An essential 2019 CMT Music Awards playlist

Country duo the Brothers Osborne teamed up with Dierks Bentley for “Burning Man,” a song that’s a manifesto of sorts for Bentley’s “little bit holy water, little bit burning man” approach to life. Nominated for Video of the Year and Collaborative Video of the Year, expect this dramatic (there’s a meteor!) video to definitely take home a trophy. 

This simple, stunning song appears on Musgraves’s Grammy-winning album "Golden Hour," and at the 2019 CMT Awards, it’s up for the night’s biggest trophy in the Video of the Year category. 

Nominated for Video of the Year and Male Video of the Year, Eric Church’s thumping “Desperate Man” epitomizes his rebellious, hard-driving sound. The high-stakes video, depicting a big heist, continues that theme. 

Described by Morris as a “pep talk to herself,” this boppy women’s empowerment anthem has had a long reign on the country charts over the past several months. At the 2019 CMT Awards, “GIRL” could win Morris both Video of the Year and Female Video of the Year. 

Luke Combs is arguably the most successful country newcomer in recent memory, and his hit “She’s Got the Best of Me” is a heartbreak anthem for the ages. Nominated for Video of the Year, the song’s music video features Combs in his natural habitat — writing great songs, performing live for thousands of fans and touring across the country making music. 

"Drowns The Whiskey" is a one-two punch of country music’s biggest stars, with Miranda Lambert pairing her soaring vocals with Aldean's signature sound. Up for Male Video of the Year and Collaborative Video of the Year, it tells the story of a rough breakup from both angles. 

After waiting in the wings for years, Brandi Carlile has enjoyed critical acclaim and commercial success with "The Joke." The stark black-and-white music video, nominated for Female Video of the Year, is a testament to finding strength in our own stories. 

Offering a glimpse into Miranda Lambert’s life out on the road, the music video for “Keeper of the Flame” is nominated in the Female Video of the Year category. In this history-obsessed tune and its video, Lambert pays tribute to both the artists who came before her and the fans who support her. 

Wildly popular country duo Dan + Shay got seriously personal with the video for their song “Speechless,” nominated for Video of the Year and Duo Video of the Year. It features actual (adorable!) footage from both Dan Smyers' and Shay Mooney’s own weddings.

Nominated in the Breakthrough Video of the Year category, up-and-comer Ashley McBryde’s video for her hit single “Girl Goin’ Nowhere” features a truly stunning live performance of the song, delivered in front of a sold-out crowd at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works. 

Haven’t heard of newcomer Morgan Wallen yet? You definitely will soon. Thanks to fun, catchy songs like his current single, “Whiskey Glasses,” nominated for Breakthrough Video of the Year, Wallen’s all but destined for country stardom. 

Featuring Taylor Swift, the music video for Sugarland’s “Babe” plays out like a modern interpretation of "The Stepford Wives" gone wrong. With its nostalgic, mid-century vibe and pretty great acting from Swift and frontwoman Jennifer Nettles, it’s not surprising that “Babe” is up for Duo Video of the Year. 

The desert provides an apt background in the music video for Kane Brown's “Lose It,” nominated for Video of the Year and Male Video of the Year. Over the course of three minutes, Brown dances on top of his Camaro while extolling the virtues of his new love, the woman who makes him “lose it.” 

In these divisive times, songs like Kenny Chesney’s “Get Along” are essential. Using footage of his “No Shoes Nation” fan base as the backdrop for the video, Chesney implores us all to chill out and be a little nicer to each other — and maybe buy a boat or drink a beer. 

A No. 2 hit on the Country Airplay chart for Swindell, “Break Up in the End” is a bittersweet song about being in the kind of love that you know won’t last forever. It’s nominated for both Video of the Year and Male Video of the Year, a testament to the video’s unique concept of playing back the relationship in reverse. 

Appealing to all of our sense of nostalgia and the constant pull toward the place you call home, Keith Urban’s “Coming Home” is nominated for both Video of the Year and Collaborative Video of the Year. Featuring the vocals of pop songstress Julia Michaels, the song is given a little extra boost of old-school, courtesy of a sample of Merle Haggard’s “Mama Tried.” 

Nominated for Video of the Year and Group Video of the Year, the Zac Brown Band’s “Someone I Used to Know” is a deep look at post-traumatic stress disorder and especially how it impacts veterans of the United States Armed Forces. The video tells a powerful story, following a soldier from the high school football field to the battlefield, and its pop-inflected sound marks a major sonic departure for the band. 

Thomas Rhett tells his own story in the lyrics and video for his hit song “Life Changes,” nominated for Male Video of the Year. The video is so personal, in fact, that Rhett’s wife, Lauren, and their daughters, Ada James and Willa, appear alongside Rhett as he tours the country playing music. 

Rising country duo Maddie & Tae earned a Duo Video of the Year nomination for the music video for their song “Friends Don’t.” Set at a house party while both Maddie Marlow and Tae Dye figure out their respective complicated love stories, the video hits home people who have ever wondered where they stood with someone they’re dating. 

The perfect song for the warm months ahead, "Summer Fever," Little Big Town’s infectiously fun song, is up for Group Video of the Year. In the video for this ode to summer, the band’s members take to bikes, the pool and a raging party, and it looks like they’re having a whole lot of fun along the way. 

This country newcomer stormed onto the scene in 2018 with “Best Shot,” his debut, No. 1 single. In the video for the song, nominated for Breakthrough Video of the Year, Allen pairs home video footage and a ton of family photos with his present-day self on this song that’s all about giving everything your all. 

Georgia-born superstar Brantley Gilbert teamed up with rising country phenom Lindsay Ell for “What Happens In A Small Town,” nominated for Collaborative Video of the Year. Written by Gilbert, the song is about his up-and-down relationship with his wife and features stellar guitar playing from Ell. 

The title track of Carrie Underwood’s sixth studio album, “Cry Pretty,” is an anthem that digs into a woman’s uncanny ability to present a strong front when her emotions are falling apart. Nominated for Video of the Year and Female Video of the Year, the empowering track was particularly timely for Underwood, who had a truly rough past couple of years after suffering a serious fall and experiencing multiple miscarriages.