Predicting the winners of the 2021 CMA Awards

With five nominations each, Chris Stapleton and Eric Church are poised to have big nights at the CMA Awards this year. 

Expect versatile fiddler Jenee Fleenor to pull off a three-peat at this year's CMA Awards ceremony. In 2019, Fleenor became the first woman to win the Musician of the Year trophy and won again in 2020. She faces some stiff competition in the category, including longtime Vince Gill steel guitar player Paul Franklin, but Fleenor seems like a shoo-in for a historic fourth win. 

With its vintage vibe, Dierks Bentley's goofy-yet-sincere acting, and throwbacks to beloved TV shows like "Full House," the music video for "Gone" juxtaposes all those elements together with intimate shots of Bentley singing in a way that's seriously fun to watch. 

This year's Musical Event of the Year competition is tough. Many of the nominees, like Kelsea Ballerini and Kenny Chesney's "Half of My Hometown" pair up-and-coming stars with country legends, but the seriously fun, booze-soaked collaboration between Miranda Lambert and genre-bending singer Elle King should rise to the top. 

Chris Stapleton is arguably the reigning king of mainstream country music right now, evidenced by his incredible ability to dominate the charts. "Starting Over," the title track from Stapleton's acclaimed 2020 album, feels really appropriate for the pandemic-era win thanks to its vulnerable, relatable lyrics and Stapleton's always-stellar vocals. 

Co-written by Ashley McBryde, Shane McAnally, and Nicolette Hayford, "One Night Standards" is a country ballad for the ages. There are other strong contenders in this category, including Eric Church's "Hell of a View," but this stirring song is an obvious favorite. 

Arguably the most controversial category at this year's CMA Awards — Morgan Wallen, who was implicated in a racist incident caught on video last year, is also nominated in the category — this year's Album of the Year trophy should definitely go to Eric Church. One-half of Church's ambitious 2020 double-album project "Heart and Soul," it's a solid showcase of what makes Church so compelling as a performer. 

Newcomer Gabby Barrett has already made an impressive showing on the country charts in her young career, making her a shoo-in for this year's New Artist of the Year CMA Award. The "American Idol" alum's debut single was an instant smash, selling more than 5 million copies after its release, and that only appears to be a glimpse at what's ahead for this bright young star. 

Even though this award has long been nicknamed the "Brooks and Dunn award," and that iconic duo is nominated in this category, expect the Brothers Osborne to take home the trophy this year. John Osborne and T.J. Osborne are making some of the most compelling, thoughtful music of the genre. 

Judging by history, CMA Awards voters love a repeat winner. Old Dominion's taken home the Vocal Group of the Year trophy for the past three years running, and it seems likely that 2021 will be the fourth. Don't be surprised, though, if Little Big Town, which has won six times in the past, sweeps in and breaks the streak. 

This year's competition for Male Vocalist of the Year is the definition of tough, with Luke Combs, Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, Thomas Rhett, and Chris Stapleton all nominated. Combs has taken home the trophy for the past three years, though, and he's completely dominated the country charts, making him the clear favorite for the win. 

She's won this award many times before, but Miranda Lambert continues to prove that she's the reigning queen of country music via stunning albums like "The Marfa Tapes," her collaboration with Jack Ingram and Jon Randall, and her infectiously fun collaboration with Elle King, nominated in the Musical Event of the Year category. 

Considering that the Country Music Association hasn't awarded a woman Entertainer of the Year in a decade — Taylor Swift took home the trophy in 2010 — it's about damn time for Miranda Lambert to finally get her due in this category. It could also very well be the year for Chris Stapleton, who's never won Entertainer of the Year, to take home the win. 

After you've made your predictions for this year's winners make sure to tune in for the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards on ABC on Wednesday, November 10, starting at 7 p.m. ET.