THE SHOW WILL BROADCAST LIVE ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK
ON SUNDAY, APRIL 7 AT 8:00 PM ET/PT
FROM THE MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA IN LAS VEGAS
Chris Stapleton and Dan + Shay Each Receive 6 Nominations,
with Dan Smyers Receiving 4 Additional Nods;
Kacey Musgraves Receives 5 Nominations;
Dierks Bentley, Brothers Osborne, Florida Georgia Line and Bebe Rexha
Each Receive 4 Nominations;
Producer Ian Fitchuk, First-Time Nominee, Receives 6 Nominations
ENCINO, CA – The Academy of Country Music announced today the nominees for the 54TH ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS™, Country Music’s Party of the Year®, honoring country music’s superstars and hottest emerging talent. Iconic entertainer 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 7, 2019 at 8:00 PM ET/PT on the CBS Television Network.
This year will also mark the return of the ACM Artist of the Decade Honor which will be announced in the coming weeks. Only five other honorees have received this award, including Marty Robbins in 1969, Loretta Lynn in 1979, Alabama in 1988, Garth Brooks in 1998 and George Strait in 2009.
Reba McEntire appeared live today on “CBS This Morning” to announce this year’s ACM Award nominees for Entertainer of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, Duo of the Year, Group of the Year and Song of the Year. Reba also revealed nominees for Song of the Year and Songwriter of the Year on Facebook Live on her Facebook page, which was shared on Academy of Country Music’s Facebook page and CBS This Morning’s Facebook page. Additional nominees were announced onETonline.com.
Reigning Male Artist of the Year, Chris Stapleton received six nominations in four categories, including his second nod for Entertainer of the Year. Stapleton is also nominated twice, as both artist and producer, for his album From A Room: Volume 2 in the Album of the Year category, which he won last year for From A Room: Volume 1. Additionally, he is nominated for Song of the Year twice, as both artist and songwriter, for “Broken Halos.” Lastly, Stapleton is nominated for Male Artist of the Year.
Dan + Shay earned six nominations, including their sixth nod for Duo of the Year. They received nominations in the Single of the Year, Song of the Year and Video of the Year categories for “Tequila.” Dan + Shay are also nominated for Album of the Year for Dan + Shay, and Music Event of the Year for “Keeping Score” (featuring Kelly Clarkson). Additionally, Dan Smyers received 3 individual nominations as a producer in the Album of the Year, Single of the Year and Music Event of the Year categories. He also received an individual nomination as a writer in the Song of the Year category for “Tequila.”
Kacey Musgraves earned five nominations in three categories, including a nod for Female Artist of the Year. Additionally, she is nominated in the Album of the Year Category twice, as both artist and producer, for Golden Hour, as well as in the Song of the Year category twice, as both artist and songwriter, for “Space Cowboy.” Musgraves most recently won in 2016 in the Video of the Year category for “Forever Country” and previously won in the Album of the Year category in 2013 for Same Trailer Different Park.
Dierks Bentley received four nominations, including his fourth nod for Album of the Year; nominated for the category this year for The Mountain. Additionally, Bentley is nominated for “Burning Man” (featuring Brothers Osborne) in both the Music Event of the Year category and Video of the Year category. He is also nominated for Male Artist of the Year. If he were to win for Video of the Year this year, it would mark his third win in this category.
Reigning Duo of the Year and Video of the Year winners, Brothers Osborne earned four nominations in three categories, including a nod for Duo of the Year. They are also nominated for Music Event of the Year for “Burning Man” with Dierks Bentley. Additionally, Brothers Osborne are nominated twice in the Video of the Year category for songs “Shoot Me Straight” and “Burning Man.”
Florida Georgia Line received four nominations, including a nod for Duo of the Year. They are also nominated with Bebe Rexha for “Meant To Be” for Single of the Year, Music Event of the Year and Song of the Year.
First-time Academy of Country Music Award nominee, Bebe Rexha earned four nominations for “Meant To Be” (featuring Florida Georgia Line). Rexha is nominated for Single of the Year, Music Event of the Year, and twice, as both artist and songwriter, for Song of the Year.
First-time Academy of Country Music Award nominee, Ian Fitchuk received six nominations, including a nod for Album of the Year with Kacey Musgraves as a producer for Golden Hour. Fitchuk also received five nominations across Studio Recording Award categories, including Bass Player of the Year, Drummer of the Year, Piano/Keyboards Player of the Year, Specialty Instrument(s) Player of the Year and Producer of the Year.
The following is the full list of nominees for all Awards categories, including Main Awards, Industry Awards, Studio Recording Awards and previously announced Radio Awards. ACM Radio Awards winners will be announced in the coming weeks, and Industry Awards and Studio Recording Awards winners will be announced following the 54th ACM Awards.
MAIN AWARDS:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
- Jason Aldean
- Luke Bryan
- Kenny Chesney
- Chris Stapleton
- Keith Urban
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Miranda Lambert
- Ashley McBryde
- Maren Morris
- Kacey Musgraves
- Carrie Underwood
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Dierks Bentley
- Luke Combs
- Thomas Rhett
- Chris Stapleton
- Keith Urban
DUO OF THE YEAR
- Brothers Osborne
- Dan + Shay
- Florida Georgia Line
- LOCASH
- Maddie & Tae
GROUP OF THE YEAR
- Lady Antebellum
- LANCO
- Little Big Town
- Midland
- Old Dominion
NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Danielle Bradbery
- Lindsay Ell
- Ashley McBryde
- Carly Pearce
NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Jimmie Allen
- Luke Combs
- Jordan Davis
- Michael Ray
- Mitchell Tenpenny
NEW DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
- High Valley
- LANCO
- Runaway June
ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
- Dan + Shay – Dan + Shay
- Producers: Scott Hendricks / Dan Smyers / Matt Dragstrem
- Record Label: Warner Music Nashville
- Desperate Man – Eric Church
- Producers: Jay Joyce / Arturo Buenahora Jr.
- Record Label: EMI Records Nashville
- From A Room: Volume 2 – Chris Stapleton
- Producers: Dave Cobb / Chris Stapleton
- Record Label: Mercury Nashville
- Golden Hour – Kacey Musgraves
- Producers: Ian Fitchuk / Daniel Tashian / Kacey Musgraves
- Record Label: MCA Nashville
- The Mountain – Dierks Bentley
- Producers: Ross Copperman / Jon Randall Stewart / Arturo Buenahora Jr.
- Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville
SINGLE OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
- Down to the Honky Tonk – Jake Owen
- Producer: Joey Moi
- Record Label: Big Loud Records
- Heaven – Kane Brown
- Producer: Dann Huff / Polow Da Don
- Record Label: RCA Nashville
- Meant To Be – Bebe Rexha featuring Florida Georgia Line
- Producer: Wilshire for Rock The Soul Ent
- Record Label: Warner Bros. Records
- Most People Are Good – Luke Bryan
- Producers: Jeff Stevens / Jody Stevens
- Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville
- Tequila – Dan + Shay
- Producers: Scott Hendricks / Dan Smyers
- Record Label: Warner Music Nashville
SONG OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/
- Break Up In The End – Cole Swindell
- Writers: Jessie Jo Dillon / Chase McGill / Jon Nite
- Publishers: EMI April Music Inc. / Nite Writer Music (ASCAP) / Songs of Universal, Inc. / Plum Nelly (BMI) / Big Music Machine (BMI)/ Big Ass Pile Of Dimes Music (BMI)
- Broken Halos – Chris Stapleton
- Writers: Mike Henderson, Chris Stapleton
- Publishers: WB Music Corp./House of Sea Gayle Music, admin. by ClearBox Rights/Spirit Catalog Holdings, S.a.r.l. admin. by Spirit Two Nashville (ASCAP); Straight Six Music (BMI)
- Meant To Be – Bebe Rexha featuring Florida Georgia Line
- Writers: David Garcia, Tyler Hubbard, Joshua Miller, Bebe Rexha
- Publishers: BMG Platinum Songs/Kiss Me If You Can Music (BMI) (all rights administered by BMG Rights Management (US) LLC) Big Loud Mountain (BMI) and T Hubb Publishing (BMI). All Rights Administered by Round Hill Works. Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. on behalf of itself and Songs of the Corn and Jack 10 Publishing. Universal Music – Brentwood Benson Publishing (ASCAP) D Soul Music (ASCAP) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com)
- Space Cowboy – Kacey Musgraves
- Writers: Luke Laird, Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves
- Publishers: Smack Hits/Smack Songs, admin by Kobalt Music Group ltd. (GMR); Universal Music Works/We Are Creative NBaSmack Hits/Smack Songs, LLC, admin. by Kobalt Music Group Ltd. (GMR); Universal Music Works/We Are Creative Nation/Jake and Mack Music, admin. by Universal Music Works; Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp./351 Music (BMI).
- Tequila – Dan + Shay
- Writers: Nicolle Galyon / Jordan Reynolds / Dan Smyers
- Publishers: Beats and Banjos (ASCAP), WB Music Corp. (ASCAP), A Girl Named Charlie (BMI) / Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI) / Buckeye26 (ASCAP) / Jreynmusic (ASCAP)
- Yours – Russell Dickerson
- Writers: Casey Brown / Russell Dickerson / Parker Welling
- Publishers: BMG Platinum Songs/Kailey’s Dream / So Essential Tunes / Not Just Another Song Publishing / Hillbilly Science and Research Publishing/Trailerlily Music
VIDEO OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/
- Babe – Sugarland featuring Taylor Swift
- Producer: Roger Hunt
- Director: Anthony Mandler
- Burn Out – Midland
- Producer: Ben Skipworth
- Director: TK McKamy / Cameron Duddy
- Burning Man – Dierks Bentley featuring Brothers Osborne
- Producer: Nate Eggert
- Director: Wes Edwards
- Drunk Girl – Chris Janson
- Producer: Ben Skipworth
- Director: Jeff Venable
- Shoot Me Straight – Brothers Osborne
- Producer: April Kimbrell
- Director: Wes Edwards / Ryan Silver
- Tequila – Dan + Shay
- Producer: Christen Pinkston
- Director: Patrick Tracy
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR*(Off Camera Award)
- Ross Copperman
- Ashley Gorley
- Shane McAnally
- Chase McGill
- Josh Osborne
MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
- Burning Man – Dierks Bentley featuring Brothers Osborne
- Producers: Ross Copperman / Jon Randall Stewart / Arturo Buenahora Jr.
- Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville
- Drowns the Whiskey – Jason Aldean featuring Miranda Lambert
- Producer: Michael Knox
- Record Labels: Macon Music, LLC; Broken Bow Records; BBR Music Group; BMG
- Everything’s Gonna Be Alright – David Lee Murphy featuring Kenny Chesney
- Producers: Buddy Cannon / Kenny Chesney / David Lee Murphy
- Record Label: Reviver Records
- Keeping Score – Dan + Shay featuring Kelly Clarkson
- Producers: Scott Hendricks / Dan Smyers
- Record Label: Warner Music Nashville
- Meant To Be – Bebe Rexha Featuring Florida Georgia Line
- Producer: Wilshire for Rock The Soul Ent
- Record Label: Warner Bros. Records
INDUSTRY AWARDS:
CASINO OF THE YEAR – SMALL CAPACITY
- Choctaw Casino & Resort – Durant, OK
- Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort – Cherokee, NC
- The Joint: Tulsa – Tulsa, OK
- Peppermill Reno – Reno, NV
- Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort – Mt. Pleasant, MI
CASINO OF THE YEAR – LARGE CAPACITY
- Casino Rama – Orillia, ON
- Grand Casino Hinckley – Hinckley, MN
- Mohegan Sun Arena – Uncasville, CT
- Sandia Casino Amphitheater – Albuquerque, NM
- WinStar Global Event Center – Thackerville, OK
FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR
- Boots & Hearts – Oro-Medonte, ON
- Faster Horses – Brooklyn, MI
- Stagecoach – Indio, CA
- Tortuga Music Festival – Ft. Lauderdale, FL
- Windy City Smokeout – Chicago, IL
NIGHTCLUB OF THE YEAR
- Dusty Armadillo – Rootstown, OH
- Grizzly Rose – Denver, CO
- Joe’s on Weed St – Chicago, IL
- Joe’s Live – Rosemont, IL
- Stoney’s Rockin’ Country – Las Vegas, NV
VENUE OF THE YEAR – SMALL CAPACITY
- House of Blues – Anaheim, CA
- House of Blues – Boston, MA
- Floore’s – Helotes, TX
- Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN
- Surf Ballroom – Clear Lake, IA
VENUE OF THE YEAR – MEDIUM CAPACITY
- Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO
- Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion – Gilford, NH
- Ascend Amphitheater – Nashville, TN
- The Wharf Amphitheater – Orange Beach, AL
- The Anthem – Washington, DC
VENUE OF THE YEAR – LARGE CAPACITY
- Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN
- BOK Center – Tulsa, OK
- Budweiser Stage – Toronto, ON
- PNC Bank Arts Center – Holmdel, NJ
- Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center – Noblesville, IN
DON ROMEO TALENT BUYER OF THE YEAR
- Todd Boltin – Variety Attractions
- Billy Brill – Billy Alan Productions
- Gil Cunningham – Neste Event Marketing
- Kell Houston – Houston Productions
- Nicole More – Wilson Events, Inc.
PROMOTER OF THE YEAR
- Brent Fedrizzi – AEG Presents
- Stacy Vee – Goldenvoice
- Ed Warm – Joe’s Bar
- Adam Weiser – AEG Presents
- Jason Wright – Live Nation
STUDIO RECORDING AWARDS:
BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
- Mike Brignardello
- JT Cure
- Ian Fitchuk
- Tony Lucido
- Glenn Worf
DRUMMER OF THE YEAR
- Matt Chamberlain
- Ian Fitchuk
- Evan Hutchings
- Aaron Sterling
- Nir Z
GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
- Tom Bukovac
- Jedd Hughes
- Danny Rader
- Adam Shoenfeld
- Ilya Toshinsky
- Derek Wells
PIANO/KEYBOARDS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
- Dave Cohen
- David Dorn
- Ian Fitchuk
- Tony Harrell
- Charlie Judge
- Gordon Mote
SPECIALTY INSTRUMENT(S) PLAYER OF THE YEAR
- Ian Fitchuk
- Jenee Fleenor
- Carl Miner
- Mickey Raphael
- Ilya Toshinsky
STEEL GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
- Dan Dugmore
- Steve Hinson
- Mike Johnson
- Russ Pahl
- Justin Schipper
AUDIO ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
- Craig Alvin
- Ryan Gore
- Jeff Juliano
- Vance Powell
- F Reid Shippen
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
- Buddy Cannon
- Ian Fitchuk
- Dann Huff
- Jay Joyce
- Michael Knox
ACM RADIO AWARDS: The following previously announced radio awards will be presented during the annual Radio Winners Reception which will be held on Saturday, April 6 in Las Vegas.
NATIONAL ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR (tie within category increased nominees)
- Cody Alan – CMT After MidNite with Cody Alan
- Kix Brooks – American Country Countdown
- Darren Wilhite and Tim Wall – Wilhite & Wall
- Lon Helton – Country Countdown USA with Lon Helton
- Tracy Lawrence – Honky Tonkin’ with Tracy Lawrence
- Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase – The Crook & Chase Countdown
ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – MAJOR MARKET
- Chuck, Rachael & Grunwald in the Morning – WYCD-FM (Detroit, MI)
- Katie Neal – WNSH-FM (New York, NY)
- The Rob + Holly Show – WYCD-FM (Detroit, MI)
- Tanner in the Morning – Rob Tanner, Catherine Lane,
Chris Allen, Captain Jim, and Mimi – WSOC-FM (Charlotte, NC) - Tracy Dixon, Guy David & Patrick Knight – KYGO-FM (Denver, CO)
ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – LARGE MARKET
- Jim, Deb & Kevin – WFMS-FM (Indianapolis, IN)
- Lexi And Banks – KUBL-FM (Salt Lake City, UT)
- Q Morning Crew with Mike and Janie – WQDR-FM (Raleigh, NC)
- Ridder, Scott and Shannen – WMIL-FM (Milwaukee, WI)
- Tige & Daniel – Tige Rogers, Daniel Baker, Mari Mueller – WSIX-FM (Nashville, TN)
ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – MEDIUM MARKET
- Kenn McCloud – KUZZ-AM/FM (Bakersfield, CA)
- Brent Michaels – KUZZ-AM/FM (Bakersfield, CA)
- Mo & StykMan Show – WUSY-FM (Chattanooga, TN)
- Roger, Julie and DJ Thee Trucker in the Morning – WPCV-FM (Lakeland, FL)
- Tom & Becky – WBBS-FM (Syracuse, NY)
ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – SMALL MARKET
- Adam & Jen in the Morning – KIOK-FM (Richland, WA)
- Brent Lane and Candy Cullerton – WYCT-FM (Pensacola, FL)
- The Q Crew with Jason and Ashley on Q100.3 – KRWQ-FM (Medford, OR)
- The Roger & Corliss Morning Show – KORA-FM (Bryan, TX)
- Scotty & Catryna in the Morning – KCLR-FM (Columbia, MO)
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR – MAJOR MARKET
- KKBQ-FM – Houston, TX
- KNIX-FM – Phoenix, AZ
- KPLX-FM – Dallas, TX
- KSCS-FM – Dallas, TX
- WYCD-FM – Detroit, MI
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR – LARGE MARKET
- KAJA-FM – San Antonio, TX
- KUBL-FM – Salt Lake City, UT
- WLHK-FM – Indianapolis, IN
- WMIL-FM – Milwaukee, WI
- WWKA-FM – Orlando, FL
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR – MEDIUM MARKET
- KATM-FM – Stockton, CA
- KUZZ-AM/FM – Bakersfield, CA
- KXKT-FM – Omaha, NE
- WHKO-FM – Dayton, OH
- WIVK-FM – Knoxville, TN
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR – SMALL MARKET
- KHAY-FM – Ventura, CA
- KKNU-FM – Eugene, OR
- KORA-FM – Bryan, TX
- WGSQ-FM – Cookeville, TN
- WYCT-FM – Pensacola, FL
Award recipients in each category are noted above parenthetically in the Album of the Year, Single of the Year, Song of the Year, Video of the Year and Music Event of the Year.
The 54th ACM Awards will feature exciting performances, unprecedented collaborations, surprising moments and more to be announced in the coming months. Tickets for the 54thACM Awards are available for purchase now at www.axs.com.
For more information on the ACM Awards and all ACM events including ACM Party for a Cause®, visit ACMcountry.com. You can also like Academy of Country Music on Facebook or follow on Twitter and Instagram for more immediate updates.