The nominations for the 54th annual ACM Awards were announced on February 20th, and we could not be more excited for one of country music’s biggest nights! For the second year in a row Reba McEntire will host the awards, which will be broadcast live from Las Vegas on Sunday, April 7th at 8pm on CBS. This past year has been incredible for country music. Many new artists burst onto the scene with breakthrough singles, while current superstars continued to solidify their careers with more chart-topping hits. Chris Stapleton along with duo Dan + Shay lead the nominations racking up 6 apiece. Kacey Musgraves is the leading female nominee receiving 5 nominations.
Check out the full list of nominations and our predictions for who will win below.
Entertainer of the Year
• Jason Aldean
• Luke Bryan
• Kenny Chesney
• Chris Stapleton
• Keith Urban
Prediction: Keith Urban – This category is a toss up as all five of these artists are very deserving of the honor, but we’re going to give a slight edge to Keith Urban since he won Entertainer of the Year at the CMA Awards this past November.
Female Artist of the Year
• Miranda Lambert
• Ashley McBryde
• Maren Morris
• Kacey Musgraves
• Carrie Underwood
Prediction: Kacey Musgraves – In what should be another very close category, we’re giving the nod to Kacey Musgraves as she looks to build on the success of her big night at the Grammys.
Male Artist of the Year
• Dierks Bentley
• Luke Combs
• Thomas Rhett
• Chris Stapleton
• Keith Urban
Prediction: Chris Stapleton – Chris has won this award two out of the last three years and we think he’ll make it three out of four with another win this year.
Duo of the Year
• Brothers Osborne
• Dan + Shay
• Florida Georgia Line
• LOCASH
• Maddie & Tae
Prediction: Dan + Shay – Dan + Shay have arguably had the biggest year in country music out of anyone. They released two #1 singles (‘Tequila’ and ‘Speechless’) and a #1 album.
Group of the Year
• Lady Antebellum
• LANCO
• Little Big Town
• Midland
• Old Dominion
Prediction: Old Dominion – Old Dominion is quickly becoming one of country music’s hottest acts. Look for them to take home the award for Group of the Year for the second year in a row.
New Female Artist of the Year
• Danielle Bradbery
• Lindsay Ell
• Ashley McBryde
• Carly Pearce
Prediction: Ashley McBryde – Ashley’s album ‘Girl Going Nowhere’ made it into the Top 10 on the charts in 2018. You’ll soon be hearing a lot more from this rising star after she wins her first ACM award.
New Male Artist of the Year
• Jimmie Allen
• Luke Combs
• Jordan Davis
• Michael Ray
• Mitchell Tenpenny
Prediction: Luke Combs – We’re not sure how Luke Combs still qualifies as a new artist, but since he’s nominated he is our pick to win because he continues to release hit song after hit song.
New Duo or Group of the Year
• High Valley
• LANCO
• Runaway June
Prediction: LANCO – 2018 was a breakout year for LANCO as they released their debut album ‘Hallelujah Nights,’ which features the #1 single ‘Greatest Love Story.’
Album of the Year
• ‘Dan + Shay’ – Dan + Shay
o Producers: Scott Hendricks, Dan Smyers, Matt Dragstrem
o Record Label: Warner Music Nashville
• ‘Desperate Man’ – Eric Church
o Producers: Jay Joyce, Arturo Buenahora Jr.
o Record Label: EMI Records Nashville
• ‘From A Room: Volume 2’ – Chris Stapleton
o Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
o Record Label: Mercury Nashville
• ‘Golden Hour’ – Kacey Musgraves
o Producers: Ian Fitchuk, Daniel Tashian, Kacey Musgraves
o Record Label: MCA Nashville
• ‘The Mountain’ – Dierks Bentley
o Producers: Ross Copperman, Jon Randall Stewart, Arturo Buenahora Jr.
o Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville
Prediction: ‘Golden Hour’ – It’s Kacey Musgraves’ year. After winning Album of the Year at both the Grammys and the CMA’s we’ll be quite surprised if ‘Golden Hour’ doesn’t receive the top honor again.
Single of the Year
• ‘Down to the Honky Tonk’ – Jake Owen
o Producer: Joey Moi
o Record Label: Big Loud Records
• ‘Heaven’ – Kane Brown
o Producers: Dann Huff, Polow Da Don
o Record Label: RCA Nashville
• ‘Meant To Be’ – Bebe Rexha featuring Florida Georgia Line
o Producer: Wilshire for Rock The Soul Ent
o Record Label: Warner Bros. Records
• ‘Most People Are Good’ – Luke Bryan
o Producers: Jeff Stevens, Jody Stevens
o Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville
• ‘Tequila’ – Dan + Shay
o Producers: Scott Hendricks, Dan Smyers
o Record Label: Warner Music Nashville
Prediction: ‘Tequila’ – ‘Tequila’ was a career changing song for Dan + Shay, and they are certainly deserving of this award after many feel that they were snubbed at the CMA’s. One of the most played songs on country radio, ‘Tequila’ spent two weeks atop the charts last summer.
Song of the Year
• ‘Break Up In The End’ – Cole Swindell
o Writers: Jessie Jo Dillon, Chase McGill, Jon Nite
o Publishers: EMI April Music Inc. / Nite Writer Music (ASCAP) / Songs of Universal, Inc. / Plum Nelly (BMI) / Big Music Machine (BMI)/ Big Ass Pile Of Dimes Music (BMI)
• ‘Broken Halos’ – Chris Stapleton
o Writers: Mike Henderson, Chris Stapleton
o Publishers: WB Music Corp./House of Sea Gayle Music, admin. by ClearBox Rights/Spirit Catalog Holdings, S.a.r.l. admin. by Spirit Two Nashville (ASCAP); Straight Six Music (BMI)
• ‘Meant To Be’ – Bebe Rexha featuring Florida Georgia Line
o Writers: David Garcia, Tyler Hubbard, Joshua Miller, Bebe Rexha
o Publishers: BMG Platinum Songs/Kiss Me If You Can Music (BMI) (all rights administered by BMG Rights Management (US) LLC) Big Loud Mountain (BMI) and T Hubb Publishing (BMI). All Rights Administered by Round Hill Works. Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. on behalf of itself and Songs of the Corn and Jack 10 Publishing. Universal Music – Brentwood Benson Publishing (ASCAP) D Soul Music (ASCAP) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com)
• ‘Space Cowboy’ – Kacey Musgraves
o Writers: Luke Laird, Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves
o Publishers: Smack Hits/Smack Songs, admin by Kobalt Music Group ltd. (GMR); Universal Music Works/We Are Creative NBaSmack Hits/Smack Songs, LLC, admin. by Kobalt Music Group Ltd. (GMR); Universal Music Works/We Are Creative Nation/Jake and Mack Music, admin. by Universal Music Works; Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp./351 Music (BMI)
• ‘Tequila’ – Dan + Shay
o Writers: Nicolle Galyon, Jordan Reynolds, Dan Smyers
o Publishers: Beats and Banjos (ASCAP), WB Music Corp. (ASCAP), A Girl Named Charlie (BMI) / Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI) / Buckeye26 (ASCAP) / Jreynmusic (ASCAP)
• ‘Yours’ – Russell Dickerson
o Writers: Casey Brown, Russell Dickerson, Parker Welling
o Publishers: BMG Platinum Songs/Kailey’s Dream / So Essential Tunes / Not Just Another Song Publishing / Hillbilly Science and Research Publishing/Trailerlily Music
Prediction: ‘Broken Halos’ – This is a closely contested category full of amazing songs. We’re picking Chris Stapleton’s ‘Broken Halos’ based on the fact that it also won for Song of the Year at the CMA’s.
Video of the Year
• ‘Babe’ – Sugarland featuring Taylor Swift
o Producer: Roger Hunt
o Director: Anthony Mandler
• ‘Burn Out’ – Midland
o Producer: Ben Skipworth
o Director: TK McKamy, Cameron Duddy
• ‘Burning Man’ – Dierks Bentley featuring Brothers Osborne
o Producer: Nate Eggert
o Director: Wes Edwards
• ‘Drunk Girl’ – Chris Janson
o Producer: Ben Skipworth
o Director: Jeff Venable
• ‘Shoot Me Straight’ – Brothers Osborne
o Producer: April Kimbrell
o Director: Wes Edwards, Ryan Silver
• ‘Tequila’ – Dan + Shay
o Producer: Christen Pinkston
o Director: Patrick Tracy
Prediction: ‘Tequila’ – The music video for ‘Tequila’ gave us all the feels. It has 62 million views on YouTube making it the most watched video out of any of the nominees.
Songwriter of the Year
• Ross Copperman
• Ashley Gorley
• Shane McAnally
• Chase McGill
• Josh Osborne
Prediction: Ross Copperman – Ross co-wrote two songs (Dierks Bentley’s ‘Woman, Amen’ and Kenny Chesney’s ‘Get Along’) that reached #1 in 2018. Other massive hits that he penned this past year include Eli Young Band’s ‘Love Ain’t’ and Brett Eldredge’s ‘Love Someone.’
Music Event of the Year
• ‘Burning Man’ – Dierks Bentley featuring Brothers Osborne
o Producers: Ross Copperman, Jon Randall Stewart, Arturo Buenahora Jr.
o Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville
• ‘Drowns the Whiskey’ – Jason Aldean featuring Miranda Lambert
o Producer: Michael Knox
o Record Labels: Macon Music, LLC; Broken Bow Records; BBR Music Group; BMG
• ‘Everything’s Gonna Be Alright’ – David Lee Murphy featuring Kenny Chesney
o Producers: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney, David Lee Murphy
o Record Label: Reviver Records
• ‘Keeping Score’ – Dan + Shay featuring Kelly Clarkson
o Producers: Scott Hendricks, Dan Smyers
o Record Label: Warner Music Nashville
• ‘Meant To Be’ – Bebe Rexha featuring Florida Georgia Line
o Producer: Wilshire for Rock The Soul Ent
o Record Label: Warner Bros. Records
Prediction: ‘Everything’s Gonna Be Alright’ – This is such an uplifting, feel good song. We loved seeing Kenny and David Lee Murphy perform it together last year at Gillette Stadium.
Congratulations to all of the nominees! We’re looking forward to another awards show full of great performances and memorable moments.
You can watch the ACM Awards with us at our annual viewing party at Loretta’s Last Call in Boston on April 7th at 7:30pm. There will be a silent auction and a raffle for prizes like meet and greet passes, concert tickets, and autographed items. All of the proceeds benefit Boston Children’s Hospital. You can purchase tickets here.