Winners Revealed For 56th ACM Awards
The 56th Academy of Country Music Awards returned to Nashville tonight (April 18), featuring performances from three iconic venues—the Grand Ole Opry House, the Ryman Auditorium, and the Bluebird Cafe. Hosted by Keith Urban and Mickey Guyton, the broadcast aired live on CBS Television Network.
Early winners announced before the broadcast include Jimmie Allen and Gabby Barrett winning ACM New Male and Female Artist of the Year, Carly Pearce and Lee Brice earning Music Event of the Year for their smash duet “I Hope You’re Happy Now,” and Kane Brown winning Video of the Year for “Worldwide Beautiful.” The ACM Radio Winners were also announced.
The first winner revealed during the broadcast was awarded to Old Dominion for Group of the Year, making this their fourth consecutive win.
Maren Morris won Female Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for “The Bones.” Morris now has six ACM Award career wins, making this her second Female Artist of the Year win and a first category win for Song of the Year, awarding her both artist and songwriter credits. Jimmy Robbins and Laura Veltz each received songwriter credits.
Carly Pearce and Lee Brice won Single of the Year for “I Hope You’re Happy Now,” already winning Music Event of the Year for their collaboration this past week. This marks Pearce’s first time wins in two separate categories, and Brice’s third win for Single of the Year making this his seventh overall ACM Award win. The late producer busbee was awarded posthumously with Single of the Year and Music Event of the Year.
Thomas Rhett won Male Artist of the Year, marking his third win, eighth win overall.
Dan + Shay won Duo of the Year, making this their third consecutive win, fifth win overall.
Chris Stapleton won Album of the Year, with an additional win for producer for Starting Over. Stapleton has had twelve ACM wins overall.
The Academy’s highest honor, Entertainer of the Year, was awarded to Luke Bryan making this his tenth win overall and third for Entertainer of the Year.
Winners for the 56th ACM Awards are highlighted below:
GROUP OF THE YEAR:
Lady A
Little Big Town
Old Dominion
The Cadillac Three
The Highwomen
DUO OF THE YEAR:
Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Maddie & Tae
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR:
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Ashley McBryde
Maren Morris
Carly Pearce
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR:
Dierks Bentley
Eric Church
Luke Combs
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR:
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Luke Combs
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
SINGLE OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]:
Bluebird – Miranda Lambert
– Producer: Jay Joyce
– Record Label: Vanner Records/RCA Records Nashville
I Hope – Gabby Barrett
– Producers: Ross Copperman, Zach Kale
– Record Label: Warner Music Nashville
I Hope You’re Happy Now – Carly Pearce & Lee Brice
– Producers: busbee
– Record Label: Big Machine Records / Curb Records
More Hearts Than Mine – Ingrid Andress
– Producers: Ingrid Andress, Sam Ellis
– Record Label: Warner Music Nashville
The Bones – Maren Morris
– Producer: Greg Kurstin
– Record Label: Columbia Nashville
NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR:
Ingrid Andress
Tenille Arts
Gabby Barrett
Mickey Guyton
Caylee Hammack
NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR:
Jimmie Allen
Travis Denning
HARDY
Cody Johnson
Parker McCollum
SONG OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]:
Bluebird – Miranda Lambert
– Songwriter(s): Luke Dick, Miranda Lambert, Natalie Hemby
– Publishers: Emileon Songs; Little Louder Songs; Pink Dog Publishing; Songs of Universal, INC; Sony ATV Tree Publishing; Wrucke for You Publishing
One Night Standards – Ashley McBryde
– Songwriter(s): Ashley McBryde, Nicolette Hayford, Shane McAnally
– Publishers: Canned Biscuit Songs; Smackworks Music; Smack Blue, LLC; Smackstreet Music; Tempo Investments; Warner Geo Met Ric Music; Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp
Some People Do – Old Dominion
– Songwriter(s): Jesse Frasure, Matt Ramsey, Thomas Rhett, Shane McAnally
– Publishers: Carrot Seed Songs; EMI Blackwood Music INC; Smackville Music; Songs of ROC Nation; Telemitry Rhythm House Music; Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp; Smack Hits; Tempo Investments; Warner Gro Met Ric Music
Starting Over – Chris Stapleton
– Songwriter(s): Chris Stapleton, Mike Henderson
– Publishers: I Wrote These Songs; Straight Six Music; WC Music Corp
The Bones – Maren Morris
– Songwriter(s): Jimmy Robbins, Maren Morris, Laura Veltz
– Publishers: Big Machine Music, LLC; Extraordinary Alien Publishing; International Dog Music; Oh Denise Publishing; Round Hill Songs; Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]:
Born Here Live Here Die Here – Luke Bryan
– Producers: Jeff Stevens, Jody Stevens
– Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville
Mixtape Vol. 1 – Kane Brown
– Producers: Andrew Goldstein, Charlie Handsome, Dann Huff, Lindsay Rimes
– Record Label: RCA Nashville
Never Will – Ashley McBryde
– Producer: Jay Joyce
– Record Label: Warner Music Nashville
Skeletons – Brothers Osborne
– Producer: Jay Joyce
– Record Label: EMI Records Nashville
Starting Over – Chris Stapleton
– Producers: Chris Stapleton, Dave Cobb
– Record Label: Mercury Nashville
VIDEO OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]:
Better Than We Found It – Maren Morris
– Director: Gabrielle Woodland
– Producers: Sarah Kunin, Jennifer Pepke
Bluebird – Miranda Lambert
– Director: Trey Fanjoy
– Producer: Heather Levenstone
Gone – Dierks Bentley
– Directors: Wes Edwards, Ed Pryor, Travis Nicholson, Running Bear and Sam Siske, with animation by Skylar Wilson
– Producer: David Garcia
Hallelujah – Carrie Underwood and John Legend
– Director: Randee St. Nicholas
– Producer: Greg Wells
Worldwide Beautiful – Kane Brown
– Director: Alex Alvga
– Producer: Christen Pinkston
MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR (Tie Within Category Increased Nominees) [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]:
Be A Light – Thomas Rhett featuring Reba McEntire, Hillary Scott, Chris Tomlin, Keith Urban
– Producer: Dann Huff
– Record Label: The Valory Music Co.
Does To Me – Luke Combs featuring Eric Church
– Producer: Scott Moffatt
– Record Label: River House Artists/Columbia Nashville
I Hope You’re Happy Now – Carly Pearce & Lee Brice
– Producer: busbee
– Record Label: Big Machine Records / Curb Records
Nobody But You – Blake Shelton featuring Gwen Stefani
– Producer: Scott Hendricks
– Record Label: Warner Music Nashville
One Beer – HARDY featuring Lauren Alaina & Devin Dawson
– Producers: Derek Wells, Joey Moi
– Record Label: Big Loud Records
One Too Many – Keith Urban, P!nk
– Producers: Cutfather, Dan McCarroll, Keith Urban, PhD
– Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville
