Wishing Dan + Shay Good Luck At The 59th Country Music Association Awards Tonight!

Dan + Shay are up for Vocal Duo of the Year at tonight's Country Music Association Awards (CMA Awards) that will air on ABC at 8/7c. Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney have some stiff competition in this category. The other four duos who fill out the category are current artists Brothers Osborne, Maddie & Tae, and husband-wife team The War and Treaty, with legends Brooks & Dunn rounding out the list.

With the exception of Brooks & Dunn, each of these duos have had songs on the Mediabase Country chart in the past year. However, Smyers and Mooney are the only ones with a number one hit on their hands in the last 12 months, with "Bigger Houses" reaching the top of the chart in January, 2025. I think they have a good chance of taking home the trophy tonight for this reason. However, whether they win or lose, Dan + Shay will always be winners in my heart!

I believe that at next year's show, the guys will have multiple nominations as well as have wins in multiple categories with the new music being released in January that they have hinted about a few times on social media. And I bet they will perform one of their upcoming new songs at the show next year too. 2026 will mark the 60th anniversary of the broadcast, so I already know it will be a huge celebration of awards being given out and incredible performances.

Stay tuned for my post-CMA Awards commentary on Friday. I will reveal the results of the Vocal Duo of the Year category, provide any interesting conversations they give in interviews on the red carpet, and comment on what the duo and their respective wives wore on the carpet and to the star-studded event.

Below is a picture of the duo posing with their respective wives at the November 20 ceremony courtesy of Abby Smyers' Instagram account, which she posted on November 21! From left to right, Abby Smyers, Dan Smyers, Shay Mooney, and Hannah Mooney.

Screenshot courtesy of Abby Smyers' Instagram account from November 21, 2024