Every Debut Album That Received a CMA Nod for Album of the Year: Chris Stapleton, Zach Top & More

When the nominations for the 59th annual CMA Awards were announced on Monday (Sept. 8), Zach Top’s Cold Beer & Country Music became the first debut album in a decade to receive a nod for album of the year. The last debut release to be nominated was Chris Stapleton’s Traveller, which went on to win the award.

The other nominees in the category this year are Megan Moroney’s second studio album, Am I Okay?; Morgan Wallen’s fourth, I’m the Problem; Lainey Wilson’s fifth, Whirlwind; and Post Malone’s sixth (but first in the country genre), F-1 Trillion.

We’ll learn who wins the award on Wednesday Nov. 19 when the CMA Awards are presented at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

We’re looking back at every debut studio album to receive a CMA nomination for album of the year. Three of these albums won the award – Jack Greene’s There Goes My Everything, Kentucky HeadHunters’ Pickin’ on Nashville and Traveller.

One artist manages to make this list twice. Wynonna Judd was nominated both with her first solo studio album, Wynonna, and, seven years earlier, with her first studio album as half of The Judds, Why Not Me.

We also show the producers of each of these albums. Scott Hendricks and Keith Stegall, who co-produced Alan Jackson’s debut album, Here in the Real World, are each listed with a second album. Hendricks also co-produced Brooks & Dunn’s Brand New Man. Stegall also co-produced Randy Travis’ Storms of Life.

Here’s every debut studio album to receive a CMA nomination for album of the year.