Maren Morris, Thomas Rhett, Old Dominion and Dan+Shay are among this year’s leading ACM Awards nominees, which were announced Thursday morning (Feb. 27).

Notably, both Thomas Rhett and Luke Combs have earned their very first nominations for ACM Entertainer of the Year.

The nod is one of five nominations Thomas Rhett has earned in four categories this year. He is nominated twice, as both artist and producer, for his album Center Point Road in the Album of the Year category. Additionally, he received his first Video of the Year nomination for “Remember You Young,” and his fourth Male Artist of the Year nomination. Thomas Rhett is the reigning Male Artist of the Year.

Reigning New Male Artist of the Year Combs received three nominations including Male Artist of the Year and his first nomination for Entertainer of the Year. He also received his first nomination for Album of the Year for What You See Is What You Get. These nominations make Combs eligible to win the ACM’s Triple Crown, should he win both honors.

Morris, who recently celebrated a multi-week chart-topper with “The Bones,” has earned five nominations, including her fourth Female Artist of the Year nomination and first Group of the Year nomination as a member of The Highwomen. Notably, The Highwomen are the first all-female group to be nominated for Group of the Year since Dixie Chicks in 2002. Morris is also nominated in the Album of the Year category twice, as both artist and producer, for GIRL. Additionally, Morris is nominated for Music Event of the Year for “Fooled Around and Fell in Love” with Miranda Lambert, Ashley McBryde, Tenille Townes, Caylee Hammack and Elle King.

Dan+Shay earned five nominations, including their seventh nomination for Duo of the Year. They are also nominated for Video of the Year, Music Event of the Year, and Song of the Year for “10,000 Hours,” their collaboration with Justin Bieber. Shay Mooney earned his first individual nomination in the Song of the Year category for “10,000 Hours,” while Dan Smyers has earned two additional individual nominations, as a songwriter in the Song of the Year category and as a producer in the Music Event of the Year category.

Reigning Group of the Year Old Dominion’s nominations include their fifth nod for Group of the Year. They are also nominated for Single of the Year, Song of the Year and Video of the Year for “One Man Band.” Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen and Brad Tursi each received individual nominations as songwriters in the Song of the Year category for “One Man Band,” and also earned additional producer nominations, bringing their total individual nominations to six.

Blake Shelton earned four nominations. Shelton is nominated for Single of the Year, Song of the Year, and Video of the Year for “God’s Country.” He is also nominated alongside Garth Brooks for “Dive Bar.” Shelton previously won this category in 2009 for his Trace Adkins collaboration “Hillbilly Bone.”

Brooks & Dunn return as nominees in the Duo of the Year category this year, having previously won in this category a record 16 times.

This year, 25 artists and creators are receiving their first ACM Awards nominations, among them Ingrid Andress, Gabby Barrett, Riley Green, Caylee Hammack, HARDY, The Highwomen, Cody Johnson, Jordan Reynolds, Tenille Townes, Morgan Wallen and more.

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
• Luke Bryan
• Eric Church
• Luke Combs
• Thomas Rhett
• Carrie Underwood

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
• Kelsea Ballerini
• Miranda Lambert
• Maren Morris
• Kacey Musgraves
• Carrie Underwood

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
• Dierks Bentley
• Luke Combs
• Thomas Rhett
• Chris Stapleton
• Keith Urban

DUO OF THE YEAR
• Brooks & Dunn
• Brothers Osborne
• Dan + Shay
• Florida Georgia Line
• Maddie & Tae

GROUP OF THE YEAR
• Lady Antebellum
• Little Big Town
• Midland
• Old Dominion
• The Highwomen

NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
• Ingrid Andress
• Gabby Barrett
• Lindsay Ell
• Caylee Hammack
• Tenille Townes

NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
• Jordan Davis
• Russell Dickerson
• Riley Green
• Cody Johnson
• Morgan Wallen

ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
• Center Point Road – Thomas Rhett. Producers: Julian Bunetta, Jesse Frasure, Dann Huff, Thomas Rhett, The Stereotypes, Cleve Wilson. Record Label: The Valory Music Co.
• GIRL – Maren Morris. Producers: busbee, Greg Kurstin, Maren Morris. Record Label: Columbia Nashville
• Heartache Medication – Jon Pardi. Producers: Bart Butler, Ryan Gore, Jon Pardi. Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville
• What You See Is What You Get – Luke Combs. Producer: Scott Moffatt. Record Label: River House Artists/Columbia Nashville
• Wildcard – Miranda Lambert. Producer: Jay Joyce. Record Label: Vanner Records/RCA Records Nashville

SINGLE OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
• God’s Country – Blake Shelton. Producer: Scott Hendricks. Record Label: Warner Bros. (Nashville)
• One Man Band – Old Dominion. Producer: Shane McAnally. Record Label: RCA Records Nashville
• Rainbow – Kacey Musgraves. Producers: Ian Fitchuk, Kacey Musgraves, Daniel Tashian. Record Label: MCA Nashville
• Rumor – Lee Brice. Producers: Lee Brice, Dan Frizsell, Kyle Jacobs, Jon Stone. Record Label: Curb Records
• What If I Never Get Over You – Lady Antebellum. Producer: Dann Huff. Record Label: BMLG Records

SONG OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
• 10,000 Hours – Dan + Shay Featuring Justin Bieber. Songwriters: Justin Bieber, Jason “Poo Bear” Boyd, Jessie Jo Dillon, Shay Mooney, Jordan Reynolds, Dan Smyers. Publishers: Beats and Banjos (ASCAP), WB Music Corp. (ASCAP) / Shay Mooney Music (BMI), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI) / Big Ass Pile Of Dimes Music (BMI), Big Machine Music (BMI) / Buckeye 26 (ASCAP), Jreynmusic (ASCAP), WB Music Corp. (ASCAP) / Bieber Time Publishing (ASCAP), Universal Music (ASCAP) / Poo B Z Inc. (ASCAP), BMG Gold Songs (ASCAP).
• Girl Goin’ Nowhere – Ashley McBryde. Songwriters: Jeremy Bussey, Ashley McBryde. Publishers: Songs of Song Factory (BMI) / Universal Tunes (SESAC).
• God’s Country – Blake Shelton. Songwriters: Devin Dawson, Michael Hardy, Jordan Schmidt. Publishers: Relative Music Group (BMI), Administered by Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing (BMI) / WB Music Corp. / Georgia Song Vibez / We-volve Music (ASCAP) / Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. / Neon Cross Music (BMI).
• One Man Band – Old Dominion. Songwriters: Josh Osborne, Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen, Brad Tursi. Publishers: WB Music Corp/Smackville Music/Smack Songs LLC (ASCAP) adm by Kobalt Songs Music Publishing. Rezsongs/Reehits World/Smacktown Music, a division of Smack Blue, LLC/Unfair Entertainment (ASCAP) adm. by Me Gusta Music. We’re Really Doin’ It Publishing (ASCAP) adm by Words & Music. Sony/ATV Cross Keys Publishing/Smackville Music/Smack Songs LLC (ASCAP) adm. by Kobalt Songs Music Publishing.
• Some Of It – Eric Church. Songwriters: Eric Church, Clint Daniels, Jeff Hyde, Bobby Pinson. Publishers: Sony/ATV Tree Publishing/Longer and Louder Music, admin. by Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC; Mammaw’s Fried Okra Music/Little Louder Songs, admin. by Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing; New Writers Of Sea Gayle Music, admin. by ClearBox Rights; New Writers Of Sea Gayle Music/Not A Track Guy Music, admin. by ClearBox Rights (BMI).

VIDEO OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]
• 10,000 Hours – Dan + Shay Featuring Justin Bieber. Director: Patrick Tracy. Producer: Christen Pinkston
• God’s Country – Blake Shelton. Director: Sophie Muller. Producers: Jamie Amos, Patrick Kennedy
• One Man Band – Old Dominion. Director: Mason Allen. Producer: Mason Allen
• Remember You Young – Thomas Rhett. Director: TK McKamy. Producer: Dan Atchison
• Sugar Coat – Little Big Town. Directors: Alexa Kinigopoulos, Stephen Kinigopoulos. Producers: Wes Edwards, Carlo Glorioso, Angie Lorenz

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR*(Off Camera Award)
• Ashley Gorley
• Michael Hardy
• Hillary Lindsey
• Shane McAnally
• Josh Osborne

MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
• 10,000 Hours – Dan + Shay Featuring Justin Bieber. Producers: Dan Smyers. Record Label: Warner Music Nashville
• Dive Bar – Garth Brooks Featuring Blake Shelton. Producers: Garth Brooks. Record Label: Pearl Records, Inc.
• Fooled Around And Fell In Love – Miranda Lambert Featuring Maren Morris, Ashley McBryde, Tenille Townes, Caylee Hammack & Elle King. Producer: Jay Joyce. Record Label: Vanner Records/RCA Records Nashville
• Old Town Road – Lil Nas X Featuring Billy Ray Cyrus. Producers: Michael Trent Reznor, Atticus Matthew Ross, YoungKio. Record Label: Columbia Records
• What Happens In A Small Town – Brantley Gilbert Featuring Lindsay Ell. Producer: Dann Huff. Record Label: The Valory Music Co.

INDUSTRY AWARDS:
CASINO OF THE YEAR – THEATER
• The Colosseum at Caesars Palace – Las Vegas, NV
• The Joint: Tulsa – Tulsa, OK
• Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort – Mt. Pleasant, MI
• The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino – Las Vegas, NV
• WinStar Global Event Center – Thackerville, OK

CASINO OF THE YEAR – ARENA
• Mark G. Etess Arena – Atlantic City, NJ
• MGM Grand Garden Arena – Las Vegas, NV
• Sandia Amphitheater – Albuquerque, NM
• Stir Concert Cove – Council Bluffs, IA
• T Mobile Arena – Las Vegas, NV

FAIR/RODEO OF THE YEAR
• California Mid-State Fair – Paso Robles, CA
• Cheyenne Frontier Days – Cheyenne, WY
• Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo – Houston, TX
• Minnesota State Fair – St. Paul, MN
• San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo – San Antonio, TX

FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR
• Boots and Hearts Music Festival – Oro-Medonte, OR
• Stagecoach – Indio, CA
• Tortuga Music Festival – Fort Lauderdale, FL
• Watershed Festival – George, WA
• Windy City Smokeout – Chicago, IL

CLUB OF THE YEAR
• Billy Bob’s Texas – Fort Worth, TX
• Coyote Joe’s – Charlotte, NC
• Grizzly Rose – Denver, CO
• Joe’s Live – Rosemont, IL
• Losers Bar & Grill – Nashville, TN

THEATER OF THE YEAR
• The Beacon Theatre – New York, NY
• The Chicago Theatre – Chicago, IL
• DeJoria Center – Salt Lake City, UT
• Rialto Square Theatre – Joliet, IL
• Ruth Eckerd Hall – Clearwater, FL

OUTDOOR VENUE OF THE YEAR
• Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion – Gilford, NH
• Greek Theatre – Los Angeles, CA
• Innsbrook After Hours – Glen Allen, VA
• Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO
• Rose Music Center – Huber Heights, OH
• The Wharf at Orange Beach – Orange Beach, AL

ARENA OF THE YEAR
• Infinite Energy Center – Duluth, GA
• Madison Square Garden – New York, NY
• Staples Center – Los Angeles, CA
• Van Andel Arena – Grand Rapids, MI
• VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena – Jacksonville, FL

DON ROMEO TALENT BUYER OF THE YEAR
• Clay Campbell – Triangle Talent
• Gary Osier – Gary Osier Presents
• Gil Cunningham – Neste Live!
• Kell Houston – Houston Productions
• Nina Rojas – Neste Live!
• Todd Boltin – Variety Attractions

PROMOTER OF THE YEAR
• Adam Weiser – AEG Presents
• Brian O’Connell – Live Nation
• Jered Johnson – Pepper Productions
• Stacy Vee – Messina Touring Group
• Troy Vollhoffer – Premier Global Production

STUDIO RECORDING AWARDS:
BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
• Eli Beaird
• Mike Brignardello
• Tim Marks
• Michael Rhodes
• Jimmie Lee Sloas

DRUMMER OF THE YEAR
• Fred Eltringham
• Miles McPherson
• Greg Morrow
• Jerry Roe
• Nir Zidkyahu

GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
• Tom Bukovac
• Dann Huff
• Rob McNelley
• Adam Shoenfeld
• Ilya Toshinskiy

PIANO/KEYBOARDS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
• David Dorn
• Tony Harrell
• Charlie Judge
• Tim Lauer
• Gordon Mote
• Mike Rojas

SPECIALTY INSTRUMENT(S) PLAYER OF THE YEAR
• Stuart Duncan
• Jenee Fleenor
• Jim Hoke
• Danny Rader
• Joe Spivey
• Charlie Worsham

STEEL GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
• Dan Dugamore
• Paul Franklin
• Josh Grange
• Russ Pahl
• Justin Schipper

AUDIO ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
• Chuck Ainlay
• Jeff Balding
• Tony Castle
• Julian King
• Steve Marcantonio
• Justin Niebank

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
• busbee
• Buddy Cannon
• Dann Huff
• Michael Knox
• Joey Moi

MusicRow is proud to reveal the honorees for its ninth annual Rising Women on the Row celebration.

This year’s ceremony will honor six female executives who are making a significant impact on Nashville’s country music industry.

City National Bank, Tri Star Sports & Entertainment Group, and Loeb & Loeb return this year as Presenting Sponsors for the 2020 Rising Women on the Row. Additional details about the event will be announced soon.

This year’s honorees include:

Jen Conger (FBMM, Business Manager)

Jen Conger quickly moved up the ranks to become a business manager at FBMM, after becoming the first female associate business manager in the firm’s history and doing so at a record pace of under 10 years. In Jen’s almost two decades of experience within the music industry, she has mentored a broad list of accomplished artists who have collectively received 17 Grammy Award wins, along with many ACM, CMA, Billboard and Golden Globe awards. She is a member of the ACM, the CMA, SOURCE, The Recording Academy and The Country Music Hall of Fame Troubadour Society, as well as an alumna of the Society of Leaders in Development (SOLID) and a member of the Leadership Music Class of 2020. Jen played an integral role in the development and execution of seven sold-out concerts held at Bridgestone Arena, in which the proceeds—over $4 million to date—benefited the Country Music Hall of Fame. For the last nine years, she has organized a clothing and instrument donation on behalf of her clients, with donated items totaling over $110,000 given to the W.O. Smith Music School, and in 2018, was involved in the preparation of a sold-out benefit concert in October of that year, which raised over $700,000 net for various music industry-oriented charities, including MusiCares.

 

JoJamie Hahr (BBR Music Group/BMG, VP Marketing)

JoJamie Hahr has been with BBR Music Group for six years, previously serving as the VP of Promotion at BBR management group before assuming the role of VP of Marketing. Prior to joining the BBR team, JoJamie served as the National Dir. of Field Promotion for The Valory Music Co., after being promoted from Dir. of SE Promotion and Marketing. Her 20 years in the industry includes stops at UMG, WSIX and WWKA. Since taking the helm of the then newly created marketing department at BBR Music Group, she has grown the department into an industry leader. JoJamie oversees brand partnerships and strategic marketing, as well as coordinates marketing efforts for each of the BBR Music Group’s three imprints, including the 2016, 2017 and 2018 ACM Entertainer of the Year, and ACM Artists of the Decade, Jason Aldean, chart-toppers Dustin Lynch, Zac Brown Band and Chase Rice, as well as Randy Houser,  Jimmie Allen, Lindsay Ell, LOCASH, Runaway June, and more. JoJamie lead marketing efforts for Blanco Brown’s debut hit “The Git Up”, which claimed the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart (12 weeks), was the top-selling digital country song in the U.S. (13 weeks) and earned nearly half a BILLION streams worldwide to date.

 

Mandy Gallagher Morrison (City National Bank, Vice President/Senior Relationship Manager)

With 16 years of music industry banking experience, Mandy’s specialty is helping her clients meet their financial goals. She was recruited by City National Bank in 2011 to help launch its Nashville office, making her the youngest relationship manager in the bank’s entire Entertainment division at the time. She was promoted to vice president in just two years, and has played an integral role in the bank’s growth story as it’s become Nashville’s premiere entertainment bank, now serving over 80% of the country music industry. Just a year after joining City National, Mandy helped to start the Troubadour Society, an organization for young professionals that supports the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. As one of the founding leaders, she spearheaded the collaboration with the Hall of Fame to launch the organization, and is still a member today. She is currently an active board member of the T.J. Martell Foundation and a member of the nonprofit SOURCE, of which she sat on the board for eight years including as board president in 2018 and past president and program committee chair in 2019. She is also heavily involved in Leadership Music after graduating from the program in 2015. For the past two years, Mandy has hit over 200% of her client goals, and has significantly grown both the number of clients City National serves in Nashville and the assets managed on clients’ behalf.

 

Missy Roberts (Universal Music Publishing Group, Senior Creative Director)

As Sr. Creative Director for Universal Music Publishing Group Nashville, Missy Roberts represents a catalog of writers that includes Ingrid Andress, Paul DiGiovanni, Justin Ebach, Derrick Southerland and more, and has cuts “The Truth” (Jason Aldean), “Young And Crazy” (Frankie Ballard), “Sippin’ On Fire” (Florida Georgia Line), “I Met A Girl” (William Michael Morgan), and more. After an internship in marketing at Sony Records, Missy was hired by the A&R department as assistant to industry vet Tracy Gershon. Missy launched her publishing career at Island Bound Music, running the office, exploiting the expansive catalog and handling day to day management of Sony artist Crystal Shawanda and Dreamworks Records artist Gary Nichols. From there she moved to Disney Music Publishing where she helped start the Nashville office. Since then, Roberts has held posts at Stage Three Music and EMI Music Publishing, before joining UMPG Nashville. Most recently, Missy connected Warner Music Nashville/Atlantic artist Ingrid Andress with co-writers Derrick Southerland and Sam Ellis, which led to Andress’ current Top 15 hit “More Hearts Than Mine.” Missy is also involved in female empowerment group She Is The Music.

 

Jennie Smythe (Girlilla Marketing, CEO)

Jennie Smythe began her career in the mid-1990s working for Elektra Entertainment, Spivak-Sobol Entertainment, Disney’s Hollywood Records and more. In the early 2000s, she moved to YAHOO! Music as Director of Marketing and Promotion which eventually led her to move to Nashville to work for Warner Bros. Records’ New Media Department and then as Clear Channel’s Senior Director of Content and Marketing. In January of 2008, Jennie launched Girlilla Marketing. Her company helps build brands and marketing strategies across genres and mediums including music, film and sports. Girlilla Marketing’s clients include Jason Aldean, Rascal Flatts, Vince Gill, Brett Young, Lee Ann Womack, Darius Rucker, Hootie & the Blowfish, Maddie & Tae, Chrissy Metz and more. Jennie is also a breast cancer survivor who led her company throughout her 15 months of cancer treatment. She was a 2019 Chairperson for the CMA Foundation and serves on the board of Music Health Alliance. She is a 2010 graduate of Leadership Music and is also a member of the CMA, SOURCE, and a supporter of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Jennie was included in Billboard‘s 2018 Country Power Player list and was a recipient of Nashville Business Journal’s Women In Music City Awards and in 2017 and 2018.

 

Stephanie Wright (UMG Nashville, Senior VP, A&R)

For 20 years, Stephanie Wright has been an integral part of Universal Music Group’s A&R department, where she aids A&R initiatives for Capitol, EMI, MCA and Mercury, including talent recruitment, artist development and overseeing respective recording projects for UMG artists such as Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Chris Stapleton, Dierks Bentley, George Strait, Jon Pardi, Little Big Town and more. Her major artist signings include Sam Hunt, Kacey Musgraves, Jordan Davis, Brandon Lay, Kassi Ashton, Adam Hambrick, and Parker McCullom. A native of Salt Lake City, Utah, Stephanie came to the music business through her cousins, the Platinum-selling sibling trio SHeDAISY. Since then, Stephanie has been instrumental in critically-acclaimed albums including Lee Ann Womack’s Call Me Crazy, Kacey Musgraves’ Same Trailer Different Park, and Sam Hunt’s Montevallo. She also engages with the publishing community, seeking the perfect songs and writer collaborations for her artists’ projects. She is on the board of the T. J. Martell Foundation (Southern Region) and is a member of the ACM, CMA, Recording Academy and N.O.W..