Academy of Country Music Awards Program Book

SEP T EMBER 16 , 2020

A

HE A R T A ND F O T HI T H G I S N

55TH

®

LIVE

F R OM N A S H V IL L E

NASHVILLE | SEPTEMBER 16, 2020

GRAND OLE OPRY HOUSE | RYMAN AUDITORIUM | THE BLUEBIRD CAFE

INGRID ANDRESS GABBY BARRETT ELI BEAIRD MIKE BRIGNARDELLO LIL NAS X BROOKS & DUNN KACEY MUSGRAVES ERIC CHURCH LUKE BRYAN BART BUTLER JULIAN BUNETTA LUKE COMBS BILLY RAY CYRUS DAN* & SHAY CLINT DANIELS LITTLE BIG TOWN RUSSELL DICKERSON LINDSAY ELL MAREN MORRIS JESSIE JO DILLON TONY HARRELL DAN DUGMORE STUART DUNCAN FRED ELTRINGHAM FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE YOUNGKIO JESSIE FRASURE BRANTLEY GILBERT RILEY GREEN MICHAEL HARDY IAN FITCHUK SCOTT HENDRICKS THOMAS RHETT ELLE KING CARRIE UNDERWOOD JEFF HYDE MIDL AND* KEITH URBAN CHARLIE JUDGE CODY JOHNSON THE HIGHWOMEN MIRANDA LAMBERT DEVIN DAWSON MIKE ROJAS MADDIE & TAE* A S H L E Y M C B R Y D E J O N PA R D I LADY A* MILES MCPHERSON BUSBEE SCOTT MOFFATT S H AY MOON EY BOBBY PINSON J I M H O KE JAY JOYCE GREG MORROW BLAKE SHELTON MICHAEL RHODES TIM MARKS GORDON MOTE JUSTIN NIEBANK ATTICUS MATTHEW ROSS CHARLIE WORSHAM CLEVE WILSON DANIEL TASHIAN MORGAN WALLEN THE STEREOTYPES *NOT ALL MEMBERS ARE AFFILIATED WITH BMI

TABLE OF CONTENTS 8 | Message from the CEO 14 | Message from the Chairman 18 | Message from the Chairman and Executive Director of ACM Lifting Lives

20 | Message from the Producers of the ACM Awards

22 | Our Host 24 | ACM History 28 | Lifting Lives COVID-19 Fund 29 | "On The Road Again

44 | Nominees

(ACM Lifting Lives Edition)"

68 | Nominees: Album of the Year

30 | ACM Awards Nominees List

70 | Nominees: Single of the Year

33 | Radio Awards Winners

72 | Nominees: Song of the Year

34 | Entertainer of the Year Nominees

74 | Nominees: Video of the Year 75 | Nominees: Music Event of the Year

76 | ACM Board of Directors 79 | ACM Staff 80 | ACM Lifting Lives Board of Directors

82 | Past Winners 88 | Acknowledgements 90 | Corporate Partners 91 | Thank You 92 | Production Credits

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CONGRATULATIONS W I N N E R S

KELSEA BALLERINI

DIERKS BENTLEY

BROTHERS OSBORNE

&

LADY A

OLD DOMINION

MADDIE & TAE

CAYLEE HAMMACK

TENILLE TOWNES

JORDAN DAVIS

B U D DY C A N N O N · DA N F R I Z S E L L · DA N N H U F F · DAV I D D O R N · G R E G K U R S T I N I LYA T O S H I N S K I Y · J E R R Y R O E · J I M M I E L E E S L OA S · J O S H G R A N G E K Y L E J AC O B S · M I K E R O J A S · PA U L F R A N K L I N · T H E S T E R E O T Y P E S TIM LAUER · TONY HARRELL · TRENT RE ZNOR 4

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TO OUR ACM AWARDS

N O M I N E E S

CHRIS STAPLETON

ASHLEY GORLEY

JUSTIN BIEBER

DAN + SHAY

HILLARY LINDSEY

JASON “POO BEAR” BOYD

MIDLAND

JOSH OSBORNE

JORDAN REYNOLDS

GARTH BROOKS

JORDAN SCHMIDT

BOBBY BONES

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A LETTER FROM THE

CEO OF THE ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC I’VE BEEN ASKED WHY IT WAS SO IMPORTANT THAT THE ACM AWARDS TAKE PLACE THIS YEAR that we were willing to move the

show to a new city, to hold it across multiple venues, to do it in an empty house, to have no red carpet, and to take a chance that we can pull it off amid the pandemic. My answer: In the Academy’s history the show has never been postponed or canceled. Country Music is a strong and determined community. Our artists want to bring entertainment and joy to their fans, and most of all, the artists who have won awards deserve to be honored for their hard work and a pandemic is not going to stop us from celebrating our industry.

It has been a long and uncertain road that led us to the 55th ACM Awards this September. Not only did we face the devastating news of having to cancel the awards show and our sold-out Party for a Cause® events in Las Vegas, but we quickly had to determine a new date, a new location, and a new identity for this year’s show. After scouring the U.S. to identify a city and venue that was available and able to accommodate our show elements, we ultimately landed on the obvious choice, Music City, and three iconic and revered venues in Nashville — Ryman Auditorium, the Mother Church of Country Music, Grand Ole Opry House and The Bluebird Cafe. For the first time in the Academy’s history, our show is being held in Nashville and in three different venues simultaneously, which is a feat for any live show, even in a non-pandemic year. This will create exciting television and unforgettable memories all while ensuring that our artists and crew remain safe and healthy.

Thank you to the artists who are performing tonight, our industry, our fans, our ACM Board of Directors and Staff, and our partners at dick clark productions and ViacomCBS for making this historic night possible, and a huge congratulations to all of our nominees and winners.

Enjoy the 55th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards — a night of heart and hits LIVE FROM NASHVILLE! Sincerely, Damon Whiteside

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“Our artists want to bring entertainment and joy to their fans, and most of all, the artists who have won awards deserve to be honored for their hard work and a pandemic is not going to stop us from celebrating our industry.”

C E L E B R A T I N G

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Y E A R S

MONARCA CRYSTAL GL AM L33261

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A LETTER FROM THE

ACM CHAIRMAN ON BEHALF OF THE ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AND THE ACM BOARD OF DIRECTORS, welcome to the 55th Annual ACM Awards!

The ACM is honored to have the awards in Nashville for the first time at three iconic venues, Grand Ole Opry House, Ryman Auditorium, and The Bluebird Cafe.

The ACM celebrates the Country industry throughout the year, including the musicians, producers, songwriters, radio stations and all who make our genre what it is. They spend countless hours in studios, traveling, and onstage creating Country Music. In these crazy times, it’s nice that we are taking this time to honor the hard work of Country Music’s best.

The Academy is thrilled to have our reigning Entertainer of the Year Keith Urban as our host for tonight’s show. Keith is a worldwide ambassador for Country Music, and we couldn’t have a better representative as our host.

ACM Lifting Lives is our charitable arm and the heart of everything the Academy does. Earlier this year, the ACM Lifting Lives Covid-19 Response Fund acted swiftly, giving $1.5 million to individuals in the Country Music community who are experiencing financial hardship due to the pandemic. Thank you to Lifting Lives Executive Director Lyndsay Cruz and Manager Taylor Wolf for your tireless work helping people out through the fund. We never forget that we are always trying to improve lives through the power of music.

The Academy is honored to have Damon Whiteside as our new CEO. He is guiding us into a bright new era in the ever-changing TV and music landscape. We also have a tremendous debt of gratitude to Executive Producer R.A. Clark, not only for decades of service and passion for the Academy, but for putting together tonight’s show in the most unique conditions possible!

Thank you to our partners at dick clark productions and ViacomCBS as we have pivoted the show from Las Vegas to Nashville, from a soldout arena to a show without an audience. It’s been quite a year and we appreciate you.

Finally, I’d like to send a sincere thank you to the dedicated ACM staff as well as my fellow officers Lori Badgett, Chuck Aly, Carmen Romano, Gayle Holcomb, Tommy Moore and Paul Moore. Also, a big thanks to ACM Lifting Lives officers Paul Barnabee, Troy Vollhoffer, Dwight Wiles, Lori Lytle and Taylor Wolf.

Wherever you are tonight, enjoy the show!

Sincerely, Ed Warm

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“ The Academy is thrilled to have our reigning Entertainer of the Ye ar Keith Urban as our host for tonight’s show. Keith is a worldwide ambassador for Country Music, and we couldn’t have a be t ter representative as our host.”

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A LETTER FROM THE

ACM LIFTING LIVES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & CHAIRMAN ™

WHEN WE SAT DOWN TO WRITE THIS LETTER BACK IN APRIL, we both thought we would be welcoming you to

“The Week Vegas Goes Country!” Our world has changed significantly but there is a silver lining; our show evolved into what it is now, A Night of Hearts and Hits — Live from Nashville at three iconic locations, the Grand Ole Opry House, Ryman Auditorium and The Bluebird Cafe.

When the impact of the coronavirus pandemic hit our country and industry, we knew we needed to respond quickly and aggressively to the immense need of our Country Music colleagues who were going to be out of work indefinitely.

We responded by creating the ACM Lifting Lives COVID-19 Response Fund to alleviate the burden that many of the behind-the-scenes country music professionals such as touring personnel, musicians, songwriters and developing artists are facing. The music industry has been hit especially hard with cancelled tours, festivals and shows, job losses and reduced work opportunities, venue closures, and corporate furloughs. The impact on these individuals is life changing.

As of today, we have distributed $1.5 million to our friends in need and we are still going. We continue to raise funds and ask colleagues, corporations, artists and organizations that are in a position to contribute financially or help raise awareness by sharing information about the ACM Lifting Lives COVID-19 Response Fund.

Since we were last in Las Vegas in April 2019, ACM Lifting Lives has focused on refining the scope of our mission.

The mission remains “improving lives through the power of music™” but now our emphasis has been placed on the power music has to improve lives for health-related needs. This narrower focus allows us to make a greater impact within the mental and physical health space and support organizations with aligning missions.

With the new scope in mind, we recently announced an expansion of our partnership with Vanderbilt Medical Center, enabling them to continue to do incredible work for those with Autism Spectrum Disorder, in addition to the more than a decade-long relationship with the Vanderbilt Kennedy

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Center working with those affected by developmental disorder Williams syndrome. Lifting Lives provided grants to a number of different organizations whose emphasis is on improving lives through the power of music™. Camp Sunshine Inc., CreatiVets, California State University Northridge Foundation, GRAMMY Museum Foundation Inc., The KEYS Program, The Miracle Project, Multiple Sclerosis Achievement Center at Kansas University, Operation Song, Personal Counseling Services, Project C.A.M.P., and Save The Music Foundation were all beneficiaries this year.

The Diane Holcomb Emergency Relief Fund benefits individuals working in the country music community by receiving confidential and timely financial support while facing personal emergencies, medical crises, or other emergent needs. We have continued to expand our reach in this area and have proudly given $1 million to date. In addition to the Diane Holcomb Emergency Relief Fund, ACM Lifting Lives continued to provide substantial support to organizations such as The Ryan Seacrest Foundation, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Music Health Alliance, Musicians On Call and the ACM Entertainer of the Year Matching Grant.

On behalf of ACM Lifting Lives and our Board of Directors, thank you all for your continued passion and support of ACM Lifting Lives, especially the artists and all of those who help make it possible for the artists to show up and give generously of their time.

Thank you all for making a huge difference!

Sincerely, Lyndsay Cruz Executive Director Paul Barnabee Chairman, Board of Directors

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A LETTER FROM THE

PRODUCERS OF THE ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS

R.A. Clark

Amy Thurlow

THE ACM AWARDS ® ARE BACK! And we couldn’t be more thrilled

to host the rescheduled 55th ACM Awards in Nashville, the home of Country Music, for the first time in the Academy’s 55-year history!

It is a night of firsts, as the ACM Awards are also the first awards show to broadcast from three iconic Country Music venues including Grand Ole Opry House, Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium and The Bluebird Cafe.

This evening also marks the start of a new ACM decade, bringing a new host and new acts, along with our never-changing passion for Country Music. Keith Urban will be hosting the show for the first time, and you won’t want to miss what the reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year and 15-time ACM Award-winner has in store!

Country Music’s hottest acts will grace the ACM Awards stage – from Dan + Shay to Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Eric Church, and Kane Brown to Thomas Rhett, Luke Bryan, Gabby Barret, Mickey Guyton, Blake Shelton & Gwen Stefani, and Luke Combs.

You’ll also be treated to an amazing opening performance, some can’t-believe-your-eyes surprises, and the presentations of the most prestigious awards of the year!

The year 2020 truly has been an unprecedented year, and although we were disappointed to postpone our April show in Las Vegas, tonight we hope to bring you an evening filled with entertainment, hope, heart, hits and reflection, along with the healing power of music.

And, as always, we dedicate this show to you, the Country Music fan. It’s your loyalty and enthusiasm that is at the heart of everything we do. So, thank you for making this a decade to remember. And now, enjoy the show!

Barry Adelman

Mark Bracco

Sincerely, R.A. Clark, Executive Producer Amy Thurlow, Executive Producer Barry Adelman, Executive Producer Mark Bracco, Executive Producer Linda Gierahn, Executive Producer

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YOUR HOST

KEITH URBAN

K

eith Urban may be Australian, but he’s also a Nashvillian through and through. Living in Music City for more than 25 years, he has become an important part of the musical community where he has created his award-winning music.

He also crafted his latest album, The Speed of Now Part 1, in Nashville, but under very different circumstances. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March, live shows and studios were forced to close, leaving the reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year to figure out a way to continue the music. After a few weeks of sitting on the couch and hanging with his family, Urban got the creative spark to finish his album by working in his home studio.

“Slowly but surely, you know, I realized, ‘Hey, I’ve got to finish my album. I’ve got to work. I’ve got to be creative.’”

The pandemic also forced the rescheduling of the ACM Awards®. Originally set for April in Las Vegas, we are now broadcasting tonight from Nashville for the first time in the Academy’s history, which has the ACM Male Vocalist of the Year nominee excited about the historic night in three iconic venues he knows very well.

“My very first trip to Nashville in 1989, I went to The Bluebird Cafe and I saw [legendary songwriters] Thom Schuyler, Craig Wiseman, Fred Knobloch and Don Schlitz, all sitting facing each other telling stories and singing songs. I couldn’t have been more wide-eyed! You’re on hallowed ground.”

“I can’t remember the first time I went to the Ryman because it seems like I’ve been there so many times now.

I remember seeing a little band that had just put out a brand-new album, they were called Coldplay. (laughs) I remember sitting in the balcony just thinking ‘this band’s really good but the lead singer is unusual’ because he keeps laughing like in between songs, just looking around at the band and giggling, and I’m thinking ‘What’s going on?’ And after about six songs, lead singer Chris Martin, who I didn’t know at the time, says ‘I’m so sorry I keep laughing but this is how it’s supposed to sound!’

That has always stayed with me because that’s so true!

Every real artist I know that’s ever played on that stage is amazed at how great it sounds in the venue. I’ve heard it

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described as performing inside an acoustic guitar and I think that’s a perfect description. I saw Merle Haggard there twice and I’ll tell you what, oh my gosh! The first time I saw him and The Strangers, I felt like I had my head inside the speakers of my dad’s record player because growing up, my dad had a lot of Merle Haggard albums. That was surreal.

Also, for me, the Opry House has so many memories, playing there and then becoming a member of the Opry family. What a journey.”

An ACM Triple Crown Award winner, Urban earned his 40th Top 10 Country hit in 2019 with “We Were,” a bittersweet look at a love gone by. He won his first ACM Award as the 2000 New Male Vocalist, then picked up the Male Vocalist award for 2004. He has claimed ACM Vocal Event trophies for “The Fighter,” “We Were Us” and “Start a Band,” as well as Album of the Year for 2004’s Be Here. Due to his worldwide appeal, he received the 2009 Jim Reeves International Award, then accepted the Mae Boren Axton Award in 2016 for his dedication and service to the Academy. His latest hits include “Blue Ain’t Your Color” (which rose to quadruple-platinum status in 2019), “Coming Home” and “Never Comin Down.” He reimagined “We Were” in late 2019 as a collaborative track with Eric Church, one of the song’s co-writers, then wrapped the year with a holiday track, “I’ll Be Your Santa Tonight.”

Urban is hosting the ACM Awards tonight for the very first time, and he’s happy the show is finally going forward after the unprecedented delay.

“I’m just super glad to be feeling like we’re moving back into some familiar territory, you know, just familiar things which I think we all miss for sure,” Keith said. “I was saying to a friend of mine, ‘I guess my own personal silver lining is that I may end up being the longest running one-time winner of Entertainer of the Year in ACM history!’” ●

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Garth Brooks, Charlie Daniels, Chris LeDoux

ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC

Neal McCoy, Charley Pride, Buck Owens

HISTORY

IN THE HALF CENTURY SINCE ITS INCEPTION, the Academy of

Country Music® has grown from a regional Southern California trade organization to a national powerhouse with its sights set on a higher purpose — improving lives by connecting fans, artists and the industry. Today, the ACM® is dedicated more than ever to promoting new artists, artists on the rise and established superstars, while supporting the good work of charitable causes nationwide through ACM Lifting Lives®.

The Academy was officially founded in 1964 in Los Angeles when performer Tommy Wiggins, songwriter Eddie Miller and club owners Mickey and Chris Christensen teamed up with other performers, radio and record label executives to establish the Country and Western Music Academy. Their vision was to promote country music in the western 13 states and to support artists based on the West Coast such as Billy Mize, Johnny Bond, Glen Campbell, Merle Haggard, Roger Miller, Buck Owens, Wynn Stewart, Jimmy Wakely and Tex Williams. In 1965, an official Board of Directors was formed. The Academy hosted its first official Country Music awards show in 1966, honoring the industry’s accomplishments from the previous year. It was the first Country Music awards program held by a major organization, propelling Country Music into the public spotlight for the first time.

The Academy’s signature “hat” trophy was created in 1968, the same year Fran Boyd was hired as the Academy’s first paid employee. During the early 1970s, the organization changed its name from the Academy of Country and Western Music to the Academy of Country Music (ACM®). The awards show hit the TV airwaves in 1972, broadcast for the first time in national syndication on the ABC network. Gene Weed took over producing and directing the show in 1974, and in 1979 the Academy joined forces with dick clark productions to produce the show. Dick Clark and Al Schwartz served as producers while Weed continued to

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direct. The Academy named Bill Boyd executive director, and he also served as the talent coordinator for the show. Under their guidance, the ACM Awards® moved first to the NBC and finally to CBS, where it remains today.

In 1995, Fran Boyd became executive director after her husband, Bill Boyd, passed away. After 34 years of service, Fran retired and the position went to concert promoter and longtime ACM Board member Bob Romeo, who served in the post for 12 years. Former Grand Ole Opry General Manager Pete Fisher served as CEO from 2016-2018. In January 2020, renowned marketing executive Damon Whiteside became the new CEO of the Academy. A Southern California native, Whiteside’s goals for the ACM encompass five key areas of focus: television, digital, board of directors’ involvement, growth of staff and serving the industry.

Kenny Rogers, Glen Campbell

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Chris Stapleton Luke Bryan

Florida Georgia Line, Bebe Rexha

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Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, Taylor Swift

Brooks & Dunn

After being staged in Los Angeles since the 1960s, the ACM Awards left Southern California for the first time in 2003 and settled into Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino Events Center in 2003, then moving to the MGM Grand Garden Arena in 2006. In 2015, the Academy moved the show to AT&T Stadium—the home of the Dallas Cowboys — to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the ACM Awards. The show (as well as the two-day ACM Party for a Cause Festival at Globe Life Park) sold out in 18 minutes, landing in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most attended live awards show (with more than 70,000 fans in the house). After that triumphant event, the Academy returned to Las Vegas in 2016.

Then came 2020. After selling out the 55th ACM Awards and surrounding Party for a Cause® events that were planned for April in Las Vegas, the coronavirus pandemic caused the closure of large live events, and the Academy was forced to postpone the show for the first time ever. After an exhaustive nationwide search, the ACM moved the show to the home of Country Music and three of Nashville’s iconic venues: the Grand Ole Opry House, Ryman Auditorium and The Bluebird Cafe. The 55th awards show, dubbed A NIGHT OF HEART AND HITS — LIVE FROM NASHVILLE, will be a more intimate experience with artists performing and sharing their thoughts about the songs, venues and artists who have inspired them.

Today, the show is still produced by dick clark productions under the direction of longtime Executive Producers Barry Adelman and Richard A. “RAC” Clark, as well as dick clark productions’ Mark Bracco, and Amy Thurlow, and ACM’s Damon Whiteside.

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While the Academy strives to produce high quality entertainment through the annual awards show, ACM Honors™ in Nashville, and other network specials, many events such as the annual ACM Party for a Cause® serve a dual purpose as fundraisers for the Academy’s charitable arm. ACM Lifting Lives improves lives through the power of music by supporting deserving charities through its annual grant cycle, as well as supporting those in the music industry hit with unexpected and catastrophic expenses through the Diane Holcomb Emergency Relief Fund.

To date, Lifting Lives has given more than $7 million to over 150 worthy causes, often to fund music therapy programs around the country. ●

Carrie Underwood

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“ACM Lifting Lives has made a world of difference for our family.

Every day I have been carefully planning and worrying and taking multiple steps to make sure we stay afloat until the world starts again — last night was the first night I got a deep, full night’s sleep. I have never been more thankful and proud to be a part of our musical community.”

—GRANT RECIPIENT

“Thank you to all of you at the Academy for helping me out. As an independent engineer, these times are very tough. You have no idea how much that has lifted some of my load. Thank God for the ACM!”

ACM LIFTING LIVES C R E AT E S C O V I D - 1 9 RESPONSE FUND

®

N

o matter the state of the world, music remains a source of healing, comfort, and even escape, and this holds true especially in trying times. When COVID-19 first struck, it affected people

around the globe, putting unprecedented stress on many peoples’ lives and livelihoods. ACM Lifting Lives was quick in creating the ACM Lifting Lives COVID-19 Response Fund to help alleviate some of the burden the music community faces.

The ACM Lifting Lives COVID-19 Response Fund began with an initial endowment of $250,000, and grew thanks to partners, sponsors and

—GRANT RECIPIENT

“This will help us so much as we weather this storm and re-build our life, tour schedule and career. It gives me precious time to plan/reschedule new tour dates while we're all waiting for this crisis to pass (while staying safe for myself, my family and the world). You have no idea how much this means to me and my family. I'll always be grateful for the ACM and the entire Country Music community.

What a beautiful community of human beings and artists.”

—GRANT RECIPIENT

third-party donors including The Bobby Bones Show, FirstNet, Built with AT&T, and Amazon Music. To date, the fund has given more than $1.5 million to those in the Country Music community directly affected by the pandemic including musicians, bus drivers, songwriters and more.

—LIBBY GARDNER

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For more on the ACM Lifting Lives COVID-19 Response Fund, please visit ACMLiftingLives.org.

“On The Road Again (ACM Lifting Lives Edition)” Hits the Airwaves ®

ACM Award winner and Country Music legend Willie Nelson lent his voice to a new recording of his classic “On The Road Again (ACM Lifting Lives® Edition),” The timeless hit benefits the Lifting Lives Covid-19 Response Fund and features this year’s ACM New Female and New Male Artist nominees Ingrid Andress, Gabby Barrett, Jordan Davis, Russell Dickerson, Lindsay Ell, Riley Green, Caylee Hammack, Cody Johnson, Tenille Townes and Morgan Wallen. Produced by Ross Copperman and Jimmy Robbins, the single is available via Warner Music Nashville across all digital platforms and Country radio.

The official music video for “On The Road Again (ACM Lifting Lives Edition)” made its exclusive broadcast premiere August 14 across all CMT channels. The music video will also be available on the newly launched ACM®: The Hub, a destination for artists of all levels in Country Music to reach fans with music, upcoming virtual livestream concerts and performances, and easy access to artist

merchandise — a one-stop-shop for quality curated content for music fans, worldwide. (thehub.acmcountry.com) A special thanks to all the producers, musicians and engineers who gave their time to make this possible: Produced and mixed by Ross Copperman and Jimmy Robbins; Production Assistance by Scott Johnson. Willie Nelson vocals recorded by Steve Chadle at Pedernales Recording Studio (Spicewood, TX) Digital Editing by Brian David Willis. Mastered by Daniel Bacigalupi at Infrasonic Sound (Nashville) Musicians: Danny Rader — Acoustic & Electric Guitar, Mandolin, Piano, B-3, Programming, Percussion, Banjo; Tony Lucido — Bass Proceeds from the single will benefit ACM Lifting Lives COVID-19 Response Fund to be disbursed to individuals in the Country Music community who are currently in need of pandemic relief assistance. To date, the fund has awarded $1.4 million to those in need.

To learn more about ACM Lifting Lives COVID-19 Response Fund, visit ACMLiftingLives.org.

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NOMINEES ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/ Record Company–Label(s)

Center Point Road

Thomas Rhett PRODUCERS: Julian Bunetta / Jesse Frasure / Dann Huff / Thomas Rhett / The Stereotypes / Cleve Wilson RECORD LABEL:

The Valory Music Co.

GIRL

Maren Morris PRODUCERS: busbee / Greg Kurstin / Maren Morris RECORD LABEL:

Columbia Nashville

Heartache Medication Jon Pardi

PRODUCERS: Bart Butler / Ryan Gore /

Jon Pardi

RECORD LABEL:

Nashville

Capitol Records

What You See Is What You Get Luke Combs PRODUCER: Scott Moffatt

River House Artists/ Columbia Nashville RECORD LABEL:

Wildcard

Miranda Lambert PRODUCER: Jay Joyce

RECORD LABEL: Vanner Records/ RCA Records Nashville

SINGLE OF THE YEAR

Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/ Record Company–Label(s)

“God’s Country”

Blake Shelton PRODUCER: Scott Hendricks RECORD LABEL: Warner Bros.

(Nashville)

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“One Man Band”

Old Dominion PRODUCERS: Shane McAnally / Old Dominion RECORD LABEL: RCA Records Nashville

“Rainbow”

Kacey Musgraves PRODUCERS: Ian Fitchuk / Kacey Musgraves / Daniel Tashian RECORD LABEL: MCA Nashville

“Rumor”

Lee Brice

PRODUCERS: Lee Brice / Dan Frizsell / Kyle Jacobs / Jon Stone RECORD LABEL: Curb Records

“What If I Never Get Over You” Lady A

PRODUCER:

Dann Huff BMLG Records

RECORD LABEL:

SONG OF THE YEAR

Awarded to Songwriter(s)/ Publisher(s)/Artist(s)

“10,000 Hours”

Dan + Shay with Justin Bieber Justin Bieber / Jason “Poo Bear” Boyd / Jessie Jo Dillon / Shay Mooney / Jordan Reynolds / Dan Smyers WRITERS:

Beats and Banjos (ASCAP), WB Music Corp.

(ASCAP) / Shay Mooney Music (BMI), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI) / Big Ass Pile Of Dimes Music (BMI), Big Machine Music (BMI) / Buckeye 26 (ASCAP), Jreynmusic (ASCAP), WB Music Corp. (ASCAP) / Bieber Time Publishing (ASCAP), Universal Music (ASCAP) / Poo B Z Inc. (ASCAP), BMG Gold Songs (ASCAP).

PUBLISHERS:

“Girl Goin’ Nowhere”

Ashley McBryde WRITERS: Jeremy Bussey / Ashley McBryde PUBLISHERS: Songs of Song Factory (BMI) / Universal Tunes (SESAC).

“God’s Country”

Blake Shelton Devin Dawson / Michael "HARDY" Hardy / Jordan Schmidt WRITERS:

PUBLISHERS: Relative Music Group (BMI), Administered by Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing (BMI) / WB Music Corp. / Georgia Song Vibez / We-volve Music (ASCAP) / Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. / Neon Cross Music (BMI).

“One Man Band”

Old Dominion WRITERS: Josh Osborne / Matthew Ramsey / Trevor Rosen / Brad Tursi

PUBLISHERS: WB Music Corp/ Smackville Music/Smack Songs LLC (ASCAP) adm by Kobalt Songs Music Publishing.

Rezsongs/Reehits World/ Smacktown Music, a division of Smack Blue, LLC adm.

by Me Gusta Music. Unfair Entertainment/Twelve6 Dogwood (ASCAP) adm. by Downtown DLJ Songs. We're Really Doin’ It Publishing (ASCAP) adm by Words & Music.

Sony/ATV Cross Keys Publishing/ Smackville Music/Smack Songs LLC (ASCAP) adm. by Kobalt Songs Music Publishing.

“Some Of It”

Eric Church Eric Church / Clint Daniels / Jeff Hyde / Bobby Pinson WRITERS:

PUBLISHERS: Sony / ATV Tree Publishing / Longer and Louder Music, admin. by Sony / ATV Music Publishing LLC; Mammaw’s Fried Okra Music /Little Louder Songs, admin. by Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing; New Writers Of Sea Gayle Music, admin. by ClearBox Rights; New Writers Of Sea Gayle Music / Not A Track Guy Music, admin. by ClearBox Rights (BMI).

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Awarded to Producer(s)/ Director(s)/Artist(s)

“10,000 Hours”

Dan + Shay with Justin Bieber DIRECTOR: Patrick Tracy PRODUCER: Christen Pinkston

“God’s Country”

Blake Shelton DIRECTOR: Sophie Muller PRODUCERS: Jamie Amos / Patrick Kennedy

“One Man Band”

Old Dominion DIRECTOR: Mason Allen PRODUCER: Mason Allen

“Remember You Young” Thomas Rhett DIRECTOR: TK McKamy PRODUCER: Dan Atchison

“Sugar Coat”

Little Big Town DIRECTORS: Alexa Kinigopoulos / Stephen Kinigopoulos PRODUCERS: Wes Edwards / Carlo Glorioso / Angie Lorenz

ACM R ADIO AWARDS Winner indicated by ,

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

Ashley Gorley Michael "HARDY" Hardy Hillary Lindsey Shane McAnally Josh Osborne

MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR

Awarded to Artist(s)/ Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)

“10,000 Hours”

Dan + Shay with Justin Bieber PRODUCER: Dan Smyers RECORD LABEL: Warner Music Nashville

“Dive Bar”

Garth Brooks Featuring Blake Shelton PRODUCER: Garth Brooks RECORD LABEL: Pearl Records, Inc.

“Fooled Around And Fell In Love”

Miranda Lambert Featuring Maren Morris, Ashley McBryde, Tenille Townes, Caylee Hammack & Elle King PRODUCER: Jay Joyce RECORD LABELS: Vanner Records / RCA Records Nashville

“Old Town Road”

Lil Nas X Featuring Billy Ray Cyrus PRODUCERS: Michael Trent Reznor / Atticus Matthew Ross / YoungKio RECORD LABEL: Columbia Records

“What Happens In A Small Town”

Brantley Gilbert Featuring Lindsay Ell PRODUCER: Dann Huff RECORD LABEL: The Valory Music Co.

NATIONAL ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR Luke Bryan Eric Church Luke Combs Thomas Rhett Carrie Underwood

Blair Garner, “Off Eric” Garner The Blair Garner Show

Charlie Chase and Lorianne Crook The Crook & Chase Countdown

Ben & Arnie – Ben Butler and Arnie Andrews WCOW-FM (Sparta, WI)

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR Kelsea Ballerini Miranda Lambert Maren Morris Kacey Musgraves Carrie Underwood

Buzz Brainard The Music Row Happy Hour

Big Rick In The Morning –“Big” Rick Daniels WGGC-FM (Bowling Green, KY)

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR Dierks Bentley Luke Combs Thomas Rhett Chris Stapleton Keith Urban

Bud and Broadway WIL-FM (St. Louis, MO)

DUO OF THE YEAR Brooks & Dunn Brothers Osborne Dan + Shay Florida Georgia Line Maddie & Tae GROUP OF THE YEAR Lady A Little Big Town Midland Old Dominion The Highwomen Winner indicated by ,

NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR Ingrid Andress Gabby Barrett Lindsay Ell Caylee Hammack , Tenille Townes NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR Jordan Davis Russell Dickerson , Riley Green Cody Johnson Morgan Wallen

,Bobby Bones, Amy, Lunchbox,

Eddie, Morgan and Ray The Bobby Bones Show

Storme Warren, Mary Carlisle Callahan and Thomas Massad The Storme Warren Show

ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR (Major Market)

Kelly Ford in the Morning Kelly Ford WNSH-FM (New York, NY) Mason & Remy WIL-FM (St. Louis, MO) The Morning Wolfpack with Matt McAllister Matt McAllister, Emily Raines and Slow Joe Wallace KKWF-FM (Seattle, WA)

,The Rob and Holly Show – Rob Stone and Holly Hutton WYCD-FM (Detroit, MI) ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR (Small Market)

Adam & Jen in the Morning KIOK-FM (Kennewick, WA)

Scotty & Catryna in the Morning – Scotty Cox and Catryna Craw KCLR-FM (Columbia, MO)

, Steve & Jessica –

Steve Waters and Jessica Cash WFLS-FM (Fredericksburg, VA)

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (Major Market)

KAJA-FM – San Antonio, TX KFRG-FM – San Bernardino, CA

,KILT-FM – Houston, TX

WNSH-FM – New York, NY WSOC-FM – Charlotte, NC

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (Large Market)

CKRY-FM – Calgary, AB WDSY-FM – Pittsburgh, PA WIRK-FM – West Palm Beach, FL

(Large Market)

WMIL-FM – Milwaukee, WI

Lexi And Banks KUBL-FM (Salt Lake City, UT)

,WUBE-FM – Cincinnati, OH

Marty McFly WSM-FM (Nashville, TN) Q Morning Crew with Mike and Janie WQDR-FM (Raleigh, NC)

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (Medium Market)

KATM-FM – Stockton, CA KUZZ-AM/FM – Bakersfield, CA

Robyn & Roger in the Morning CKRY-FM (Calgary, AB)

KXKT-FM – Omaha, NE

,The Big Dave Show – Big Dave,

,WUSY-FM – Chattanooga, TN

Chelsie, Statt and Ashley WUBE-FM (Cincinnati, OH)

ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR (Medium Market)

WQMX-FM – Akron, OH

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (Small Market)

KKNU-FM – Eugene, OR

Brent Michaels KUZZ-AM/FM (Bakersfield, CA)

KTHK-FM – Idaho Falls, ID

, Clay & Company

WPAP-FM – Panama City, FL

WYRK-FM (Buffalo, NY) Kenn McCloud KUZZ-AM/FM (Bakersfield, CA)

WBYT-FM – South Bend, IN

,WYCT-FM – Pensacola, FL

Steve & Gina in the Morning – Steve Lundy and Gina Melton KXKT-FM (Omaha, NE) The Cowboy Kyle Show –Cowboy Kyle WUSY-FM (Chattanooga, TN) 5 5 TH A C M AWA R D S

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NOMINEES FAIR/RODEO OF THE YEAR

INDUSTRY AWARDS

THEATER OF THE YEAR

California Mid-State Fair Paso Robles, CA Cheyenne Frontier Days Cheyenne, WY

CASINO OF THE YEAR — THEATER The Colosseum at Caesars Palace Las Vegas, NV The Joint: Tulsa Tulsa, OK

Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Houston, TX Minnesota State Fair St. Paul, MN San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo San Antonio, TX

Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort Mt. Pleasant, MI The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino Las Vegas, NV

FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR Boots and Hearts Music Fesitval Oro-Medonte, ON

WinStar Global Event Center Thackerville, OK

Stagecoach Indio, CA

CASINO ARENA OF THE YEAR — ARENA

Tortuga Music Festival Fort Lauderdale, FL

Mark G. Etess Arena Atlantic City, NJ

Watershed Festival George, WA

MGM Grand Garden Arena Las Vegas, NV

Windy City Smokeout Chicago, IL

Sandia Amphitheater Albuquerque, NM

CLUB OF THE YEAR

Stir Concert Cove Council Bluffs, IA T-Mobile Arena Las Vegas, NV

Billy Bob’s Texas Fort Worth, TX

Eli Beaird Mike Brignardello Tim Marks Michael Rhodes Jimmie Lee Sloas

Ruth Eckerd Hall Clearwater, FL

OUTDOOR VENUE OF THE YEAR Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion Gilford, NH Greek Theatre Los Angeles, CA Innsbrook After Hours Glen Allen, VA Red Rocks Amphitheatre Morrison, CO Rose Music Center Huber Heights, OH The Wharf at Orange Beach Orange Beach, AL

Fred Eltringham

David Dorn

Miles McPherson

Tony Harrell

Greg Morrow

Charlie Judge

Jerry Roe

Tim Lauer

Nir Zidkyahu

Gordon Mote

Dann Huff Rob McNelley Adam Shoenfeld

Kell Houston Houston Productions Nina Rojas Neste Live!

Todd Boltin Variety Attractions

PROMOTER OF THE YEAR Adam Weiser AEG Presents Brian O’Connell Live Nation Jered Johnson Pepper Productions Stacy Vee Goldenvoice, MTG Troy Vollhoffer Country Thunder

VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena Jacksonville, FL

PIANO/KEYS PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Tom Bukovac

Gil Cunningham Neste Live!

Van Andel Arena Grand Rapids, MI

DRUMMER OF THE YEAR

GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Gary Osier Gary Osier Presents

Staples Center Los Angeles, CA

Mike Rojas

SPECIALTY INSTRUMENT(S) PLAYER OF THE YEAR

STEEL GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR Dan Dugmore Paul Franklin Josh Grange Russ Pahl Justin Schipper

AUDIO ENGINEER OF THE YEAR Chuck Ainlay

Stuart Duncan

Jeff Balding

Jenee Fleenor

Tony Castle

Jim Hoke

Julian King

Danny Rader

Steve Marcantonio

Joe Spivey

Justin Niebank

Charlie Worsham

5 5 TH A C M AWA R D S

Rialto Square Theatre Joliet, IL

Clay Campbell Triangle Talent

Madison Square Garden New York, NY

Grizzly Rose Denver, CO

Ilya Toshinskiy

32

DeJoria Center Salt Lake City, UT

DON ROMEO TALENT BUYER OF THE YEAR

Infinite Energy Center Duluth, GA

Coyote Joe’s Charlotte, NC

Losers Bar & Grill Nashville, TN

BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR

The Chicago Theatre Chicago, IL

ARENA OF THE YEAR

Joe’s Live Rosemont, IL

STUDIO RECORDING AWARDS

The Beacon Theatre New York, NY

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR busbee Buddy Cannon Dann Huff Michael Knox Joey Moi

RADIO AWARD WI N N ERS

ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR

NATIONAL

The Bobby Bones Show — Bobby Bones, Amy, Lunchbox, Eddie, Morgan, Ray MAJOR MARKET

KILT-FM Houston, TX

MAJOR MARKET

The Rob & Holly Show — Rob Stone, Holly Hutton WYCD-FM

|

Detroit, MI

LARGE MARKET

WUBE-FM Cincinnati, OH

LARGE MARKET

The Big Dave Show — Big Dave, Chelsie, Statt, Ashley MEDIUM MARKET

WUBE-FM

|

Cincinnati, OH

WUSY-FM Chattanooga, TN

MEDIUM MARKET SMALL MARKET

WYCT-FM

Clay & Company WYRK-FM

|

Buffalo, NY

Pensacola, FL

SMALL MARKET

Steve & Jessica Steve Waters, Jessica Cash WFLS-FM

|

Fredericksburg, VA 5 5 TH A C M AWA R D S

33

OF THE YEAR NOMINEE

ENTERTAINER NOMINEE

LUKE BRYAN

LU KE B RYAN PUT H IS B EST FOOT FORWARD I N 2019 WITH “KNOCKIN’ BOOTS,” which became his 21st chart-topping single on Billboard’s country airplay chart in September of last year. A star judge on American Idol, Bryan has earned more RIAA certified digital singles than any artist in the country format, with 54 million digital singles, 12.5 million albums and seven billion streams. He played his 36th career stadium show in October 2019. Bryan accepted the ACM Gene Weed Special Achievement Award in 2015 by selling 1.7 million tickets and charting six No. 1 singles from Crash My Party. That project was named the ACM Album of the Decade in 2019. The charismatic performer has claimed two ACM Entertainer trophies (2012, 2014), as well as statuettes for Vocal Event (“The Only Way I Know,” “This Is How We Roll”), New Artist and New Solo Vocalist (2009). Bryan grew up in Leesburg, Georgia, as the son of a peanut farmer. He honors his rural roots through Farm Tour concerts in smaller communities, raising money to provide scholarships to area students. His hit, “What She Wants Tonight,” is featured on the album, Born Here, Live Here, Die Here, which dropped in early August. Other recent No. 1 hits include “Most People Are Good,” “Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset” and “What Makes You Country.” Bryan launched his own line of beer, Two Lane American Gold Lager, in March. This is his eighth consecutive nomination for ACM Entertainer of the Year.

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5 5 TH A C M AWA R D S

Buffalo Collection

ENTERTAINER

OF THE YEAR NOMINEE

A STATE OF MIND & A WAY OF LIFE

A M E R IC A N BU F FA LO L E AT H E R F U R N I T U R E Experience the ultimate in luxury, comfort & design with furniture from Buffalo Collection. Our furniture is hand-made in America using the finest materials & methods of old world craftsmanship. Let us enrich your lifestyle by creating timeless custom furnishings of the highest quality for your home.

Specializing in Custom Orders

F U R N I T U R E • A R T • A C C E S S O R I E S • TA B L E S • L I G H T I N G • H A N D B A G S

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BuffaloCollection.com

5 5 TH A C M AWA R D S

35

OF THE YEAR NOMINEE

ENTERTAINER NOMINEE

ERIC CHURCH

ERIC CHURCH OFFERED HIS DIEHARD FANS ANOTHER DOSE OF LIVE MUSIC through his Double Down Tour in 2019, as he played two different setlists on back-to-back nights. He also headlined Nissan Stadium in Nashville, setting a venue attendance record. His latest album, Desperate Man, topped Billboard’s country chart upon its release in 2018. Its title track brought him back to country radio, while “Some of It” received a Grammy nomination and became the latest of his No. 1 hits. Initially, “Some of It” didn’t make the cut for Desperate Man, but Church changed his mind after hearing his wife play an early recording of it after the studio sessions were done. Church won his first ACM award as New Solo Vocalist for 2010. Other ACM awards include Album (Chief), Vocal Event (“The Only Way I Know”) and Video (“Mr. Misunderstood”). He received the 2014 Jim Reeves International Award to recognize his extensive European tour and the 2016 Merle Haggard Spirit Award to salute his uncompromising musical vision. Prior to releasing Desperate Man, Church issued multiple live recordings under the title of 61 Days in Church, including a covers album on vinyl for Record Store Day. His 2019 certifications include five-times platinum for “Springsteen” and doubleplatinum recognition for “Like a Wrecking Ball,” “Smoke a Little Smoke” and “Record Year.” Other career-defining hits include “Drink in My Hand,” “Give Me Back My Hometown” and “Talladega.” His exceptional 2019 collaborations include “We Were” with Keith Urban and “Does to Me” with Luke Combs.

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5 5 TH A C M AWA R D S

ALSO NOM I NATE D FOR

SONG OF THE YEAR (Artist and Songwriter)

LIVE lifestyle the

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|

UnitedCountry.com 5 5 TH A C M AWA R D S

37

OF THE YEAR NOMINEE

ENTERTAINER NOMINEE

LUKE COMBS

LUKE COMBS MADE HISTORY IN 2019 AS HIS OUTSTANDING DEBUT ALBUM , This One’s For You, tied the record for the most weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s country chart. Then his second album, What You See Is What You Get, arrived at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in November. In addition, “Beautiful Crazy” spent seven weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s country airplay chart, the longest of any song in the 2010s. By year’s end, “When It Rains, It Pours,” “Beautiful Crazy” and “Hurricane” reached quadruple-platinum status, while “One Number Away” and “She Got the Best of Me” rose to double-platinum, “Beer Never Broke My Heart” easily secured platinum and “Even Though I’m Leaving” quickly grabbed gold. Combs is the only artist in country music history to ascend to No. 1 with his first seven singles. His newest collaborations include “Does to Me” with Eric Church and the Grammy-nominated “Brand New Man” with Brooks & Dunn. The North Carolina native was born in Charlotte, grew up in Asheville and attended Appalachian State University in Boone. In college, Combs noted the way ASU graduate Eric Church built his music career. As a result, Combs focused on writing songs, taught himself to play guitar with online tabs and won over fans one show at a time. He joined the Grand Ole Opry in July of last year.

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5 5 TH A C M AWA R D S

ALSO NOM I NATE D FOR

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Experience the ultimate in luxury, comfort & design with furnitur. Our furniture is hand-made in America using the finest materials & methods of old world craftsmanship. Let us enrich your lifestyle by creating timeless custom furnishings of the highest quality for your home.

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WeDoRanches.com

5 5 TH A C M AWA R D S

39

OF THE YEAR NOMINEE

ENTERTAINER NOMINEE

THOMAS RHETT

THOMAS RHETT, THE REIGNING ACM MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR, IS RIDING A HOT STREAK with eight No. 1 singles in a row, most recently with “Look What God Gave Her” and “Remember You Young.” Those memorable hits come from the album Center Point Road, named for the street he grew up on. The personal project debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, set a record for the biggest streaming debut week for a country album and secured a Grammy nomination. His three prior albums have been certified platinum. It’s been a remarkable run for the singer-songwriter, who was born in Valdosta, Georgia, but moved to Nashville when his father Rhett Akins pursued a music career in the 1990s. He landed a six-times platinum certification in 2019 for “Die a Happy Man,” a romantic ballad that spent six weeks at No. 1 at country radio and led to ACM Awards in the Single, Song and Male Vocalist categories. His other multi-platinum hits include “Get Me Some of That,” “It Goes Like This,” “Life Changes,” “Marry Me,” “T-Shirt” and “Unforgettable.” Thomas Rhett and his wife Lauren welcomed two daughters in 2017, with a third daughter born in February. He continues to draw inspiration from their family life in his songwriting. In 2019, he made his Saturday Night Live debut, headlined the Very Hot Summer Tour and issued his first holiday recordings. He shares the spotlight with Jon Pardi on the clever single, “Beer Can’t Fix.” In late March, Rhett released the uplifting “Be A Light” featuring guests Reba McEntire, Keith Urban, Hillary Scott and Chris Tomlin, with proceeds benefitting the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund.

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5 5 TH A C M AWA R D S

ALSO NOM I NATE D FOR

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR ALBUM OF THE YEAR (Artist and Producer)

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

KING CREEK RANCH

E N D L E S S R E C R E AT I O N

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5 5 TH A C M AWA R D S

41

OF THE YEAR NOMINEE

ENTERTAINER NOMINEE

CARRIE UNDERWOOD CARRIE UNDERWOOD REMAINS ONE OF COUNTRY MUSIC’S MOST EMPOWERING ENTERTAINERS. Her popularity among listeners continues

with gold singles such as “Cry Pretty,” “Love Wins” and “Southbound.” In 2019 she led the Cry Pretty 360 Tour across North America performing in the round in 55 arenas, with an all-female bill of Maddie & Tae and Runaway June. Underwood made history last year when Cry Pretty made her the first woman to place four country albums at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. That project was certified platinum in 2020.

Her stunning career launched upon winning American Idol in 2005. A recipient of the ACM’s Triple Crown award, she’s won two Entertainer trophies (2008, 2009), three for Female Vocalist (2006-2008) and New Female Vocalist (2005). She’s also claimed awards in the categories of Album (Some Hearts), Music Video (“Before He Cheats”), Single (“Jesus Take the Wheel”) and Vocal Event (“The Fighter,” with Keith Urban). Underwood joined the Grand Ole Opry in 2008 and has been the voice of Sunday Night Football for seven seasons. She received the ACM Gene Weed Special Achievement Award for starring in 2013’s televised The Sound of Music Live!. In 2016, she earned the Gary Haber Lifting Lives Award honoring her humanitarian work. She makes charitable contributions to her hometown of Checotah, Oklahoma, through her C.A.T.S. Foundation. In March, she published a health and wellness book, Find Your Path: Honor Your Body, Fuel Your Soul, and Get Strong with the Fit52 Life. She performed her single “Drinking Alone” on ACM Presents: Our Country in April. Underwood will release her first ever Christmas album My Gift later this month.

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5 5 TH A C M AWA R D S

ALSO NOM I NATE D FOR

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Cosabella corset & DDR leggings from The Wild Rose/ABQ

We miss you!

Hoping to see y’all at our road shows in

Studio Seven Productions

2021.

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43

NOMINEES

INGRID ANDRESS

N OM I NATE D FO R

NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

I NG RI D AN DRESS IS SPEAKI NG H ER TRUTH in her breakout debut single, “More Hearts Than Mine.” The poignant song comes from the personal experience of introducing her family to a new boyfriend and yet the emotions are universal. With a slow but steady build, “More Hearts Than Mine” became the only single from a debut female solo artist in 2019 to crack the Top 20 at country radio. It continued its upward trek throughout early 2020. A native of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, Andress was home-schooled — and taught to know her value, to stand up for herself, and to ignore restrictions of what is expected of a woman. She studied songwriting with Kara DioGuardi at Berklee in Boston, then spent five years working as a collaborative songwriter before pursuing an artist career in order to put her own voice on her most revealing songs. Her compositions have been cut by pop stars such as Charli XCX, Fletcher, Halestorm and Bebe Rexha, and one of her biggest champions is our host, Keith Urban, who invited her to open shows at his Las Vegas residency earlier this year. Following 2019 appearances on the Grand Ole Opry, Late Night With Seth Myers and Today, her debut album, Lady Like, which she co-produced arrived in March.

KELSEA BALLERINI

KE LS EA BALLE R I N I R EVEALE D H E R TR U E S E LF I N TH E STR I KI N G VI D EO for “homecoming queen?” which ushered in a new phase of the Tennessee native’s remarkable career. In the video, she peels away the layers of expectations to leave herself exposed, emotional and completely real.

It’s a centerpiece of her third album, a new project simply titled kelsea. Born and raised in East Tennessee, Ballerini grew up loving pop and Country Music, then set her mind to songwriting as a way to process her parents’ divorce. As a teenager, she moved to Nashville with her mother to pursue a career in music. Her early original material quickly caught the attention of country radio, leading to No. 1 platinum hits like “Love Me Like You Mean It,” “Dibs” and “Peter Pan.” Following the release of “Yeah Boy” from For the First Time, she issued Unapologetically, a gold-certified album that continued her winning streak with a headlining tour, an invitation to join the Grand Ole Opry and singles like “Legends,” “I Hate Love Songs” and “Miss Me More.” In addition, she collaborated with husband Morgan Evans (“Things That We Drink To”) and Thomas Rhett (“Center Point Road”), as well as the Chainsmokers (“This Feeling”) and John K. (“If We Never Met”).

Leading up to kelsea, she dropped the singles “club” and “la.”

N OM I NATE D FO R

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR 44

5 5 TH A C M AWA R D S

congratulations kelsea ballerini on your female artist of the year nomination!

5 5 TH A C M AWA R D S

45

NOMINEES

GABBY BARRETT

N OM I NATE D FO R

NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

G A B BY B A R R E T T G A I N E D A N AT I O N A L AU D I E N C E W I T H A THIRD -PLACE FINISH on American Idol, then zeroed in on songwriting to take her to the next level. The move worked, as the revenge anthem “I Hope” ascended to No. 1 on SiriusXM’s The Highway countdown and opened the door for a major label deal. By February 2020, the track picked up 200 million total on-demand streams. She delivered the national TV debut of the song with a return appearance on American Idol. Barrett grew up in a large family near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and started performing in public at 9 years old, encouraged by her father who heard her singing Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” around the house. Early on, she sang in an African American church and a local sports bar, then earned a spot on American Idol at 17. After emerging with “I Hope,” she has been spotlighted by Amazon Music, CMT’s Next Women of Country and Radio Disney. In October, she married fellow American Idol contest Cade Foehner, who inspired the new songs “The Good Ones” and “Hall of Fame.” Barrett toured with Chris Lane in 2019, then opened shows this year for Kane Brown and Dierks Bentley. Her debut album Goldmine was released in June and broke the record for streaming on a debut Country album by a woman.

DIERKS BENTLEY

DIERKS BENTLEY BLENDS HEARTFELT INTROSPECT I O N W I T H A P O S I T I V E AT T I T U D E I N “ L I V I N G ,” a mid-tempo radio staple that became his 17th No. 1 single in September 2019. Its gold-certified success is the pinnacle achievement of The Mountain, a 2018 album he wrote and recorded in Telluride, Colorado. The acclaimed project includes hits like “Woman, Amen” and “Burning Man,” with the latter earning an ACM Vocal Event trophy for Bentley and Brothers Osborne. Bentley grabbed his first ACM Award as 2003’s New Artist following his irresistible No. 1 debut single, “What Was I Thinkin’?” He continued to land nominations for the albums Up on the Ridge, Riser, Black and The Mountain, as well as the hits “Different for Girls,” “Home” and “I Hold On.” The hilarious “Drunk on a Plane” music video led to a 2014 ACM trophy, thanks to his comic performance as a buttoned-up pilot (a goofy role based on his real-life flying license). In recognition of his singular talent, Bentley accepted the ACM’s Merle Haggard Spirit Award in 2018. A Grand Ole Opry member since 2005, Bentley often warms up the crowd with his ‘90s country-inspired band, Hot Country Knights. That ensemble (with Bentley assuming the costumed role of lead singer Doug Douglason) released multiple new singles earlier this year.

N OM I NATE D FO R

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR 46

5 5 TH A C M AWA R D S

Experience Houston Oaks

two golf courses

sporting grounds

7 dining venues

wine bunker

luxury lodging

concerts

The Clubs at Houston Oaks sets upon 900+ acres of pristine Texas countryside, just a short drive northwest of downtown Houston.

Our members enjoy great golf, incredible wine and food offerings, luxury lodging and eight unique clubs that offer an extraordinary family experience. Spend a day on the water, perfect your golf swing, savor a glass of wine in our amazing bunker and wine cave, and enjoy the majesty of our splendid natural setting. Houston Oaks is a private sporting club ideal for family fun, a weekend getaway, a second home or an exceptional primary residence.

Te x a s & N at i o n a l M e m b e r s h i p s N ow Ava i l a b l e !

Membership includes all facilities and amenities of the club: 18 holes of championship golf (#4 ranked course in Texas), variety of dining venues, family nine course, wine cave and bunker, gun club, live music events (including Dean Dillon’s annual songwriter series), organic chef ’s garden and aquaponics farm, lodging accommodations, fishing on 17 lakes, wine shop & general store, guest ranch and riding club, tennis complex, spa and fitness center, club events, hiking and biking trails, real estate opportunities and more. Membership classification designates privileges. Call today to schedule your “Experience the Oaks” visit today!

936 372 4311 www.houstonoaks.com membership@houstonoaks.com

22602 Hegar Road Hockley, Texas 77447 30 Minutes from Houston

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JUSTIN BIEBER

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MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR VIDEO OF THE YEAR SONG OF THE YEAR

J U S T I N B I E B E R B R OA D E N E D H I S G LO B A L FA N B A S E E V E N F U RTH E R with “10,000 Hours,” a romantic ballad recorded with Dan + Shay that effortlessly reached No. 1 at Country radio last year. By appearing in the video with his new wife, Hailey Baldwin Bieber, Bieber set the stage for Changes, an R&B-inspired album that was written during their first year of marriage. Released on Valentine’s Day, it’s the pop star’s first project of new material in five years and it reflects a new phase of his life – feeling blessed after a number of personal and professional setbacks. Bieber broke out internationally as a teenager after being discovered on YouTube. He returned to that platform this year with an original 10-part documentary series, Justin Bieber: Seasons. His prior world tour grossed $257 million, although he cut the trek short due to health concerns. His wealth of material includes No. 1 hits like “Love Yourself,” “Sorry” and “What Do You Mean,” as well as collaborations such as “I Don’t Care” with Ed Sheeran and a remix of “Despacito” with Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee. A museum exhibit about Bieber’s life and career has been displayed in his hometown of Stratford, Ontario since 2018. He is the most popular male musician on Instagram, with approximately 146 million followers.

(ARTIST AND SONGWRITER)

LEE BRICE

LE E B R I C E C AP P E D AN E XC E P TI O NAL D EC AD E I N 2019 WITH H IS FI FTH NO. 1 H IT, the platinum-certified “Rumor,” and with the single “I Hope You’re Happy Now,” featuring Carly Pearce. A native of Sumter, South Carolina, Brice grew up on gospel music and college football. An elbow injury ended his dream of playing for Clemson University, but nothing could stop his ambitions in Country Music. He released a few mid-charting singles before making a name for himself with “Love Like Crazy.” The song lingered on the country airplay chart for a record-breaking 56 weeks and peaked at No. 3 in 2010. That opened the door for chart-topping singles such as “A Woman Like You,” “Hard to Love,” “I Drive Your Truck” (2013 ACM Song of the Year) and “I Don’t Dance” (2014 ACM Single of the Year). Brice received his first ACM trophy as a composer of Eli Young Band’s “Crazy Girl” (2011 ACM Song of the Year). In addition to his own Top 10 hits like “Parking Lot Party,” “Drinking Class” and “That Don’t Sound Like You,” Brice has had songs cut by Garth Brooks (“More Than a Memory”), Tim McGraw (“Still”) and many others. He recorded his vocal for “I Hope You’re Happy Now” in the recording studio built into his tour bus. Look for more new music from Brice soon.

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SINGLE OF THE YEAR

(ARTIST AND PRODUCER)

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GARTH BROOKS

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MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR

(ARTIST AND PRODUCER)

GARTH BROOKS COULD BLAME IT ALL ON HIS ROOTS WHEN IT COM ES TO “ D IVE BAR ,” his duet with Blake Shelton. The boisterous single inspired an eye-catching video and a national tour of clubs, plus made Brooks the first country artist to acquire Top 10 radio hits every decade since the 1980s. Brooks kicked off The Stadium Tour in 2019, selling more than 914,000 tickets overall. As the ACM Artist of the Decade for the 1990s, Brooks is no stranger to the winner’s circle. He claimed 1990 ACM trophies in the categories of Entertainer, Male Vocalist, Album (No Fences), Single (“Friends in Low Places”), Song and Video of the Year (both for “The Dance”). By the end of the decade he accrued six ACM Awards as ACM Entertainer of the Year. He’s received additional recognition from the Academy with the Jim Reeves Memorial Award, the Gene Weed Special Achievement Award, the Crystal Milestone Award, the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award and two Anniversary Milestone Awards. He joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1990, the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2011 and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2012. Brooks sold a staggering 6.4 million tickets on his world tour (2015-2017), securing the biggest North American tour in history. According to the RIAA, Brooks is the top-selling solo artist ever, with 156 million albums sold. Fans are anticipating his next album, Fun.

BROOKS & DUNN

B RO O K S & D U N N , R EC I P I E NTS O F TH E 2 01 8 ACM C L I F F I E S T O N E I CO N AWA R D , dominated country radio for two decades, from 1991’s “Brand New Man” to 2009’s “Cowboys Don’t Cry.” They landed their first ACM Awards for 1991 Top Vocal Duet and New Vocal Duet or Group. They have claimed the Vocal Duo category 16 times, setting a record that may never be broken. Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn shot out of the gate as Brand New Man won the 1992 ACM Award for Album of the Year, while “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” picked up Single Record of the Year. They earned Entertainer of the Year honors for 1995 and 1996, the only duo to ever win the award. With that honor, they achieved the ACM Triple Crown distinction too. They picked up a third Entertainer award for 2001 and a trophy for their patriotic video, “Only in America.” Their eloquent single “Believe” picked up 2005 ACM Song of the Year. With an all-star cast of collaborators, the duo’s newest project, Reboot, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s country albums chart in 2019. Their 20 No. 1 hits include “My Next Broken Heart,” “My Maria,” “Ain’t Nothin’ ‘Bout You” and “Red Dirt Road.”

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BROTHERS OSBORNE

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DUO OF THE YEAR

BROTHERS OSBORNE BRING A SMOOTH GROOVE TO COUNTRY M US IC WITH PLATI N UM S I NG LES like “Stay a Little Longer,” as well as the album, Port Saint Joe, named for the Florida town where they recorded it. The music video for its lead single, “Shoot Me Straight,” captured their wicked sense of humor, while “I Don’t Remember Me (Before You)” led to their sixth Grammy nomination. The duo also toured with Dierks Bentley and appeared on his single, “Burning Man,” resulting in the ACM trophy for Music Event. Brothers Osborne have claimed other ACM Awards for New Vocal Duo or Group (2016), Duo (2016, 2017) and Video (“It Ain’t My Fault,” 2017). John and TJ were raised in the bluecollar waterfront town of Deale, Maryland, in a family of seven. Their mother was a hairdresser and their father was a plumber, although he wrote songs and played informal shows for friends in a shed behind the house. In time, he converted the building into a home studio for his guitar-playing sons. Then they formed a father-and-sons band called Deuce and a Quarter and started playing covers in local bars. When the brothers moved to Nashville, they formed a duo with TJ on vocals and John on guitar. Following guest spots on Brooks & Dunn’s Reboot and Maren Morris’ GIRL, Brothers Osborne released Live at the Ryman in last October. Look out for their new album Skeletons next month.

BILLY RAY CYRUS

B I LLY R AY C Y R U S I S BAC K O N TH E AC M BA LLOT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 27 YEARS WITH “OLD TOWN ROAD.” That Grammy-winning, Diamond-certified collaboration with Lil Nas X returned the Kentucky native to global visibility, arguably reaching the same heights as Cyrus’ 1992 smash, “Achy Breaky Heart.” That debut single spent five weeks at No. 1 at Country radio and helped propel his first album, Some Gave All, to nine-times platinum.

Cyrus accrued 1992 ACM nominations in the Entertainer, New Male Vocalist, Album and Single Record of the Year categories. A year later, he landed a Top Male Vocalist nod as well as a subsequent Album nomination for It Won’t Be the Last. Indeed, Cyrus has maintained an active career as a recording artist and actor. His Top 10 country singles include “Could’ve Been Me,” “She’s Not Cryin’ Anymore,” “In the Heart of a Woman,” “Somebody New,” “Busy Man” and “Ready, Set, Don’t Go,” the latter a duet with his daughter, Miley Cyrus. His extensive screen credits include the films Mulholland Dr. and Hannah Montana: The Movie, TV series such as Doc and 90210, and this year a Super Bowl ad. He released a concept album, The SnakeDoctor Circus, in 2019, followed by The Singin’ Hills Sessions Vol. 1 Sunset EP in January.

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MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR

DAN + SHAY

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DUO OF THE YEAR SONG OF THE YEAR (ARTIST AND SONGWRITER)

VIDEO OF THE YEAR MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR

DA N + S H AY, TH E R E I G N I N G AC M D U O O F TH E Y E A R , HAVE REACHED THE STATUS OF ARENA HEADLINERS with a winning blend of romantic songwriting, emotional delivery, and a strong bond of friendship. Dan Smyers grew up in suburban Pittsburgh while Shay Mooney is a native of Natural Dam, Arkansas. They met at a late-night jam session at Smyers’ house in 2012, then enchanted listeners nationwide with the 2013 single, “19 You + Me.” They notched their first No. 1 single in 2015 with “Nothin’ Like You,” a sweet ode to romance and individuality, then returned to the top spot with “From the Ground Up” and “How Not To.” Then they hit the big time in 2018 with “Tequila,” a breathtaking single that secured quadruple-platinum status and became their first Top 10 adult contemporary hit. The crossover attention led to a performance slot at the Grammys and their first Grammy award. They achieved their fifth No. 1 single in 2018 with “Speechless,” which earned triple-platinum status and a second Grammy. Their self-titled third album includes the platinum No. 1 hit, “All to Myself,” as well as a stellar duet with Kelly Clarkson titled “Keeping Score.” A dazzling new duet with Justin Bieber, “10,000 Hours,” raced to No. 1 at Country radio earlier this year. This is Dan + Shay’s seventh consecutive nomination in the Duo category.

(ARTIST AND DAN SMYERS ALSO FOR PRODUCER)

JORDAN DAVIS

J O R DA N DAV I S I M M E D I ATE LY S CO R E D W ITH H I S C ATC H Y D E B U T H IT, “ S I N G LE S YO U U P.” The track ascended to No. 1 at Country radio and achieved doubleplatinum status, ultimately accruing 160 million streams. He co-wrote every track on his debut album, Home State, a nod to his beloved native Louisiana. Davis grew up in Shreveport listening to his father’s record collection, which introduced him to eloquent artists like Johnny Cash, Jim Croce and John Prine. Their gift for storytelling quickly drew him in, as did his father’s own songwriting hobby. Musical talent runs in the family as Davis’ uncle, Stan Paul Davis, co-wrote the Tracy Lawrence hits “Today’s Lonely Fool” and “Better Man, Better Off.” After graduating from LSU in 2012 with a degree in resource conservation, Jordan Davis moved to Nashville to pursue his own songwriting ambitions. As a fan of iconic songwriters like Kris Kristofferson and Bob McDill, ‘90s country stars like Tracy Byrd and John Michael Montgomery, and R&B artists like Usher and Lil Wayne, Davis hoped to meld all of his influences together. “Singles You Up” did the trick, sending Davis into the mainstream. He filmed the music video for his platinum certified hit, “Take It From Me,” in New York City. Davis climbed the airplay chart again in 2019 with “Slow Dance in a Parking Lot.”

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RUSSELL DICKERSON

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NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

R USS E LL D I CKE RSO N WROTE H IS S I G NATU R E H IT, “YO U RS ,” IN 2014, then spent the next four years on a journey to No. 1 on Billboard’s Country airplay chart. Dickerson grew up in Nashville fascinated by concert DVDs of Garth Brooks and Keith Urban. He also developed an interest in classic Country artists like Jim Reeves and George Jones. While enrolled at Belmont University, he landed a publishing deal, management and a booking agent, helping him to launch his career as an entertainer.

Dickerson composed “Yours” with two friends from Belmont. On a rainy day in 2015, his wife Kailey shot a black-and-white music video for the song at a small airport in Nashville. The clip caught on, leading to the song’s prominent placement on SiriusXM and Spotify. The Knot named it one of 2016’s best wedding songs. That same year he made his Grand Ole Opry debut and signed a record deal. Dickerson performed the romantic ballad on The Bachelorette in 2017 and toured with Thomas Rhett and Florida Georgia Line. “Yours” has accrued 140 million Spotify streams, while “Blue Tacoma” hauled him back to No. 1 in October of last year. After touring with Lady A and Darius Rucker in 2018, Dickerson co-headlined The Way Back Tour with Carly Pearce earlier this year. His single “Love You Like I Used To” was released in February.

LINDSAY ELL

LI N DSAY E LL E AR N E D H E R F I RST N O. 1 CO U NTRY H I T I N 2 0 1 9 W I T H T H E E X H I L A R AT I N G S I N G L E , “ W H AT H A P P E N S I N A S M A LL TOW N ,” a duet with Brantley Gilbert. A past headliner on the Monster Energy Tour, the Canadian musician dazzles audiences with her guitar wizardry and charismatic stage presence. Ell discovered her love of guitar when she was 8, then found a champion in Randy Bachman when she was 15. After years of traveling between Calgary and Nashville, she made the move to Music City when she was 21. Ell first appeared on the Country charts in 2013 with “Trippin’ on Us.” She headed out on tour with The Band Perry, Jennifer Nettles and Brad Paisley while continuing to record and refine her creative vision. She issued a 2017 EP titled Worth the Wait, followed five months later by a full-length album, The Project. Its lead single, “Waiting on You,” cracked the Top 5 in Canada. With that momentum, her breakout “Criminal” climbed to No. 1 on the Canadian chart and hit the Top 20 at American Country radio. She continued touring in 2018 with Sugarland and Keith Urban, along with releasing Canadian singles with Tim Hicks and Paul Brandt. She also recorded a complete covers album of John Mayer’s Continuum by herself in just two weeks. Her new album heart theory was released last month.

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NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR

FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE

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DUO OF THE YEAR

F L O R I DA G E O R G I A L I N E I G N O R E A L L B O U N DA R I E S W I T H TH EI R MAS H U P ST YLE OF COU NTRY, POP AN D U RBAN MUSIC .

Due to their incredible success they were rewarded with three special ACM Awards late last year: Breakout Artist of the Decade, Music Event of the Decade for “Meant to Be” and Single of the Decade for “Cruise.”

An inescapable hit with Bebe Rexha, “Meant to Be” dominated radio in 2017 and spent an astonishing 50 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart while racking up more than 800 million streams and grabbing nine-times-platinum certification this year. “Cruise” retains the crown for the best-selling country single in history. Other certifications in 2019 include five-times platinum for “H.O.L.Y.,” triple-platinum for “Round Here” and double-platinum for their latest No. 1 hit, “Simple.”

Florida Georgia Line have collected 11 career ACM Awards, including New Artist and New Vocal Duo or Group (2012), Vocal Duo (2013, 2014, 2015), Single (“H.O.L.Y.”) and Vocal Event (“May We All” and “This Is How We Roll”). Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley met as students at Belmont University in Nashville, recording independently before making a massive impact with “Cruise” in 2012. Singles from 2018’s Can’t Say I Ain’t Country include “Simple,” “Talk You Out of It” and “Blessings.” In addition to collaborations with Jason Aldean and Jason Derulo, they reworked their greatest hits for 2019’s The Acoustic Sessions.

BRANTLEY GILBERT

B R ANTLEY G I LB E RT R E IG N ITE D H IS CAR E E R WITH F I R E & B R I M S TO N E , H I S T H I R D C O N S E C U T I V E A L B U M T O D E B U T AT N O. 1 on Billboard’s Country chart. Fueled by “What Happens in a Small Town” — a No. 1 single with Lindsay Ell — Gilbert launched his Fire’t Up Tour in January before the pandemic. As an artist and songwriter, Gilbert is one of Country Music’s most accomplished figures. His own No. 1 singles include “Country Must Be Country Wide,” “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do,” “One Hell of an Amen” and the quadruple-platinum “Bottoms Up.” Meanwhile, his writing credits include Jason Aldean’s “Dirt Road Anthem” and “My Kinda Party.” A native of Jefferson, Georgia, who cultivated a massive regional following, Gilbert arrived on the national scene with the 2011 reissue of Halfway to Heaven. In contrast to that album’s audacious spirit, Fire & Brimstone reflects where Gilbert is today — eight years sober, married to his hometown sweetheart and the father of their two young children. For his Fire’t Up Tour, named for his latest single, Gilbert partnered with the Farmer Veteran Coalition for locally-sourced food, as well as Musically Fed, to fight hunger in the community. With all 15 songs written or co-written by Gilbert, Fire & Brimstone offers guests such as Jamey Johnson, Alison Krauss, Lukas Nelson and Willie Nelson. His army of fans is known as BG Nation.

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ASHLEY GORLEY

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SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

ASHLEY GORLEY HAS WRITTEN SOME OF THE MOST POPU LAR CO U NTRY SO N GS O F TH E L AST D EC AD E for superstars and rising artists alike. In 2019 he claimed his seventh consecutive award as ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year. Some of his most-played compositions of 2019 include Dierks Bentley’s “Living,” Lee Brice’s “Rumor,” Luke Bryan’s “What Makes You Country,” Eli Young Band’s “Love Ain’t,” Chris Janson’s “Good Vibes,” Chris Lane’s “I Don’t Know About You,” Little Big Town’s “Over Drinking,” Chase Rice’s “Eyes on You,” Thomas Rhett’s “Remember You Young” and Brett Young’s “Catch.” Gorley earned his first ACM recognition when Trace Adkins’ “You’re Gonna Miss This” landed in the 2008 Song of the Year category. Since that time Gorley has found cuts with Jason Aldean, The Band Perry, Billy Currington, Dan + Shay, Brett Eldredge, Jake Owen, Brad Paisley, Carly Pearce, Cole Swindell, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban and more. Gorley grew up in Danville, Kentucky, and moved to Nashville to attend Belmont University. A founder of Tape Room Music in 2011, Gorley is known for discovering and nurturing songwriting talent — not to mention his relentless work ethic. He is a four-time winner of the NSAI Songwriter of the Year and secured his third Grammy nomination for co-writing Blake Shelton’s gold-certified single, “I Lived It.” This is his seventh consecutive nomination for ACM Songwriter of the Year.

RILEY GREEN

R I L E Y G R E E N M A D E H I S B I G G E S T I M PAC T Y E T I N 2 0 1 9 W ITH H I S R A D I O - F R I E N D LY H IT, “ TH E R E WA S TH I S G I R L .” The gold-certified single is a cornerstone of his debut album, Different ‘Round Here, released in September of 2019. A native of Jacksonville, Alabama, he played at pickin’ parties on his family’s property, and that Alabama imagery can be felt throughout his songs. Green cites traditional country, bluegrass and Southern gospel music among his influences, and spent countless hours with his grandfathers while growing up. When he composed “I Wish Grandpas Never Died,” he gave them both a writing credit. Earlier this year, he performed on NBC’s Today show, received a Breakthrough Artist-Writer of the Year nomination from MusicRow Magazine and appeared on the New Faces showcase at CRS. Named a 2020 “Country Artist to Watch” by Pandora Music, Green has surpassed 465 million global streams. The career momentum follows multiple EP releases, a Grand Ole Opry debut and a role on the CMT series, Redneck Island. Green toured in 2019 with Brad Paisley and Jon Pardi, while headlining his Get That Man a Beer Tour. In August, Green was named the ACM New Male Vocalist of the Year.

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CAYLEE HAMMACK

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NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR

C AY LE E H A M M AC K CO N N EC TE D W ITH FA N S I N 2 0 1 9 W ITH H E R CO M P E LLI N G LE A D S I N G LE , “ FA M I LY TR E E ,” as well as digital tracks like “Preciatcha” and “Just Friends.” Growing up in Ellaville, Georgia, Hammack knew she wanted an unconventional life from an early age. She received good advice from both of her parents, as her mother told her that every romantic relationship is either a lesson or a blessing, while her father reminded her that all beautiful and strong things are forged in fire. Taking that wisdom to heart, Hammack began writing songs at 16 after a health scare. By this time, she had already been playing regional gigs, but chose her high school boyfriend over a college scholarship. After breaking up a short time later, Hammack moved to Nashville at 19 to pursue songwriting. She relentlessly chased the dream by co-writing, networking and playing four-hour sets at Tootsies, then won the prestigious ASCAP Sammy Cahn Award in 2016. Although she lost most of her possessions in a house fire in 2017, Hammack persevered until landing a record deal. She sang in tribute to Martina McBride at ACM Honors in 2019 and appears on Miranda Lambert’s album cut, “Fooled Around and Fell in Love.” One of CMT’s Next Women of Country, Hammack’s debut album If It Wasn’t For You was released last month.

MICHAEL “HARDY” HARDY

M ICHAE L “ HARDY” HARDY M AKES IT LOOK EASY. THAT ’S B EC AU S E H E’S HAD FO U R N O. 1 CO U NTRY H I T S as a songwriter in just 18 months. These include Morgan Wallen’s “Up Down” (featuring Florida Georgia Line), FGL’s “Simple,” Blake Shelton’s “God’s Country” and Chris Lane’s “I Don’t Know About You.” Meanwhile he’s placed album cuts with LOCASH, Jake Owen, and Thomas Rhett.

As an artist, known professionally as HARDY, he shipped the single “One Beer” to country radio earlier this year, featuring Lauren Alaina and Devin Dawson. That track is part of HIXTAPE: Vol. 1, an all-star compilation featuring Keith Urban, Dustin Lynch, and many more. He’s also released the EPs This Old Boy and Where to Find Me, with the latter offering the rowdy single, “Rednecker.” Hardy grew up in Philadelphia, Mississippi, where the family owned a chicken farm, and found a love of music through classic rock bands like Aerosmith, KISS and Pink Floyd. He moved to the Nashville area to attend Middle Tennessee State University in 2017, and in time, connected with Florida Georgia Line.

His FGL cuts include “Talk You Out of It,” and “Can’t Say I Ain’t Country.” HARDY toured with Cole Swindell in March.

His new album A ROCK was released early this month.

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THE HIGHWOMEN

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GROUP OF THE YEAR

TH E H IG HWOM E N ATTAI N E D A NO. 1 D E B UT ON B I LLBOARD’S C O U N T RY A L B U M C H A R T I N S E P T E M B E R O F L A S T Y E A R , accomplished through excellent reviews, high-profile TV appearances and the dedicated fan bases of its four members. The self-titled project delivers original songwriting by each of the artists — Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby, Maren Morris and Amanda Shires — and showcases their incredible vocal gifts. Produced by Dave Cobb and recorded in Nashville, The Highwomen serves as a statement of inclusion, offering refreshing viewpoints rarely heard in modern Country Music. Carlile has written songs for Miranda Lambert and LeAnn Rimes, recorded with Dierks Bentley, Zac Brown Band and Willie Nelson, and produced Tanya Tucker’s lauded 2019 album, While I’m Livin’. Hemby won an ACM Award as a writer of Lambert’s “Automatic,” and placed cuts with Little Big Town, Kacey Musgraves and the soundtrack to A Star Is Born. Morris is an ACM Award winner who landed a two-week No. 1 at country radio this year with “The Bones.” Shires tours with husband Jason Isbell as a fiddler player and vocalist. The Highwomen have performed just two concerts — the first at Newport Folk Festival in 2019, with surprise guest Dolly Parton. The Highwomen appeared on more than a dozen Best of 2019 lists. While all four members maintain solo careers, the group is confirmed to appear with Chris Stapleton at Wrigley Field in July 2021.

CODY JOHNSON

CO DY J O H N S O N SAI LE D PA ST 1 B I LLI O N C AR E E R STR E A M S I N 2 02 0, A LM OST E X AC TLY O N E Y E A R after releasing his major label debut album, Ain’t Nothin’ to It. That project debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Country album chart, a testament to his dedicated fan base as well as the powerful lead single, “On My Way to You.” Growing up in Sebastopol, Texas, Johnson learned drums and guitar, then started writing songs in junior high. With a professional background in rodeo, Johnson independently released his first album in 2006. Though he later traded bull riding for a job as a prison guard, he kept making music. While the Texas clubs served as a cornerstone of his early years, Johnson soon toured coast to coast, steadily building his audience.

He found support at SiriusXM for the 2016 single, “With You I Am,” and that track became his first Top 40 Country hit. In 2018, Johnson became the first independent artist to sell out NRG Stadium during the Houston Rodeo, with more than 74,000 tickets sold. After partnering with a major label, “On My Way to You” ultimately became his first platinum single. In 2019, he performed that song for Today, guested on Brooks & Dunn’s Reboot album, and sang the national anthem at a World Series game. Johnson was scheduled to make his fourth headline appearance at the Houston Rodeo in March before the remaining dates were postponed.

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NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

ELLE KING

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MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR

ELLE KING RULED THE ROCK AND ALTERNATIVE CHARTS WITH “ E X’ S & O H ’ S ,” A N I NTE R N ATI O N A L S U CC ES S that positioned her as an in-your-face songwriter and performer. The audacious anthem from 2015 earned two Grammy nominations and ultimately reached triple-platinum. Then she ascended to No. 1 on the Country chart with “Different for Girls,” a 2016 duet with Dierks Bentley that led to a Grammy nod, a platinum certification and a Grand Ole Opry appearance. Other Country collaborations include “Holdin’ On to You” with Dolly Parton for the Dumplin’ soundtrack and “Fooled Around and Fell in Love” with Miranda Lambert. King cites women like Aretha Franklin, Wanda Jackson and Dolly Parton as key influences, along with AC/DC and Otis Redding.

She is the daughter of comedian Rob Schneider and model London King.

Growing up she was encouraged by her stepfather to constantly discover new music. As a teen in New York City, she sneaked into music venues by brandishing her fake ID with a goal to get on stage. Her gold-certified debut album, Love Stuff, shows off her raspy vocals and banjo prowess while retaining her undeniable attitude. Following the 2018 album, Shake the Spirit, she toured with Miranda Lambert in. She released a pop duet with Andy Grammer, “Best of You,” in February.

LADY A

L ADY A W E LCOM E D A R AD I O R ES U RG E N C E W ITH “ W H AT I F I N E V E R G E T OV E R YO U ,” a mid-tempo smash that returned them to No. 1. In addition, they looked to Las Vegas as a sure bet to reinvent their live show with the 2019 Our Kind of Vegas residency at The Palms. Months later they offered OCEAN, their first album for BMLG Records and their first collaboration with producer Dann Huff. The trio of Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, and Hillary Scott picked up their first ACM award as the 2007 New Vocal Duo or Group.

After building a sturdy foundation at Country radio, “Need You Now” established them as arena headliners in 2009. In addition to winning multiple Grammys, Lady A picked up 2009 ACM Awards in the Single, Song and Album categories, as well as the first of three consecutive Vocal Group trophies. The 2012 ACM Jim Reeves International Award rewarded their global appeal. Their numerous No. 1 singles include “I Run to You,” “American Honey,” “Our Kind of Love,” “Just a Kiss,” “We Owned the Night,” “Downtown,” “Compass” and “Bartender.” Their single “What I’m Leaving For” was released earlier this year. This is their 10th nomination in the Group of the Year category.

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GROUP OF THE YEAR SINGLE OF THE YEAR 5 5 TH A C M AWA R D S

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MIRANDA LAMBERT

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FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR ALBUM OF THE YEAR MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR

MIRANDA LAMBERT HAS WON MORE ACM AWARDS THAN ANY OTH ER ARTIST I N H ISTORY, WITH A CAREER TOTAL OF 34 . Her newest trophies include a Gene Weed Milestone Award to commemorate that accomplishment and an ACM Song of the Decade distinction for “The House That Built Me.” She renewed her radio presence in 2019 with “It All Comes Out in the Wash,” a carefree single that also earned a Grammy nomination. She collected her eighteenth Grammy nod in 2020 with Pistol Annies’ project, Interstate Gospel. Her newest solo album, Wildcard, arrived at No. 1 on Billboard’s Country album chart in November. She is a ninetime ACM Female Vocalist winner (2009-2017) and a five-time recipient of ACM Album of the Year. The Lindale, Texas, native has also acquired ACM trophies for hits like “Tin Man,” “Smokin’ and Drinkin’,” “Automatic,” “Mama’s Broken Heart,” “We Were Us,” “Over You,” “The House That Built Me” and “White Liar.” Since winning the 2006 ACM New Female Vocalist award, Lambert has forged her own career path, prompting her to receive the inaugural ACM Merle Haggard Spirit Award in 2016. She supports the next generation of women creators through a songwriting scholarship at Belmont University in Nashville, while raising awareness for shelter dogs through her MuttNation Foundation. She will carry her Wildcard Tour into Canada later next month. Lambert released her charming single “Bluebird” in November of 2019.

LIL NAS X

LI L NA S X E NTI CE D TH E WH O LE WO R LD TO TAKE TH EI R HORSE TO TH E “OLD TOWN ROAD.” He leased a sample online and first recorded the track as a 19-year-old college dropout living with his sister in Georgia. He released it online the same day and tagged it as Country. When the track exploded on TikTok from the yeehaw challenge, a global phenomenon was born. Montero Lamar Hill chose the name Lil Nas X as a nod to the rapper Nas and has said he added “Lil” because he found it funny how often rappers will do that. As for X, he believes it represents the ten years it will take before he is at a legendary level. In the meantime, he remains a massive pop star. “Old Town Road” received a diamond certification for reaching 10 million units just six months after its wide release. Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus, who joined him for the remix, shared two Grammys earlier this year, including one for the epic music video. The unavoidable single was streamed nearly 2.5 billion times in the U.S in 2019 and set a record by spending 19 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. His latest hits include the quadruple-platinum “Panini” and the Cardi B collaboration, “Rodeo,” from his debut EP, 7. Lil Nas X turned 21 in early April.

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HILLARY LINDSEY

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SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

H I LLARY LI N DS EY IS ON E OF NAS HVI LLE’S MOST VE RSATI LE SONGWRITERS, CRAFTING MATERIAL FOR ARTISTS ranging from Miranda Lambert (“It All Comes Out in the Wash”) to Lady Gaga (“Always Remember Us This Way”). Lindsey won her third Grammy earlier this year for co-writing “I’ll Never Love Again” for A Star Is Born. Other recent credits include Little Big Town’s “Over Drinking,” Runaway June’s “Buy My Own Drinks” and Carrie Underwood’s “Cry Pretty,” along with album cuts for Dierks Bentley, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line, Randy Houser, Lady A, Chris Lane, Reba McEntire, Kacey Musgraves, Carly Pearce, Trisha Yearwood and Brett Young. Lindsey grew up in Washington, Georgia, and has been writing songs since she was 10. She moved to Nashville in 1994 to study the music industry at Belmont University and seek a career as a recording artist. She quickly landed a publishing deal, garnering eight cuts in her first year. Lindsey received her first ACM nomination in 2005 as a songwriter for Underwood’s “Jesus, Take the Wheel.” That led to three more nominations in the Song category: Gary Allan’s “Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain),” Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush” and Keith Urban’s “Blue Ain’t Your Color.” Lindsey is only the second person to receive the NSAI Song of the Year three times. This is her third nomination for Songwriter of the Year.

LITTLE BIG TOWN

L I T T L E B I G T OW N I L L U M I N AT E D T H E C O U N T RY S C E N E TH I S Y E A R W ITH N I G HTFALL, a compelling collection with singles such as “The Daughters” and “Over Drinking.” Produced by the band, Nightfall debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Country albums chart in January. The ensemble of Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Phillip Sweet and Jimi Westbrook are four-time winners in the ACM Group of the Year category. In addition, they collected ACM Awards for New Vocal Duo or Group (2006), Music Video (“Tornado”) and Vocal Event (“Smokin’ and “Drinkin’” with Miranda Lambert).

They received the 2015 ACM Crystal Milestone award in recognition of “Girl Crush,” which spent 13 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart — the longest run for a group since 1959. Today their catalog stretches from early hits like “Boondocks” and “Bring It on Home,” to modern classics such as “Pontoon” and “Girl Crush,” to newer releases like “Day Drinking” and “Better Man.” They accepted an invitation to join the Grand Ole Opry in 2014. Earlier this year, they celebrated the release of Nightfall with a concert at Carnegie Hall. Their tour of theaters continues through the beginning of early 2021. Little Big Town also guested on Lady A’s “The Thing That Wrecks You” and Thomas Rhett’s “Don’t Threaten Me With a Good Time.” This is their 13th nomination in the Group of the Year category.

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MADDIE & TAE

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DUO OF THE YEAR

MADDIE & TAE PUT THEIR BEAUTIFU L HARMONY AND HEARTF E LT LY R I C S O N F U LL D I S P L AY on the Top 40 country singles “Friends Don’t” and “Die From a Broken Heart,” with the latter reaching gold status in 2019. Maddie & Tae glided to No. 1 in 2014 with “Girl in a Country Song.” Then they spread their wings with “Fly,” an empowering Top 10 single they wrote about inner strength and learning as you go.

Maddie Marlow is a native of Sugar Land, Texas, and Tae Dye hails from Ada, Oklahoma. Marlow and Dye met at the age of 15 through a vocal coach and spent a summer in Nashville learning about music publishing. After label interest, Marlow decided against college and Dye graduated high school early in order to relocate to Nashville. “Girl in a Country Song” rose to platinum status and reminded listeners that women in Country Music are more than just pretty characters. Following an EP in 2014, Maddie & Tae released their debut album, Start Here, in 2015.

After signing to a new label, they offered two EPs in 2019 (One Heart to Another and Everywhere I’m Goin’), released a holiday track and joined Carrie Underwood’s Cry Pretty Tour 360. Their newest album, The Way It Feels, debuted in April.

SHANE MCANALLY

S H A N E M C A N A L LY, T H E R E I G N I N G A C M SONGWRITER O F TH E YE AR , FO U N D I N C R E D I B LE SUCCESS with Country bands in 2019 by co-writing Eli Young Band’s “Love Ain’t,” Midland’s “Mr. Lonely” and Old Dominion’s “Make It Sweet” and “My Heart Is a Bar.” Other recent writing credits include Brothers Osborne’s “I Don’t Remember Me (Before You),” Kenny Chesney’s “Get Along,” Kacey Musgraves’ “Rainbow,” Jake Owen’s “Down to the Honkytonk” and Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani’s “Nobody But You.” McAnally grew up in Texas and went after a recording career, but his solo singles didn’t break through. He retreated to Los Angeles, then found a welcoming response in Nashville in 2008 when Lee Ann Womack recorded “Last Call.” McAnally has received ACM nominations as a songwriter for Chesney’s “American Kids,” Sam Hunt’s “Body Like a Back Road,” Miranda Lambert’s “Mama’s Broken Heart” and “Vice,” Musgraves’ “Follow Your Arrow” and Keith Urban’s “Female.” McAnally won two 2013 ACM awards — for Songwriter of the Year, and as a producer on Musgraves’ album Same Trailer, Different Park. He also secured nominations for producing Hunt’s Montevallo, Midland’s “Drinkin’ Problem,” Old Dominion’s Happy Endings and the all-star vocal event, “Forever Country.” He founded the music publishing company SMACKSongs in 2012 and serves as producer/mentor on the network series, Songland. This is his seventh nomination for Songwriter of the Year.

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SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

ASHLEY MCBRYDE

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SONG OF THE YEAR ( ARTIST AND SONGWRITER)

MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR

A S H LEY M C B RYD E CO NTI N U ES TO WI N FAN S TH RO U G H HER CANDID SONGWRITING AND RELATABLE PERSONALITY, especially on the title track of her major label debut album, Girl Going Nowhere. That poignant song was inspired by an algebra teacher who dismissed McBryde’s dream of being a Country songwriter — and for years, McBryde’s friends and family members rolled their eyes when she shared her ambitions.

But with determination she landed a record deal and an impressive press portfolio. Girl Going Nowhere and the title track, “Girl Goin’ Nowhere” both received Grammy nominations, while McBryde accepted the opening slot for George Strait’s concerts in Las Vegas in 2019. The Arkansas native grew up attending bluegrass festivals and listening to exceptional songwriters such as Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt and Kris Kristofferson. McBryde paid her dues performing in biker bars and scruffy songwriter nights in Nashville.

Discovered by Eric Church’s manager, she found her way into mainstream Country with her debut single, “A Little Dive Bar in Dahlonega.” By staying true to her vision, she achieved a longtime dream when she performed “Girl Goin’ Nowhere” on the Grand Ole Opry. She gave an emotional performance of the tune on the 2019 ACM Awards. Her brand-new album, Never Will, features her chart topping single, “One Night Standards.” She delivered its network debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. McBryde headlined the One Night Standards Tour early this year.

MIDLAND

MIDLAND MIXES THE VIBE OF ‘70S AND ‘80S COU NTRY WITH A MODERN FLOU RISH , bringing back a classic sound to loyal listeners. That distinctive blend can be heard on “Cheatin’ Songs,” the January released single from their album, Let It Roll. The fashionable band filmed the music video and recorded a companion live album at the site of the former ACM Award-winning Palomino Club, a historic cornerstone of Country Music in Los Angeles. Their 2019 single, “Mr. Lonely,” led the way for Let It Roll to debut at No. 1 on Billboard’s Country chart. Midland is composed of lead guitarist Jess Carson, bass player Cameron Duddy and singer-guitarist Mark Wystrach. Their story begins in 2013 when Carson and Wystrach attended Duddy’s wedding in Wyoming. When the guys started picking songs during some downtime, they realized their musical tastes meshed.

Shortly after Duddy’s honeymoon, the ensemble relocated from the West Coast to Texas, playing to small audiences and recording demos. In time, their music caught the attention of songwriter-producer Shane McAnally, who shared their fondness for Country gold. Midland’s debut album, On the Rocks, includes the double-platinum breakout single “Drinkin’ Problem.” They received their first ACM trophy for New Vocal Duo or Group for 2017, then revived “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” for Brooks & Dunn’s 2019 Reboot. This is their third consecutive nomination for Group of the Year.

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MAREN MORRIS

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FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR ALBUM OF THE YEAR

M A R E N M O R R I S E M B A R K E D O N A WO R L D T O U R T H E DAY AFTE R R E LEA S I N G H E R ACCL AI M E D ALB U M , G I R L. That album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Country chart, proving that her 2016 ACM Award for New Female Vocalist was well-deserved. The title track ultimately reached No. 1 at country radio, with follow-up single “The Bones” spending two weeks at the top. Morris offered multiple collaborations in 2019, including an album with The Highwomen and collaborations with Brothers Osborne, Brandi Carlile, Sheryl Crow and Miranda Lambert. Growing up in Arlington, Texas, Morris would sing in her parents’ beauty shop and started learning guitar when she was 12. Her tastes ran from Chaka Khan to Clint Black, indicating an early comfort level with R&B and Country Music. She moved to Nashville at 19. After writing “My Church” with busbee, she stashed it away in case she landed a record deal. In 2016, her debut album HERO arrived at No. 1 on Billboard’s Country albums chart while “My Church” was certified platinum and now multi-platinum. She further established herself with “80s Mercedes,” “I Could Use a Love Song” and “Rich,” while also teaming with Thomas Rhett on “Craving You.” In addition, pop fans embraced the triple-platinum “The Middle” with Zedd and Grey, a remix of “The Bones” with Hozier and “Seeing Blind” with Niall Horan.

(ARTIST AND PRODUCER)

KACEY MUSGRAVES

K ACEY M USG R AVES , TH E R E I G N I NG ACM FEM ALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR, REINVENTED HERSELF WITH GO LD E N H O U R, an acclaimed album that showed a sunnier side of the singer-songwriter’s personality. Golden Hour debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Country albums chart and earned Musgraves performance slots on Saturday Night Live and multiple talk shows. Last year, the gold-certified project resulted in four Grammy Awards and a trophy for ACM Album of the Year. Musgraves brought her fresh perspective to Country Music with 2013’s Same Trailer Different Park, the ACM Award-winning collection that candidly portrayed small-town life on “Merry Go Round” and offered open-minded social commentary on “Follow Your Arrow.”

She followed that platinum debut with Pageant Material and A Very Kacey Christmas. “Blowin’ Smoke” rose to platinum status in 2019, while “Rainbow” and “Biscuits” reached gold.

Musgraves has recorded with Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Zac Brown Band, Ronnie Milsap, Willie Nelson and John Prine. The Golden, Texas, native sang at the Houston Rodeo in 2019 and sold out multiple stops of her Oh, What a World Tour. The 2018 recipient of the ACM Jim Reeves International Award also became the first female Country artist to play Coachella, appeared on the Frozen II soundtrack and filmed an all-star holiday special for Amazon.

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FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR SINGLE OF THE YEAR (ARTIST AND PRODUCER)

OLD DOMINION

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GROUP OF THE YEAR SINGLE OF THE YEAR (ARTIST AND PRODUCER)

SONG OF THE YEAR

(ARTIST AND MATTHEW RAMSEY,TREVOR ROSEN, AND BRAD TURSI FOR SONGWRITERS)

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

O L D D O M I N I O N , B AC K-T O - B AC K W I N N E R S O F T H E AC M VOC AL G RO U P O F TH E YEAR AWAR D, DOM I NATE D CO U NTRY RADIO IN 2019 with the No. 1 hits “Make It Sweet” and “One Man Band.”

Both tracks are included on their new self-titled project, which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Country albums chart in November. These romantic tunes follow a streak of four No. 1 singles: “Hotel Key,” “Written in the Sand,” “No Such Thing as a Broken Heart” and “Song for Another Time.” Four of the five members of Old Dominion have connections to Virginia, which prompted the band’s name. Singer Matt Ramsey and drummer Whit Sellers met in middle school around Roanoke. Sellers befriended guitarist Brad Tursi and bassist Geoff Sprung at Harrisonburg’s James Madison University.

Separately, they relocated to Nashville to pursue music careers, eventually meeting up with Detroit-raised multi-instrumentalist Trevor Rosen. Written by all five members of the band, “Break Up With Him” first broke through at SiriusXM’s The Highway, then topped the Billboard country airplay chart in 2015. After earning the 2015 ACM Award for New Vocal Duo or Group, they released the gold-certified album Happy Endings and launched a world tour that spanned North America, Europe and Australia. Their single “Some People Do” was released earlier this year.

JOSH OSBORNE

J OS H OS BO R N E S PE NT A DOZ E N YEARS WAITI N G F O R A W R I T I N G C R E D I T O N A H I T S I N G L E . Now hardly a week goes by without his name on the Country chart.

He accepted the NSAI Songwriter of the Year Award in 2019, thanks to hits like Midland’s “Mr. Lonely,” Old Dominion’s “One Man Band” and Michael Ray’s “One That Got Away.”

He’s placed dozens of singles as a songwriter, such as Kenny Chesney’s “Get Along,” Old Dominion’s “Hotel Key” and Keith Urban’s “John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16.” His ACM Song of the Year nominations include Sam Hunt’s “Body Like a Back Road,” Miranda Lambert’s “Vice” and Midland’s “Drinkin’ Problem.” Growing up in Virgie, Kentucky, Osborne started singing at local sporting events as a child. Barely in his teens he started a rock band but found his true calling in songwriting, a creative hobby his father wholly encouraged. After more than a decade of living in Nashville, he started getting cuts like Chris Young’s “Neon” and Chesney’s “Come Over.”

He won a 2013 Grammy for co-writing Kacey Musgraves’ “Merry Go Round.” His catalog also offers Billy Currington’s “We Are Tonight,” Morgan Evans’ “Kiss Somebody” and Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani’s “Nobody But You.” A portion of the Country Music Highway near his hometown is named in his honor. This is his fifth nomination in this category.

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JON PARDI

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ALBUM OF THE YEAR (ARTIST AND PRODUCER)

J O N PA R D I P R E S C R I B E D “ H E A R TAC H E M E D I C AT I O N ” T O I NTRO D U C E H I S B R A N D - N E W A LB U M O F TH E SA M E N A M E .

Earlier this year, the gold-certified single became his latest No. 1 hit. He also learned some new line-dance moves for the music video, which co-starred his girlfriend, Summer Duncan. The couple got engaged during one of Pardi’s sold-out concerts at the Ryman Auditorium in October. Pardi grew up in Dixon, California, and developed an early interest in classic Country Music by singing along to his grandmother’s karaoke machine. He learned guitar at 9, started writing songs at 12 and joined a band in college. However, he later dropped out and moved to Nashville in 2008 and supported himself with jobs ranging from lifeguarding to construction. Pardi nearly cracked the Top 10 at Country radio with 2013’s “Up All Night,” from his debut album. However, his second project, California Sunrise, offered three multi-platinum singles: “Head Over Boots,” “Dirt on My Boots” and “Heartache on the Dance Floor.” California Sunrise earned an ACM nomination in the Album category, while Pardi picked up the 2016 ACM trophy for New Male Vocalist. Following a gold single for “Night Shift” and duets with Lauren Alaina and Brooks & Dunn, Pardi’s single “Beer Can’t Fix” with Thomas Rhett dropped in January.

BLAKE SHELTON

BLAKE SHELTON STANDS TALL AS ONE OF COUNTRY M U S I C ’ S M O S T R E CO G N I Z A B LE S TA R S . With the double-platinum “God’s Country,” he logged his 26th No. 1 single at country radio. That spiritual song anchored his gold-certified hits compilation, Fully Loaded: God’s Country.

Over the last few years, he’s collaborated with Trace Adkins (“Hell Right”) and Gwen Stefani (“Nobody But You,” “Happy Anywhere”), while inviting Country legends to join him on tour. He remains a steady presence as a judge on The Voice, a role he’s held since 2011. Shelton moved to Nashville at 17 to pursue a dream of being a Country artist. His early career included hits like “Austin,” “Ol’ Red,” “The Baby” and “Some Beach,” before he truly hit his stride in 2008 with “Home.” His ACM accolades include Male Vocalist, Song (as a composer of “Over You”), Vocal Event (for “Hillbilly Bone” with Trace Adkins) and the Gene Weed Special Achievement Award (for his visibility on The Voice). In 2019 he reached platinum with “I’ll Name the Dogs” and gold with “I Lived It.” Beyond Country Music, he voiced a character for Ugly Dolls, performed in an network special commemorating the 50th anniversary of what is now known as the “‘68 Comeback Special.” Shelton produced a holiday movie for the Hallmark Channel. He will mark his 10th anniversary as a Grand Ole Opry member in October.

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SINGLE OF THE YEAR SONG OF THE YEAR VIDEO OF THE YEAR MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR

CHRIS STAPLETON

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MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

C H R I S S TA P L E T O N , T H E A C M A R T I S T- S O N G W R I T E R O F T H E D E C A D E , CO M M A N D S I M M E D I AT E AT T E N T I O N W H E N H E S I N G S — and that rugged baritone has brought him international stardom and innumerable accolades over the last five years. Recognizing his breakout year of 2015, Stapleton won four ACM categories: Album (Traveller), Song (“Nobody to Blame”), Male Vocalist and New Male Vocalist.

Two years later, he returned to accept trophies for the album From A Room: Volume 1 and his second Male Vocalist award. He continued that career momentum in 2019 with the platinum “Millionaire” and collaborations with Sheryl Crow, P!nk, Ed Sheeran and Bruno Mars, and Justin Timberlake.

On screen, he made a cameo on Game of Thrones, filmed a video for “Second One to Know” using only Legos, and contributed a song to Toy Story 4. His first-ever No. 1 single at Country radio, “Broken Halos,” rose to double-platinum status last year. In addition, his signature hit, “Tennessee Whiskey,” achieved six-times platinum, with Traveller reaching quadrupleplatinum. Stapleton grew up in eastern Kentucky. His father was a coal miner who introduced his son to a diverse array of music — and those sounds of outlaw Country and soul music seeped in. He and his wife, Morgane Stapleton, oversee the charitable fund Outlaw State of Kind.

TENILLE TOWNES

T E N I L L E T OW N E S H A S C A P T I VAT E D C A N A D I A N COU NTRY LISTEN ERS WITH H ER POIG NANT SONGWRITI NG , STRONG VOCALS AN D KI N D H E ART. Now she is poised to break stateside with the June released album, The Lemonade Stand, recorded in Nashville with Jay Joyce. Townes previewed the project in 2020 with an acoustic EP titled Road to the Lemonade Stand, which features five original songs and a cover of Keith Urban’s “Stupid Boy.” Townes grew up in Grande Prairie, Alberta, and showed an early interest in listening to lyrics. At 5, she started vocal lessons, then received a guitar at 14 as a gift from her grandparents.

As a teenager she launched the charitable initiative Big Hearts for Big Kids for a local youth shelter. Since that time, the fund has raised more than $1.9 million. She’s topped the Canadian Country airplay chart with “Somebody’s Daughter” and “Jersey on the Wall (I’m Just Asking)” and received two 2020 Juno nominations. She also guests on Miranda Lambert’s album cut, “Fooled Around and Fell in Love.” She is spotlighted in the American Currents exhibit in the ACM Gallery at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. In August, Townes was named the ACM New Female Artist of the Year.

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KEITH URBAN

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MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

KEITH URBAN, THE REIGNING ACM ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR AN D A TRI PLE CROWN AWARD WI N N ER , earned his 40th Top 10 Country hit in 2019 with “We Were,” a bittersweet look at a love gone by.

Possessing one of Nashville’s most emotional voices, Urban has been an essential part of the Country Music landscape for more than 20 years. He won his first ACM Award as the 2000 New Male Vocalist, then picked up the Male Vocalist award for 2004. He has claimed ACM Vocal Event trophies for “The Fighter,” “We Were Us” and “Start a Band,” as well as Album of the Year for 2004’s Be Here. Due to his worldwide appeal, he received the 2009 Jim Reeves International Award, then accepted the Mae Boren Axton Award in 2016 for his dedication and service to the Academy. His latest hits include “Blue Ain’t Your Color” (which rose to quadruple-platinum status in 2019), “Coming Home” and “Never Comin Down.” He reimagined “We Were” in late 2019 as a collaborative track with Eric Church, one of the song’s co-writers, then wrapped the year with a holiday track, “I’ll Be Your Santa Tonight.” This is his first year hosting the ACM Awards. Urban’s new album, The Speed of Now Part 1, will be released on September 16. This is his first year hosting the ACM Awards.

MORGAN WALLEN

MORGAN WALLE N S E RVE D U P ON E OF TH E MOSTPLAYE D SONGS AT CO U NTRY R AD IO I N 2019 WITH “ WH IS KEY G LASS ES.” The upbeat track returned him to the top of the chart in June and achieved double-platinum status by the end of the year. Growing up as the son of a Baptist preacher in Sneedville, Tennessee, Wallen regularly sang in church and learned to play piano and violin as a boy.

By his teen years he showed promise as a baseball player, but an elbow injury dashed his hopes of an athletic career.

To cope with the disappointment, he learned to play guitar and started to write songs. With his mother’s persistence, he landed a spot on The Voice and found his calling as a Country singer. After the show, he signed a record deal, impacted radio with “The Way I Talk,” and toured with Florida Georgia Line. Together they climbed to No. 1 with “Up Down” in 2018, setting up Wallen’s gold-certified debut album, If I Know Me. Along with the single, “Chasin’ You,” Wallen has issued digital tracks like “Cover Me Up” and “This Bar.” Earlier this year he starred with Julia Michaels in a video for “Heartless,” a platinum-certified collaboration with Diplo. Wallen joined Luke Combs on the road in 2019.

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Our drive-up food banks are helping provide 50 million meals.*

At Wells Fargo we’re rethinking how we can use our resources to make a difference.

Together with Feeding America, we’re turning select Wells Fargo locations into drive-up food banks to help our neighbors feed their loved ones. wellsfargo.com/foodbank *50 million meals calculation is based on 1) Projected number of meals distributed through Wells Fargo drive-up food bank events and 2) Wells Fargo’s financial contributions to support Feeding America food banks 7/20/2010/31/20. $1 helps provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America on behalf of local member food banks. © 2020 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC.

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ALBUM OF THE YEAR AWARDED TO ARTIST(S)/PRODUCER(S)/ RECORD COMPANY–LABEL(S)

CENTER POINT ROAD TH O M A S R H ET T

| Julian Bunetta, Jesse Frasure, Dann Huff, Thomas Rhett, The Stereotypes, Cleve Wilson R E C O R D L A B E L | The Valory Music Co.

PRODUCERS

GIRL

MAREN MORRIS PRODUCERS

|

busbee, Greg Kurstin, Maren Morris R E C O R D L A B E L | Columbia Nashville

HEARTACHE MEDICATION J O N PA R D I

PRODUCERS RECORD

Bart Butler, Ryan Gore, Jon Pardi L A B E L | Capitol Records Nashville

|

WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET LU K E CO M B S

|

RECORD L ABEL

P R O D U C E R S | Scott Moffatt River House Artists/Columbia Nashville

WILDCARD

M I R A N DA L A M B E RT

RECORD L ABEL

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P R O D U C E R S | Jay Joyce Vanner Records/RCA Records Nashville

AFTER YEARS OF TRYING TO MAKE PEACE, WE’RE HELPING THEM FIND A LITTLE.

As part of our Ford Proud to Honor initiative, we have teamed up with Guitars for Vets to create communities where vets with PTSD can learn to play the guitar and make music together.

It’s amazing how a guitar can put so much joy back in their lives.

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SINGLE OF THE YEAR AWARDED TO ARTIST(S)/PRODUCER(S)/ RECORD COMPANY–LABEL(S)

“GOD’S COUNTRY” B L A K E S H E LTO N

PRODUCER RECORD L ABEL

| Scott Hendricks

| Warner Bros. (Nashville)

“ONE MAN BAND” O LD D O M I N I O N

| Shane McAnally, Old Dominion R E C O R D L A B E L | RCA Records Nashville

PRODUCERS

“RAINBOW”

K AC E Y M U S G R AV E S

P R O D U C E R S | Ian Fitchuk, Kacey Musgraves, Daniel Tashian RECORD L ABEL

| MCA Nashville

“RUMOR” LE E B R I C E

PRODUCERS

| Lee Brice, Dan Frizsell, Kyle Jacobs, Jon Stone

RECORD L ABEL

| Curb Records

“WHAT IF I NEVER GET OVER YOU” L A DY A

PRODUCER RECORD L ABEL

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| Dann Huff

| BMLG Records

Chart a Sound Future Want to secure a sound future? Since 1892, Security Benefit has helped people chart a confident, comfortable retirement attuned to their assets and aspirations. Ask your financial professional how our medley of innovative retirement solutions can help you arrange a savings strategy that will take you To and Through RetirementÂŽ.

Annuities are issued by Security Benefit Life Insurance Company in all states except New York.

One Security Benefit Place | Topeka, KS 66636 | SecurityBenefit.com 99-00506-03 2019/02/10

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SONG OF THE YEAR

AWARDED TO SONGWRITER(S)/PUBLISHER(S)/ARTIST(S)

GOD’S COUNTRY B L A K E S H E LTO N

| Devin Dawson, Michael “HARDY”Hardy, Jordan Schmidt S ONGWRITERS

10,000 HOURS

DA N + S H AY W ITH J U S TI N B I E B E R

P U B L I S H E R S | Relative Music Group (BMI), adm. by Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing (BMI) / WB Music Corp. / Georgia Song Vibez / We-volve Music (ASCAP) / Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. / Neon Cross Music (BMI).

S O N G W R I T E R S | Justin Bieber, Jason “Poo Bear” Boyd, Jessie Jo Dillon, Shay Mooney, Jordan Reynolds, Dan Smyers P U B L I S H E R S | Beats and Banjos (ASCAP), WB Music Corp. (ASCAP) / Shay Mooney Music (BMI), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI) / Big Ass Pile Of Dimes Music (BMI), Big Machine Music (BMI) / Buckeye 26 (ASCAP), Jreynmusic (ASCAP), WB Music Corp. (ASCAP) / Bieber Time Publishing (ASCAP), Universal Music (ASCAP) / Poo B Z Inc. (ASCAP), BMG Gold Songs (ASCAP).

ONE MAN BAND O LD D O M I N I O N S ONGWRITERS

| Josh Osborne, Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen, Brad Tursi

P U B L I S H E R S | WB Music Corp/Smackville Music/Smack Songs LLC (ASCAP) adm. by Kobalt Songs Music Publishing. Rezsongs/Reehits World/Smacktown Music, a division of Smack Blue, LLC adm. by Me Gusta Music. Unfair Entertainment/Twelve6 Dogwood (ASCAP) adm.

by Downtown DLJ Songs. We’re Really Doin’ It Publishing (ASCAP) adm

by Words & Music. Sony/ATV Cross Keys Publishing/Smackville Music/ Smack Songs LLC (ASCAP) adm. by Kobalt Songs Music Publishing.

GIRL GOIN’ NOWHERE A S H LE Y M c B RY D E

S O N G W R I T E R S | Jeremy Bussey, Ashley McBryde P U B L I S H E R S | Songs of Song Factory (BMI) / Universal Tunes (SESAC).

SOME OF IT ERIC CHURCH

S ONGWRITERS

| Eric Church, Clint Daniels, Jeff Hyde, Bobby Pinson

P U B L I S H E R S | Sony/ATV Tree Publishing/Longer and Louder Music, adm. by Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC; Mammaw’s Fried Okra Music/Little Louder Songs, adm. by Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing; New Writers Of Sea Gayle Music, adm. by ClearBox Rights; New Writers Of Sea Gayle Music/Not A Track Guy Music, adm.

by ClearBox Rights (BMI)

72

5 5 TH A C M AWA R D S

BRING YOUR FRIENDS. BRING YOUR APPETITE. BRING YOUR SWING (NO MATTER WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE).

ENJOY AN UNFORGETTABLE TIME.

L E A R N M O R E AT

5 5 TH A C M AWA R D S

73

NOMINEES

VIDEO OF THE YEAR AWARDED TO PRODUCER(S)/DIRECTOR(S)/ARTIST(S)

10,000 HOURS

REMEMBER YOU YOUNG

DA N + S H AY W ITH J U S TI N B I E B E R

TH O M A S R H ET T

| Patrick Tracy P R O D U C E R | Christen Pinkston

DIREC T OR

DIREC T OR

GOD’S COUNTRY B L A K E S H E LTO N

DIREC T OR

| Sophie Muller | Jamie Amos, Patrick Kennedy

PRODUCERS

| TK McKamy P R O D U C E R | Dan Atchison

SUGAR COAT LIT TLE B I G TOW N

D I R E C T O R | Alexa Kinigopoulos, Stephen Kinigopoulos P R O D U C E R S | Wes Edwards, Carlo Glorioso, Angie Lorenz

ONE MAN BAND O LD D O M I N I O N

| Mason Allen P R O D U C E R | Mason Allen DIREC T OR

74

5 5 TH A C M AWA R D S

NOMINEES

MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR AWARDED TO ARTIST(S)/PRODUCER(S)/RECORD COMPANY–LABEL(S)

“10,000 HOURS”

DA N + S H AY W ITH J U S TI N B I E B E R

PRODUCER

| Dan Smyers | Warner Music Nashville

RECORD L ABEL

“DIVE BAR”

G A RTH B R O O K S F E AT U R I N G B L A K E S H E LTO N PRODUCER

| Garth Brooks | Pearl Records, Inc.

RECORD L ABEL

“FOOLED AROUND AND FELL IN LOVE”

M I R A N DA L A M B E RT F E AT U R I N G M A R E N M O R R I S , A S H LE Y M c B RY D E , TE N I LLE TOW N E S , C AY LE E H A M M AC K & E LLE K I N G

| Jay Joyce R E C O R D L A B E L S | Vanner Records/RCA Records Nashville PRODUCER

“OLD TOWN ROAD” LI L N A S X F E AT U R I N G B I LLY R AY C Y R U S

PRODUCERS

| Michael Trent Reznor,

Atticus Matthew Ross, YoungKio RECORD L ABEL

| Columbia Records

“WHAT HAPPENS IN A SMALL TOWN”

B R A NTLE Y G I LB E RT F E AT U R I N G LI N DSAY E LL

| Dann Huff R E C O R D L A B E L | The Valory Music Co. PRODUCER

5 5 TH A C M AWA R D S

75

ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC BOARD OF DIRECTORS

AFFILIATED Jackie Campbell 615 Leverage

Beville Dunkerley Pandora

Kelly Rich Amazon

OFFICERS Joe’s Live

PRESIDENT

Brittany Schaffer Spotify

Lori Badgett

Sally Seitz

VICE PRESIDENT

ARTIST/ ENTERTAINMENT/ MBI

Country Aircheck

Chuck Ainlay

City National Bank

Chuck Aly

Roger Gearhart Graham Brothers Entertainment

Troy Vollhoffer Premier Global Production

COMPOSER Lee Thomas Miller

MANAGER

CHAIRMAN

Ed Warm

CLUB/CASINO/ CONCERT–VENUE OPERATOR

Apple Music

Enzo DeVincenzo 377 Management

Crystal Dishmon Shopkeeper Management

Kerri Edwards

KPentertainment

MEDIA/PUBLIC RELATIONS TREASURER

Carmen Romano FBMM

Ebie McFarland Jimmie Allen

MUSIC PUBLISHER/PRO

SERGEANTAT-ARMS

Gayle Holcomb WME

Reid Shippen

PGM Connections, LLC.

Derek Wells

Tommy Moore

76

5 5 TH A C M AWA R D S

Carnival Music

Sony ATV Music Publishing

RADIO

SECRETARY

Academy of Country Music

Frank Liddell

Rusty Gaston

PARLIAMENTARIAN

Paul Moore

Essential Broadcast Media

Trisha Yearwood

Cody Alan CMT

DIRECTORS AT LARGE Jackie Stevens EMI Records Nashville

RECORD COMPANY

Randy Bernard Bob Doyle & Associates

Bobby Bones

Leslie Fram CMT

Play It Again

The Bobby Bones Show

Nick Hartley

Ben Kline

RAC Clark

Greg Hill

Cris Lacy

Leslie Cohea

Will Hitchcock

Charlie Cook

Mason Hunter

Becky Gardenhire

George Couri

Andrew Kautz

Steve Lassiter

Kele Currier

Jeff Krones

Ali Harnell

John Dennis

Beth Laird

Stacy Vee

Seth England

Ryan Dokke

Warner Music Nashville

Warner Music Nashville

Cindy Mabe

Universal Music Group Nashville

Lion’s Heart Entertainment

Sandbox Entertainment

Cumulus

Steadfast

Hill Entertainment Group

Morris Higham Management

BMI

TALENT AGENT WME

APA

Triple 8 Management

ASCAP

BMLG

CAA

TALENT BUYER/ PROMOTER Live Nation

Goldenvoice

Dennis Entertainment

Taillight

Jon Loba

Big Loud

Broken Bow Music Group

Chris Farren

Michael McAnally Baum

TV/MOTION PICTURE Tom Forrest

Creative Nation

Combustion Music

SMACK

5 5 TH A C M AWA R D S

77

ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC BOARD OF DIRECTORS (continued)

Chris Parr

Ken Tucker

Rod Phillips

Ken Robold

Red Light Management

Tim Roberts

Darin Murphy

Daniel Miller

Jennie Smythe

Paul Barnabee

MAVERICK

iHeart Media

Shawn McSpadden

Fusion Music

Entercom

Girlilla Marketing

Wheelhouse Records

Sony Music Nashville

CAA

FBMM

EX OFFICIO PAST CHAIRS Curt Motley UTA

Brian O’Connell Live Nation

Clarence Spalding MAVERICK

Brian Wright

Universal Music Group Nashville

Bill Mayne

Country Radio Broadcasters

Rod Essig CAA

PAST CHAIRS Lynn Oliver-Cline

Duane Clark

Mark Hartley

Tree Paine

Ben Vaughn

Butch Waugh

River House Artists

Premium PR

78

5 5 TH A C M AWA R D S

FBMM

Warner Chappell

Fitzgerald Hartley

Studio2bee

ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC STAFF Brandon Campbell Damon Whiteside CEO

Senior Video Manager/ Creative & Content

Danielle Bardier Coordinator/ Events

Melissa Moldovan

Bridget Cirone

Erick Long

Carrie Tekautz

Jenny Dunn

Brooke Primero

Jessica Curtis

Libby Gardner

Lisa Lee

Senior Vice President/ Creative & Content

Senior Vice President/Events

Senior Vice President/Marketing

Alexa Fasheh

Vice President/ Finance & Operations

Senior Manager/ Marketing

Manager/Awards & Membership

Manager/ Marketing

Lanni Gangon

Manager/Events

Coordinator/ Marketing

Coordinator/Strategic Partnerships

Coordinator/ Creative & Content

Taylor Wolf

Coordinator/ ACM Lifting Lives

INTERNS Albany Alexander Marketing

Danielle Chade Tommy Moore

Vice President/Board Administration & Governance, Artist & Industry Relations

Strategic Partnerships

Maddy Stessman

Manager/Board Administration & Governance, Artist & Industry Relations

Gloria Chavez

Assistant/Finance & Operations

Danaya Dews

Creative & Content

Megan Dunn Marketing

Jake Eisenman Events

Carrie McDonough Lyndsay Cruz

Executive Director/ ACM Lifting Lives

Mary Pambukyan Manager/Finance & Operations

Hannah Kellis

Assistant/ Creative & Content

Marketing

Hannah Morrow ACM Lifting Lives

Nicole Tancredi

Operations & Events

Madison Young Artist & Industry Relations

Jen Heaton

Director/Strategic Partnerships

Dayna Poskanzer

Assistant/Marketing 5 5 TH A C M AWA R D S

79

LIFTING LIVES BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Butch Waugh Studio2bee

P UBL IC DIRE C T OR S Tiffany Brush

Meredith Seacrest

Topgolf

Ryan Seacrest Foundation

Chris Farren

Mark Bloom

Dwight Wiles

Premier Global Production

Fletcher Foster

Ross Copperman

Jay Williams

VICE PRESIDENT

Becky Gardenhire

OFFICERS CHAIRMAN

Paul Barnabee FBMM

Combustion Music

UBS Financial Services, Inc.

Wiles + Taylor & Co., PC

VICE CHAIRMAN

Troy Vollhoffer

Lorie Lytle

Fridrich & Clark Realty

F2 Entertainment

WME

Kathleen Flaherty

K21 Communications

TREASURER

Dwight Wiles

Gayle Holcomb

John Hickman

SECRETARY

Taylor Wolf

Michael McAnally Baum

Ricky Kelley

SMACK

Harley-Davidson of Columbia

REPRESENTATIVE DIRECTORS

Ebie McFarland

Ellen Lehman

Paul Barnabee FBMM

Duane Clark FBMM

RAC Clark

Shawn McSpadden Red Light Management

Dallas Cowboys

Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee

Lorie Lytle

Fridrich & Clark Realty

Beth Moore

Ryan Dokke

Darin Murphy

CAA 5 5 TH A C M AWA R D S

Essential Broadcast Media

Daniel Miller

Rod Essig

80

WME

Lion’s Heart Entertainment

Play It Again

Judee Ann Williams CAA

PAST CHAIRS

Wiles + Taylor & Co., PC

ACM Lifting Lives

WME

Fusion Music

CAA

Troy Vollhoffer Premier Global Production

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Lisa Paulsen

Lori Badgett

City National Bank

Debbie Carroll MusiCares

Tree Paine

Premium PR

Ed Warm Joe’s Live

E X OF F ICIO PA S T CH A IR S Bill Mayne CRB

Stand Up To Cancer

Bruce Bowman

Kimberly Schlapman

Mark Hartley

Kaboom!

Fitzgerald Hartley

I M P R OV I N G

LIVES THROUGH THE

POWE R

OF

MUSIC

WWW. ACMLIFTINGLIVES.ORG

5 5 TH A C M AWA R D S

81

PAST WINNERS NOTE: Winners are honored for work done in the

previous calendar year, thus a trophy awarded on the show in 2019 would be dated 2018.

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

1970 Merle Haggard

1965 Bonnie Owens

1971

1966 Bonnie Guitar

Freddie Hart

2009 Brad Paisley

2013 Miranda Lambert

2010 Brad Paisley

2014 Miranda Lambert

2011 Blake Shelton

2015 Miranda Lambert

2012 Jason Aldean

2016 Miranda Lambert

2013 Jason Aldean

2017 Miranda Lambert

2014 Jason Aldean

2018 Kacey Musgraves

2015 Chris Stapleton 2016 Thomas Rhett

1972 Roy Clark

1967 Lynn Anderson

1973 Roy Clark

1968 Cathie Taylor

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

1974 Mac Davis

1969 Tammy Wynette

1965 Buck Owens

1975 Loretta Lynn

1970 Lynn Anderson

1966 Merle Haggard

1976 Mickey Gilley

1971

Loretta Lynn

1967 Glen Campbell

DUO OF THE YEAR

1977 Dolly Parton

1972 Donna Fargo

1968 Glen Campbell

1967 Bonnie Owens &

1978 Kenny Rogers

1973 Loretta Lynn

1969 Merle Haggard

1979 Willie Nelson

1974 Loretta Lynn

1970 Merle Haggard

1980 Barbara Mandrell

1975 Loretta Lynn

1971

1981 Alabama

1976 Crystal Gayle

1972 Merle Haggard

1982 Alabama

1977 Crystal Gayle

1973 Charlie Rich

1983 Alabama

1978 Barbara Mandrell

1974 Merle Haggard

1984 Alabama

1979 Crystal Gayle

1975 Conway Twitty

1985 Alabama

1980 Dolly Parton

1976 Mickey Gilley

1986 Hank Williams Jr.

1981 Barbara Mandrell

1977 Kenny Rogers

1987 Hank Williams Jr.

1982 Sylvia

1978 Kenny Rogers

1988 Hank Williams Jr.

1983 Janie Fricke

1979 Larry Gatlin

1989 George Strait

1984 Reba McEntire

1980 George Jones

1990 Garth Brooks

1985 Reba McEntire

1981 Merle Haggard

1991 Garth Brooks

1986 Reba McEntire

1982 Ronnie Milsap

1992 Garth Brooks

1987 Reba McEntire

1983 Lee Greenwood

1993 Garth Brooks

1988 K.T. Oslin

1984 George Strait

1994 Reba McEntire

1989 Kathy Mattea

1985 George Strait

1995 Brooks & Dunn

1990 Reba McEntire

1986 Randy Travis

1996 Brooks & Dunn

1991 Reba McEntire

1987 Randy Travis

1997 Garth Brooks

1992 Mary-Chapin

1988 George Strait

1998 Garth Brooks 1999 Shania Twain 2000 Dixie Chicks 2001 Brooks & Dunn 2002 Toby Keith 2003 Toby Keith 2004 Kenny Chesney 2005 Kenny Chesney 2006 Kenny Chesney 2007 Kenny Chesney 2008 Carrie Underwood 2009 Carrie Underwood 2010 Taylor Swift 2011 Taylor Swift 2012 Luke Bryan 2013 George Strait 2014 Luke Bryan 2015 Jason Aldean 2016 Jason Aldean 2017 Jason Aldean 2018 Keith Urban

82

2012 Miranda Lambert

5 5 TH A C M AWA R D S

Carpenter

1993 Wynonna 1994 Reba McEntire 1995 Patty Loveless 1996 Patty Loveless 1997 Trisha Yearwood 1998 Faith Hill 1999 Faith Hill 2000 Faith Hill 2001 Martina McBride 2002 Martina McBride 2003 Martina McBride 2004 Gretchen Wilson 2005 Sara Evans 2006 Carrie Underwood 2007 Carrie Underwood 2008 Carrie Underwood 2009 Miranda Lambert 2010 Miranda Lambert 2011 Miranda Lambert

Freddie Hart

1989 Clint Black 1990 Garth Brooks 1991 Garth Brooks 1992 Vince Gill 1993 Vince Gill 1994 Alan Jackson 1995 Alan Jackson 1996 George Strait 1997 George Strait 1998 Tim McGraw 1999 Tim McGraw 2000 Toby Keith 2001 Alan Jackson 2002 Kenny Chesney 2003 Toby Keith 2004 Keith Urban 2005 Keith Urban 2006 Brad Paisley 2007 Brad Paisley 2008 Brad Paisley

2017 Chris Stapleton 2018 Thomas Rhett

Merle Haggard

1973 Brush Arbor 1980 Moe Bandy &

Joe Stampley

1981 David Frizzell & Shelly West

1982 David Frizzell & Shelly West

1983 Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers

1984 The Judds 1985 The Judds 1986 The Judds 1987 The Judds 1988 The Judds 1989 The Judds 1990 The Judds 1991 Brooks & Dunn 1992 Brooks & Dunn 1993 Brooks & Dunn 1994 Brooks & Dunn 1995 Brooks & Dunn 1996 Brooks & Dunn 1997 Brooks & Dunn 2000 Brooks & Dunn 2001 Brooks & Dunn 2002 Brooks & Dunn 2003 Brooks & Dunn 2004 Brooks & Dunn 2005 Brooks & Dunn 2006 Brooks & Dunn 2007 Brooks & Dunn 2008 Sugarland 2009 Brooks & Dunn 2010 Sugarland 2011 Thompson Square 2012 Thompson Square 2013 Florida Georgia Line 2014 Florida Georgia Line 2015 Florida Georgia Line 2016 Brothers Osborne 2017 Brothers Osborne 2018 Dan + Shay

GROUP OF THE YEAR

1965 Bonnie Owens & Merle Haggard

2012 Little Big Town 2013 The Band Perry 2014 Little Big Town

1966 Bonnie Owens &

2015 Little Big Town

1967 Sons of the Pioneers

2017 Old Dominion

Merle Haggard

1968 Johnny & Jonie Mosby

1969 Kimberleys 1970 Kimberleys

2016 Little Big Town 2018 Old Dominion NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR

NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

1977 Debby Boone 1978 Christy Lane 1979 Lacy J. Dalton 1980 Terri Gibbs 1981 Juice Newton 1982 Karen Brooks 1983 Gus Hardin

2003 Dierks Bentley

1984 Nicolette Larson

2004 Gretchen Wilson

1985 Judy Rodman

1972 Statler Brothers

2008 Julianne Hough

1986 Holly Dunn

1973 Brush Arbor

2009 Luke Bryan

1987 K.T. Oslin

1974 Conway Twitty &

2010 Eric Church

1988 Suzy Bogguss

2011 Scotty McCreery

1989 Mary-Chapin

1971 Conway Twitty & Loretta Lynn

Loretta Lynn

1975 Conway Twitty & Loretta Lynn

1976 Conway Twitty & Loretta Lynn

1977 Statler Brothers 1978 Oak Ridge Boys 1979 Moe Bandy & Joe Stampley

1980 Alabama 1981 Alabama 1982 Alabama 1983 Alabama 1984 Alabama 1985 Alabama 1986 Forester Sisters 1987 Highway 101 1988 Highway 101 1989 Restless Heart 1990 Shenandoah 1991 Diamond Rio 1992 Diamond Rio 1993 Little Texas 1994 The Mavericks 1995 The Mavericks 1996 Sawyer Brown 1998 Dixie Chicks 1999 Dixie Chicks 2000 Dixie Chicks 2001 Lonestar 2002 Rascal Flatts 2003 Rascal Flatts 2004 Rascal Flatts 2005 Rascal Flatts 2006 Rascal Flatts 2007 Rascal Flatts 2008 Rascal Flatts 2009 Lady A 2010 Lady A 2011 Lady A

2012 Florida Georgia Line 2013 Justin Moore

Carpenter

1990 Shelby Lynne

2014 Cole Swindell

1991 Trisha Yearwood

NEW DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR

1993 Faith Hill

1989 Kentucky

Headhunters

1990 Pirates of the Mississippi

1991 Brooks & Dunn 1992 Confederate Railroad 1993 Gibson Miller Band 1994 The Mavericks 1995 Lonestar 1996 Ricochet 1997 The Kinleys 1998 Dixie Chicks 1999 Montgomery Gentry 2000 Rascal Flatts 2001 Trick Pony 2002 Emerson Drive 2005 Sugarland 2006 Little Big Town 2007 Lady A 2008 Zac Brown Band

1992 Michelle Wright 1994 Chely Wright 1995 Shania Twain 1996 LeAnn Rimes 1997 Lee Ann Womack 1998 Jo Dee Messina 1999 Jessica Andrews 2000 Jamie O’Neal 2001 Carolyn Dawn Johnson

2002 Kellie Coffey 2005 Carrie Underwood 2006 Miranda Lambert 2007 Taylor Swift 2008 Julianne Hough 2012 Jana Kramer 2015 Kelsea Ballerini 2016 Maren Morris 2017 Lauren Alaina 2018 Ashley McBryde 2019 Tenille Townes

1989 Clint Black 1990 Alan Jackson 1991 Billy Dean 1992 Tracy Lawrence 1993 John Michael Montgomery

1994 Tim McGraw 1995 Bryan White 1996 Trace Adkins 1997 Kenny Chesney 1998 Mark Wills 1999 Brad Paisley 2000 Keith Urban 2001 Phil Vassar 2002 Joe Nichols 2005 Jason Aldean 2006 Rodney Atkins 2007 Jack Ingram 2008 Jake Owen 2012 Brantley Gilbert 2015 Chris Stapleton 2016 Jon Pardi 2017 Brett Young 2018 Luke Combs 2019 Riley Green NEW SOLO VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

2009 Luke Bryan 2010 Eric Church DICK CLARK ARTIST OF THE DECADE

1960s M arty Robbins

(presented 1969)

1970s L oretta Lynn

(presented 1979)

1980s Alabama

(presented 1989)

1990s G arth Brooks

(presented 1999)

2000s G eorge Strait

(presented 2009)

2012 Florida Georgia Line

NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

2015 Old Dominion

1977 Eddie Rabbitt

2016 Brothers Osborne

1978 John Conlee

2017 Midland

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

1979 R.C. Bannon

1965 Roger Miller

2018 LANCO

1980 Johnny Lee

2011

1981 Ricky Skaggs

2012 Dallas Davidson

1982 Michael Murphey

2013 Shane McAnally

1983 Jim Glaser

2014 Luke Laird

1984 Vince Gill

2015 Ross Copperman

1985 Randy Travis

2016 Lori McKenna

1986 Dwight Yoakam

2017 Rhett Akins

1987 Ricky Van Shelton

2018 Shane McAnally

2010 The Band Perry

NEW VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR

2009 Joey + Rory NEW VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR

2009 Gloriana

2010s J ason Aldean

(presented 2019)

Dallas Davidson

1988 Rodney Crowell

5 5 TH A C M AWA R D S

83

PAST WINNERS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

2000 H OW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW?! ; Toby Keith; Mercury Records;

1967 G ENTLE ON MY MIND ; Glen Campbell; Al Delroy (A&R);

2001 O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU?; Soundtrack – O Brother,

1968 G LEN CAMPBELL & BOBBIE GENTRY; Bobbie Gentry;

2002 D RIVE ; Alan Jackson; Arista Records Nashville;

[Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)] Capitol Records

Capitol Records

1969

OKIE FROM MUSKOGEE ; Merle Haggard; Capitol Records

1970

FOR THE GOOD TIMES ; Ray Price; Columbia Records

Produced by Toby Keith & James Stroud

Where Art Thou?; Mercury Records; Produced by T-Bone Burnett

Produced by Keith Stegall

2003 S HOCK ‘N Y’ALL ; Toby Keith; DreamWorks Records; Produced by James Stroud & Toby Keith

1971

EASY LOVIN’; Freddie Hart; Capitol Records

2004 BE HERE; Keith Urban; Capitol Records Nashville;

1972

HAPPIEST GIRL/USA ; Donna Fargo (birth name: Yvonne Vaughn Silver); Dot

2005 TIME WELL WASTED ; Brad Paisley; Arista Records Nashville;

1973

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS ; Charlie Rich, Epic Records

1974

BACK HOME AGAIN ; John Denver; RCA Records

1975

FEELINGS ; Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn; MCA Records

1976

GILLEY’S SMOKING ; Mickey Gilley; Playboy

1977

KENNY ROGERS ; Kenny Rogers; United Artists Records

1978

YA’LL COME BACK SALOON ; Oak Ridge Boys; ABC/Dot

1979

STRAIGHT AHEAD ; Larry Gatlin; Columbia Records

1980

URBAN COWBOY; Full Moon; Asylum

Produced by Dann Huff & Keith Urban

Produced by Chris DuBois & Frank Rogers

2006

2007 C RAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND ; Miranda Lambert; Columbia Nashville; Produced by Frank Liddell & Mike Wrucke

2008

Produced by Frank Liddell & Mike Wrucke

2010

1983 THE CLOSER YOU GET; Alabama; RCA Records; Produced by Harold Shedd

1984

Produced by Lady A & Paul Worley

Produced by Chuck Ainlay, Frank Liddell & Glenn Worf

2012 C HIEF; Eric Church; EMI-Nashville; Produced by Jay Joyce 2013 SAME TRAILER DIFFERENT PARK ; Kacey Musgraves; Mercury Records; Produced by Kacey Musgraves, Luke Laird & Shane McAnally

ROLL ON ; Alabama; RCA Records; Produced by Harold Shedd

1985 D OES FT. WORTH EVER CROSS YOUR MIND ; George Strait;

2014 PLATINUM ; Miranda Lambert; RCA Nashville;

1986 STORMS OF LIFE ; Randy Travis; Warner Bros. Records;

2015 TRAVELLER ; Chris Stapleton; Mercury Records;

1987 TRIO ; Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt;

2016 THE WEIGHT OF THESE WINGS ; Miranda Lambert;

Produced by Chuck Ainlay, Frank Liddell & Glenn Worf

RCA Records; Produced by Jimmy Bowen

Produced by Dave Cobb & Chris Stapleton

Produced by Kyle Lehning

RCA Nashville, Vanner Records; Produced by Frank Liddell, Eric Masse & Glenn Worf

Warner Bros. Records; Produced by George Massenburg

1988 THIS WOMAN ; K.T. Oslin; RCA Records; Produced by Harold Shedd

1989 KILLIN’ TIME ; Clint Black; RCA Records;

Produced by James Stroud & Mark Wright

1990

N O FENCES ; Garth Brooks; Capitol Records;

1991

D ON’T ROCK THE JUKEBOX ; Alan Jackson; Arista Records Nashville; Produced by Keith Stegall & Scott Hendricks

Produced by Allen Reynolds

1992 B RAND NEW MAN ; Brooks & Dunn; Arista Records Nashville;

2017 FROM A ROOM: VOLUME 1 ; Chris Stapleton

Mercury Records; Produced by Dave Cobb & Chris Stapleton

2018 G OLDEN HOUR ; Kacey Musgraves

MCA Nashville; Produced by Daniel Tashian, Ian Fitchuk & Kacey Musgraves

SINGLE OF THE YEAR

[Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

1967

Produced by Scott Hendricks & Don Cook

1993

A LOT ABOUT LIVIN’; Alan Jackson; Arista Records Nashville; Produced by Keith Stegall

1994 N OT A MOMENT TOO SOON ; Tim McGraw; Curb Records; Produced by James Stroud & Byron Gallimore

1995 THE WOMAN IN ME ; Shania Twain; Mercury Records; Produced by Robert John Lange

1996

B LUE CLEAR SKY; George Strait; MCA Records;

Produced by George Strait & Tony Brown

1997 CARRYING YOUR LOVE WITH ME ; George Strait; MCA Records; Produced by George Strait & Tony Brown

1998 WIDE OPEN SPACES ; Dixie Chicks; Monument Records; Produced by Blake Chancey & Paul Worley

1999

84

N EED YOU NOW; Lady A; Capitol Records Nashville;

2011 FOUR THE RECORD ; Miranda Lambert; RCA;

1982 ALWAYS ON MY MIND; Willie Nelson; Columbia Records; Produced by Chips Moman

FEARLESS ; Taylor Swift; Big Machine Records; Produced by Scott Borchetta, Nathan Chapman & Taylor Swift

2009 R EVOLUTION ; Miranda Lambert; Columbia Nashville;

1981 FEEL’S SO RIGHT; Alabama; RCA Records; Produced by Harold Shedd & Larry McBride

S OME HEARTS ; Carrie Underwood; 19 Recordings Limited/Arista Records; Produced by Dann Huff & Mark Bright

FLY; Dixie Chicks; Monument Records;

Produced by Blake Chancey & Paul Worley

5 5 TH A C M AWA R D S

“GENTLE ON MY MIND” Glen Campbell; Al Delroy (A&R); Capitol Records

1968 “ LITTLE GREEN APPLES” Roger Miller; Smash 1969

“OKIE FROM MUSKOGEE” Merle Haggard; Capitol Records

1970

“FOR THE GOOD TIMES” Ray Price; Columbia Records

1971

“EASY LOVIN’” Freddie Hart; Capitol Records

1972

“ HAPPIEST GIRL/USA” Donna Fargo (birth name:Yvonne Vaughn Silver); Dot

1973

“BEHIND CLOSED DOORS” Charlie Rich; Epic Records

1974

“COUNTRY BUMPKIN” Cal Smith; MCA Records

1975

“RHINESTONE COWBOY” Glen Campbell; Capitol Records

1976

“BRING IT ON HOME” Mickey Gilley; Playboy Records

1977

“LUCILLE” Kenny Rogers; United Artists

1978

“TULSA TIME” Don Williams; ABC Records

1979

“ALL THE GOLD IN CALIFORNIA” Larry Gatlin & Gatlin Bros.;

Columbia Records

2008 “ YOU’RE GONNA MISS THIS” Trace Adkins; Capitol Nashville; Produced by Frank Rogers

1980 “ HE STOPPED LOVING HER TODAY” George Jones; Epic Records;

2009 “ NEED YOU NOW” Lady A; Capitol Records Nashville;

1981 “ ELVIRA” Oak Ridge Boys; MCA Records;

2010 “ THE HOUSE THAT BUILT ME” Miranda Lambert;

1982 “ALWAYS ON MY MIND” Willie Nelson; Columbia Records;

2011 “ DON’T YOU WANNA STAY” Jason Aldean & Kelly Clarkson;

Produced by Billy Sherrill

Produced by Ron Chancey

Produced by Chips Moman

Produced by Lady A, Paul Worley

Columbia Nashville; Produced by Frank Liddell, Mike Wrucke Broken Bow Records; Produced by Michael Knox

“ ISLANDS IN THE STREAM” Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers;

2012 “OVER YOU” Miranda Lambert; RCA; Produced by Chuck Ainlay,

1984

TO ALL THE GIRLS I’VE LOVED BEFORE” Julio Iglesias & “ Willie Nelson; Columbia Records; Produced by Richard Perry

2013 “ MAMA’S BROKEN HEART” Miranda Lambert; RCA Nashville;

1985

“ HIGHWAYMAN” Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings, & Willie Nelson; Columbia Records;

2014 “ I DON’T DANCE” Lee Brice; Curb Records; Produced by Lee Brice

1983

RCA Records; Produced by Barry Gibb & Karl Richardson

Produced by Chips Moman

1986 “ON THE OTHER HAND” Randy Travis; Warner Brothers Records; Produced by Keith Stegall & Kyle Lehning

1987

“ FOREVER AND EVER AMEN” Randy Travis; Warner Brothers

Records; Produced by Kyle Lehning

1988 “ EIGHTEEN WHEELS AND A DOZEN ROSES” Kathy Mattea; Mercury Records; Produced by Allen Reynolds

Frank Liddell, Glenn Worf

Produced by Chuck Ainlay, Frank Liddell & Glenn Worf

2015 “ DIE A HAPPY MAN” Thomas Rhett; The Valory Music Co.; Produced by Dann Huff & Jesse Frasure

2016 “ H.O.L.Y” Florida Georgia Line; Big Machine Label Group; Produced by Joey Moi

2017 “ BODY LIKE A BACK ROAD” Sam Hunt;

MCA Nashville; Produced by Zach Crowell

2018 “ TEQUILA” Dan + Shay;

Warner Music Nashville; Produced by Dan Smyers & Scott Hendricks

1989 “BETTER MAN” Clint Black; RCA Records;

Produced by James Stroud & Mark Wright

1990 “FRIENDS IN LOW PLACES” Garth Brooks; Capitol Records; Produced by Allen Reynolds

1991 1992 1993 1994

“ DON’T ROCK THE JUKEBOX” Alan Jackson; Arista Records

Nashville; Produced by Keith Stegall & Scott Hendricks

“ BOOT SCOOTIN’ BOOGIE” Brooks & Dunn; Arista Records Nashville; Produced by Don Cook & Scott Hendricks “ CHATTAHOOCHEE” Alan Jackson; Arista Records Nashville;

Produced by Keith Stegall

“ I SWEAR” John Michael Montgomery; Atlantic Records;

Produced by Scott Hendricks

1995 “CHECK YES OR NO” George Strait; MCA Records; Produced by George Strait & Tony Brown

1996

“BLUE” LeAnn Rimes; Curb Records; Produced by Wilbur C. Rimes

1997 “ IT’S YOUR LOVE” Tim McGraw & Faith Hill; Curb Records;

Produced by Byron Gallimore, James Stroud, & Tim McGraw

1998

“ THIS KISS” Faith Hill; Warner Brothers Records;

Produced by Byrson Gallimore & Faith Hill

SONG OF THE YEAR

[Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]

1966 “APARTMENT #9” Tammy Wynette; Songwriters Bobby Austin, Fuzzy Owen, & Johnny Paycheck

1967 “ IT’S SUCH A PRETTY WORLD TODAY” Wynn Stewart; Songwriters Dale Noe; Published by Freeway Music

1968

“WICHITA LINEMAN” Glen Campbell; Songwriter Jim Webb

1969

“OKIE FROM MUSKOGEE” Merle Haggard; Songwriters Roy Burris

1970

“FOR THE GOOD TIMES” Ray Price

1971

“EASY LOVIN’” Freddie Hart; Songwriter Freddie Hart

1972

“ HAPPIEST GIRL/USA” Donna Fargo (birth name: Yvonne Vaughn Silver); Published by Embassy Music Corp & EMI Algee Music Corp

1973

“BEHIND CLOSED DOORS” Charlie Rich; Songwriter Kenny O’Dell

& Merle Haggard Published by Sony/ATV Tree

1974 “COUNTRY BUMPKIN” Cal Smith; Songwriter Don Choate; Published by Sony/ATV Tree

1975

“ RHINESTONE COWBOY” Glen Campbell; Songwriter Larry “ DON’T THE GIRLS GET PRETTIER AT CLOSING TIME” Mickey Gilley; Songwriter Baker Knight; Published Sixteen Stars Music

1999

“AMAZED” Lonestar; BNA Records; Produced by Dann Huff

2000

“ I HOPE YOU DANCE” Lee Ann Womack & Sons of the Desert;

1976

2001

WHERE WERE YOU (WHEN THE WORLD STOPPED TURNING)” “ Alan Jackson; Arista Records Nashville; Produced by Keith Stegall

1977 “ LUCILLE” Kenny Rogers; Songwriters Roger Dale Bowling &

MCA Records; Produced by Mark Wright

2002 “ THE GOOD STUFF” Kenny Chesney; BNA Records;

Produced by Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney, & Norro Wilson

2003

“ IT’S FIVE O’CLOCK SOMEWHERE” Alan Jackson & Jimmy Buffet;

Arista Records Nashville; Produced by Keith Stegall

2004 “LIVE LIKE YOU WERE DYING” Tim McGraw; Curb Records;

Produced by Byron Gallimore, Darran Smith, & Tim McGraw

2005

“JESUS TAKE THE WHEEL” Carrie Underwood; Arista;

Produced by Mark Bright

2006 “GIVE IT AWAY” George Strait; MCA Nashville; Produced by George Strait & Tony Brown

2007

“ STAY” Sugarland; Mercury Records; Produced by Byron Gallimore, Kristian Bush, & Jennifer Nettles

Weiss; Published by WB Music Corp

Hal Bynum; Published by Andite Invasion, Missed Memories Music, & Sony/ATV Songs LLC

1978

“ YOU NEEDED ME” Anne Murray; Songwriter Charles R. Goodrum; Published by Chappell & Co, Inc. & Ironside Music

1979

“ IT’S A CHEATIN’ SITUATION” Moe Bandy; Songwriters Curly Putnam & James Throckmorton

1980 “ HE STOPPED LOVING HER TODAY” George Jones; Songwriters Bobby Braddock & Curly Putman; Published by Tree Publishing

1981

“ YOU’RE THE REASON GOD MADE OKLAHOMA” David Frizzell & Shelly West; Songwriters Larry Collins & Sandy Pinkard; Published

by Cibie Music Companies, Senor, Peso Music, & Wallet Music

1982 “ARE THE GOOD TIMES REALLY OVER” Merle Haggard;

Songwriter Merle Haggard; Published by Shade Tree Music

5 5 TH A C M AWA R D S

85

PAST WINNERS 1983 “ THE WIND BENEATH MY WINGS” Gary Morris;

Songwriters Jeff Silbar & Larry Henley; Published by Warner House of Music & WB Gold Music

1984

1985

“ WHY NOT ME” The Judds; Songwriters Brent Maher,

Harlan Howard, & Sonny Trockmorton; Published by Blue Quill Music, Cross Keys Music, Tree Publishing, & Welbeck Music

“ LOST IN THE FIFTIES (IN THE STILL OF THE NIGHT)” Ronnie Milsap; Songwriters Fred Parris, Mike Reid, & Troy Seals; Published

by Llee Music, Lodge Hall, Two Sons Music, & WB Music Corp.

1986 “ON THE OTHER HAND” Randy Travis; Songwriters Don Schlitz & Paul Overstreet; Published by Don Schlitz Music, MCA Music Publishing, Scarlet Moon Music, & Writers Group Music

2003

1988

“ EIGHTEEN WHEELS AND A DOZEN ROSES” Kathy Mattea; Songwriters Gene Nelson & Paul Nelson; Published by Believus Or Not Music, Screen GEMS-EMI Music, & Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

1989

“ WHERE’VE YOU BEEN” Kathy Mattea; Songwriters Don Henry

1990

& Jon Vezner; Published by Cross Keys Music (ASCAP) & Wrensong (ASCAP)

Wiseman & Tim Nichols; Published by Big Loud Shirt (ASCAP) & ICG/Warner (BMI)

2005

2007

“ STAY” Sugarland; Songwriter Jennifer Nettles; Published by Jennifer Nettles Publishing (ASCAP)

2008

“ IN COLOR” Jamey Johnson; Songwriters Jamey Johnson, Lee Thomas Miller & James Otto; Published by Big Gassed Hitties (BMI), Eldorotto Music Publishing (BMI), EMI Blackwood Music Inc., Lucky Thumb Music (BMI), New Song of Sea Gayle (BMI) & Noah’s Little Boat Music (BMI)

2009

“ NEED YOU NOW” Lady A; Songwriters Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott; Published by EMI Foray Music (SESAC), Darth Buddha (ASCAP), Dwhaywood Music (BMI), Hillary Dawn Publishing (SESAC), Radiobullets Publishing (BMI), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI), Year Of The Dog Music (ASCAP)

2010

“ THE HOUSE THAT BUILT ME” Miranda Lambert; Songwriters

2011

“CRAZY GIRL” Eli Young Band; Songwriters Lee Brice & Liz Rose; Published by Cake Taker Music (BMI), Mike Curb Music (BMI), Sony/ATV Tree Publishing (BMI), Sweet Hysteria Music (BMI)

2012

“ OVER YOU” Miranda Lambert; Songwriters Miranda Lambert & Blake Shelton; Published by Pink Dog Publishing (BMI), Sony ATV/Tree Publishing (BMI)

2013

“ I DRIVE YOUR TRUCK” Lee Brice; Songwriters Connie Harrington, Jessi Alexander & Jimmy Yeary; Published by Beattyville Music (BMI), EMI Blackwood Music, Inc. (BMI), Great Day At This Music (BMI), Happy Tears Music (ASCAP), Vistaville Music (ASCAP), Watch This Girl Publishing (BMI)

2014

“ AUTOMATIC” Miranda Lambert; Songwriters Miranda Lambert,

2015

“ NOBODY TO BLAME” Chris Stapleton; Songwriters Chris Stapleton, Barry Bales & Ronnie Bowman; Published by Quackhead Music (BMI), RayLynn Publishing (BMI), House of Sea Gayle Music (ASCAP) & WB Music Corp. (ASCAP)

2016

“ DIE A HAPPY MAN” Thomas Rhett; Songwriters Thomas Rhett, Sean Douglas & Joe Spargur; Published by EMI Blackwood Music Inc (BMI), Cricket On The Line (BMI), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp (BMI), Eastman Pond Publishing (BMI), Music of Big Deal (BMI), Nice Life (BMI), Frederic And Reid Music (BMI), BMG Platinum Songs (BMI), Brodsky Spensive Publishing (BMI)

2017

“ TIN MAN” Miranda Lambert; Songwriters Jack Ingram, Miranda

2018

“ TEQUILA” Dan + Shay; Songwriters Dan Smyers, Jordan Reynolds & Nicolle Galyon; Published by A Girl Named Charlie (BMI), Beats and Banjos (ASCAP), Buckeye26 (ASCAP), Jreynmusic (ASCAP), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp (BMI), WB Music Corp (ASCAP)

Published by Morganactive Music & Pookie Bear Music

“ I STILL BELIEVE IN YOU” Vince Gill; Songwriters John Jarvis &

Vince Gil; Published by Benefit Music & Inspector Barlow Music (ASCAP/BMI)

1993 “ I LOVE THE WAY YOU LOVE ME” John Michael Montgomery; Songwriters Chuck Cannon & Victoria Shaw; Published by BMG Songs Inc. & Taste Auction (ASCAP/BMI)

1994

1995

“ I SWEAR” John Michael Montgomery; Songwriters

Frank J. Myers & Gary Baker; Published by Morganactive Music & Rick Hall Music (ASCAP) “ THE KEEPER OF THE STARS” Tracy Byrd; Songwriters Danny

Mayo, Dickey Lee, & Karen Staley; Published by Murrah Music Corp., New Haven Music, Pal Time Music Inc. (BMI), Sixteen Stars Music; & Songs of Poly Gram Int’l

1996 “ BLUE” LeAnn Rimes; Songwriter Bill Mack;

Published by Fory Knox Music (BMI) & Trio Music

1997

“ IT’S YOUR LOVE” Faith Hill & Tim McGraw; Songwriter

Stephony Smith; Published by EMI Blackwood Music Inc. (BMI)

1998 “ HOLES IN THE FLOOR OF HEAVEN” Steve Wariner;

Songwriters Billy Kirsch & Steve Wariner; Published by Hamstein Cumberland, KidJulie (BMI), & Steve Wariner

1999 “AMAZED” Lonestar; Songwriters Aimee Mayo, Chris Lindsey,

& Marv Green; Published by Careers-BMG Music Publishing Inc., Golden Wheat Music, Silverkiss Music, Songs of Nashville DreamWorks (BMI), & Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

2000

“ I HOPE YOU DANCE” Lee Ann Womack & Sons of the Desert; Songwriters Mark D. Sanders & Tia Sillers; Published by Choice is Tragic Music, Ensign Music Corp. (BMI), MCA Music Publishing, & Soda Creek Songs (ASCAP)

2001 “ WHERE WERE YOU (WHEN THE WORLD STOPPED TURNING)” Alan Jackson; Songwriter Alan Jackson; Published by

EMI April Music Inc. & Tri-Angels Music (ASCAP)

2002

86

“ I’M MOVIN’ ON” Rascal Flatts; Songwriters D. Vincent Williams

& Phillip White; Published by Las Wagas, Murrah Music Corp.

(BMI), Songs of Megalex, & WB Music Corp. (ASCAP)

5 5 TH A C M AWA R D S

Ronnie Dunn; Published by Big Loud Shirt Industries (ASCAP), Showbilly Music (BMI), & Sony / ATV Tree Publishing Co. (BMI)

Buddy Cannon, & Jamey Johnson; Published by 2006 Sony/ATV Tree Publishing, Mr. Bubba Music Inc., EMI Blackwood Music Inc. (BMI), & Run Slow Music

1991 “ SOMEWHERE IN MY BROKEN HEART” Billy Dean; Songwriters

1992

“ BELIEVE” Brooks & Dunn; Songwriters Craig Wiseman &

2006 “GIVE IT AWAY” George Strait; Songwriters Bill Anderson,

“ THE DANCE;” Garth Brooks; Songwriter Tony Arata;

Billy Dean & Richard Leigh; Published by EMI April Music Inc., EMI Blackwood Music Inc., & Lion-Hearted Music (ASCAP/BMI)

Douglas Johnson & Kim Williams; Published by Kim Williams Music (ASCAP), Mike Curb Music (BMI), Sony/ATV Tunes (ASCAP), & Sweet Radical Music (BMI)

2004 “ LIVE LIKE YOU WERE DYING” Tim McGraw; Songwriters Craig

1987 “ FOREVER AND EVER AMEN” Randy Travis; Songwriters Don

Schlitz; Published by Don Schlitz Music, MCA Music Publishing, Scarlet Moon Music, & Writers Group Music

“ THREE WOODEN CROSSES” Randy Travis; Songwriters

Allen Shamblin, Tom Douglas; Published by Built On Rock (ASCAP), Sony/ATV Tree Publishing (BMI), Tomdouglasmusic (BMI)

Natalie Hemby & Nicolle Galyon; Published by EMI Blackwood Music Inc. (BMI), Pink Dog Publishing (BMI), Sony ATV/Tree Publishing (BMI), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp (BMI), Wruckestrike (BMI)

Lambert & Jon Randall; Published by Beat Up Ford Publishing (BMI), BMG Platinum Songs (BMI), Lonesome Vinyl Music (BMI), Pink Dog Publishing (BMI), Sony/ATV Tree Publishing (BMI), SWMBMGBMI (BMI)

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

2015 “ MR. MISUNDERSTOOD” Eric Church; Produced by

1984 “ALL MY ROWDY FRIENDS ARE COMIN’ OVER TONIGHT”

2016 “ FOREVER COUNTRY” Artists of Then, Now & Forever;

[Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)] Hank Williams Jr.; Directed by John Goodhugh

Megan Smith; Directed by Reid Long & John Peets

Produced by Nathan de la Rionda, Jil Hardin, Charleen Manca, Joanna Carter, Chandra LaPlume, Sarah Trahern, Damon Whiteside; Directed by Joseph Kahn

1986 “ WHOEVER’S IN NEW ENGLAND” Reba McEntire;

Directed by Jeff Schock & Jon Small; Produced by Jon Small

1987 “80’S LADIES” K.T. Oslin; Directed by Jack Cole;

2017 “ IT AIN’T MY FAULT” Brothers Osborne; Produced by

1988 “ YOUNG COUNTRY” Hank Williams Jr.; Directed by Bill Fishman

2018 “ DRUNK GIRL” Chris Janson; Produced by

1989 “ THERE’S A TEAR IN MY BEER” Hank Williams Jr.;

MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR

Produced by Marc Ball

Tiffany Davies; Directed by Wes Edwards & Ryan Silver

Ben Skipworth; Directed by Jeff Venable

& Preacher Ewing; Produced by Brent Bowman

Directed by Ethan Russell; Produced by Joanne Gardner

1990 “ THE DANCE” Garth Brooks; Directed by Garth Brooks & John Lloyd Miller; Produced by Marc Ball

1991 “ IS THERE LIFE OUT THERE?” Reba McEntire;

Directed by Jack Cole; Produced by Robin Beresford

1992 “ TWO SPARROWS IN A HURRICANE” Tanya Tucker;

Directed by Joanne Gardner; Produced by Brent Hedgecock

1993

“ WE SHALL BE FREE” Garth Brooks; Directed by Garth Brooks & Tim Miller; Produced by Tim Miller

1994 “ THE RED STROKES” Garth Brooks; Directed by

Jon Small; Produced by Jon Small & Steven Carter

1995

“THE CAR” Jeff Carson; Directed by Michael Salomon; Produced by Maureen Ryan

1996

“ I THINK ABOUT YOU” Collin Raye; Directed by Steven

1997

Goldmann; Produced by Susan Bowman

“ IT’S YOUR LOVE” Faith Hill & Tim McGraw; Directed by

Sherman Halsey; Produced by Sherman Halsey

1998 “ THIS KISS” Faith Hill; Directed by Steven Goldmann; Produced by Susan Bowman

1999

“ BREATHE” Faith Hill; Directed by Lili Zanuck;

Produced by Keeley Gould

2001 “ONLY IN AMERICA” Brooks & Dunn; Directed by Michael Merriman; Produced by Stephanie Reeves

2003

“ DRIVE (FOR DADDY GENE)” Alan Jackson;

Directed by Steven Goldman; Produced by Robin Rucker “ BEER FOR MY HORSES” Toby Keith & Willie Nelson;

Directed by Michael Salomon; Produced by Mark Kalbfeld

2004 “ WHISKEY LULLABY” Alison Krauss & Brad Paisley;

Directed by Rick Schroder; Produced by Don Lepore

2005 “ WHEN I GET WHERE I’M GOING” Brad Paisley & Dolly Parton;

Directed by Jim Shea; Produced by Mark Kalbfeld & Peter Tilden

2006

“ BEFORE HE CHEATS” Carrie Underwood;

Directed by Roman White; Produced by Randy Brewer

2007 “ONLINE” Brad Paisley; Directed by Jason Alexander; Produced by Mark Kalbfeld & Peter Tilden

2008 “ WAITIN ON A WOMAN” Brad Paisley; Directed by Jim Shea & Peter Tilden; Produced by Mark Kalbfeld & Jim Shea

2009

1997

“ WHITE LIAR” Miranda Lambert; Directed by Chris Hicky;

Produced by Tameron Hedge

2010

“ THE HOUSE THAT BUILT ME” Miranda Lambert; Directed by Trey Fanjoy; Produced by Trent Hardville

2011

“ RED SOLO CUP” Toby Keith; Directed by Michael Salomon;

2012

“ TORNADO” Little Big Town ; Directed by Shane Drake;

Produced by Mark Kalbfeld

Produced by Iris Baker

2013 “ HIGHWAY DON’T CARE” Keith Urban, Taylor Swift &

Tim McGraw; Produced by Chandra LaPlume & Tameron Hedge;

Directed by Shane Drake

2014 “ DRUNK ON A PLANE” Dierks Bentley; Produced by Clarke

“IT’S YOUR LOVE” Faith Hill & Tim McGraw

1998 “JUST TO HEAR YOU SAY THAT YOU LOVE ME” Faith Hill & Tim McGraw; Produced by Dann Huff & Faith Hill

1999 “ WHEN I SAID I DO” Clint Black with Lisa Hartman Black; Produced by Clint Black

2000 “ I HOPE YOU DANCE” Lee Ann Womack with Sons of the Desert; MCA Records; Produced by Mark Wright

2001

“I AM A MAN OF CONSTANT SORROW” Soggy Bottom Boys;

Produced by T-Bone Burnett

2002

MENDOCINO COUNTY LINE” Willie Nelson with Lee Ann “ Womack; Produced by Matthew Serletic

2003

IT’S FIVE O’CLOCK SOMEWHERE” Alan Jackson & Jimmy “ Buffett; Arista Records Nashville; Produced by Keith Stegall

2004 “ WHISKEY LULLABY” Brad Paisley featuring Alison Krauss; Arista Nashville; Produced by Frank Rogers

2005

“ WHEN I GET WHERE I’M GOING” Brad Paisley & Dolly Parton;

Arista; Produced by Chris DuBois & Frank Rogers

2006 “ BUILDING BRIDGES” Brooks & Dunn with Vince Gill & Sheryl

Crow; Arista Nashville; Produced by Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn, & Tony Brown

Produced by Anastasia Simone

2000 “GOODBYE EARL” Dixie Chicks; Directed by Evan Bernard;

2002

[Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

2007

“ FIND OUT WHO YOUR FRIENDS ARE” Tracy Lawrence featuring Tim McGraw & Kenny Chesney; Rocky Comfort/CO5; Produced by Tracy Lawrence & Julian King

2008 “ START A BAND” Brad Paisley Duet with Keith Urban; Arista Nashville; Produced by Frank Rogers

2009 “ HILLBILLY BONE“ Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins; Reprise Records/ Warner Music Nashville; Produced by Scott Hendricks

2010 “AS SHE’S WALKING AWAY“ Zac Brown Band featuring

Alan Jackson; Atlantic/Bigger Picture/Southern Ground; Produced by Keith Stegall & Zac Brown

2011 “ DON’T YOU WANNA STAY” Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson; Broken Bow Records; Produced by Michael Knox

2012 “ THE ONLY WAY I KNOW” Jason Aldean with Luke Bryan &

Eric Church; Broken Bow Records; Produced by Michael Knox

2013 “ WE WERE US” Keith Urban & Miranda Lambert;

Capitol Records Nashville, Hit Red Records & RCA Nashville; Produced by Keith Urban & Nathan Chapman

2014 “ THIS IS HOW WE ROLL” Florida Georgia Line & Luke Bryan; Republic Nashville; Produced by Joey Moi

2015 “ SMOKIN’ AND DRINKIN’” Miranda Lambert Featuring Little Big Town; RCA Nashville; Produced by Glenn Worf, Frank Liddell & Chuck Ainlay

2016 “ MAY WE ALL’” Florida Georgia Line Featuring Tim McGraw; Big Machine Label Group; Produced by Joey Moi

2017 “ THE FIGHTER” Keith Urban featuring Carrie Underwood; Capitol Nashville; Produced by busbee, Keith Urban

2018 “ BURNING MAN” Dierks Bentley featuring Brothers Osborne;

Capitol Records Nashville; Produced by Arturo Buenahora Jr., Jon Randall Stewart & Ross Copperman

Gallivan; Directed by Wes Edwards

5 5 TH A C M AWA R D S

87

ACM AWARDS PROGRAM BOOK EDITOR Lisa Lee ASSISTANT EDITOR Libby Gardner WRITERS Lisa Lee Libby Gardner Craig Shelburne PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Hannah Kellis ART DIRECTION AND DESIGN Karabin Creative Randi Karabin Kirsten Newkirk

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ACADEMY OF COU NTRY MUSIC STAFF Alexa Fasheh

Beth Moore

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Brandon Campbell

Bill Mayne

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Bridget Cirone

Bruce Bowman

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Butch Waugh

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Carrie Tekautz

Chris Farren

Curt Motley

Damon Whiteside

Dan Berkowitz

Daniel Miller

Danielle Bardier

Daniel Miller

Darin Murphy

Dayna Poskanzer

Darin Murphy

Derek Wells

Erick Long

Debbie Carroll

Duane Clark

Gloria Chavez

Duane Clark

Ebie McFarland

Hannah Kellis

Dwight Wiles

Ed Warm

Jen Heaton

Ebie McFarland

Enzo DeVincenzo

Jenny Dunn

Ed Warm

Frank Liddell

Jessica Curtis

Ellen Lehman

Gayle Holcomb

Lanni Gagnon

Fletcher Foster

George Couri

Lisa Lee

Gayle Holcomb

Greg Hill

Lyndsay Cruz

Jay Williams

Jackie Campbell

Maddy Stessman

John Hickman

Jackie Stevens

Mary Pambukyan

Judee Ann Williams

Jeff Krones

Melissa Moldovan

Kathleen Flaherty

Jennie Smythe

Taylor Wolf

Kimberly Schlapman

Jimmie Allen

Tommy Moore

Lisa Paulsen

John Dennis

Lori Badgett

Jon Loba

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Kele Currier

Mark Bloom

Kelly Rich

Mark Hartley

Ken Robold

Meredith Seacrest

Ken Tucker

Michael McAnally Baum

Kerri Edwards

Paul Barnabee

Leslie Cohea

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5 54 TTHH AACCMM AAWWA AR R DS DS

Cindy Brewer

Jeff Shood

Michael Cooper

Steve Martynuik

Cindy Sinclair

Jeffrey Geisser

Michael Kohn

Steve Neild

Courtney Teller

Jennifer Gresenz

Michael Nieporent

Steven A. Anderson

Craig Rovello

Jeremy Lowe

Michael Potts

Suzanne Dacuma

Dakotah Robin

Jesse Vermillion

Michael Zinman

Suzanne Duenez

Dale Head

Jim Wise

Michelle Ayers

Suzanne Ebner

Damon Andres

Joe Heck

Michelle Zagorsky

Tad Scripter

Daniel Beringhele

John Cox

Miguel Hernandez

Tammy Raab

Danny Bonilla

John Longhammer

Mike Anderson

Darla Elledge

John McKillop

Mike Berger

Taylor Goldstone Perez

Dave Boone

John Rosenberg

Mike Breece

Dave Ingels

Johnny Lord

Mike Bushner

David Hughes

Jon Aroesty

Mike Crary

David Mounts

Jose Guzman

Mike Gilbert

David Plakos

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Mike Izquierdo

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Mike King

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Edgar Struble

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Matt Spill

Eve Adair

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Philip Centanni

Rick Scott

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Kevin Smith

RA Clark

Frank Maronski

Khristine Gomez

Raj Kapoor

Fred Quillen

Kris L. Claver

Ralph Bolton

Freddy Frederick, Jr.

Kristen Merlino

Ralph Payne

Gabriel Carrasco

Kyle Gilbert

Ramon Pahoyo

Gary Natoli

Kurt Gonska

Randy Dugan

Geoff Smith

Layla Smiroldo

Reese Alexander

Geoffrey Howe

Leah Gonzales

Renee Kibbler

George Schwartz

Leah Messer

Ric Teller

Gina Sorial

Linda Cappelletti

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Glenn Weiss

Linda Gierahn

Rita Bland

Greg Fera

Lisa Pritchett

Rita Cossette

Greg Hoffman

Lisa Williams

Rob Sullivan

Guy Jones

Logan Propst

Robert A. Dickinson

Haley Chapman

Luis Narino

Romy Konigseder

Henry Mulhausen

Lydia Baskharoon

Ron Paul

Hugh Del Regno

Maddy Mesevage

Roxanne Lozano

Hugh Grew

Mae Estes

Ruben Torres

J. Mark King

Makena Cornelison

Ryan Smith

Jack Stephens

Mark Bracco

Sacha Mueller

Jackie Stathis

Mark Durel

Samantha Benson

Jacob Fenske

Mark Shimmel

Samantha Gordon

Jaime Scorby

Marshall Dymond

Sandra Nduna

James Atkinson

Marshall Watson

Sandy Lovelace

James O’Neil

Maryann Welker

Sarah Delgado

James O’Hara

Matt Geneczko

Scott Crawford

James Pfeffer

Matt Maglione

Scott Welborn

Jan Grodt

Matt McElroy

Stephanie Fry

Janet Turner

Matt Minkoff

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Jason Trowbridge

Matthew Cleary

Stephen T. Anderson

Jeff James

Matthew House

Stephen Vaughn

Jeff Peterson

Melissa Messer

Steve Blackmon

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NASHVI LLE CONVENTION & VISITORS CORP OPRY ENTERTAI NMENT G ROU P PLATI N UM PU BLICATIONS Sue Wolk RENAISSANCE NASHVI LLE HOTEL RESI DENCE I N N NASHVI LLE G REEN H I LLS RICHARDS & SOUTH ERN Lisa Fults

Ryan Calonge Scot Calonge Terry Calonge Todd Cayce ROG ERS AN D COWAN PMK Caroline Stegner

Christina Canseco Hallie Sawyer Jade Shi Maddie Cutler RYMAN AU DITORI UM SHOWARE Daniel Rogers SOCI ETY AWARDS David Moritz

ACM CORPORATE PARTN ERS

WELLS FARGO FORD DR PEPPER SECURITY BENEFIT 1000 STORIES

Larry Maloney Rick Gallegos

XFINITY

G ETTY IMAG ES

STATE OF TEN N ESSEE

PREVOST

G RAN D OLE OPRY HOUSE

TH I N KSWELL Afton Aurand

G RAPH IC VISIONS Irving Alden

Jenni Hand

HOOLA DESIG N Lori Ashcraft I NTEG RITEK HOLDI NGS, LLC .

Jaime Reyes J.D. HA AS & STAFF K ARABI N CREATIVE Randi Karabin

Kirsten Newkirk

Michael Adcock Quinton Cook Taylor Scheese Tim Gerst YANGAROO Adam Hunt

Drew Ferrante Richard Klosa Ricardo Martinez Ryan Stam

LAS VEGAS LOEB & LOEB, LLP Scott Zolke MAVERICK Clarence Spalding

Marne McLyman MGM RESORTS, I NC .

MICN E PRODUCTIONS Ellen Appleton-Adkins

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CORPORATE PARTNERS

WE’D LIKE TO EXPRESS A SINCERE THANK YOU

to our corporate partners for their support of the Academy of Country Music and the 55th ACM Awards.

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THANK YOU

WE’D LIKE TO EXPRESS A HEARTFELT THANK YOU to our Nashville host venues — the Grand Ole

Opry House, Ryman Auditorium and The Bluebird Cafe — for their hospitality in Music City.

On behalf of the Academy of Country Music Board of Directors and staff and dick clark productions, we’d like to thank CBS Television, CBS.com and CBS affiliates for their continued commitment to the Academy of Country Music® and enthusiastic support of Country Music.

George Cheeks David Nevins Kelly Kahl Thom Sherman Jack Sussman Mackenzie Mitchell Courtney Conroy Chris Ender Phil Gonzales Andrea Ballas Kate Fisher Debbie Marcus Shendi Katro Mike Benson Mahvand Nohavandi Ashley Filiczkowski Sam Williams Angie Kucharski Liz Ronan Laurel Dusenberry Kristina Jensen Matt Hernandez Jeff Grossman Tom Lisack Dana Howbert Maria Kline Martin Moakler Eric Kuhn Emily Schwartz Cori Sainte Marie Terry De Wolfe Karen McLaughlin Kevin McKeegan Francis Cavanaugh Gaye Ann Bruno Michele Crowe Steven Henry Mitch Cardwell Linda Rene Suzie Toldrian Kenny Lopez Douglas Robinson Charmaine Jennings Amber Dixon

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PRODUCTION CREDITS

EXECUTIVE PRO D U CE RS

R.A. Clark Amy Thurlow Barry Adelman Mark Bracco Linda Gierahn

CO - EXECUTIVE PRO D U CE R

Raj Kapoor

EXECUTIVE PRO D U CE R FO R TH E AC AD E MY O F CO U NTRY M U S I C

M U S I C D I R EC TO R

Edgar Struble

PRO D U C TI O N S U PE RVI SO R

Pat Brannon Wise

PRO D U C TI O N M ANAG E RS

Hugh F. Del Regno Ralph Payne

D I R EC TO R

A SS I STANTS TO PRO D U CE RS

WR ITE R

Barry Adelman S PECIAL M ATE R IAL WR ITE RS

Amberia Allen Dave Boone Lisa Lee Jim Wise

LI N E PRO D U CE R

Nicole Velasco

CO - PRO D U CE R

Patrick Menton

PRO D U C TI O N D ES I G N E R

Brian Stonestreet

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Robert A. Dickinson Travis Hagenbuch

Damon Whiteside Glenn Weiss

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LI G HTI N G D ES I G N E RS

Stephanie Fry Samantha Gordon Kate Krassowski Stephanie Pumilia Maddy Stessman

Congratulations to all the ACM Awards Nominees & Winners

1000 stories is proud to be the official wine partner of the academy of country music ©2020 1000 STORIES, HOPLAND, MENDOCINO CO., CA

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