The nominations for the 2018 Academy of Country Music Awards have been announced and there are some surprises in the mix of usual suspects as the country music genre honors some of its best and brightest stars.
The Academy of Country Music published the nominees on its official website.
Leading the nominations are Chris Stapleton and Dan + Shay with six nods each. Grammys golden girl Kacey Musgraves scored five, while Dierks Bentley, Brothers Osborne, and Florida Georgia Line (with Bebe Rexha) scored four.
Several of the nominations were read by country music legend and show host Reba McEntire on CBS This Morning and the rest appeared on the awards show’s official website. McEntire will return to host the show for the 16th time. The awards will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 7.
The following are the nominees for the 2019 Academy of Country Music Awards.
Entertainer of the Year
Jason Aldean Luke Bryan Kenny Chesney Chris Stapleton Keith Urban
Male Artist of the Year
Dierks Bentley Luke Combs Thomas Rhett Chris Stapleton Keith Urban
Female Artist of the Year
Miranda Lambert Ashley McBryde Maren Morris Kacey Musgraves Carrie Underwood
Duo of the Year
Brothers Osborne Dan + Shay Florida Georgia Line LoCash Maddie & Tae
Group of the Year
Lady Antebellum Lanco Little Big Town Midland Old Dominion
Chris Stapleton and Dan + Shay lead the 54th Academy of Country Music Awards with six nominations each while Grammy album of the year winner Kacey Musgraves comes in with five nominations. https://t.co/X8OUaVN06p
— ABC24 Memphis (@ABC24Memphis) February 20, 2019
New Female Artist of the Year
Danielle Bradbery Lindsay Ell Ashley McBryde Carly Pearce
New Male Artist of the Year
Jimmie Allen Luke Combs Jordan Davis Michael Ray Mitchell Tenpenny
New Duo or Group of the Year
High Valley Lanco Runaway June
Album of the Year
Dan + Shay , Dan + Shay Desperate Man , Eric Church From A Room, Vol. 2 , Chris Stapleton Golden Hour , Kacey Musgraves The Mountain , Dierks Bentley
Single Record of the Year
“Down to the Honkytonk,” Jake Owen “Heaven,” Kane Brown “Meant to Be,” Bebe Rexha feat. Florida Georgia Line “Most People Are Good,” Luke Bryan “Tequila,” Dan + Shay
Video of the Year
“Babe,” Sugarland feat. Taylor Swift “Burn Out,” Midland “Burning Man,” Dierks Bentley feat. Brothers Osborne “Drunk Girl,” Chris Janson “Shoot Me Straight,” Brothers Osborne “Tequila,” Dan + Shay
Song of the Year
Cole Swindell, “Break Up in the End” Chris Stapleton, “Broken Halos” Bebe Rexha featuring Florida Georgia Line, “Meant to Be” Kacey Musgraves, “Space Cowboy” Dan + Shay, “Tequila” Russell Dickerson, “Yours”
Music Event of the Year
“Burning Man,” Dierks Bentley feat. Brothers Osborne “Drowns the Whiskey,” Jason Aldean feat. Miranda Lambert “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright,” David Lee Murphy feat. Kenny Chesney “Keeping Score,” Dan + Shay feat. Kelly Clarkson “Meant to Be,” Bebe Rexha feat. Florida Georgia Line
Songwriter of the Year
Ross Copperman Ashley Gorley Shane McAnally Chase McGill Josh Osborne
