Upset of the Year as Brothers Osborne Take Home CMA Vocal Duo of the Year

If the Brothers Osborne were boxers, they wouldn’t have even been given a puncher’s chance to defeat three-time defending champions Florida Georgia Line for CMA Vocal Duo of the Year. But not only did the Brothers floor FGL, they also knocked out Dan + Shay, Joey + Rory and Maddie & Tae to take home the trophy.

To put the upset in perspective, over the course of the last year (July 2015 to June 2016 for CMA voting), Florida Georgia Line has earned two Billboard No. 1 singles (“Confession” and “H.O.L.Y”) as well as a No. 3 single (“Anything Goes”), released a Billboard No. 1 album (Dig Your Roots) and crushed it out on the road with their monster Dig Your Roots Tour.

Brothers Osborne put out two singles (“Stay a Little Longer” and “21 Summer,” which charted at No. 2 and No. 24, respectively) from their Billboard No. 3 album (Pawn Shop). They also supported Miranda Lambert on her Keeper of the Flame Tour.

Now, I’m not saying that Billboard chart numbers and tours are the be-all and end-all of CMA voting, but it’s usually a good foundation, and FGL’s foundation was much sturdier than their competition. In that regard, it’s an upset—not that the Brothers Osborne aren’t more than deserving. They are.

In fact, during their acceptance speech, TJ Osborne said, “Man, I hate to be that person who says I didn’t prepare a speech, but I honestly didn’t. We sat behind Florida Gerogia Line and I thought for sure we’d be congratulating them tonight.”

It turns out that Brothers Osborne deserve the congratulations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3Ne9PYfUUk

photo by Jason Simanek

More from Magic 97.9

Weird Al – August 9th, 2025

Weird Al – August 9th, 2025

Weird Al will be at the Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater on August 9th, 2025! For tickets and more information visit: https://www.fordidahocenter.com/events/detail/weirdal25

Garratt Wilkin & The Parrotheads

Garratt Wilkin & The Parrotheads

May 24th, 2025 at the Revolution Concert House! To learn more and buy tickets visit: https://cttouringid.com/tm-event/garratt-wilkin-the-parrotheads/

James Taylor May 21st

James Taylor May 21st

The Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater will have An Evening with James Taylor on May 21st! For More tickets and more information visit: https://www.fordidahocenter.com/events/detail/jamestaylor

Dancing with the Stars LIVE

Dancing with the Stars LIVE

Dancing with the Stars is coming to the Morrison Center March 18th, 2025! To Learn more and buy tickets visit: https://www.morrisoncenter.com/events/detail/dancing-with-the-stars-live

Blues Traveler & Gin Blossoms 2025

Blues Traveler & Gin Blossoms 2025

The Blues Traveler & Gin Blossoms with Spin Doctors are coming to the Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater August 26th! To learn more visit: https://www.fordidahocenter.com/events/detail/bluesgin25

Earth, Wind & Fire

Earth, Wind & Fire

Earth, wind & Fire is at the Idaho Botanical Garden on June 17th! To purchase tickets or to learn more visit: https://www.idahobotanicalgarden.org/event/earth-wind-fire/