Chris Stapleton, Thomas Rhett lead Academy of Country Music Awards nominations
Chris Stapleton found himself back in the familiar position of leading nominee Thursday morning when Reba McEntire announced nominations for the Academy of Country Music Awards during CBS This Morning and Nancy O'Dell revealed the remainder of the nods on ETOnline.com.
Stapleton, who released two albums in 2017 and won three categories at the Grammy Awards in January, received eight nominations — including nods for entertainer of the year, male vocalist of the year and album of the year for From A Room: Vol. One.
The show’s other top nominees include Thomas Rhett with six mentions, Keith Urban and Shane McAnally with five nods and Maren Morris and Miranda Lambert who each have four nominations.
McEntire also revealed she will host the ACM Awards, which will air live at 7 p.m. April 15 on CBS. It will be McEntire's 15th turn as host of the show, which will return to its longtime home at MGM Grand’s Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The nominations weren’t without surprises. Old Dominion’s second album Happy Endings earned a spot in the album of the year category as did Jon Pardi’s second album California Sunrise. The inclusion is the first time either artist has landed in the prestigious category.
Tim McGraw and Faith Hill are nominated for vocal duo of the year. The couple released a duets project and toured together in 2017. However, each is a esteemed and accomplished solo artist. Dan+Shay, Florida Georgia Line, Brothers Osborne, and LOCASH round out the category.
Chris Young, long considered one of the finest voices in country music, made his long-awaited return to the male vocalist of the year category. In 2017, Young released his seventh studio album, charted his 10th No. 1 song and was inducted into The Grand Ole Opry. Young was last nominated for male vocalist of the year in 2012. His fellow nominees include Chris Stapleton, Jason Aldean, Thomas Rhett and Keith Urban.
The vocal group of the year category includes LANCO and Midland, two acts so new that they only have two singles each and have been on country radio about a year. Other nominees in the category include Old Dominion, Lady Antebellum and Little Big Town.
McEntire earned her first nomination for female vocalist of the year since 2011. She’s up against Carrie Underwood, Maren Morris, and Miranda Lambert, who is tied at 29 with the most ACM Award wins of all time.
While the Academy of Country Music Awards is known to be one of country music’s biggest parties, the show and its artists will have to strike a more somber note in April. The ACM Awards is the first significant country music event Las Vegas has hosted since the Oct. 1 mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest festival that left 58 attendees dead.
A full list of nominees for the 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards:
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))
Breaker - Little Big Town with producer Jay Joyce
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville
California Sunrise - Jon Pardi with producers Bart Butler and Jon Pardi
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville
From A Room Vol. 1 - Chris Stapleton with producers: Dave Cobb and Chris Stapleton
Record Label: Mercury Records
Happy Endings - Old Dominion with producer: Shane McAnally
Record Label: RCA
Life Changes - Thomas Rhett with 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 with producer: Jay Joyce
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville
Body Like A Back Road - Sam Hunt with producer: Zach Crowell
Record Label: MCA Nashville
Broken Halos - Chris Stapleton with producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
Record Label: Mercury Records
Drinkin’ Problem – Midland with producers: Dann Huff, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
Record Label: Big Machine Records
I’ll Name The Dogs - Blake Shelton with 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 Galyonand 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
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
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