CMA Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Real! Country! Legends!

ABC Audio

Singer/songwriter Ryan Hurd is ready for a big night at the CMAs on Wednesday: His wife, Maren Morris, is the leading nominee with six nods, including Album of the Year. Ryan tells ABC Audio that she can’t wait to bring home some more CMA Awards.

“Between the two of us. We’ve got a lot of gold records and a lot of stuff on the wall that we really are proud of,” says Ryan. “But…just one CMA, man. She’s ready to add to that. And she’s kind of got the itch, I think.”

And Ryan says he’s super proud of Maren’s nominations, especially Album of the Year for Girl.

“She deserves it. And she made what I think is the best album of the year. So…it’s just really validating to her and to everybody that worked on it: People like me that got to write for it, and producers….she’s just really excited, man, and she should be.”

But that’s not the only exciting thing happening the talented couple’s lives: They’re also expecting their first child, a boy.

“We’re so proud,” Ryan gushes. “We had such an awesome year that this is just I don’t know, this is better than anything else that we could ever imagine musically, you know what I mean? So this is new for both of us. We have no idea what we’re doing. I especially don’t, but I’m really excited about learning.”

While the couple has a name picked out, they’re not revealing it just yet, though as Ryan admits, “We’re not good at secrets, so it’ll probably just sneak out on Twitter or something.”

ABC AudioReigning CMA Entertainer of the Year Keith Urban is nominated in that category again this year. On Monday, he told ABC Audio that he can’t even begin to predict his chances of repeating on Wednesday’s CMA telecast.

“Well…I mean, who knows ever, from year to year to year?” he says. “But I will say to be nominated again was pretty surreal.”

But according to Keith, winning Entertainer of the Year multiple times is “one of those classic things that happens to other people…right?”

However, he notes, “I couldn’t picture it last year either, so don’t ask me!”

Keith has more a concrete opinion on the fact that Wednesday’s CMA telecast — hosted by Carrie Underwood with some help from Reba and Dolly Parton — will be shining a spotlight on the great female voices of country music.

“I think it’s sad that we have to do something to make this intentional recalibrating of what should have been balanced all along. But I’m glad it’s happening,” he tells ABC Audio. (AUDIO IS ABC 1-ON-1)

Keith will be performing a stripped-down acoustic version of his hit “We Were” on the telecast. To see if he wins the prestigious award again, tune in to the 53rd annual CMA Awards, airing Wednesday, November 13 on ABC at 8 p.m. ET.

Category: CMA

Watch now: Ryan Hurd on the baby he’s expecting with Maren Morris and her “itch” to win more CMAs

Watch now: Keith Urban on defending his Entertainer title, female-centric CMA Awards: “I’m glad it’s happening”