Know your CMA women

With the Country Music Assn. Awards only a couple days away, it's time to get brought up to speed if you're not already. Don't know your Taylor Swift from your Kellie Pickler, head to the CMA Web site, scroll mid-way down and play this Memory-styled game.

There's a timer on the upper left, presumably to see how fast you can ace the pre-"Brain Age" teaser, but it works better to see just how long before your lose your patience -- or succumb to boredom. One minute and 17 seconds on this end, and I'm ashamed to admit Rascal Flatts was the only group this writer unturned.

But enough award-related games.

Let's get back to predictions. The male vocalist of the year category was previewed here about one week ago, and today the female vocalist of the year field will get the run-down.

It's another male-dominated year at the CMAs, as no woman earned a nomination in the entertainer of the year field, a fact that's earning its share of gripes. Odd, as Carrie Underwood was fit to snare a best new artist trophy at last year's Grammy Awards, but in CMA Land, she'll have to make do with winning the female vocalist of the year award for the second year running. (In the AP story linked above, it's implied that success on the road and concert ticket sales were a huge factor in deciding who snared an entertainer of the year nom).

But here are the female nominees: Alison Krauss, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire and Underwood (at left).

As stated above, the award will most likely go to Underwood, who has just released her sophomore effort, "Carnival Ride." While pure country-pop, the album debuted at No. 1 on the U.S. pop charts, and seems to have finally cemented Underwood's respect in Nashville. All of 2007, in fact, was a sort of victory lap for Underwood, who, thus far, has seamlessly transitioned from "Idol" to super stardom.

If anyone other than Underwood wins. the best guess is likely McEntire, a six-time CMA winner who last won female vocalist honors in 1987. Her recent "Reba Duets" sees her working with country and pop royalty, elegantly bridging the gap from Faith Hill to Carole King to Justin Timberlake. 

Not every cut is a winner, but it's a more collaborative effort than most duet sets, and the range of artists provide a nice snapshot of McEntire's range and career. McEntire is country royalty, and with Underwood winning the award last year, it wouldn't be a total shock if she took it home in 2007.

McBride's "Waking Up Laughing" represents the first-time the artist self-produced an album, and it's also the first time she had a hand in co-writing some of the tracks. Her efforts to take more control were well-received, and it's a pleasant-enough listen, but it will likely be overshadowed this year.

As will young, "Nashville Star"-vet Lambert (at right). She's got a rock'n'roll heart and a smoking voice, but, sadly, lacks the sales or star power here. Her winning the award on the strength of second album, "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend," would make this writer happy, as she deserves a more mainstream following. Listen for yourself. "Famous In A Small Town" is as fine a suburban anthem released this year. Has that song been on an episode of "Friday Night Lights" yet? It should be.

Krauss is certainly deserving. The veteran artist has racked up 7 CMAs, but Krauss has a better shot in vocal group of the year category with her band, Union Station. And Krauss will clean-up at 2009's Grammys, thanks to her pairing with Robert Plant on "Raising Sand," which was released on Oct. 23.

More CMA run-downs in the coming days.

(Underwood photo courtesy MLB/Getty Images; Lambert photo courtesy Los Angeles Times)