The nominees for Musician of the Year at the Country Music Awards feature four guitar players and a mandolin player.
The nominees include Brent Mason, who was previously honored with the CMA for Musician of the Year in 1997 and 1998. He was also awarded with the NAMMIE Nashville Music Award for Guitarist of the year in 1995. Mason has also been honored with 12 Academy of Country Music Guitarist of the Year awards.
Dan Huff has also won numerous Musician of the Year awards at the CMAs. He won in 2001 and 2004. The guitarist has also won Producer of the Year awards at the ACM in 2006 and 2009.
Mac McAnally is also a recipient of the Musician of the Year at the CMAs. He won in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. He was also nominated in 2009 for the Musical Event of the year for his tour "Down the Road." The guitarist was recently nominated for a Grammy for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals.
Paul Franklin is a steel guitarist who has never won a CMA. His career began in the 70s as a member of Barbara Mandrell's road band. He has since become an important musician in Nashville and has won the CMA for Best Steel Guitarist numerous times.
Sam Bush is a well-known Mandolin player who is best known for his work in Bluegrass. He is the recipient of the Grammy Award for Best Country Performance in Duo or Group as well as Album of the Year and Best Pop Instrumental Performance.
Predictions: Winning the category for the last five years straight, Mac McAnally is the automatic front-runner.