2015 Golden Boot Awards: Vote Now for New Artist of the Year

The Golden Boot Awards are back!

The Boot's fan-voted digital awards return in 2015 for a second year, and this time around, we've added two new categories -- New Artist of the Year and the Living Legend Award -- in addition to our five original categories: Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Music Video of the Year and Live Act of the Year. Each category features staff-selected nominees who made waves in the country music world from May 2014 through April 2015. Let's take a look at this year's New Artist of the Year nominees.

Although Sam Hunt's name hasn't been on the radio for a very long time, he has been hard at work in the country music industry for a while, writing songs for Kenny Chesney and Keith Urban, among others, and carving out a niche of his own. With songs like his No. 1 hits "Leave the Night On" and "Take Your Time," Hunt's definitely one to watch in the coming months. His first-ever headlining tour, the Lipstick Graffiti Tour, wrapped up in April.

Maddie & Tae are, of course, known for their gold-certified "Girl in a Country Song," but the best thing about Maddie Marlow and Tae Dye, both 19, is their unbridled talent. They were the first artists to sign with Big Machine Label Group's Dot Records, and their beautiful vocals, charisma and songwriting skills are getting them major notice. Their debut full-length record, Start Here, is set for release in early June.

Thomas Rhett has music in his blood; he's the son of Rhett Akins, a prolific singer-songwriter. Rhett has written for Jason Aldean, Lee Brice and Florida Georgia Line, but he has also charted five singles from his debut album, including "Make Me Wanna" and "Get Me Some of That." He's working on his sophomore album now, and its first single, "Crash and Burn," is funky.

Cole Swindell is the newly crowned 2015 ACM Awards New Artist of the Year, so he obviously is a strong contender in this category. His eponymous debut album made a big splash in country music, and his debut single was certified gold and platinum. He also opened for Luke Bryan on Bryan's That's My Kind of Night Tour and went out on his own headlining tour late last year.

Which of these nominees do you think should win the title of New Artist of the Year in the 2015 Golden Boot Awards? Vote as often as once per hour in the poll below through noon ET on Monday, June 8, and we'll announce the winners on the site.

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