The 57th CMA Awards are underway in Nashville as some of the genre’s best acts and music of 2023 are recognized, including the Vocal Duo of the Year.
The Vocal Duo of the Year category has been dominated by acts such as Brothers Osborne, Dan + Shay, and Florida Georgia Line. Brooks & Dunn have the most wins in the category with 14. They earned their first in 1992, unseated The Judds who had won four consecutive years prior.
Winners are chose based on the musical performance of the duo on solo country single or album release, and their overall contribution to country music. The criteria for what defines a duo was updated in the late ’80s to be recognized “as an act composed of two people, both of whom normally perform together and neither of whom is known primarily as an individual performing artist.” Prior to the wording change, any two artists who collaborated or performed together could be considered for the award. In fact, the first winners of the trophy were Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner, both of whom were solo artists.
This year’s nominees include reigning Vocal Duo of the Year and four-time winners, Brothers Osborne, as well as Brooks & Dunn, Dan + Shay, The War and Treaty, and Maddie & Tae.
This year’s winner is … BROTHERS OSBORNE!
This marks the fifth Vocal Duo of the Year win for T.J. and John Osborne, aka Brothers Osborne! In March the pair released a trio of new songs – “Nobody’s Nobody”, “Might as Well Be Me”, and “Roller Coaster (Forever and a Day)”. Four months later the brothers released the song “Sun Ain’t Even Gone Down Yet” and announced the September release of their self-titled fourth studio album.
Congratulations to Brothers Osborne!