LAS VEGAS (CelebrityAccess) — The Academy of Country Music announced the nominations for the 53rd annual Academy of Country Music Awards, with Chris Stapleton leading the charge with eight nods.
Stapleton picked up nominations for Entertainer of the Year, as well as Male Vocalist of the Year, and twice, as both artist and producer, in both the Album of the Year and Single Record of the Year categories; he received the Album of the Year nod for From a Room: Volume 1, and the Single Record of the Year nod for “Broken Halos.” He is also nominated twice, both as artist and songwriter, in the Song of The Year category for “Whiskey and You.”
Reigning Male Vocalist of the Year, Thomas Rhett earned six nominations, including his second in the Male Vocalist of the Year category. Rhett is also nominated twice, as an artist and producer, for both Album of The Year for Life Changes and Vocal Event of the Year for “Craving You” (featuring Maren Morris). Lastly, he is nominated for his first Music Video of the Year award for “Marry Me,” along with director TK McKamy and producer Dan Atchison.
Keith Urban earned five nominations including his eighth nod for Entertainer of the Year and eleventh nod for Male Vocalist of the Year. Urban is also nominated for Song of the Year for “Female,” and twice, as both artist and producer in the Vocal Event of the Year category for “The Fighter” (featuring Carrie Underwood). Urban won Top New Male Vocalist of the Year in 2000, and Top Male Vocalist of the Year in 2004 and 2005. A win in the Entertainer of the Year category would also make him the eighth ever ACM Triple Crown winner.
Songwriter Shane McAnally received five nominations. He is nominated as Songwriter of the Year, and twice as songwriter in the Song of the Year category for Sam Hunt’s “Body Like A Back Road” and Keith Urban’s “Female.” McAnally is also nominated in the Album of the Year category for Old Dominion’s album Happy Endings, and in the Single Record of the Year category as a producer in Midland’s single “Drinkin’ Problems.”
Last year’s Female Vocalist winner Miranda Lambert received four nominations, including her twelfth nod for Female Vocalist of the Year. If she wins, it will be her ninth consecutive win in this category. She is the current record holder for most consecutive wins in the Female Vocalist of the Year category. Lambert is currently tied for the winningest artist in ACM history with 29 awards along with Brooks & Dunn. This year she is also nominated twice, both as artist and songwriter, in the Song of The Year category for “Tin Man,” and for Video of the Year for “We Should Be Friends.”
First-time Academy of Country Music Award nominee, Midland, received three nominations for Vocal Group of the Year, New Vocal Duo/Group of the Year, and Single Record of the Year for “Drinkin’ Problem.”
Eighteen-time ACM Award winner Tim McGraw and sixteen-time ACM Award winner Faith Hill received their first-ever nomination as a duo in the Vocal Duo of the Year category.
Reba McEntire received her sixteenth nomination for Female Vocalist of the Year. This would be her eighth win in the category. Reba was also announced as the host for this year’s award Gala, which takes place on April 15th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. This year’s show will mark Reba’s fifteenth time hosting the ceremony, last appearing in 2012 with Blake Shelton.
The awards show will be broadcast live on CBS.
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
- Jason Aldean
- Garth Brooks
- Luke Bryan
- Chris Stapleton
- Keith Urban
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
- Kelsea Ballerini
- Miranda Lambert
- Reba McEntire
- Maren Morris
- Carrie Underwood
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
- Jason Aldean
- Thomas Rhett
- Chris Stapleton
- Keith Urban
- Chris Young
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
- Brothers Osborne
- Dan + Shay
- Florida Georgia Line
- LOCASH
- Tim McGraw & Faith Hill
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
- Lady Antebellum
- LANCO
- Little Big Town
- Midland
- Old Dominion
NEW FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
- Lauren Alaina
- Danielle Bradbery
- Carly Pearce
- Raelynn
NEW MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
- Kane Brown
- Luke Combs
- Devin Dawson
- Russell Dickerson
- Brett Young
NEW VOCAL DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
- High Valley
- LANCO
- LOCASH
- Midland
- Runaway June
ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
- The Breaker – Little Big Town
Producer: Jay Joyce
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville
- California Sunrise – Jon Pardi
Producers: Bart Butler, Jon Pardi
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville
- From A Room: Volume 1 – Chris Stapleton
Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
Record Label: Mercury Records
- Happy Endings – Old Dominion
Producer: Shane McAnally
Record Label: RCA
- Life Changes – Thomas Rhett
Producers: Julian Bunetta, Jesse Frasure, Dann Huff, Joe London, Thomas Rhett
Record Label: The Valory Music Co.
SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
- Better Man – Little Big Town
Producer: Jay Joyce
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville
- Body Like A Back Road – Sam Hunt
Producer: Zach Crowell
Record Label: MCA Nashville
- Broken Halos – Chris Stapleton
Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
Record Label: Mercury Records
- Drinkin’ Problem – Midland
Producers: Dann Huff, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
Record Label: Big Machine Records
- I’ll Name The Dogs – Blake Shelton
Producer: Scott Hendricks
Record Label: Warner Bros.
SONG OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
- Body Like a Back Road – Sam Hunt
Songwriters: Zach Crowell, Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
Publishers: Universal Music Corp./Sam Hunt Publishing, Highly Combustible Music/I Love Pizza Music,/Songs of Southside Independent Music Publishing/Who Wants to Buy My Publishing/Atlas Music Publishing, Anderson Fork In The Road Music/Smackville Music/Smack Songs LLC, Smack Hits - Female – Keith Urban
Songwriters: Ross Copperman, Nicolle Galyon and Shane McAnally
Publishers: EMI Blackwood Music Inc./Rezolant Music/Plain Jane Songs, Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp./A Girl Named Charlie (BMI), Smack Hits/Smack Songs LLC (GMR)
- Tin Man – Miranda Lambert
Songwriters: Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert Jon Randall
Publishers: Sony/ATV Tree Publishing/Pink Dog Publishing (BMI), Beat Up Ford Publishing (BMI), BMG Platinum Songs (BMI)/SWMBMGBMI/Lonesome Vinyl Music
- Whiskey And You – Chris Stapleton
Songwriters: Lee Thomas Miller, Chris Stapleton
Publishers: WB Music Corp./New Sea Gayle Music (ASCAP), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp./New Sea Gayle Music (BMI)
VIDEO OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]
- Black – Dierks Bentley
Director: Wes Edwards
Producer: Max A. Butler
- It Ain’t My Fault – Brothers Osborne
Director: Wes Edwards, Ryan Silver
Producer: Tiffany Davies
- Legends – Kelsea Ballerini
Director: Jeff Venable
Producer: Ben Skipworth
- Marry Me – Thomas Rhett
Director: TK McKamy
Producer: Dan Atchison
- We Should Be Friends – Miranda Lambert
Director: Trey Fanjoy
Producer: April Dace
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR*(Off Camera Award)
- Rhett Akins
- Ashley Gorley
- Hillary Lindsey
- Shane McAnally
- Josh Osborne
VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
- Craving You – Thomas Rhett Featuring Maren Morris
Producers: Julian Bunetta, Dann Huff, Joe London, Thomas Rhett
Record Label: The Valory Music Co.
- Dear Hate – Maren Morris featuring Vince Gill
Producers: Brad Hill, Maren Morris
Record Label: Columbia Nashville
- Funny (How Time Slips Away) – Glen Campbell And Willie Nelson
Producer: Carl Jackson
Record Label: Universal Music Enterprises
- The Fighter – Keith Urban featuring Carrie Underwood
Producers: Busbee, Keith Urban
Record Label: Capitol Nashville
- What Ifs – Kane Brown Featuring Lauren Alaina
Producer: Dann Huff
Record Label: RCA Nashville
ACM RADIO AWARDS – The following previously announced radio awards will be presented during the annual Radio Winners Reception, which will be held at Topgolf Las Vegas at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino on Saturday, April 14.
NATIONAL ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
- Cody Alan CMT After MidNite with Cody Alan
- Bobby Bones, Amy, Lunchbox, Eddie The Bobby Bones Show
- Terri Clark Country Gold with Terri Clark
- Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase Crook and Chase Countdown
- Ty Bentli, Kelly Ford and Chuck Wicks Ty, Kelly & Chuck
ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – MAJOR MARKET
- Bud and Broadway WIL-FM St. Louis, MO
- Cadillac Jack WQYK-FM St. Petersburg, FL
- Chris Carr, Kia, Maverick and McKaila KEEY-FM St. Louis Park, MN
- Paul Schadt, Meg Butterly, Geof Knight WKKT-FM Charlotte, NC
- Roxanne Steele WYCD-FM Detroit, MI
ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – LARGE MARKET
- Dale Carter KFKF-FM Kansas City, MO
- Double-L KWNR-FM Las Vegas, NV
- Jim Denny, Deborah Honeycutt & Kevin Freeman WFMS-FM Indianapolis, IN
- Johnson and Johnson KUBL-FM Salt Lake City, UT
- The Randy, Jamie and JoJo Show KAJA-FM San Antonio, TX
ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – MEDIUM MARKET
- The 97.5 WPCV Breakfast Club with Roger Todd,
Julie Kay and DJ Thee Trucker WPCV-FM Lakeland, FL - Carina With A Twist Of Lime WCYQ-FM Knoxville, TN
- Buzz Jackson KIIM-FM Tucson, AZ
- Steve & Geoff KUZZ-AM/FM Bakersfield, CA
- The Odd Squad CKRY-FM Calgary, AB
ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – SMALL MARKET
- Ben Butler and Arnie Andrews WCOW-FM Sparta, WI
- Bobby and Steve (and Mandi!) WKYQ-FM Paducah, KY
- Dave Daniels KHAY-FM Ventura, CA
- Pat James KHUT-FM Hutchinson, KS
- The Q Crew with Jason and Ashley on Q100.3 KRWQ-FM Medford, OR
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR – MAJOR MARKET
- KILT-FM Houston, TX
- KMLE-FM Phoenix, AZ
- KSCS-FM Dallas. TX
- WIL-FM St. Louis, MO
- WPOC-FM Baltimore, MD
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR – LARGE MARKET (tie within category increased nominees)
- KAJA-FM San Antonio, TX
- KUBL-FM Salt Lake City, UT
- WFMS-FM Indianapolis, IN
- WKDF-FM Nashville, TN
- WSIX-FM Nashville, TN
- WSM-FM Nashville, TN
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR – MEDIUM MARKET
- KUZZ-AM/FM Bakersfield, CA
- KXKT-FM Omaha, NE
- WGKX-FM Memphis, TN
- WQMX-FM Akron, OH
- WUSY-FM Chattanooga, TN
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR – SMALL MARKET
- KCLR-FM Columbia, MO
- KHAY-FM Ventura, CA
- KTHK-FM Idaho Falls, ID
- KTTS-FM Springfield, MO
- KYKZ-FM Lake Charles, LA
