ICONIC ENTERTAINER REBA McENTIRE RETURNS TO HOST

COUNTRY MUSIC’S PARTY OF THE YEAR®

53rd ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS™

LIVE ON CBS, SUNDAY, APRIL 15th, 8/7 Central

FROM THE MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA IN LAS VEGAS

Chris Stapleton Leads with 8 Nominations

Thomas Rhett Receives 6 Nominations

Keith Urban and Songwriter Shane McAnally Each Receive 5 Nominations

Miranda Lambert and Maren Morris Each Receive 4 Nominations

Sam Hunt, Little Big Town and Midland Each Receive 3 Nominations

Tim McGraw & Faith Hill Receive First Nomination as Vocal Duo

2018 Academy of Country Music Awards Nominees:

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

Jason Aldean
Garth Brooks
Luke Bryan
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Reba McEntire
Maren Morris
Carrie Underwood

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Jason Aldean
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban
Chris Young

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR

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

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR

Lady Antebellum
LANCO
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion

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 Dickerson
Brett Young

NEW VOCAL DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR

High Valley
LANCO
LOCASH
Midland
Runaway June

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

[Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company-Label(s)]

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.

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)

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

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

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
(Off Camera Award)

Rhett Akins
Ashley Gorley
Hillary Lindsey
Shane McAnally
Josh Osborne