Nominees for the 56th Annual ACM Awards were announced Friday, with Maren Morris and Chris Stapleton leading this year’s back.
Both artists earned six nominations, with Miranda Lambert close behind with five, bringing her overall total to 68 lifetime nominations, the most of any female artist in ACM history. In addition, Miranda earned her 15th Female Artist of the Year nod. (She’s won nine times)
When it comes to diversity and inclusion, this year’s ACM made progress in some areas, and didn’t in others.
For example, the Entertainer of the Year category is made up of males – Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Thomas Rhett and Stapleton.
But, in the Single of the Year category, every song features a female artist, including Miranda, Gabby Barrett, Carly Pearce (with Lee Brice), Ingrid Andress and Maren.
Also, there a record four Black artists nominated this year – Jimmie Allen, Kane Brown, Mickey Guyton and John Legend, for his duet with Carrie Underwood.
As for the snubs: Carrie didn’t receive a Female Artist of the Year nomination for the first time since 2005, and while she tied with Rhett for Entertainer of the Year last year, she didn’t receive a nod this year. Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw both had new albums this year and neither received a nod. Blake Shelton also only received one nod, for “Nobody But You,” his collaboration with Gwen Stefani. Click here to see artist reactions to this year’s nominations.
The 52nd Annual ACM Awards will air April 18th on CBS, and will take place live from three of Nashville’s most historic venues, the Grand Ole Opry, the Ryman Auditorium and the Bluebird Café.
Check out the complete list of nominees below:
Entertainer of the Year
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Luke Combs
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
Female Artist of the Year
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Ashley McBryde
Maren Morris
Carly Pearce
Male Artist of the Year
Dierks Bentley
Luke Combs
Eric Church
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
Duo of the Year
Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Maddie & Tae
Group of the Year
Lady A
Little Big Town
Old Dominion
The Cadillac Three
The Highwomen
New Female Artist of the Year
Ingrid Andress
Tenille Arts
Gabby Barrett
Mickey Guyton
Caylee Hammack
New Male Artist of the Year
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
Starting Over – Chris Stapleton
Single of the Year
“Bluebird” – Miranda Lambert
“I Hope” – Gabby Barrett
“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
“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
“Worldwide Beautiful” – Kane Brown
Songwriter of the Year
Ashley Gorley
Michael Hardy
Hillary Lindsey
Shane McAnally
Josh Osborne
Music Event of the Year
“Be A Light” – Thomas Rhett featuring Reba McEntire, Hillary Scott, Chris Tomlin, Keith Urban
“Does To Me” – Luke Combs feat. Eric Church
“I Hope You’re Happy Now” – Carly Pearce & Lee Brice
“Nobody But You” – Blake Shelton ft. Gwen Stefani
“One Beer” – HARDY ft. Lauren Alaina & Devin Dawson
“One Too Many” – Keith Urban, P!nk
Source: ACM