Everything You Need To Know About Sunday’s ACM Awards
This Sunday the ACM’s are happening, so to get you ready, here’s everything a country music fan needs to know for the show.
Date: Sunday, April 2
Time: 7 p.m. (Winnipeg time)
TV Channel: CBS/Global
Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
Hosts: Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley
Collaborations
- Reba McEntire and contemporary Christian artist Lauren Daigle will perform “Back to God.”
- Tim McGraw and Faith Hill will perform the world television premiere of their new single “Speak to a Girl.”
- Thomas Rhett and Maren Morris will team up for “Craving You.”
- Cole Swindell and Dierks Bentley will rock out on “Flatliner.”
- Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban will perform their hit single, “The Fighter.”
- Florida Georgia Line and the Backstreet Boys will perform a medley.
Solo Performances
- Brett Eldredge
- Old Dominion
- Jason Aldean
- Kelsea Ballerini
- Dierks Bentley
- Brothers Osborne
- Luke Bryan
- Lady Antebellum
- Sam Hunt
- Miranda Lambert
- Little Big Town
- Maren Morris
- Jon Pardi
- Rascal Flatts
- Chris Stapleton
Presenters
- Lauren Alaina
- Bobby Bones
- Kane Brown
- Savannah Chrisley
- Todd Chrisley
- Kacey Musgraves
- Nancy O’Dell
- Jake Owen
- Kellie Pickler
- Darius Rucker
- Elliott Sadler
- Miss America Savvy Shields
- Bubba Wallace
Previously Announced Winners: Jon Pardi (New Male Vocalist of the Year), Maren Morris (New Female Vocalist of the Year) and Brothers Osborne (New Vocal Duo/Group of the Year)
The Nominees (my predictions in italics)
Entertainer of the Year
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Florida Georgia Line
Carrie Underwood
Keith Urban
Male Vocalist of the Year
Jason Aldean
Dierks Bentley
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban
Female Vocalist of the Year
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Maren Morris
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood
Vocal Duo of the Year
Big & Rich
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Maddie & Tae
Vocal Group of the Year
Eli Young Band
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Old Dominion
Rascal Flatts
Album of the Year (Awarded to Artist/Producer/Record Company–Label)
Black– Dierks Bentley
Dig Your Roots – Florida Georgia Line
HERO – Maren Morris
Ripcord – Keith Urban
The Weight of These Wings – Miranda Lambert
Single Record of the Year (Awarded to Artist/Producer/Record Label)
“Blue Ain’t Your Color” – Keith Urban
“H.O.L.Y.” – Florida Georgia Line
“Humble And Kind” – Tim McGraw
“My Church” – Maren Morris
“Vice” – Miranda Lambert
Song of the Year (Awarded to Songwriter/Publisher/Artist)
“Blue Ain’t Your Color” – Keith Urban
“Die a Happy Man” – Thomas Rhett
“Humble and Kind” – Tim McGraw
“Kill a Word” – Eric Church Featuring Rhiannon Giddens
“Tennessee Whiskey” – Chris Stapleton
“Vice” – Miranda Lambert
Vocal Event of the Year (Awarded to Artist/Producer/Record Label)”
“Different For Girls” – Dierks Bentley Featuring Elle King
“Forever Country” – Artists of Then, Now & Forever
“May We All” – Florida Georgia Line Featuring Tim McGraw
“Setting the World On Fire” – Kenny Chesney Featuring P!nk
“Think of You” – Chris Young Featuring Cassadee Pope
The Notes
Keith Urban leads with seven nominations in five categories, including his seventh for Entertainer of the Year and 10th nod for Male Vocalist of the Year. Keith is nominated twice, as both artist and producer, in the Album of the Year category for Ripcord. He received an additional two nominations, for both artist and producer, in the Single Record of the Year category for “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” which is also nominated in the Song of the Year category.
Seven-time Female Vocalist of the Year Miranda Lambert received six nominations and is once again nominated in the Female Vocalist of the Year category. Miranda received her fifth nomination in the Album of the Year category for The Weight of These Wings. Miranda’s “Vice” received nods in the Single Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Video of the Year categories. Also, she received two nominations for “Vice” in the Song of the Year category, as both artist and songwriter.
First-time ACM nominee Maren Morris earned six nominations in four different categories. Maren received nominations in both Female Vocalist of the Year and New Female Vocalist of the Year categories, the latter of which she has already won. She is also nominated twice for Album of the Year, as both producer and artist, on HERO. Maren is twice nominated as both artist and producer in Single Record of the Year for “My Church.”
Reigning Vocal Duo of the Year Florida Georgia Line leads group nominations with five nods, including their fifth nomination in the Vocal Duo of the Year category. Florida Georgia Line is also nominated for the second time in the Entertainer of the Year category. They received their second nomination in the Album of the Year category for Dig Your Roots. Also, they received nods for Single Record of the Year for “H.O.L.Y.” and for Vocal Event of the Year for “May We All” with Tim McGraw.
Sixteen-time ACM Award winner Tim McGraw received five nominations in four categories. He earned two nominations in the Single Record of the Year category, as both artist and producer, on “Humble And Kind.” Also, Tim is nominated in the Song of the Year and Video of the Year categories for “Humble And Kind.” In addition, he earned his 13th nod in the Vocal Event of the Year category for “May We All” with Florida Georgia Line.
ACM Awards co-host Dierks Bentley received three nominations, including his fourth nomination in the Male Vocalist of the Year category. Also, Dierks received his third nod in the Album of the Year category for Black, and his second nod in the Vocal Event of the Year category for “Different for Girls,” featuring Elle King.
Thomas Rhett earned three nominations, including his first in the Male Vocalist of the Year category. Also, TR received two nominations as artist and songwriter in the Song of the Year category for “Die a Happy Man.” The song won TR an ACM Award last year in the Single Record of the Year category.
Reigning ACM Male Vocalist of the Year Chris Stapleton is nominated in three categories. Once again, Chris is nominated in both the Male Vocalist of the Year category, and the Song of the Year category with “Tennessee Whiskey.” Also, Chris received a nod in the Video of the Year category for “Fire Away.”