From nominations and notes to performers and presenters, here’s everything a country music fan needs to know about the 2017 ACM Awards on Sunday, April 2.
Date: Sunday, April 2
Time: 8 p.m. ET
TV Channel: CBS
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
Red Carpet Coverage: Live stream on Twitter @ACMAwards at 6 p.m. ET
Red Carpet Hosts: Chase Bryant, Jessie James Decker, Lindsay Ell, AJ Gibson and Lisa Lee
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
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
Producers: Ross Copperman, Arturo Buenahora Jr.
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville
Dig Your Roots – Florida Georgia Line
Producer: Joey Moi
Record Label: Big Machine Label Group
HERO – Maren Morris
Producers: busbee, Brad Hill, Maren Morris
Record Label: Columbia Nashville
Ripcord – Keith Urban
Producers: Jeff Bhasker, busbee, Nathan Chapman, Nitzan Kaikov, Dann Huff, Tyler Johnson, Johnny Price, Nile Rodgers, Keith Urban, Greg Wells
Record Labels: Hit Red Records, Capitol Records Nashville
The Weight of These Wings – Miranda Lambert
Producers: Frank Liddell, Eric Masse, Glenn Worf
Record Labels: RCA Nashville, Vanner Records
Single Record of the Year (Awarded to Artist/Producer/Record Label)
“Blue Ain’t Your Color” – Keith Urban
Producers: Dann Huff, Keith Urban
Record Labels: Hit Red Records, Capitol Records Nashville
“H.O.L.Y.” – Florida Georgia Line
Producer: Joey Moi
Record Label: Big Machine Label Group
“Humble And Kind” – Tim McGraw
Producers: Byron Gallimore, Tim McGraw
Record Labels: McGraw Music, Big Machine Records
“My Church” – Maren Morris
Producers: busbee, Maren Morris
Record Label: Columbia Nashville
“Vice” – Miranda Lambert
Producers: Frank Liddell, Eric Masse, Glenn Worf
Record Labels: RCA Nashville, Vanner Records
Song of the Year (Awarded to Songwriter/Publisher/Artist)
“Blue Ain’t Your Color” – Keith Urban
Songwriters: Clint Lagerberg, Hillary Lindsey, Steven Lee Olsen
Publishers: WB Music Corp (ASCAP), Music Of The Corn (ASCAP), HillarodyRathbone Music (ASCAP), BMG Gold Songs (ASCAP), House of Sea Gayle Music (ASCAP), Spirit Catalog Holdings (S.a.r.l.), Spirit Two Nashville (ASCAP)
“Die a Happy Man” – Thomas Rhett
Songwriters: Thomas Rhett, Sean Douglas, Joe Spargur
Publishers: EMI Blackwood Music Inc (BMI), Cricket On The Line (BMI), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp (BMI), Eastman Pond Publishing (BMI), Music of Big Deal (BMI), Nice Life (BMI), Frederic And Reid Music (BMI), BMG Platinum Songs (BMI), Brodsky Spensive Publishing (BMI)
“Humble and Kind” – Tim McGraw
Songwriter: Lori McKenna
Publishers: Songs of Universal Inc (BMI), Hoodie Songs (BMI)
“Kill a Word” – Eric Church Featuring Rhiannon Giddens
Songwriters: Eric Church, Luke Dick, Jeff Hyde
Publishers: Emileon Songs (BMI), Little Louder Songs (BMI), Longer And Louder Music (BMI), Mammaw’s Fried Okra Music (BMI), Sony/ATV Tree Publishing (BMI)
“Tennessee Whiskey” – Chris Stapleton
Songwriters: Dean Dillon, Linda Hargrove
Publishers: Universal-Songs Of PolyGram International (BMI), EMI Algee (BMI)
“Vice” – Miranda Lambert
Songwriters: Miranda Lambert, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
Publishers: Sony/ATV Tree Publishing (BMI), Pink Dog Publishing (BMI), Smack Hits (GMR), Kobalt Music Group,
Ltd. (GMR), Anderson Fork In The Road Music (ASCAP), Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc. (ASCAP), Smackville Music (ASCAP)
Video of the Year (Awarded to Producer/Director/Artist)
“Fire Away” – Chris Stapleton
Director: Tim Mattia
Producer: Jennifer Rothlein
“Forever Country” – Artists of Then, Now & Forever
Director: Joseph Kahn
Producers: Nathan de la Rionda, Jil Hardin, Charleen Manca, Joanna Carter, Chandra LaPlume, Sarah Trahern, Damon Whiteside
“Humble And Kind” – Tim McGraw
Director: Wes Edwards
Producer: Jennifer Rothlein
“Peter Pan” – Kelsea Ballerini
Director: Kristin Barlowe
Producer: Michelle Abnet
“Vice” – Miranda Lambert
Director: Trey Fanjoy
Producer: Ashley Bergeron Ford
Songwriter of the Year
Ashley Gorley
Luke Laird
Hillary Lindsey
Shane McAnally
Lori McKenna
Vocal Event of the Year (Awarded to Artist/Producer/Record Label)”
“Different For Girls” – Dierks Bentley Featuring Elle King
Producers: Ross Copperman, Arturo Buenahora Jr.
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville
“Forever Country” – Artists of Then, Now & Forever
Producer: Shane McAnally
Record Label: MCA Nashville
“May We All” – Florida Georgia Line Featuring Tim McGraw
Producer: Joey Moi
Record Label: Big Machine Label Group
“Setting the World On Fire” – Kenny Chesney Featuring P!nk
Producers: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney
Record Labels: Blue Chair Records, Columbia Nashville
“Think of You” – Chris Young Featuring Cassadee Pope
Producers: Corey Crowder, Chris Young
Record Labels: RCA Nashville, RCA Records
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.”
