People’s Choice Country Awards Nominations: Biggest Snubs & Surprises

America may or may not have needed another country music awards show, but one more is on the way. The inaugural People’s Choice Country Awards is set for Thursday, Sept. 28, on NBC and Peacock. Nominations were announced on Wednesday (Aug. 16).

As with every awards show, there are snubs and surprises in the nominations – as well as things that went predictably. No one will be surprised that Morgan Wallen led the nominations list with 11 nods, or that Lainey Wilson is the top female nominee with seven nods.

But few expected to see Ingrid Andress nominated for The New Artist of 2023. She was nominated in similar categories at both the ACM Awards and CMA Awards, as well as the Grammy Awards, in 2021.

The eligibility period for the People’s Choice Country Awards was Aug. 12, 2022, to Aug. 11, 2023. Thus, the show provides an early test of popular 2023 artists and releases. Wallen’s “Last Night,” Luke Combs’ “Fast Car” and Jelly Roll’s “Need a Favor,” which have, between them, locked up the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart for more than three months, are all nominated here, as they will likely be at other awards shows in coming months.

In a bid to distinguish themselves from other country awards shows, the People’s Choice Country Awards have a few unique categories – The Crossover Song of 2023, The Concert Tour of 2023 and The Social Star of 2023.

Little Big Town (who are nominated for The Group/Duo of 2023) will host the show, which is billed as “an award show for the people and by the people.”

Here are snubs and surprises in the very first People’s Choice Country Awards nominations.