For the good of country music, the Red Clay Strays have to start taking home the awards they so very much deserve to win. Last year, the Red Clay Strays were nominated for their first ever CMA Award in the “Vocal Group of the Year” category. Some may have considered the fact that they were even nominated as a win, and there might have been a small part of the band that thought that way too. They walked away empty-handed at the 2024 CMAs, but the band from Mobile, Alabama is up for the very same award this year. Here are the nominees they are up against: 2025 Vocal Group of the Year The Red Clay Strays Old Dominion Little Big Town Lady A Rascal Flatts In other words, a cringey pop-country band (Old Dominion), a band that just makes the category by default (Little Big Town), a band that’s a decade past their prime (Lady A) and a group coasting off their hit cover song on a Pixar soundtrack (Rascal Flatts) are in the same category as a band that has put out back-to-back musical masterpieces with their debut album, Moment of Truth, in 2022 and their Made By These Moments follow up in 2024. It should be a no contest, and I really mean that. Drew Nix (electric guitar, vocals, harmonica), Zach Rishel (electric guitar), Andrew Bishop (bass), John Hall (drums), Sevans Henderson (keys), and frontman Brandon Coleman have come together to create something that’s entirely new, fresh and unique in the country music sphere. They are by far the best Vocal Group in the genre right now, and their meteoric rise in the past couple of years only supports that. The Red Clay Strays have got the catalogue, the fanbase, the stage presence, and to be frank, the aura, to be one of the best bands in all of music for years to come. The only thing they don’t have? The awards. To their credit, they did win the New Duo or Group of the Year at the most recent ACM Awards. But anyone that’s a fan of theirs, or even just has the ability to recognize good, quality music, knows that the Red Clay Strays are basically wiping the floor (respectfully) with the rest of the nominees in their category. So at the 2025 CMA Awards, if Old Dominion wins their 8th consecutive CMA for Vocal Group of the Year (they won their record breaking 7th consecutive last year, topping a 6-year record held by both Rascal Flatts and Little Big Town), Red Clay Strays fans and those who call themselves faithful to the country music genre should be livid, upset, indignant, enraged, and downright furious. That’s true if any band wins the award over the Red Clay Strays, for that matter. I sure do hope that the CMA Awards do the right thing and give the Vocal Group of the Year award to the band that actually deserves it. It’s more than time for a changing of the guard. There’s a clear “Best in Show” here… the judges just have to open their eyes and ears to see it. There’s no doubt that 2025 has been one of the biggest years for The Red Clay Strays in their existence. Their 2025 Get Right Tour – which included a memorable, headlining stop at Red Rocks – was their official “we’re here” moment in the eyes of the thousands of fans that packed each venue they played. It’s time that the CMA Awards give them their official “we’re here” moment too. Here are the other categories and nominees incase you were interested… I’ll be most focused on the aforementioned “Vocal Group of the Year” category: 2025 CMA Awards Nominees Entertainer of the Year Morgan Wallen Luke Combs Lainey Wilson Cody Johnson Chris Stapleton Album of the Year Am I Okay? – Megan Moroney Producer: Kristian Bush Mix Engineer: Justin Niebank Cold Beer & Country Music – Zach Top Producer: Carson Chamberlain Mix Engineer: Matt Rovey F-1 Trillon – Post Malone Producers: Louis Bell, Charlie Handsome, Hoskins Mix Engineer: Ryan Gore I’m The Problem – Morgan Wallen Producers: Jacob Durrett, Charlie Handsome, Joey Moi Mix Engineers: Charlie Handsome, Joey Moi Whirlwind – Lainey Wilson Producer: Jay Joyce Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce Male Vocalist of the Year Chris Stapleton Morgan Wallen Luke Combs Cody Johnson Zach Top Female Vocalist of the Year Lainey Wilson Ella Langley Megan Moroney Kelsea Ballerini Miranda Lambert Vocal Group of the Year Old Dominion The Red Clay Strays Little Big Town Lady A Rascal Flatts Vocal Duo of the Year Brooks & Dunn Dan + Shay Brothers Osborne The War and Treaty Maddie & Tae Single of the Year “4X4XU” – Lainey Wilson Producer: Jay Joyce Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce “Ain’t No Love In Oklahoma” – Luke Combs Producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton Mix Engineer: Chip Matthews “Am I Okay?” – Megan Moroney Producer: Kristian Bush Mix Engineer: Justin Niebank “I Never Lie” – Zach Top Producer: Carson Chamberlain Mix Engineer: Mat Rovey “You Look Like You Love Me” – Ella Langley ft. Riley Green Producer: Will Bundy Mix Engineer: Jim Cooley Song of the Year “4X4XU” – Lainey Wilson Songwriters: Jon Decious, Aaron Raitiere, Lainey Wilson “Am I Okay? – Megan Moroney Songwriters: Jessie Jo Dillon, Luke Laird, Megan Moroney “I Never Lie” – Zach Top Songwriters: Carson Chamberlain, Tim Nichols, Zach Top “Texas” – Blake Shelton Songwriters: Johnny Clawson, Josh Dorr, Lalo Guzman, Kyle Sturrock “You Look Like You Love Me” – Ella Langley ft. Riley Green Songwriters: Riley Green, Ella Langley, Aaron Raitiere New Artist of the Year Zach Top Ella Langley Stephen Wilson Jr. Tucker Wetmore Shaboozey Musician of the Year Jenee Fleenor (Fiddle) Paul Franklin (Steel Guitar) Brett Mason (Guitar) Rob McNelley (Guitar) Derek Wells (Guitar) Music Video of the Year “Am I Okay?” – Megan Moroney Directors: Alexander Gavillet, Megan Moroney “I’m Gonna Love You” – Cody Johnson & Carrie Underwood Director: Dustin Haney “Somewhere Over Laredo” – Lainey Wilson Director: TK McKamy “Think I’m In Love With You” – Chris Stapleton Director: Running Bear “You Look Like You Love Me” – Ella Langley & Riley Green Directors: Ella Langley, John Park, Wales Toney Musical Event of the Year “Don’t Mind If I Do” – Riley Green ft. Ella Langley Producers: Scott Borchetta, Jimmy Harnen, Dann Huff “Hard Fought Hallelujah” – Brandon Lake w/ Jelly Roll Producer: Micha Nichols “I’m Gonna Love You” – Cody Johnson w/ Carrie Underwood Producer: Trent Willmon “Pour Me A Drink” – Post Malone ft. Blake Shelton Producers: Louis Bell, Charlie Handsome “You Had to Be There” – Megan Moroney ft. Kenny Chesney Producer: Kristian Bush The post If Old Dominion Beats Red Clay Strays For “Vocal Group of the Year” Again At The 2025 CMA Awards, It’s Time To Cancel The Show first appeared on Whiskey Riff.