Author: Cindy Watts and Dave Paulson, Nashville Tennessean

Carrie Underwood is officially a mom of two. She and husband Mike Fisher welcomed their second son in the wee hours of Monday morning.

John Prine, Pistol Annies, Kacey Musgraves and Dierks Bentley all made our list, and you don’t want to miss the rest.

Maren Morris and Kacey Musgraves are among the top nominees, along with Brandi Carlile, who made her album at RCA Studio A with producer Dave Cobb.