Miranda Lambert to compete against Blake Shelton for CMA Award

Miranda Lambert will do battle with her ex-husband Blake Shelton at the Country Music Association (CMA) Awards to be named winner of the Musical Event of the Year trophy.

The former country couple divorced in July (15) after four years of marriage, and they have now been pitched against each other for a CMA trophy, with Lambert nominated for her song Smokin' and Drinkin', featuring Little Big Town, and Shelton for his tune Lonely Tonight, featuring Ashley Monroe.

The category is rounded out by Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard (Django & Jimmie), Keith Urban and Eric Church (Raise 'Em Up), and Kenny Chesney and Grace Potter (Wild Child).

Lambert will compete for Female Vocalist of the Year against Kacey Musgraves, Carrie Underwood, Lee Ann Womack and Kelsea Ballerini, while Shelton is named in the male category alongside Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Eric Church and Chris Stapleton.

Lambert also received a nod for Entertainer of the Year, and other nominees include Garth Brooks, Luke Bryan, Chesney and Church, as well as Music Video of the Year for Little Red Wagon. In that category, she will compete against Musgraves (Biscuits), Underwood (Something in the Water), Little Big Town (Girl Crush) and Maddie & Tae (Girl in a Country Song).

Little Big Town were among the most nominated, and will vie for the Album of the Year trophy for Pain Killer alongside Jason Aldean (Old Boots, New Dirt), Musgraves (Pageant Material), Chesney (The Big Revival) and Stapleton (Traveller).

They are also competing for Vocal Group of the Year with fellow nominees Lady Antebellum, Rascal Flatts, The Band Perry and the Zac Brown Band.

Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley will return as hosts for the prizegiving in Nashville, Tennessee on 4 November (15).