The 2022 CMA Awards nominations are out, with Lainey Wilson leading the list of nominees with six nods, followed by Ashley McBryde, Carly Pearce and Chris Stapleton, who each have five nods. As usual, we (rightfully) saw a few familiar names, along with a few surprise additions, and also were disappointed to find some glaring omissions. Keep reading to see the biggest snubs and surprises of the 2022 CMA Awards nominees.

Snub: Michael Ray

Michael Ray has never been nominated for a CMA Award, in spite of not only his many hits, but his devotion to the country music genre. But his latest hit, “Whiskey and Rain,” spent two weeks at the top of the charts, which should have sealed at least one nomination for him, and maybe more.

Surprise: Parker McCollum

Parker McCollum earned his first-ever nomination, for New Artist of the Year, and rightfully so. The Texan has had two back-to-back No. 1 hits, with “Pretty Heart” and “To Be Loved By You.” McCollum, who was chosen by George Strait to open for him earlier this year, seems to be on the cusp of a really, really big career. This CMA Awards nomination is definitely a step in the right direction.

Snub: Scotty McCreery

Scotty McCreery also has never been nominated for a CMA Award, even as his career as made a steady incline in the last few years. McCreery, who won Season 10 of  American Idol in 2011, has had five consecutive No. 1 singles, including his latest “Damn Strait” hit, which spent three weeks at the top of the charts. He’s headlined his own tours, and opened for other artists, including Brooks & Dunn. It should have been a given that McCreery earned his first nomination this year.

Surprise: Cody Johnson

It’s safe to say that Cody Johnson has found his place in country music. Johnson, who was nominated in 2019 for New Artist of the Year, earned four nominations in 2022. Johnson is nominated agian for New Artist of the Year, which might not be the right category for him anymore. But he has three other nominations, for Male Vocalist of the Year, as well as both Single of the Year and Music Video of the Year, both for “‘Til You Can’t.”

Snub: Blake Shelton

Shelton has had plenty of nominations — 28 in fact — but his career certainly seems worthy of more. This is the third year he has eclipsed hearing his name in the list of nominees, even though his music is better than ever. He’s had hit after hit, including his recent “Come Back As A Country Boy” single. He is just as worthy as some of the other nominees, and maybe more.

Snub: Keith Urban

Where is Keith Urban in the list of CMA Awards nominees? Answer: nowhere. And that’s unfortunate. Urban has been nominated 54 times, including 13 nods for Entertainer of the Year, and taking home that trophy two times. In addition to his massive The Speed of Now World Tour, Urban has had a No. 1 hit, with “Wild Hearts.” He deserved a nomination, or two or three, this year.

Surprise: Breland

Welcome to the CMA Awards nominees, Breland! The singer earned his first nomination this year, for Musical Event of the Year, and rightfully so.  Dierks Bentley said his recent No. 1 hit, “Beers On Me,” which was recorded along with HARDY, wouldn’t have been the same without what Breland added to it, so it’s right that he has earned his place on the list of nominees.

Snub: Dustin Lynch 

It’s without excuse that Dustin Lynch seems to elude nominations year after year, and has in fact never been nominated for a CMA Award. But to have his name omitted this year, when he had a five-week No.1 hit, “Thinking ‘Bout You” with MacKenzie Porter, is frankly without excuse. The song, which also broke a record as the longest-running Top 10 single on Billboard‘s Country Airplay chart, deserved more than one nomination.

Surprise: Lainey Wilson

We’re not surprised that Lainey Wilson heard her name called in the list of nominees. But we are happily surprised that she heard her name six times, all but cementing her fate as a country music superstar. Wilson is nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year, sharing the category with Miranda Lambert, Ashley McBryde, Carly Pearce and Carrie Underwood. She also earned two nods, both Musical Event of the Year and Music Video of the Year, for her “Never Say Never” duet with Cole Swindell, as well as Album of the Year, for Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’, and Song of the Year, for “Things A Man Oughta Know,” plus a nomination in New Artist of the Year.

Snub: Gabby Barrett

Gabby Barrett was nominated four times last year, including for Female Vocalist of the Year and Song of the Year (for “The Good Ones”). So it seems odd that Barrett didn’t receive any nominations at all this year. While she didn’t have a hit at radio, she has been busy touring, including the first half of Jason Aldean‘s Rock N’ Roll Cowboy Tour. Although unfortunate, Barrett will likely find her name in the list of nominees for years and years to come.

Snub: Kane Brown

Kane Brown is, inexplicably, absent from this year’s list of nominees, but it’s not for lack of success at country radio. Brown has had a string of hit singles, including “One Mississippi” and his very, very country “Like I Love Country Music.” It’s an unfortunate omission that hopefully won’t be repeated.

Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning will serve as hosts of the 2022 CMA Awards. The 2022 CMA Awards will air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, November 9, at 8:00 PM ET on ABC.