Zach Belcher – Dierks Bentley
- David Bergman – Luke Combs
- CeCe Dawson – Lainey Wilson
- Tanner Gallagher – HARDY
- Grayson Gregory – Thomas Rhett
- Andy Pollitt – Jelly Roll
| CATEGORY 18 – TOUR VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR |
- Josh Clark – Miranda Lambert
- Jay Cooper – Kenny Chesney
- Houston Creswell – Dierks Bentley
- Ron Etters – Chris Stapleton
- Nate Fountain – Zach Bryan/Blake Shelton
- Chris Jones – Jelly Roll
- Ricky Krohne – Thomas Rhett
- Michael Todd “M.T.” Stembridge – Eric Church
| CATEGORY 19 – VENUE OF THE YEAR |
- Ascend Amphitheater – Nashville, TN
- BankNH Pavilion – Gilford, NH
- Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN
- Choctaw Casino Resort – Durant, OK
- Grand Ole Opry House – Nashville, TN
- Joe’s on Weed Street – Chicago, IL
- Paycom Center – Oklahoma City, OK
- Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO
| CATEGORY 20 – UNSUNG HERO OF THE YEAR |
- Dallas Bowsier – Eric Church
- Josh Castle – Dierks Bentley
- RJ Estrella – Luke Combs
- Kayla Carter Greear – Luke Bryan
- Kelsey Maynard – Old Dominion
- Todd Molle – Jake Owen
- Mel Murphy – Live Nation Nashville
- Tyler Rhodes – Thomas Rhett
