ABC/Paula LoboGoing into Wednesday's CMA Awards, Luke Bryan's got a lot to celebrate, with an Entertainer of the Year nomination.  But things haven't been going so well for his mom, LeClaire: Her house in Mexico Beach, FL was destroyed in Hurricane Michael, the strongest storm on record in the Florida Panhandle.  The hurricane took the lives of 45 Americans and caused $14.58 billion in damages. 

"My mother, I mean, to deal with losing children -- she's lost two children -- and now she's lost her home.  It's been very emotional for her," he tells ABC Radio. "So now, you hope that we can return Mexico Beach just the way it was."

But Luke says his mother will pull through -- she's already busy helping others.

"She's tough," he says. "She's down there cooking meals for people, and every time I call her it sounds like she's the foreman of a job site!"  

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ABC/Image Group LADan + Shay are nominated for four CMA Awards on Wednesday's ABC telecast, and Dan Smyers says it's all down to one specific song: "Tequila," which was a massive hit for the duo.

"It's changed our lives," Dan Smyers tells ABC Radio. "This is the moment where we're actually feeling it all sink in. 'Cause it's been such a busy year, we've been on the road non-stop. Being able to come back here [to Nashville] and have people say, 'You guys are nominated for all these awards!' -- it's like, 'Maybe this is real life!'" 

"It's felt like a dream up 'til now. It's felt surreal but we're trying to soak it in," he adds. "It goes by fast, so we're trying to appreciate the moment."

In addition to being nominated for Single, Song and Music Video of the Year for "Tequila," Dan + Shay are also up for Vocal Duo of the Year.  Shay Mooney says that's the category he'd most like to win.

"I feel like that's a really [competitive] category, so that would definitely mean a lot," he tells ABC Radio. "We love all the guys -- and ladies -- in that category."

Win or lose, though, Dan + Shay will definitely have enough booze on hand to either celebrate or drown their sorrows.  As Dan explains, fans have been giving them bottles of tequila all year long.

"Dude, my liquor cabinet -- it overflowed!" he laughs. "I had to go to the upstairs closet.  It's filled with tequila -- it's incredible! It's a great problem. Whenever friends come over, we go through it but the supply is ample, if you will, right now. It's good!"  

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ABC/Image Group LAAt Wednesday's CMA Awards, Maren Morris is nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year and Musical Event of the Year for "Dear Hate."  She'll be performing on the ABC telecast with Chris Stapleton and soul/gospel music legend Mavis Staples.  She says she can't reveal too much about the performance, but says it'll have a lot of soul.

"I know that we're doing some really soulful stuff," she tells ABC Radio.  "I've never met Mavis but I'm such a fan and Chris and I, I've opened for him in the past and both his and my careers both sort of launched at the CMA Awards...but it's cool to be coming together on the CMA stage."

Meanwhile, Maren is officially finished with her second album. "Believe me, I promise, in the new year, very early, it's gonna be out!" she tells ABC Radio.

One song that won't be on that album, though, is "Dear Hate," her CMA-nominated duet with Vince Gill, which she released to raise money for the victims of the Las Vegas massacre. Maren says the song "lives in its own universe."

As she explains, "It's been an unexpected gift releasing 'Dear Hate,' and having the response from fans and survivors and people going through therapy right now after stuff like that, and still wanting to come see live music."

Tune into the CMA Awards Wednesday night at 8 p.m. ET on ABC to watch Maren get soulful with Chris and Mavis -- and to see if "Dear Hate" can bring home the trophy.

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