The Academy of Country Music has announced the host and nominations for the 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards, Country Music’s Party of the Year, honoring country music’s superstars and hottest emerging talent. Multimedia superstar and sixteen-time ACM Award winner Reba McEntire will return to host live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 15th at 8 pm ET/PT on the CBS Television Network. This year’s show will mark Reba’s fifteenth time hosting the ceremony, last appearing in 2012 with Blake Shelton.
In addition to surprising audiences with the news that she will return to host, Reba appeared live this morning (Thurs, Mar 1st) on CBS This Morning to announce this year’s ACM Award nominees for Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, Vocal Duo of the Year, and Vocal Group of the Year, as well as nominees for Song of the Year on Facebook LIVE. Entertainment Tonight host Nancy O’Dell announced additional nominees on ETonline.com.
Chris Stapleton leads with eight nominations in five categories, including his first nod for Entertainer of the Year. Stapleton is also nominated for 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.”
Reigning Female Vocalist of the Year, 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.”
Reigning New Female Vocalist of the Year Maren Morris received four nominations, including her second nod in the Female Vocalist of the Year category. Morris is also nominated twice, as an artist and producer, in the Vocal Event of the Year category for “Dear Hate” (featuring Vince Gill). She is nominated again in the category with Thomas Rhett for “Craving You.”
Sam Hunt received three nominations for his hit “Body Like A Back Road.” One nod in the Single Record of The Year category, and two, both as artist and songwriter, in the Song of the Year category.
Reigning Vocal Group of the Year, Little Big Town, earned their twelfth nomination in the category. This would be their fourth consecutive win and fifth overall. They are also nominated for Album of the Year for The Breaker, and Single Record of the Year for “Better Man.”
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.
The following is the full list of final nominees. The Academy of Country Music’s professional membership selects the nominees and winners of the 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
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 Vol. 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 Trucke 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 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
