Maren Morris topped the list of 2021 Academy of Country Music Awards winners, collecting wins in the Female Artist of the Year and Song of the Year categories. This year’s ACM Awards marked the first time a Black singer won for New Male Artist, with Jimmie Allen entering the awards show’s history books. Kane Brown also made ACM Awards history as the first solo Black artist to earn the Video of the Year award.
This year’s awards show was hosted by Keith Urban and Mickey Guyton and took place at three of Nashville’s iconic Country music venues: the Grand Ole Opry House, Ryman Auditorium, and the Bluebird Cafe. Performers included Miranda Lambert, Elle King, Chris Young, Kane Brown, Thomas Rhett, Maren Morris, Ryan Hurd, Brothers Osborne, Little Big Town, Kelsea Ballerini, Kenny Chesney, and Chris Stapleton.
ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS NOMINEES & WINNERS:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Luke Combs
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Ashley McBryde
WINNER: Maren Morris
Carly Pearce
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Dierks Bentley
Luke Combs
Eric Church
WINNER: Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
DUO OF THE YEAR
Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne
WINNER: Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Maddie & Tae
GROUP OF THE YEAR
Lady A
Little Big Town
WINNER: Old Dominion
The Cadillac Three
The Highwomen
NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Ingrid Andress
Tenille Arts
WINNER: Gabby Barrett
Mickey Guyton
Caylee Hammack
NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Jimmie Allen
Travis Denning
Hardy
Cody Johnson
Parker Mccollum
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Born Here Live Here Die Here – Luke Bryan
Mixtape Vol. 1 – Kane Brown
Never Will – Ashley McBryde
Skeletons – Brothers Osborne
WINNER: Starting Over – Chris Stapleton
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Bluebird – Miranda Lambert
I Hope – Gabby Barrett
WINNER: I Hope You’re Happy Now – Carly Pearce & Lee Brice
More Hearts Than Mine – Ingrid Andress
The Bones – Maren Morris
SONG OF THE YEAR
Bluebird – Miranda Lambert
One Night Standards – Ashley McBryde
Some People Do – Old Dominion
Starting Over – Chris Stapleton
WINNER: The Bones – Maren Morris
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Better Than We Found It – Maren Morris
Bluebird – Miranda Lambert
Gone – Dierks Bentley
Hallelujah – Carrie Underwood and John Legend
WINNER: Worldwide Beautiful – Kane Brown
MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR
Be A Light – Thomas Rhett featuring Reba McEntire, Hillary Scott, Chris Tomlin, Keith Urban
Does To Me – Luke Combs featuring Eric Church
WINNER: I Hope You’re Happy Now – Carly Pearce & Lee Brice
Nobody But You – Blake Shelton featuring Gwen Stefani
One Beer – HARDY featuring Lauren Alaina & Devin Dawson
One Too Many – Keith Urban, P!nk
