5 Signs You're Having a Boy, If That's Something You Want to Know

Finding out the sex of your baby is often one of the most fun parts of pregnancy (that is, if you want to find out the sex). Although some people prefer the gender reveal to occur during birth, others will want to know sooner so they can make important medical decisions ahead of time. And even those who want to know don't want to wait till the 20-week ultrasound to learn. So, rather than rely on accuracy, they turn to the signs you're having a boy.

If you just can't wait to find out if you're having a boy or a girl through medical tests, there may be some clues to help you figure it out. Here are five signs you may be having a boy, not all of which are scientific, but are simply a lot of fun.

1. You're Carrying Low

The saying goes like this: carrying high means a girl and carrying low means a boy. If you believe in old wives tales then by all means use this sign as a gender indicator for your baby. But according to Healthline, how you carry during your pregnancy has more to do with the shape of your uterus, your unique body type, and your abdominal muscles.

2. Your Morning Sickness Isn't That Bad Or Non-Existent

According to Web MD, a study done by researchers in Sweden found that women suffering from severe morning sickness, including the condition hyperemesis gravidarum, were more likely to be pregnant with girls than with boys. That being said, morning sickness is thought to be caused by human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), or the hormone present in pregnancy as further explained by Web MD. Researchers in the study claimed that the hCG levels for a girl fetus versus a boy fetus were different.

3. Your Skin Is Unaffected By Pregnancy

The old wives tale says that if your skin is suffering during pregnancy, it's because a baby girl is stealing your beauty. But, according to the aforementioned Healthline article, how your skin looks is just a matter or hormones in general. You can't blame it on a boy or a girl.

4. You're Craving Salty And Sour Foods

The thought is that pregnant women who crave sweets are having a girl and those wanting salty or sour foods are having a boy. Anecdotally speaking, I have two girls, and while pregnant with them I craved both sweet and sour stuff — sometimes at the same time. "People think their cravings are significant, but studies show no link between cravings and nutritional requirements," Judith Brown, a nutrition author said in a Baby Center article. "If people craved what the body needs, we would all eat more broccoli and less chocolate." Brown said in some cases there may be a biological reason for cravings. For example, if a pregnant woman is having a bizarre craving for laundry starch, dirt, or clay (a condition called pica), this may indicate an iron deficiency. But mostly cravings and aversions seem to be anecdotal.

5. Your Baby's Heartbeat Is Below 140 BPMs

Next time your provider pulls out the fetal Doppler ask what the heartbeat is. According to Parenting, the legend is that if your baby's heartbeat is below 140 beats per minute (BPM) then it's a boy. "I don’t think to my knowledge they’ve proven any of these are accurate signs to determine gender," Ross says. She points to the blood tests and sonograms as the surefire ways to figure out if you're having a boy or a girl. How much weight you give to gender in your planning depends on your personal preferences. In the end, it's a 50-50 chance either way.

You Gotta Be Kidding!

Man, I was ticked last night. I was on my way home from emceeing an event at the La Crosse Center. I had parked on Level 4 of the parking ramp across from the Center, and when I had arrived at 4pm I had to stop for the gate and get a ticket. Knowing I was going to be there for about 6 hours, I really didn't mind paying a few bucks for parking. So when I backed out of stall at the end of the night, around 10pm, I was not happy to find it was bumper-to-bumper waiting to get out. I figured there wasn't much I could do about it since everyone had to stop and pay on the way out, right? And after all, I had parked on the 4th level. Imagine my surprise when I got to the gate, put my ticket in, and the machine said I didn't owe a dime, lifted the gate and out I went. Now, I'm not griping because I didn't have to pay. After all, that was nice. But there's a sign right on the machine that says "If Gate Is Up, No Payment Is Due", so clearly they can set the gates to stay open. So why then, did they make everyone stop at the gate, put our ticket in, and then let us go for free? You see what I'm saying? I sat in line for nearly a half hour while everyone had to stop when the gates could have just been left up and we all could have been out of there in half the time. Again, thanks for not charging me, but when you have to get up at 4 in the morning, it's no fun sitting in the ramp for a half hour. What do you think, should I have just been thankful I didn't get charged? What are your parking pet peeves/
Drop me a line: john@kicks1063.com

Perfect Little League Sign Gives 5 Reminders for Obnoxious Parents at the Game

You hear it at ballparks all summer long: “Aw come on, ump, open your eyes!” “Unbelievable!” “Really, Blue!? You got to be kidding me.” Such insults are commonly hurled at Miller Park and other major league fields across the country. Professional umpires know it comes with the job. But on other ball fields, such shouts can trigger tears.As spring comes again and with it little league baseball, hoards of screaming parents return to the bleachers ready to shout insults, lose their cool, and humiliate their children in the name of competition. One little league in Glendale Wisconsin puts up a sign each year to remind parents to act civilized, and to remember that a little league game is not as high stakes as it might feel in the moment. Here's the five simple rules and reminders the post:

1) These are KIDS.
2) This is a GAME.
3) Coaches are VOLUNTEERS.
4) Umpires are HUMAN.
5) Your child is NOT being scouted by the Brewers today.

The relatable post went viral when a parent posted it on Reddit, with parents everywhere commiserating over that one mom or dad who always shows up with a creative new obscenity to hurl at the ump. As the post went viral, John Diedrich, the little league president, reflected on his league's sign—why it's so popular and why it's so necessary.
      "I know our league is not alone in having such parents get out of hand. It’s a well-documented problem. And it is not just spectators. I have also seen parents volunteering as coaches lose their cool. As these ugly scenes play out, the players - the kids - are watching. The result can be players themselves becoming poor sports. But just as many players turn away from the sport, embarrassed or just burned out by the intensity of their parents."

Planning A Wedding? "Vogue" Says Don't You Dare Go Rustic!

I'm a guy, which means that automatically I know nothing about planning a wedding. But I DJ at plenty of them during the wedding season, so I've had the opportunity to see a lot of changing fashions over the years. ONe theme I've seen a lot is the ":rustic" look, what the experts call "Bohemian" or just "BoHo", and being a country guy, I like that look. But now, the pros at Vogue magazine say put down that burlap-tied napkin and step away from the Pinterest board because the boho wedding has finally had its day.
      Flower crowns are officially out and it seems the humble chalkboard sign has had it's day too. But it's not just an unoffensive strip of blooms and a friendly framed run down of proceedings that one is to avoid when pulling off a 'trendy' wedding in 2017, plenty more unassuming additions to one's Big Day are also in the firing line.
      Rustic has become "an almost taboo word" for weddings according to Virginia Edelson, founder of event planning firm Bluebird Productions, who names burlap-tied napkins, cocktail tables, wood slices and twine-tied favors among her particular bugbears. Noting that items like dreamcatchers, fathers and arrow are "merely seen as kitschy," she adds that "moving forward, we want to see people moving more toward a mountain-elegant vibe."
      According to Los Angeles and New York City–based event producer Yifat Oren, 'family-style' dinners are out, while celebrity wedding planner Mindy Weiss is bored of the all-white wedding.
      The 'archaic practice' of the bride's family footing the bill for the affair is a definite no-no for one wedding planner. "The idea no longer makes sense," notes David Stark, Brooklyn-based wedding and event planner who says to "Go Dutch or go home!"
      "People should be really careful with fashion trends," advised Alison Laesser-Keck and Bryan Keck, founders of VLD Events, and those found on image sharing site Pinterest are some of the ones to particularly steer clear of. “Pinterest can be an excellent tool for brides-to-be to find inspiration and get their visions in motion, but the home page–of–Pinterest wedding look is well overdone. I’m talking about chalkboard signs, bohemian naked cakes, and geode everything. We thought that boho chic was on its way out last year, but somehow it stuck around for 2016. Let’s hope 2017 can finally ditch the trend," says Colin Cowie, wedding and event planner.

So here's a handy run-down of wedding no-nos for 2017...

1. Witty bar menus/drink names
2. 'Family style' dinners
3. Boho/Rustic style weddings
4. Garland centrepieces
5. Huge bridal parties
6. Oversized bridal bouquets
7. The bride's family picking up the tab
8. The 'all white' wedding
9. Long, formal meals
10. Runners/cowboy boots
11. Incompatible color palettes
12. Flower crowns
13. "The Pinterest Wedding"
14. Food trucks

Some Believe Aaron Hernandez Died to Protect His Estate

By committing suicide inside his prison cell early Wednesday morning, Aaron Hernandez died an innocent man. At least, that is how the state of Massachusetts will view it. Martin W. Healy, chief legal counsel to the Massachusetts Bar Association, told Evan Allen of The Boston Globe about a legal principle called “abatement ab initio,” which in layman’s terms means “from the beginning.” What that means is that if a person dies before exhausting all possible legal appeals in a case, the case reverts to its earliest stage.

In other words, Hernandez was never convicted of murdering Odin Lloyd in 2013.

“Unfortunately, in the Odin Lloyd matter, for the family, there won’t be any real closure,” Healy explained. “Aaron Hernandez will go to his death an innocent man.”

Massachusetts is one of several states that still observes the abatement ab initio principle. Perhaps more importantly, it could now help protect Hernandez’s family against civil litigation going forward. Now that Hernandez has not technically been tried for the murder of Lloyd, no evidence established during the Lloyd trial can be used in civil court. Other states have abandoned abatement ab initio after high-profile murderers had their convictions wiped clean because of their deaths, according to Healy.

Department of Correction officials say Hernandez gave no indication that he was suicidal and did not leave a note in his cell, so we may never know why the former NFL star decided to take his own life. In fact, some people close to Hernandez believe he was murdered. Hernandez’s attorney is launching an investigation into the ex-New England Patriot’s death.

The details surrounding Hernandez’s death make it seem impossible that someone else could have been in the cell with him. In reality, the people who refuse to believe Hernandez could take his own life are probably the same ones who did not believe he could take another man’s.

Source: larrybrownsports.com

Top 10 Most Popular Wedding First Dance Songs

With wedding season on the horizon, couples are starting to think about their first dance, which of course includes choosing a song that they can dance to together for years to come! For couples seeking some inspiration, here are the Top 10 Most Popular First Dance Songs in 2016 according to wedding site The Knot.

1. "Thinking Out Loud" by Ed Sheeran

2. "From the Ground Up" by Dan + Shay

3. "Can't Help Falling in Love" by Elvis Presley

4. "Die a Happy Man" by Thomas Rhett

5. "All of Me" by John Legend

6. "You are the Best Thing" by Ray LaMontagne

7. "At Last" by Etta James

8. "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri

9. "I Don't Dance" by Lee Brice

10. "Then" by Brad Paisley

And while some of these songs won't be going away anytime soon, the editors at The Knot have a few predictions for new songs that will be popular for 2017:

· "Perfect" by Ed Sheeran

· "Remedy" by Adele

· "Yours" by Russell Dickerson

· "Greatest Love Story" by LANCO

· "In Case You Didn't Know" by Brett Young

Good to see so many country songs in the list, right? Is there one of your favorites that didn't make this list? What was your First Dance tune? Drop me a line: john@kicks1073.com.

So Just Why Does The Easter Bunny Fill Our Easter Baskets?

Ever wonder why a mystical rabbit fills baskets with candy for us on Easter? Or why we run like lunatics, hunting for eggs? I did, too, so I went to an expert. Tom Ryan, Ph.D., director of the Loyola Institute for Ministry, said there are a range of myths or symbols involved with Easter, rooted in the history of the holiday.

First off, Easter is to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. "The Easter Bunny and Easter eggs are both symbols of life," said Ryan. "Rabbits are prolific, and eggs are about new life so they are symbols that represent what Easter is about, and that is that life has conquered death."

The candy is meant to serve as a mark for breaking the Lenten fast. But why do we have ham on our Easter dinner table? "Ham is a more recent development," said Ryan. "But lamb is an important part of Jewish Passover, and Christians associate the Last Supper that leads in to Easter with the Jewish holiday."

As for the Easter bonnet, well according to Ryan, the reason we get all dressed up on Easter is to feel something bodily, to experience the message of Easter, which is that in the end, death does not win, life does.

Tips Before Adopting a Bunny for Easter

What kid doesn't want a bunny for Easter, right? Didn't we all want one when we were kids? It's not that it's a bad idea, but just like getting any new pet for the family, you've got do it after getting fully informed. Clay Humane, a nonprofit veterinary clinic in Orange Park, FL is offering tips to people considering adopting a rabbit this Easter. "Bunnies are adorable and a familiar symbol of Easter, so many children beg their parents for pet rabbits around the holiday," said Dr. Christian Broadhurst, senior staff veterinarian at Clay Humane. "Unfortunately, many rabbits are abandoned and end up in shelters after Easter because people don't understand bunnies need a lot of attention and time." Broadhurst offers five tips to families considering adopting a rabbit:

• Ensure you have time to allow your pet rabbit time to exercise outside his or her cage. Rabbits need lots of exercise every day.

• Make sure you are prepared to clean the rabbit's litter box daily. Bunnies need clean litter boxes each day.

• Keep a special diet of Timothy hay and well-washed dark, leafy green vegetables on hand. Do not feed rabbits food that isn't part of their special diet.

• Rabbits typically don't like to be picked up. Make sure family members understand your pet rabbit most likely will not like being cuddled.

• Prepare for regular trips to the veterinarian. Just like other pets, rabbits need regular checkups to stay healthy.

"Rabbits make excellent pets for people who have the time and patience to care for these beautiful creatures," Broadhurst said. "If you aren't sure if you are ready to adopt a rabbit, try giving your child a stuffed bunny to teach him or her about caring for a pet. Then, when you are ready to adopt a pet rabbit, visit a local animal shelter or rescue group.”

STUDY: Country-Style Dance Can Increase Brain Function

This is why we country fans are so smart! It turns out country dancing, which involves detailed choreography, does more to boost brain functioning than other exercises, according to a new study recently published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. Researchers from the University of Illinois in Urbana and other schools recruited 174 healthy subjects in their 60s and 70s — both sedentary folks and those who already practiced light exercise.

They had the subjects take tests measuring their “aerobic fitness and mental capacities, including processing speed and a brain scan with a sophisticated MRI machine,” the New York Times reports. All subjects proved to have degeneration of their white matter, including “slight thinning of the size and number of connections between neurons.”

The folks were then split into three groups. The first group did brisk walking, the second engaged in stretching and balance training, and the third was invited to hit the dance floor: “These men and women showed up to a studio three times a week for an hour and practiced increasingly intricate country-dance choreography, with the group shaping itself into fluid lines and squares and each person moving from partner to partner.”

After six months of exercise, says the article, participants from all three groups were invited to retake the tests they had taken at the outset of the study. The results were shocking. Participants in the first two groups showed increased degeneration in white matter. But the third group — the dancers — not only avoided that fate, but their white matter actually became more dense, particularly in the “fornix, a part of the brain involved with processing speed and memory,” says the article.

When they were asked to retake thinking tests that they had taken six months prior, though, none of the groups outperformed any other. All did better on the tests, but the dancing group — the ones whose white matter had been beefed up — were at about the same level of cognitive function as their peers, says the article. The researchers’ conclusion? “There could be a time lag between when the brain changes structurally and when we start having trouble thinking and remembering,” said Agnieszka Burzynska, the study’s lead author and a professor of human development and neuroscience at Colorado State University in Fort Collins.

The fact that all participants’ mental performances improved showed researchers that physical activity — especially of the social variety — is healthy for brain function. But “the cognitive demands of the dancing, which required people to learn and master new choreography throughout the six months of the study, affected the biochemistry of the brain tissue in the fornix,” Burzynska told the New York Times.

The general takeaway, says Burzynska, is that exercising and socializing are both crucial for keeping brains healthy and sharp as we age. But learning the contra dance and sashay is a whole other ball game. The intricacies and intense social interaction of country dance was a game changer for participants, which could shed light on choreographed dance as a means of warding off cognitive decline.

More research needs to be done, researchers say, to measure the effects of other kinds of exercise and different types of choreographed dance (foxtrot, anyone?) on mental functioning and the regrowth of white matter. In the meantime, if you’re over 40, or you simply want to keep your brain in shape, then grab your partner and dosey doe!

Yahoo

STUDY: 59% of People Eat a Chocolate Bunny Starting with the Ears!

Easter is just days away, and that means it's almost time to unwrap a chocolate bunny and surrender to your sweet tooth. Unless you've been biting into those bunnies ever since they hit store shelves weeks ago. Of course, no one would judge you for taking an early nibble.But they might judge how you nibble. That's because there's a right way and a wrong way indulge in the seasonal sweet treat.

A recent study published in The Laryngoscope journal found that the vast majority of bunny consumers (59 percent) start with the ears. The study utilized online research to determine the bunny-eating habits of over 28,000 people, and the ears-first method proved to be the norm. Not so normal? You might even say abnormal? The feet-first approach. Yes, there are folks out there who flip their bunnies around and start with old rabbit's foot. But not many of them — only 4 percent start there. As for everyone else, they just enjoy chocolate that happens to be shaped like a bunny without even paying attention to the parts. Researchers found that 33 percent of people indicate no preference at all when going in for the all-important first bite.
Of course, if you happen to be among the "abnormal" crowd, don't worry. While the study is on the up-and-up, the topic is intentionally tongue-in-cheek. Or ear-in mouth.

What to Buy in April: Spring Wear, Garden Gear, Easter Goodies, and More!

Sure, April can be a rainy month. But it's also a great month for shopping! You can find top-notch savings on seasonal apparel, Easter goodies, garden gear and furniture, and deals surrounding Tax Day (April 18), and Earth Day (April 22). Also, a variety of retailers are celebrating Administrative Professionals' Day (April 26) with snazzy discounts. We've rounded up a list of some of the best deals, along with exclusive tips from retail experts.

1. Seasonal Clothing and Shoes

Finally we can ditch those clunky winter coats! And slip into some sweet savings. "The general rule for dressing yourself in deals is to wait about two months after a new season of apparel hits stores before cashing in on sizable discounts," noted Benjamin Glaser, features editor with DealNews. "Many retailers began debuting their spring merchandise in February, which means April is the two-month mark. You'll see the warm weather in full effect with deals like sandals at JCPenney for $15 (discounted by $25), polo shirts for $3 (discounted by $9) at Sierra Trading Post, and lots of deals on linen clothing, shorts, and more." Glaser suggests checking out the Eddie Bauer Spring Sale, the Hollister Spring Sale, and the Michael Kors at Spring sale. Also consider Forever 21's BOGO on sale items, running through April 2. And don't forget some new kicks. Sara Skirboll, shopping and trends expert at RetailMeNot says now is the time to find deals on a variety of shoes. "Shoes, especially athletic/tennis shoes, are upwards of 30 percent off [in some stores]. Winter styles need to be cleared out to make way for new spring and summer styles like sandals. Right now Macy's is offering $10 cash back for online purchases of $50 [or more] and you can score 12 percent off plus free shipping with code RETAILMENOT at New Balance." Brent Shelton, online shopping expert at FatWallet, recommends using Ebates.com to earn up to 20 percent cash back on "nearly any spring fashion purchase imaginable."

2. Garden Tools and Patio Furniture

"Whether just getting out in the yard for the first time, or pushing past lawn prep and into spring projects, April offers savings from huge lawn and garden deals through the month," said Shelton. "Expect 20 percent off and more on lawn seed, fertilizers, perennial bulbs and plants, shrubs and trees, and many of the tools to do the work. Plus, bigger-ticket items like patio furniture, grills and lawn equipment will be on sale with savings that beat May and June prices on these items." Home Depot has slashed the prices on select patio furniture such as the Hampton Bay Pembrey 7-Piece Patio Dining Set, retailing for $629, down from $899, through April 9. Sears has marked down items such as the Craftsman Pro Series 33" 357cc Two Stage Snowblower with Power Steering, available for $1599.98, down from $2199.99. Lowes has launched Spring Black Friday Deals, an event that touts savings for green-thumbed shoppers.

3. Easter Candy, Crafts, Baskets, and Flowers

"Most major retailers bring timely savings on candy, gift baskets, decorations," said Shelton. Kendal Perez, savings expert for CouponSherpa points to See's Candies, which is featuring $5 off in-store purchases of $30 or more through April 16 with this printable coupon. Over at Hobby Lobby, you can save 40 percent on Easter crafts, decor, and party supplies through April 17. At Jet.com, take 15 percent off select candy brands for Easter (with a maximum discount of $30) through April 18 using the promo code EASTERCANDY15. 1800Baskets is touting 20 percent off Easter baskets through April 17 with the promo code BUNNYHOP, and Easter floral arrangements are discounted at FTD, which is offering 20 percent off through May 1. Expect bigger Easter deals to pop up once the holiday has come and gone. Stores will be trying to move all that cute and sugary inventory. "Easter is on April 16, [so] look for clearance sales to start on the 17th," said retail expert Courtney Jespersen at NerdWallet. "Retailers will be motivated to move their plush bunnies and marshmallow Peeps off the shelf, so expect clearance-level prices to kick in toward the end of the month."

4. Tax Day Freebies

Didn't get the tax refund you were hoping for? Don't be blue; retailers have freebies for you! "Each year on tax day, retailers, restaurants and all sorts of other businesses give away freebies," said Jespersen. "In past years, giveaways have run the gamut from cheeseburgers and cookies to shaved ice and paper shredding." Most of these freebies haven't yet been announced, but it's likely that past participants will continue their savings tradition. In the past, Arby's has served curly fries for free on Tax Day, and AMC gave out popcorn at no charge. "Check social media in the days preceding April 18 for promotions and redemption instructions," said Jespersen. Keep in mind that Tax Day is occurring during National Park Week, so consider forgetting all about money and getting some fresh air for free at parks waiving their fees.

5. Earth Day Deals

"Earth Day falls on April 22 and select retailers celebrate with discounts and giveaways to eco-friendly consumers," said Perez, "In the past, we've seen such retailers as Target, Wegmans, The Disney Store and Natural Grocers give out free reusable bags to shoppers who brought in plastic shopping bags for recycling. "Last year, American Eagle hosted an Earth Day Event offering $10 to $40 off orders, depending on how much shoppers spent. Peet's Coffee & Tea offered 15 percent off all organic products while Starbucks and Caribou Coffee have offered free or discounted coffee during previous Earth Days for patrons who purchased or brought in reusable tumblers." As with Tax Day freebies, Earth Day deals crop up close to the actual holiday, so keep in the loop on social media.

6. Administrative Professionals' Day Perks

Administrative professionals exist in all sorts of fields, and fittingly, all sorts of retailers are honoring the day (April 26) with deals. "Many flower and gift companies extend discounts for the event, ranging from 10 percent to 20 percent off," said Perez. Perez expects similar offers to those we saw last year from vendors such as Gourmet Gift Baskets, which touted 10 percent off orders; Gift Tree, which featured 20 percent off select gifts; SpaFinder which touted $10 off gift card purchases of $100 or more, and ClubsGalore which touted $10 off Administrative Professionals' Day orders. Restaurants are also keen on this workers' holiday, motivating companies to take employees out to lunch with special offers. "Last year, Outback offered up to 20 percent off lunch, while Z'Tejas offered a free slice of fudge pie for administrative professionals and Macaroni Express promoted BOGO free on Express Lunch entrees," noted Perez. Yet again, pay attention to social media. And if you're an administrative professional, maybe send a gentle reminder to your boss.

Reese's Mini Peanut Butter Chocolate Eggs Dethrone Peeps as Most Popular Easter Candy

Even though people love to complain about their shape, turns out people can't get enough of Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs this Easter.

According to a recent survey by digital savings destination, RetailMeNot, Reese's Mini Peanut Butter Chocolate Eggs are what people want to find in their Easter baskets the most this year. The bite-size version of the peanut butter-filled treats beat out the former favorite, Peeps, by nearly 20 percent.

Here's what other candies people who took the survey picked as their favorite Easter treats.

Top 5 Easter Treats of 2017, According to RetailMeNot

1. Reese's Mini Peanut Butter Chocolate Eggs (53%)

2. Chocolate bunnies (48%)

3. Jelly beans (48%)

4. Hershey's Eggs (45%)

5. Peeps (34%)

While only 48 percent of the survey responders said they planned on buying candy this Easter, the ones who do plan on spending an average of $57, which will buy you nearly 20 $3 packages of Reese's Mini Peanut Butter Chocolate Eggs.

So what candy do you most want to see in your Easter basket? Drop me a line: john@kicks1063.com

In Case You Missed it!

Country’s biggest acts were honored Sunday night at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena for the 52nd annual Academy of Country Music Awards. Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley co-host the show for a second year as artists including Jason Aldean, Florida Georgia Line, Carrie Underwood, and Keith Urban battle for a slew of prizes.

Here's the list of winners at Sunday night's 52nd ACM Awards:

New Male Vocalist of the Year
Jon Pardi

New Female Vocalist of the Year
Maren Morris

New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year
Brothers Osborne

Single Record of the Year
"H.O.L.Y." -- Florida Georgia Line

Songwriter of the Year
Lori McKenna

Vocal Event of the Year
"May We All" -- Florida Georgia Line featuring Tim McGraw

Song of the Year
"Die a Happy Man" -- Thomas Rhett

Vocal Duo of the Year
Brothers Osborne

Vocal Group of the Year
Little Big Town

Album of the Year
The Weight of These Wings -- Miranda Lambert

Video of the Year
"Forever Country" -- Artists of Then, Now & Forever

Male Vocalist of the Year
Thomas Rhett

Female Vocalist of the Year
Miranda Lambert

Entertainer of the Year
Jason Aldean