NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED FOR THE
“54TH ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS™”
THE SHOW WILL BROADCAST LIVE ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK
ON SUNDAY, APRIL 7 AT 8:00 PM ET/PT FROM THE MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA IN LAS VEGAS
Chris Stapleton and Dan + Shay Each Receive 6 Nominations,
with Dan Smyers Receiving 4 Additional Nods;
Kacey Musgraves Receives 5 Nominations;
Dierks Bentley, Brothers Osborne, Florida Georgia Line and Bebe Rexha Each Receive 4 Nominations; Producer Ian Fitchuk, First-Time Nominee, Receives 6 Nominations
ENCINO, CA (February 20, 2019) – The Academy of Country Music announced today the nominees for the 54TH ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS™, Country Music’s Party of the Year®, honoring country music’s superstars and hottest emerging talent. Iconic entertainer and sixteen-time ACM Award® winner Reba McEntire will return to host LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 7, 2019 at 8:00 PM ET/PT on the CBS Television Network.
This year will also mark the return of the ACM Artist of the Decade Honor which will be announced in the coming weeks. Only five other honorees have received this award, including Marty Robbins in 1969, Loretta Lynn in 1979, Alabama in 1988, Garth Brooks in 1998 and George Strait in 2009.
Reba McEntire appeared live today on “CBS This Morning” to announce this year’s ACM Award nominees for Entertainer of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, Duo of the Year, Group of the Year and Song of the Year. Reba also revealed nominees for Song of the Year and Songwriter of the Year on Facebook Live on her Facebook page, which was shared on Academy of Country Music’s Facebook page and CBS This Morning’s Facebook page. Additional nominees were announced on ETonline.com.
Reigning Male Artist of the Year, Chris Stapleton received six nominations in four categories, including his second nod for Entertainer of the Year. Stapleton is also nominated twice, as both artist and producer, for his album From A Room: Volume 2 in the Album of the Year category, which he won last year for From A Room: Volume 1. Additionally, he is nominated for Song of the Year twice, as both artist and songwriter, for “Broken Halos.” Lastly, Stapleton is nominated for Male Artist of the Year.
Dan + Shay earned six nominations, including their sixth nod for Duo of the Year. They received nominations in the Single of the Year, Song of the Year and Video of the Year categories for “Tequila.” Dan + Shay are also nominated for Album of the Year for Dan + Shay, and Music Event of the Year for “Keeping Score” (featuring Kelly Clarkson). Additionally, Dan Smyers received 3 individual nominations as a producer in the Album of the Year, Single of the Year and Music Event of the Year categories. He also received an individual nomination as a writer in the Song of the Year category for “Tequila.”
Kacey Musgraves earned five nominations in three categories, including a nod for Female Artist of the Year. Additionally, she is nominated in the Album of the Year Category twice, as both artist and producer, for Golden Hour, as well as in the Song of the Year category twice, as both artist and songwriter, for “Space Cowboy.” Musgraves most recently won in 2016 in the Video of the Year category for “Forever Country” and previously won in the Album of the Year category in 2013 for Same Trailer Different Park.
Dierks Bentley received four nominations, including his fourth nod for Album of the Year; nominated for the category this year for The Mountain. Additionally, Bentley is nominated for “Burning Man” (featuring Brothers Osborne) in both the Music Event of the Year category and Video of the Year category. He is also nominated for Male Artist of the Year. If he were to win for Video of the Year this year, it would mark his third win in this category.
Reigning Duo of the Year and Video of the Year winners, Brothers Osborne earned four nominations in three categories, including a nod for Duo of the Year. They are also nominated for Music Event of the Year for “Burning Man” with Dierks Bentley. Additionally, Brothers Osborne are nominated twice in the Video of the Year category for songs “Shoot Me Straight” and “Burning Man.”
Florida Georgia Line received four nominations, including a nod for Duo of the Year. They are also nominated with Bebe Rexha for “Meant To Be” for Single of the Year, Music Event of the Year and Song of the Year.
First-time Academy of Country Music Award nominee, Bebe Rexha earned four nominations for “Meant To Be” (featuring Florida Georgia Line). Rexha is nominated for Single of the Year, Music Event of the Year, and twice, as both artist and songwriter, for Song of the Year.
First-time Academy of Country Music Award nominee, Ian Fitchuk received six nominations, including a nod for Album of the Year with Kacey Musgraves as a producer for Golden Hour. Fitchuk also received five nominations across Studio Recording Award categories, including Bass Player of the Year, Drummer of the Year, Piano/Keyboards Player of the Year, Specialty Instrument(s) Player of the Year and Producer of the Year.
The following is the full list of nominees for all Awards categories, including Main Awards, Industry Awards, Studio Recording Awards and previously announced Radio Awards. ACM Radio Awards winners will be announced in the coming weeks, and Industry Awards and Studio Recording Awards winners will be announced following the 54th ACM Awards.
MAIN AWARDS:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Jason AldeanLuke BryanKenny ChesneyChris StapletonKeith Urban
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Miranda LambertAshley McBrydeMaren MorrisKacey MusgravesCarrie Underwood
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Dierks BentleyLuke CombsThomas RhettChris StapletonKeith Urban
DUO OF THE YEAR
Brothers OsborneDan + ShayFlorida Georgia LineLOCASHMaddie & Tae
GROUP OF THE YEAR
Lady AntebellumLANCOLittle Big TownMidlandOld Dominion
NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Danielle BradberyLindsay EllAshley McBrydeCarly Pearce
NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Jimmie AllenLuke CombsJordan DavisMichael RayMitchell Tenpenny
NEW DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
High ValleyLANCORunaway June
ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
Dan + Shay – Dan + Shay
Producers: Scott Hendricks / Dan Smyers / Matt Dragstrem
Record Label: Warner Music Nashville
Desperate Man – Eric Church
Producers: Jay Joyce / Arturo Buenahora Jr.
Record Label: EMI Records Nashville
From A Room: Volume 2 – Chris Stapleton
Producers: Dave Cobb / Chris Stapleton
Record Label: Mercury Nashville
Golden Hour – Kacey Musgraves
Producers: Ian Fitchuk / Daniel Tashian / Kacey Musgraves
Record Label: MCA Nashville
The Mountain – Dierks Bentley
Producers: Ross Copperman / Jon Randall Stewart / Arturo Buenahora Jr.
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville
SINGLE OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
Down to the Honky Tonk – Jake Owen
Producer: Joey Moi
Record Label: Big Loud Records
Heaven – Kane Brown
Producer: Dann Huff / Polow Da Don
Record Label: RCA Nashville
Meant To Be – Bebe Rexha featuring Florida Georgia Line
Producer: Wilshire for Rock The Soul Ent
Record Label: Warner Bros. Records
Most People Are Good – Luke Bryan
Producers: Jeff Stevens / Jody Stevens
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville
Tequila – Dan + Shay
Producers: Scott Hendricks / Dan Smyers
Record Label: Warner Music Nashville
SONG OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
Break Up In The End – Cole Swindell
Writers: Jessie Jo Dillon / Chase McGill / Jon Nite
Publishers: EMI April Music Inc. / Nite Writer Music (ASCAP) / Songs of Universal, Inc. / Plum Nelly (BMI) / Big Music Machine (BMI)/ Big Ass Pile Of Dimes Music (BMI)
Broken Halos – Chris Stapleton
Writers: Mike Henderson, Chris StapletonPublishers: 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 LineWriters: David Garcia, Tyler Hubbard, Joshua Miller, Bebe Rexha
Publishers: BMG Platinum Songs/Kiss Me If You Can Music (BMI) (all rights administered by BMG Rights Management (US) LLC) Big Loud Mountain (BMI) and T Hubb Publishing (BMI). All Rights Administered by Round Hill Works. Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. on behalf of itself and Songs of the Corn and Jack 10 Publishing. Universal Music – Brentwood Benson Publishing (ASCAP) D Soul Music (ASCAP) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com)
Space Cowboy – Kacey Musgraves
Writers: Luke Laird, Shane McAnally, Kacey MusgravesPublishers: Smack Hits/Smack Songs, admin by Kobalt Music Group ltd. (GMR); Universal Music Works/We Are Creative NBaSmack Hits/Smack Songs, LLC, admin. by Kobalt Music Group Ltd. (GMR); Universal Music Works/We Are Creative Nation/Jake and Mack Music, admin. by Universal Music Works; Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp./351 Music (BMI)
Tequila – Dan + Shay
Writers: Nicolle Galyon / Jordan Reynolds / Dan SmyersPublishers: Beats and Banjos (ASCAP), WB Music Corp. (ASCAP), A Girl Named Charlie (BMI) / Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI) / Buckeye26 (ASCAP) / Jreynmusic (ASCAP)Yours – Russell DickersonWriters: Casey Brown / Russell Dickerson / Parker WellingPublishers: BMG Platinum Songs/Kailey's Dream / So Essential Tunes / Not Just Another Song Publishing / Hillbilly Science and Research Publishing/Trailerlily Music
VIDEO OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]
Babe – Sugarland featuring Taylor Swift
Producer: Roger Hunt
Director: Anthony Mandler
Burn Out – Midland
Producer: Ben Skipworth
Director: TK McKamy / Cameron Duddy
Burning Man – Dierks Bentley featuring Brothers Osborne
Producer: Nate Eggert
Director: Wes Edwards
Drunk Girl – Chris Janson
Producer: Ben Skipwort
Director: Jeff Venable
Shoot Me Straight – Brothers Osborne
Producer: April Kimbrell
Director: Wes Edwards / Ryan Silver
Tequila – Dan + Shay
Producer: Christen Pinkston
Director: Patrick Tracy
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR*(Off Camera Award)
Ross Copperman
Ashley Gorley
Shane McAnally
Chase McGill
Josh Osborne
MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
Burning Man – Dierks Bentley featuring Brothers Osborne
Producers: Ross Copperman / Jon Randall Stewart / Arturo Buenahora Jr.
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville
Drowns the Whiskey – Jason Aldean featuring Miranda Lambert
Producer: Michael Knox
Record Labels: Macon Music, LLC; Broken Bow Records; BBR Music Group; BMG
Everything’s Gonna Be Alright – David Lee Murphy featuring Kenny Chesney
Producers: Buddy Cannon / Kenny Chesney / David Lee Murphy
Record Label: Reviver Records
Keeping Score – Dan + Shay featuring Kelly Clarkson
Producers: Scott Hendricks / Dan Smyers
Record Label: Warner Music Nashville
Meant To Be – Bebe Rexha Featuring Florida Georgia Line
Producer: Wilshire for Rock The Soul Ent
Record Label: Warner Bros. Records
INDUSTRY AWARDS:
CASINO OF THE YEAR – SMALL CAPACITY
Choctaw Casino & Resort - Durant, OK
Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort - Cherokee, NC
The Joint: Tulsa - Tulsa, OK
Peppermill Reno - Reno, NV
Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort - Mt. Pleasant, MI
CASINO OF THE YEAR – LARGE CAPACITY
Casino Rama - Orillia, ON
Grand Casino Hinckley - Hinckley, MN
Mohegan Sun Arena - Uncasville, CT
Sandia Casino Amphitheater - Albuquerque, NM
WinStar Global Event Center - Thackerville, OK
FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR
Boots & Hearts - Oro-Medonte, ON
Faster Horses - Brooklyn, MI
Stagecoach - Indio, CA
Tortuga Music Festival - Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Windy City Smokeout - Chicago, IL
NIGHTCLUB OF THE YEAR
Dusty Armadillo - Rootstown, OH
Grizzly Rose - Denver, CO
Joe's on Weed St - Chicago, IL
Joe's Live - Rosemont, IL
Stoney's Rockin' Country - Las Vegas, NV
VENUE OF THE YEAR – SMALL CAPACITY
House of Blues - Anaheim, CA
House of Blues - Boston, MA
Floore's - Helotes, TX
Ryman Auditorium - Nashville, TN
Surf Ballroom - Clear Lake, IA
VENUE OF THE YEAR – MEDIUM CAPACITY
Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO
Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion – Gilford, NH
Ascend Amphitheater – Nashville, TN
The Wharf Amphitheater - Orange Beach, AL
The Anthem – Washington, DC
VENUE OF THE YEAR – LARGE CAPACITY
Bridgestone Arena - Nashville, TN
BOK Center - Tulsa, OK
Budweiser Stage - Toronto, ON
PNC Bank Arts Center - Holmdel, NJ
Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center - Noblesville, IN
DON ROMEO TALENT BUYER OF THE YEAR
Todd Boltin - Variety Attractions
Billy Brill - Billy Alan Productions
Gil Cunningham - Neste Event Marketing
Kell Houston - Houston Productions
Nicole More - Wilson Events, Inc.
PROMOTER OF THE YEAR
Brent Fedrizzi - AEG Presents
Stacy Vee - Goldenvoice
Ed Warm - Joe's Bar
Adam Weiser - AEG Presents
Jason Wright - Live Nation
STUDIO RECORDING AWARDS:
BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Mike Brignardello
JT Cure
Ian Fitchuk
Tony Lucido
Glenn Worf
DRUMMER OF THE YEAR
Matt Chamberlain
Ian Fitchuk
Evan Hutchings
Aaron Sterling
Nir Z
GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Tom Bukovac
Jedd Hughes
Danny Rader
Adam Shoenfeld
Ilya Toshinsky
Derek Wells
PIANO/KEYBOARDS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Dave Cohen
David Dorn
Ian Fitchuk
Tony Harrell
Charlie Judge
Gordon Mote
SPECIALTY INSTRUMENT(S) PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Ian Fitchuk
Jenee Fleenor
Carl Miner
Mickey Raphael
Ilya Toshinsky
STEEL GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Dan Dugmore
Steve Hinson
Mike Johnson
Russ Pahl
Justin Schipper
AUDIO ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
Craig Alvin
Ryan Gore
Jeff Juliano
Vance Powell
F Reid Shippen
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Buddy Cannon
Ian Fitchuk
Dann Huff
Jay Joyce
Michael Knox
ACM RADIO AWARDS:
The following previously announced radio awards will be presented during the annual Radio Winners Reception which will be held on Saturday, April 6 in Las Vegas.
NATIONAL ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR (tie within category increased nominees)
Cody Alan CMT After MidNite with Cody Alan
Kix Brooks American Country Countdown
Darren Wilhite and Tim Wall Wilhite & Wall
Lon Helton Country Countdown USA with Lon Helton
Tracy Lawrence Honky Tonkin' with Tracy Lawrence
Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase The Crook & Chase Countdown
ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – MAJOR MARKET
Chuck, Rachael & Grunwald in the Morning WYCD-FM Detroit, MI
Katie Neal WNSH-FM New York, NY
The Rob + Holly Show WYCD-FM Detroit, MI
Tanner in the Morning - Rob Tanner, Catherine Lane, Chris Allen, Captain Jim, and Mimi WSOC-FM Charlotte, NC
Tracy Dixon, Guy David & Patrick Knight KYGO-FM Denver, CO
ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – LARGE MARKET
Jim, Deb & Kevin WFMS-FM Indianapolis, IN
Lexi and Banks KUBL-FM Salt Lake City, UT
Q Morning Crew with Mike and Janie WQDR-FM Raleigh, NC
Ridder, Scott and Shannen WMIL-FM Milwaukee, WI
Tige & Daniel - Tige Rogers, Daniel Baker,
and Mari Mueller WSIX-FM Nashville, TN
ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – MEDIUM MARKET
Kenn McCloud KUZZ-AM/FM Bakersfield, CA
Brent Michaels KUZZ-AM/FM Bakersfield, CA
Mo & Styckman Show WUSY-FM Chattanooga, TN
Roger, Julie and DJ Thee Trucker in the Morning WPCV-FM Lakeland, FL
Tom & Becky WBBS-FM Syracuse, NY
ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – SMALL MARKET
Adam & Jen in the Morning KIOK-FM Richland, WA
Brent Lane and Candy Cullerton WYCT-FM Pensacola, FL
The Q Crew with Jason and Ashley on Q100.3 KRWQ-FM Medford, OR
The Roger & Corliss Morning Show KORA-FM Bryan, TX
Scotty & Catryna in the Morning KCLR-FM Columbia, MO
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR – MAJOR MARKET
KKBQ-FM Houston, TX
KNIX-FM Phoenix, AZ
KPLX-FM Dallas, TX
KSCS-FM Dallas, TX
WYCD-FM Detroit, MI
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR – LARGE MARKET
KAJA-FM San Antonio, TX
KUBL-FM Salt Lake City, UT
WLHK-FM Indianapolis, IN
WMIL-FM Milwaukee, WI
WWKA-FM Orlando, FL
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR – MEDIUM MARKET
KATM-FM Stockton, CA
KUZZ-AM/FM Bakersfield, CA
KXKT-FM Omaha, NE
WHKO-FM Dayton, OH
WIVK-FM Knoxville, TN
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR – SMALL MARKET
KHAY-FM Ventura, CA
KKNU-FM Eugene, OR
KORA-FM Bryan, TX
WGSQ-FM Cookeville, TN
WYCT-FM Pensacola, FL
IMPORTANT NOTE: Awards counts for artists reflect categories in which they have been recognized as individuals or as part of their duo or group. In some cases, an artist may receive more than one nomination which factors into their official count.
Award recipients in each category are noted above parenthetically in the Album of the Year, Single of the Year, Song of the Year, Video of the Year and Music Event of the Year.
The 54th ACM Awards will feature exciting performances, unprecedented collaborations, surprising moments and more to be announced in the coming months. Tickets for the 54th ACM Awards are available for purchase now at www.axs.com.
For more information on the ACM Awards and all ACM events including ACM Party for a Cause®, visit ACMcountry.com. You can also like Academy of Country Music on Facebook or follow on Twitter and Instagram for more immediate updates.
About the Academy of Country Music Awards
The 54th Academy of Country Music Awards™ is dedicated to honoring and showcasing the biggest names and emerging talent in the country music industry. The show is produced for television by dick clark productions and will broadcast LIVE from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 7, 2019 at 8:00 PM ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network. R.A. Clark, Reba McEntire, Barry Adelman and Mark Bracco are executive producers. Pete Fisher is executive producer for the Academy of Country Music.