Academy of Country Music Awards 2019

The Academy of Country Music Awards, also known as the ACM Awards, were first held in 1966, honoring the industry’s accomplishments during the previous year. It was the first country music awards program held by a major organization. The Academy’s signature “hat” trophy was first created in 1968. The awards were first televised in 1972 on ABC. In 1979, the Academy joined with Dick Clark Productions to produce the show. Dick Clark and Al Schwartz served as producers while Gene Weed served as director. Under their guidance, the show moved to NBC and finally to CBS, where it remains today.

In 2003, the awards show left Los Angeles and moved to Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Events Center through 2005. The Academy also adopted a sleeker, modern version of the “hat” trophy in 2003, which is now made by the New York City firm Society Awards. In 2004, the organization implemented online awards voting for its professional members, becoming the first televised awards show to do so. Entertainer of the Year was a fan-voted award for eight years, until 2016, when the ACM announced its decision to abandon Internet-voting for it and the three new-artist categories.

The show was moved to the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas from 2006 through 2014 before relocating to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex in 2015 to celebrate its 50th anniversary. The 2015 show broke the Guinness record for Most Attended Awards Show, with 70,252 The show returned to the MGM Grand Garden Arena in 2016 then moved to the new T-Mobile Arena in 2017. In 2018, the ACM Awards returned to the MGM Grand Garden Arena. It was announced on February 20, 2019, that the show would be held again at the MGM Grand Garden Area with the return of Reba McEntire as the hostess for her 16th time.

Country music icon Reba McEntire has returned to hosting the 54th Academy of Country Music Awards for the 16th time Sunday night. Chris Stapleton and Keith Urban lead in the top categories with nominations for both male artist of the year and entertainer of the year.

McEntire also shared some details about her hosting gig, which she promised would be politics-free.

“We’ve got to keep it light. We’ve got to keep it fun. No politics. This is fun. This is entertainment. We are in the entertainment business, and that’s what we’re going to be doing,” she said.

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Kenny Chesney
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Miranda Lambert
Ashley McBryde
Maren Morris
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Dierks Bentley
Luke Combs
Thomas Rhett — WINNER
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban

DUO OF THE YEAR

Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay — WINNER
Florida Georgia Line
LoCash
Maddie & Tae

GROUP OF THE YEAR

Lady Antebellum
Lanco
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion — WINNER

SONG OF THE YEAR

“Break Up In The End,” Cole Swindell
Songwriters: Jessie Jo Dillon, Chase McGill and Jon Nite
“Broken Halos,” Chris Stapleton
Songwriters: Mike Henderson, Chris Stapleton
“Meant To Be,” Bebe Rexha featuring Florida Georgia Line
Songwriters: David Garcia, Tyler Hubbard, Joshua Miller, Bebe Rexha
“Space Cowboy,” Kacey Musgraves
Songwriters: Luke Laird, Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves
“Tequila,” Dan + Shay
Songwriters: Nicolle Galyon, Jordan Reynolds, Dan Smyers — WINNER
“Yours,” Russell Dickerson
Songwriters: Casey Brown / Russell Dickerson / Parker Welling

NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Danielle Bradbery
Lindsay Ell
Ashley McBryde — WINNER
Carly Pearce

NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Jimmie Allen
Luke Combs — WINNER
Jordan Davis
Michael Ray
Mitchell Tenpenny

NEW VOCAL DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR

High Valley
LANCO — WINNER
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 — WINNER
“The Mountain,” Dierks Bentley

SINGLE OF THE YEAR

“Down to the Honky Tonk,” Jake Owen
“Heaven,” Kane Brown
“Meant To Be,” Bebe Rexha featuring Florida Georgia Line
“Most People Are Good,” Luke Bryan
“Tequila,” Dan + Shay — WINNER

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

“Babe,” Sugarland featuring Taylor Swift
“Burn Out,” Midland
“Burning Man,” Dierks Bentley featuring Brothers Osborne
“Drunk Girl,” Chris Janson — WINNER
“Shoot Me Straight,” Brothers Osborne
“Tequila,” Dan + Shay

MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR

“Burning Man,” Dierks Bentley featuring Brothers Osborne
“Drowns the Whiskey,” Jason Aldean featuring Miranda Lambert
“Everything’s Gonna Be Alright,” David Lee Murphy featuring Kenny Chesney
“Keeping Score,” Dan + Shay featuring Kelly Clarkson
“Meant To Be,” Bebe Rexha Featuring Florida Georgia Line

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

Ross Copperman
Ashley Gorley
Shane McAnally — WINNER
Chase McGill
Josh Osborne

The most prestigious awards are for “Artist of the Decade” and “Entertainer of the Year.” There are a number of other awards to recognize male and female vocalists, albums, videos, songs, and musicians. The awards are typically presented in April or May and recognize achievement for the previous year.

Major awards

Year Entertainer
of the Year
Male Vocalist
of the Year
Female Vocalist
of the Year
Song of the Year
2018 Thomas Rhett Nicolle Galyon, Jordan Reynolds, Dan Smyers – “Tequila
2017 Jason Aldean Chris Stapleton Miranda Lambert Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall – “Tin Man
2016 Thomas Rhett Sean Douglas, Thomas Rhett, Joe Spargur – “Die a Happy Man
2015 Chris Stapleton Barry Bales, Ronnie Bowman, Chris Stapleton – “Nobody to Blame
2014 Luke Bryan Jason Aldean Miranda Lambert, Natalie Hemby, Nicolle Galyon – “Automatic
2013 George Strait Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington, Jimmy Yeary – “I Drive Your Truck
2012 Luke Bryan Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton – “Over You
2011 Taylor Swift Blake Shelton Lee Brice, Liz Rose – “Crazy Girl
2010 Brad Paisley Tom Douglas, Allen Shamblin – “The House That Built Me
2009 Carrie Underwood Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott – “Need You Now
2008 Carrie Underwood Jamey Johnson, Lee Thomas Miller, James Otto – “In Color
2007 Kenny Chesney Jennifer Nettles – “Stay
2006 Bill Anderson, Buddy Cannon, Jamey Johnson – “Give It Away
2005 Keith Urban Sara Evans Craig Wiseman, Ronnie Dunn – “Believe
2004 Gretchen Wilson Craig Wiseman, Tim Nichols – “Live Like You Were Dying
2003 Toby Keith Toby Keith Martina McBride Doug Johnson, Kim Williams – “Three Wooden Crosses
2002 Kenny Chesney Phillip Brian White, David Vincent Williams – “I’m Movin’ On
2001 Brooks & Dunn Alan Jackson Alan Jackson – “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)
2000 Dixie Chicks Toby Keith Faith Hill Mark D. Sanders, Tia Sillers – “I Hope You Dance
1999 Shania Twain Tim McGraw Marv Green, Aimee Mayo – “Amazed
1998 Garth Brooks Steve Wariner, Billy Kirsch – “Holes in the Floor of Heaven
1997 George Strait Trisha Yearwood Stephony Smith – “It’s Your Love
1996 Brooks & Dunn Patty Loveless Bill Mack – “Blue
1995 Alan Jackson Dickey Lee, Karen Staley, Danny Mayo – “The Keeper of the Stars
1994 Reba McEntire Reba McEntire Gary Baker, Frank J. Myers – “I Swear
1993 Garth Brooks Vince Gill Wynonna Judd Victoria Shaw, Chuck Cannon – “I Love the Way You Love Me
1992 Mary Chapin Carpenter Vince Gill, John Barlow Jarvis – “I Still Believe in You
1991 Garth Brooks Reba McEntire Billy Dean, Richard Leigh – “Somewhere in My Broken Heart
1990 Tony Arata – “The Dance
1989 George Strait Clint Black Kathy Mattea Jon Vezner, Don Henry – “Where’ve You Been
1988 Hank Williams, Jr. George Strait K. T. Oslin Charles Gene Nelson, Paul Nelson – “Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses
1987 Randy Travis Reba McEntire Paul Overstreet, Don Schlitz – “Forever and Ever, Amen
1986 Paul Overstreet, Don Schlitz – “On the Other Hand
1985 Alabama George Strait Fred Parris, Mike Reid, Troy Seals – “Lost in the Fifties Tonight
1984 Harlan Howard, Brent Maher, Sonny Throckmorton – “Why Not Me
1983 Lee Greenwood Janie Fricke Larry Henley, Jeff Silbar – “Wind Beneath My Wings
1982 Ronnie Milsap Sylvia Merle Haggard – “Are the Good Times Really Over (I Wish a Buck Was Still Silver)
1981 Merle Haggard Barbara Mandrell Felice Bryant, Boudleaux Bryant, Larry Collins, Sandy Pinkard – “You’re the Reason God Made Oklahoma
1980 Barbara Mandrell George Jones Dolly Parton Bobby Braddock, Curly Putman – “He Stopped Loving Her Today
1979 Willie Nelson Larry Gatlin Crystal Gayle Sonny Throckmorton, Curly Putman – “It’s a Cheating Situation
1978 Kenny Rogers Kenny Rogers Barbara Mandrell Randy Goodrum – “You Needed Me
1977 Dolly Parton Crystal Gayle Roger Bowling, Hal Bynum – “Lucille
1976 Mickey Gilley Mickey Gilley Baker Knight – “Don’t the Girls All Get Prettier at Closing Time
1975 Loretta Lynn Conway Twitty Loretta Lynn Larry Weiss – “Rhinestone Cowboy
1974 Mac Davis Merle Haggard Don Wayne – “Country Bumpkin
1973 Roy Clark Charlie Rich Kenny O’Dell – “Behind Closed Doors
1972 Merle Haggard Donna Fargo Donna Fargo – “The Happiest Girl In the Whole USA
1971 Freddie Hart Freddie Hart Loretta Lynn Freddie Hart – “Easy Loving
1970 Merle Haggard Merle Haggard Lynn Anderson Kris Kristofferson – “For the Good Times
1969 Tammy Wynette
1968 Glen Campbell Cathie Taylor
1967 Lynn Anderson
1966 Merle Haggard Bonnie Guitar
1965 Buck Owens Bonnie Owens

 

Artists of the decade

Triple-Crown Award

The Triple-Crown Award is an elite honor that has been presented to only eight country artists in the history of the Academy of Country Music Awards. The honor distinguishes the achievement of an artist, duo or group upon receiving the New Artist (or New Male Vocalist, New Female Vocalist, New Solo Vocalist, New Vocal Duo, New Vocal Group or New Vocal Duo or Group), and Male/Female Vocalist (or Vocal Duo, Vocal Group, Vocal Duo or Group) and Entertainer of the Year awards.[8] Among the later recipients, Carrie Underwood received it at the ACM Awards,[9] while Jason Aldean at the Annual ACM Honors.[10] The following list shows the seven artists that have won the award and the first year winning each of the categories required.