53rd Annual ACM Awards Nominations Announced

Was your favorite artist nominated for an ACM Award?

Written by Kelly Brickey
53rd Annual ACM Awards Nominations Announced
Jason Aldean; Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images

The ‘Week Vegas Goes Country’ is kicking off a little bit early with the announcement of the nominees for the 53rd Annual ACM Awards from Reba on Thursday morning (3/1).

The red-headed country superstar woke up bright and early to let fans and artists know who would be vying for the top award categories for the April ceremony. She first took to Facebook to reveal the Song of the Year nominees before appearing on the morning talk show to inform the country on the rest of the categories up at the ACM Awards.

In addition to revealing the nominations, Reba revealed that she would return to host the celebration for the 15th time. She last hosted the awards in 2012 alongside Blake Shelton.

Leading the pack in this year’s nominations is Chris Stapleton, who scored a total of eight nominations, including ones in Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year. Following closely behind with six was Thomas Rhett, who was also nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year. Superstars Tim McGraw and Faith Hill also earned a nomination, their first for Vocal Duo of the Year.

The 53rd Annual ACM Awards will broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 14, at 8 p.m. EST on CBS.

Entertainer of the Year 

Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Garth Brooks
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban

Female Vocalist of the Year 

Kelsea Ballerini
Carrie Underwood
Maren Morris
Miranda Lambert
Reba

Male Vocalist of the Year 

Thomas Rhett
Chris Young
Keith Urban
Jason Aldean
Chris Stapleton

Vocal Group of the Year 

Little Big Town
LANCO
Old Dominion
Midland
Lady Antebellum

Vocal Duo of the Year 

Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
LOCASH
Tim McGraw and Faith Hill

Single Record of the Year [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

• Better Man – Little Big Town
Producer: Jay Joyce
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville

• Body Like A Back Road – Sam Hunt
Producer: Zach Crowell
Record Label: MCA Nashville

• Broken Halos – Chris Stapleton
Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
Record Label: Mercury Records

• Drinkin’ Problem – Midland
Producers: Dann Huff, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
Record Label: Big Machine Records

• I’ll Name The Dogs – Blake Shelton
Producer: Scott Hendricks
Record Label: Warner Bros.

Song of the Year [Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]

• Body Like a Back Road – Sam Hunt
Songwriters: Zach Crowell, Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
Publishers: Universal Music Corp./Sam Hunt Publishing, Highly Combustible Music/I Love Pizza Music,/Songs of Southside Independent Music Publishing/Who Wants to Buy My Publishing/Atlas Music Publishing, Anderson Fork In The Road Music/Smackville Music/Smack Songs LLC, Smack Hits

• Female – Keith Urban
Songwriters: Ross Copperman, Nicolle Galyon and Shane McAnally
Publishers: EMI Blackwood Music Inc./Rezolant Music/Plain Jane Songs, Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp./A Girl Named Charlie (BMI), Smack Hits/Smack Songs LLC (GMR)

• Tin Man – Miranda Lambert
Songwriters: Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert Jon Randall
Publishers: Sony/ATV Tree Publishing/Pink Dog Publishing (BMI), Beat Up Ford Publishing (BMI), BMG Platinum Songs (BMI)/SWMBMGBMI/Lonesome Vinyl Music

• Whiskey And You – Chris Stapleton
Songwriters: Lee Thomas Miller, Chris Stapleton
Publishers: WB Music Corp./New Sea Gayle Music (ASCAP), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp./New Sea Gayle Music (BMI)

Album of the Year [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

The Breaker – Little Big Town
Producer: Jay Joyce
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville

California Sunrise – Jon Pardi
Producers: Bart Butler, Jon Pardi
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville

From A Room Vol. 1 – Chris Stapleton
Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
Record Label: Mercury Records

Happy Endings – Old Dominion
Producer: Shane McAnally
Record Label: RCA

Life Changes – Thomas Rhett
Producers: Julian Bunetta, Jesse Frasure, Dann Huff, Joe London, Thomas Rhett
Record Label: The Valory Music Co.

Vocal Event of the Year [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

• Craving You – Thomas Rhett Featuring Maren Morris
Producers: Julian Bunetta, Dann Huff, Joe London, Thomas Rhett
Record Label: The Valory Music Co.

• Dear Hate – Maren Morris featuring Vince Gill
Producers: Brad Hill, Maren Morris
Record Label: Columbia Nashville

• Funny (How Time Slips Away) – Glen Campbell And Willie Nelson
Producer: Carl Jackson
Record Label: Universal Music Enterprises

• The Fighter – Keith Urban featuring Carrie Underwood
Producers: Busbee, Keith Urban
Record Label: Capitol Nashville

• What Ifs – Kane Brown Featuring Lauren Alaina
Producer: Dann Huff
Record Label: RCA Nashville

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 Dickserson
Brett Young

New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year

High Valley
LANCO
Midland
Runaway June
LOCASH

Video of the Year [Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]

• Black – Dierks Bentley
Director: Wes Edwards
Producer: Max A. Butler

• It Ain’t My Fault – Brothers Osborne
Director: Wes Edwards, Ryan Silver
Producer: Tiffany Davies

• Legends – Kelsea Ballerini
Director: Jeff Venable
Producer: Ben Skipworth

• Marry Me – Thomas Rhett
Director: TK McKamy
Producer: Dan Atchison

• We Should Be Friends – Miranda Lambert
Director: Trey Fanjoy
Producer: April Dace

Songwriter of the Year

Rhett Akins
Josh Osborne
Ashley Gorley
Hillary Lindsey
Shane McAnally