The 51st Academy of Country Music Awards were announced on Monday, with both Eric Church and Chris Stapleton racking up five nominations each to lead the pack.
Church is nominated for his first Entertainer of the Year and third for Male Vocalist of the Year, as well as Album of the Year for “Mr. Misunderstood,” Video of the Year for “Mr. Misunderstood,” and Vocal Event of the Year for “Raise ‘Em Up” with Keith Urban.
Stapleton’s five nominations include his first-ever nods for Male Vocalist of the Year, New Male Vocalist of the Year, Vocal Event of the Year for “Hangover Tonight” with Gary Allan, and is twice nominated as both artist and producer in the Album of the Year category for Traveller.
Cam, a first-time ACM Awards nominee, received four nominations, including New Female Vocalist of the Year, Video of the Year for “Burning House, and is twice nominated as both artist and producer in the Single Record of the Year category for “Burning House.”
Chris Young received four nominations, including his first Album of the Year nomination for “I’m Comin’ Over” as both the artist and producer. He also received two nods as artist and producer in the Single Record of the Year category for “I’m Comin’ Over.”
Little Big Town, the reigning Vocal Group of the Year, leads group nominations with four, including their tenth nomination for Vocal Group of the Year. The group earned nominations in the Single Record of the Year and Video of the Year categories for the song “Girl Crush.” Little Big Town also received a Vocal Event of the Year nomination for “Smokin’ And Drinkin’” with Miranda Lambert. Additionally, Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild received an individual nomination for Vocal Event of the Year for “Home Alone Tonight” with Luke Bryan.
First-time ACM Awards nominee Chris Janson earned three nods. He is nominated for New Male Vocalist of the Year and is twice nominated as both artist and producer in the Single Record of the Year category for “Buy Me A Boat.”
Reigning Female Vocalist of the Year Miranda Lambert earned three nominations, including her fifth for Entertainer of the Year and 10th consecutive nod for Female Vocalist of the Year. Additionally, she is nominated for Vocal Event of the Year for “Smokin’ And Drinkin’” featuring Little Big Town.
This year, the previously fan-voted Entertainer of the Year and Newcomer categories, New Male Vocalist of the Year, New Female Vocalist of the Year and New Vocal/Duo of the Year, are now all incorporated into the professional membership voting process.
The 51st Academy of Country Music Awards, which will be hosted by Dierks Bentley and reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan, will be broadcast live on CBS from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas April 3 at 8 p.m/7c.
Read the full list of nominees below.
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
· Jason Aldean
· Garth Brooks
· Luke Bryan
· Eric Church
· Miranda Lambert
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
· Jason Aldean
· Dierks Bentley
· Eric Church
· Brett Eldredge
· Chris Stapleton
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
· Kelsea Ballerini
· Jana Kramer
· Miranda Lambert
· Kacey Musgraves
· Carrie Underwood
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
· Brothers Osborne
· Dan + Shay
· Florida Georgia Line
· Joey + Rory
· Maddie & Tae
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
· Eli Young Band
· Little Big Town
· Old Dominion
· Rascal Flatts
· Zac Brown Band
NEW MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
· Brett Eldredge
· Chris Janson
· Thomas Rhett
· Chase Rice
· Chris Stapleton
NEW FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
· Kelsea Ballerini
· Cam
· Mickey Guyton
· RaeLynn
NEW VOCAL DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
· A Thousand Horses
· Brothers Osborne
· Maddie & Tae
· Old Dominion
· Parmalee
ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company-Label(s)]
· I’m Comin’ Over – Chris Young
Producers: Chris Young, Corey Crowder
Record Label: RCA Nashville
· Montevallo – Sam Hunt
Producer: Zach Crowell, Shane McAnally
Record Label: MCA Nashville
· Mr. Misunderstood – Eric Church
Producer: Jay Joyce
Record Label: EMI Records Nashville
· Tangled Up – Thomas Rhett
Producers: Chris DeStefano, Dann Huff, Jesse Frasure, Joe London
Record Label: Valory Music Group
· Traveller – Chris Stapleton
Producer: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
Record Label: Mercury Records
SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company-Label(s)]
· Burning House – Cam
Producers: Jeff Bhasker, Tyler Johnson, Camaron Ochs
Record Labels: Arista Nashville, RCA Records, Kravenworks
· Buy Me A Boat – Chris Janson
Producers: Brent Anderson, Chris DuBois, Chris Janson
Record Label: Warner Bros. Nashville
· Die A Happy Man – Thomas Rhett
Producer: Dann Huff, Jesse Frasure
Record Label: The Valory Music Co.
· Girl Crush – Little Big Town
Producer: Jay Joyce
Record Label: Capitol Nashville
· I’m Comin’ Over – Chris Young
Producer: Corey Crowder, Chris Young
Record Label: RCA Nashville
· Take Your Time – Sam Hunt
Producer: Zach Crowell, Shane McAnally
Record Label: MCA Nashville
VIDEO OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)] *(Off-Camera Award)
· Biscuits – Kacey Musgraves
Director: Mark Klasfeld
Producer: Nicole Acacio
· Burning House – Cam
Director: Trey Fanjoy
Producer: Trent Hardville
· Girl Crush – Little Big Town
Director: Karla Welch & Matthew Welch
Producer: Amanda Prunesti
· Mr. Misunderstood – Eric Church
Director: Reid Long & John Peets
Producer: Megan Smith
· Riser – Dierks Bentley
Director: Wes Edwards
Producer: Jennifer Rothlein
VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company-Label(s)]*(Off-Camera Award)
· Hangover Tonight – Gary Allan Featuring Chris Stapleton
Producer: Gary Allan, Greg Droman
Record Label: MCA Nashville
· Home Alone Tonight – Luke Bryan Featuring Karen Fairchild
Producers: Jeff Stevens, Jody Stevens
Record Label: Capitol Nashville
· Raise ‘Em Up – Keith Urban Featuring Eric Church
Producers: Nathan Chapman, Keith Urban
Record Label: Hit Red Records, Capitol Nashville
· Smokin’ And Drinkin’ – Miranda Lambert Featuring Little Big Town
Producers: Chuck Ainlay, Frank Liddell, Glenn Worf
Record Label: RCA Nashville
· Wild Child – Kenny Chesney With Grace Potter
Producer: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney
Record Label: Blue Chair Records, Columbia Nashville