5th Annual ACM Honors Tonight

The 5th Annual ACM Honors takes place tonight, Sept. 19, at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN. The event honors and awards non-televised category winners from the 46^th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, held last April.

Hosted by performer Joe Nichols and musically directed by Buddy Cannon, the night features musical tribute performances and special presentations. Presenters include Laura Bell Bundy, Ronnie Dunn, Ralph Emery, Robin Meade, John Michael Montgomery. Special performers include Rodney Atkins, Dean Dillon, Brett Eldredge, Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers, Randy Houser, Jack Ingram, The Isaacs, Jamey Johnson, Montgomery Gentry,  Jerrod Niemann, The Oak Ridge Boys, Thompson Square, The Whites and Lee Ann Womack.

Tickets are available through www.Ticketmaster.com.

Special Awards recipients:

Garth Brooks* – Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award
Hank Cochran (posthumously) – Poet’s Award
John Dorris – Mae Boren Axton Award
Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers – Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award
Tom T. Hall – Poet’s Award
Reba – Career Achievement Award
Taylor Swift – Jim Reeves International Award
Country Strong* — Tex Ritter Award (Produced by Tobey Maguire & Jenno Topping; executive produced by Meredith Zamsky; directed by Shana Feste;  Production studio Screen Gems / Sony Pictures Entertainment.)

Winners of the MBI (Musician/Bandleader/Instrumentalist) categories:
Chuck Ainlay – Audio Engineer of the Year
Eddie Bayers – Percussionist/Drummer of the Year
Tom Bukovac – Guitarist of the Year
Dan Dugmore – Steel Guitar Player of the Year
Aubrey Haynie – Fiddle Player of the Year
Gordon Mote – Piano/Keyboard Player of the Year
Bryan Sutton – Specialty Instrument(s) Player of the Year
Glenn Worf* – Bass Player of the Year
Paul Worley – Producer of the Year

Winners of the Industry Awards categories:
Steve “Bogie” Bogdanovich – Romeo Entertainment Group – Don Romeo Talent Buyer of the Year
Sally Williams, Ryman Auditorium – Promoter of the Year
Joe’s Bar (Chicago, IL) – Nightclub of the Year
Mohegan Sun Casino (Uncasville, CT) – Casino of the Year
Ryman Auditorium (Nashville, TN) – Venue of the Year

*not expected to attend