Chris Stapleton tops the list of the 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards nominees, earning eight nominations in categories including Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year, and Single Record of the Year. Thomas Rhett follows with six nominations, picking up nods in the Album of the Year, Vocal Event of the Year, and Male Vocalists of the Year categories.
Other Country artists earning multiple Academy of Country Music Awards nominations include Keith Urban, Shane McAnally, Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris, Sam Hunt, Little Big Town, Midland, Tim McGraw, and Faith Hill.
In addition to announcing the nominees, the Academy of Country Music revealed 16-time ACM Award winner Reba McEntire is returning as host. McEntire has hosted Country music’s star-studded event 14 times in the past, most recently in 2012.
This year’s awards show will take place on Sunday, April 15th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards will be broadcast live on CBS beginning at 8pm ET (tape delayed on the West Coast).
Tickets are now on sale via www.axs.com.
Academy of Country Music Awards Nominees:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
• Jason Aldean
• Garth Brooks
• Luke Bryan
• Chris Stapleton
• Keith Urban
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
• Kelsea Ballerini
• Miranda Lambert
• Reba McEntire
• Maren Morris
• Carrie Underwood
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
• Jason Aldean
• Thomas Rhett
• Chris Stapleton
• Keith Urban
• Chris Young
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
• Brothers Osborne
• Dan + Shay
• Florida Georgia Line
• LOCASH
• Tim McGraw & Faith Hill
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
• Lady Antebellum
• LANCO
• Little Big Town
• Midland
• Old Dominion
NEW FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
• Lauren Alaina
• Danielle Bradbery
• Carly Pearce
• RaeLynn
NEW MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
• Kane Brown
• Luke Combs
• Devin Dawson
• Russell Dickerson
• Brett Young
NEW VOCAL DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
• High Valley
• LANCO
• LOCASH
• Midland
• Runaway June
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
• Breaker – Little Big Town
• California Sunrise – Jon Pardi
• From A Room: Vol. 1 – Chris Stapleton
• Happy Endings – Old Dominion
• Life Changes – Thomas Rhett
SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR
• “Better Man” – Little Big Town
• “Body Like A Back Road” – Sam Hunt
• “Broken Halos” – Chris Stapleton
• “Drinkin’ Problem” – Midland
• “I’ll Name The Dogs” – Blake Shelton
SONG OF THE YEAR
• “Body Like a Back Road” – Sam Hunt
• “Female” – Keith Urban
• “Tin Man” – Miranda Lambert
• “Whiskey And You” – Chris Stapleton
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
• “Black” – Dierks Bentley
• “It Ain’t My Fault” – Brothers Osborne
• “Legends” – Kelsea Ballerini
• “Marry Me” – Thomas Rhett
• “We Should Be Friends” – Miranda Lambert
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
• Rhett Akins
• Ashley Gorley
• Hillary Lindsey
• Shane McAnally
• Josh Osborne
VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
• “Craving You” – Thomas Rhett Featuring Maren Morris
• “Dear Hate” – Maren Morris featuring Vince Gill
• “Funny (How Time Slips Away)” – Glen Campbell And Willie Nelson
• “The Fighter” – Keith Urban featuring Carrie Underwood
• “What Ifs” – Kane Brown Featuring Lauren Alaina
