Chris Stapleton, Dan + Shay, and Kacey Musgraves lead the nominees for the upcoming 54th Academy of Country Music Awards, to be held Sunday, April 7 in Las Vegas.

Reigning Male Artist of the Year, Chris Stapleton received six nominations in four categories, including his second nod for Entertainer of the Year. Stapleton is also nominated twice, as both artist and producer, for his album From A Room: Volume 2 in the Album of the Year category, which he won last year for From A Room: Volume 1. Additionally, he is nominated for Song of the Year twice, as both artist and songwriter, for “Broken Halos.” Lastly, Stapleton is nominated for Male Artist of the Year.

Dan + Shay earned six nominations, including their sixth nod for Duo of the Year. They received nominations in the Single of the Year, Song of the Year and Video of the Year categories for “Tequila.” Dan + Shay are also nominated for Album of the Year for Dan + Shay, and Music Event of the Year for “Keeping Score” (featuring Kelly Clarkson). Additionally, Dan Smyers received 3 individual nominations as a producer in the Album of the Year, Single of the Year and Music Event of the Year categories. He also received an individual nomination as a writer in the Song of the Year category for “Tequila.”

Kacey Musgraves earned five nominations in three categories, including a nod for Female Artist of the Year. Additionally, she is nominated in the Album of the Year Category twice, as both artist and producer, for Golden Hour, as well as in the Song of the Year category twice, as both artist and songwriter, for “Space Cowboy.” Musgraves most recently won in 2016 in the Video of the Year category for “Forever Country” and previously won in the Album of the Year category in 2013 for Same Trailer Different Park.

Earning four nominations each are Dierks Bentley, Brothers Osborne, Florida Georgia Line and Bebe Rexha.

Ian Fitchuk, a first-time nominee this year, picked up six nominations including a nod for Album of the Year with Kacey Musgraves as a producer for Golden Hour. Fitchuk also received five nominations across Studio Recording Award categories, including Bass Player of the Year, Drummer of the Year, Piano/Keyboards Player of the Year, Specialty Instrument(s) Player of the Year and Producer of the Year.

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
• Chris Stapleton
• Keith Urban

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

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

NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
• Danielle Bradbery
• Lindsay Ell
• Ashley McBryde
• Carly Pearce

NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
• Jimmie Allen
• Luke Combs
• Jordan Davis
• Michael Ray
• Mitchell Tenpenny

NEW DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
• High Valley
• LANCO
• Runaway June

ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
• Dan + Shay – Dan + Shay
Producers: Scott Hendricks / Dan Smyers / Matt Dragstrem
Record Label: Warner Music Nashville

• Desperate Man – Eric Church
Producers: Jay Joyce / Arturo Buenahora Jr.
Record Label: EMI Records Nashville

• From A Room: Volume 2 – Chris Stapleton
Producers: Dave Cobb / Chris Stapleton
Record Label: Mercury Nashville

• Golden Hour – Kacey Musgraves
Producers: Ian Fitchuk / Daniel Tashian / Kacey Musgraves
Record Label: MCA Nashville

• The Mountain – Dierks Bentley
Producers: Ross Copperman / Jon Randall Stewart / Arturo Buenahora Jr.
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville

SINGLE OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
• Down to the Honky Tonk – Jake Owen
Producer: Joey Moi
Record Label: Big Loud Records

• Heaven – Kane Brown
Producer: Dann Huff / Polow Da Don
Record Label: RCA Nashville

• Meant To Be – Bebe Rexha featuring Florida Georgia Line
Producer: Wilshire for Rock The Soul Ent
Record Label: Warner Bros. Records

• Most People Are Good – Luke Bryan
Producers: Jeff Stevens / Jody Stevens
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville

• Tequila – Dan + Shay
Producers: Scott Hendricks / Dan Smyers
Record Label: Warner Music Nashville

SONG OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
• Break Up In The End – Cole Swindell
Writers: Jessie Jo Dillon / Chase McGill / Jon Nite
Publishers: EMI April Music Inc. / Nite Writer Music (ASCAP) / Songs of Universal, Inc. / Plum Nelly (BMI) / Big Music Machine (BMI)/ Big Ass Pile Of Dimes Music (BMI)

• Broken Halos – Chris Stapleton
Writers: Mike Henderson / Chris Stapleton
Publishers: WB Music Corp./House of Sea Gayle Music, admin. by ClearBox Rights/Spirit Catalog Holdings, S.a.r.l. admin. by Spirit Two Nashville (ASCAP); Straight Six Music (BMI)

• Meant To Be – Bebe Rexha featuring Florida Georgia Line
Writers: David Garcia / Tyler Hubbard / Joshua Miller / Bebe Rexha
Publishers: BMG Platinum Songs/Kiss Me If You Can Music (BMI) (all rights administered by BMG Rights Management (US) LLC) Big Loud Mountain (BMI) and T Hubb Publishing (BMI). All Rights Administered by Round Hill Works. Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. on behalf of itself and Songs of the Corn and Jack 10 Publishing. Universal Music – Brentwood Benson Publishing (ASCAP) D Soul Music (ASCAP) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com)

• Space Cowboy – Kacey Musgraves
Writers: Luke Laird / Shane McAnally / Kacey Musgraves
Publishers: Smack Hits/Smack Songs, admin by Kobalt Music Group ltd. (GMR)/Universal Music Works/We Are Creative NBaSmack Hits/Smack Songs, LLC, admin. by Kobalt Music Group Ltd. (GMR); Universal Music Works/We Are Creative Nation/Jake and Mack Music, admin. by Universal Music Works; Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp./351 Music (BMI).

• Tequila – Dan + Shay
Writers: Nicolle Galyon / Jordan Reynolds / Dan Smyers
Publishers: Beats and Banjos (ASCAP)/ WB Music Corp. (ASCAP)/A Girl Named Charlie (BMI) / Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI) / Buckeye26 (ASCAP) / Jreynmusic (ASCAP)

• Yours – Russell Dickerson
Writers: Casey Brown / Russell Dickerson / Parker Welling
Publishers: BMG Platinum Songs/Kailey’s Dream / So Essential Tunes / Not Just Another Song Publishing / Hillbilly Science and Research Publishing/Trailerlily Music

VIDEO OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]
• Babe – Sugarland featuring Taylor Swift
Producer: Roger Hunt
Director: Anthony Mandler

• Burn Out – Midland
Producer: Ben Skipworth
Director: TK McKamy / Cameron Duddy

• Burning Man – Dierks Bentley featuring Brothers Osborne
Producer: Nate Eggert
Director: Wes Edwards

• Drunk Girl – Chris Janson
Producer: Ben Skipworth
Director: Jeff Venable

• Shoot Me Straight – Brothers Osborne
Producer: April Kimbrell
Director: Wes Edwards / Ryan Silver

• Tequila – Dan + Shay
Producer: Christen Pinkston
Director: Patrick Tracy

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR*(Off Camera Award)
• Ross Copperman
• Ashley Gorley
• Shane McAnally
• Chase McGill
• Josh Osborne

MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
• Burning Man – Dierks Bentley featuring Brothers Osborne
Producers: Ross Copperman / Jon Randall Stewart / Arturo Buenahora Jr.
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville

• Drowns the Whiskey – Jason Aldean featuring Miranda Lambert
Producer: Michael Knox
Record Labels: Macon Music, LLC; Broken Bow Records; BBR Music Group; BMG

• Everything’s Gonna Be Alright – David Lee Murphy featuring Kenny Chesney
Producers: Buddy Cannon / Kenny Chesney / David Lee Murphy
Record Label: Reviver Records

• Keeping Score – Dan + Shay featuring Kelly Clarkson
Producers: Scott Hendricks / Dan Smyers
Record Label: Warner Music Nashville

• Meant To Be – Bebe Rexha featuring Florida Georgia Line
Producer: Wilshire for Rock The Soul Ent
Record Label: Warner Bros. Records

INDUSTRY AWARDS:
CASINO OF THE YEAR – SMALL CAPACITY
• Choctaw Casino & Resort – Durant, OK
• Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort – Cherokee, NC
• The Joint: Tulsa – Tulsa, OK
• Peppermill Reno – Reno, NV
• Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort – Mt. Pleasant, MI

CASINO OF THE YEAR – LARGE CAPACITY
• Casino Rama – Orillia, ON
• Grand Casino Hinckley – Hinckley, MN
• Mohegan Sun Arena – Uncasville, CT
• Sandia Casino Amphitheater – Albuquerque, NM
• WinStar Global Event Center – Thackerville, OK

FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR
• Boots & Hearts – Oro-Medonte, ON
• Faster Horses – Brooklyn, MI
• Stagecoach – Indio, CA
• Tortuga Music Festival – Ft. Lauderdale, FL
• Windy City Smokeout – Chicago, IL

NIGHTCLUB OF THE YEAR
• Dusty Armadillo – Rootstown, OH
• Grizzly Rose – Denver, CO
• Joe’s on Weed St – Chicago, IL
• Joe’s Live – Rosemont, IL
• Stoney’s Rockin’ Country – Las Vegas, NV

VENUE OF THE YEAR – SMALL CAPACITY
• House of Blues – Anaheim, CA
• House of Blues – Boston, MA
• Floore’s – Helotes, TX
• Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN
• Surf Ballroom – Clear Lake, IA

VENUE OF THE YEAR – MEDIUM CAPACITY
• Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO
• Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion – Gilford, NH
• Ascend Amphitheater – Nashville, TN
• The Wharf Amphitheater – Orange Beach, AL
• The Anthem – Washington, DC

VENUE OF THE YEAR – LARGE CAPACITY
• Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN
• BOK Center – Tulsa, OK
• Budweiser Stage – Toronto, ON
• PNC Bank Arts Center – Holmdel, NJ
• Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center – Noblesville, IN

DON ROMEO TALENT BUYER OF THE YEAR
• Todd Boltin – Variety Attractions
• Billy Brill – Billy Alan Productions
• Gil Cunningham – Neste Event Marketing
• Kell Houston – Houston Productions
• Nicole More – Wilson Events, Inc.

PROMOTER OF THE YEAR
• Brent Fedrizzi – AEG Presents
• Stacy Vee – Goldenvoice
• Ed Warm – Joe’s Bar
• Adam Weiser – AEG Presents
• Jason Wright – Live Nation

STUDIO RECORDING AWARDS:
BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
• Mike Brignardello
• JT Cure
• Ian Fitchuk
• Tony Lucido
• Glenn Worf

DRUMMER OF THE YEAR
• Matt Chamberlain
• Ian Fitchuk
• Evan Hutchings
• Aaron Sterling
• Nir Z

GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
• Tom Bukovac
• Jedd Hughes
• Danny Rader
• Adam Shoenfeld
• Ilya Toshinsky
• Derek Wells

PIANO/KEYBOARDS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
• Dave Cohen
• David Dorn
• Ian Fitchuk
• Tony Harrell
• Charlie Judge
• Gordon Mote

SPECIALTY INSTRUMENT(S) PLAYER OF THE YEAR
• Ian Fitchuk
• Jenee Fleenor
• Carl Miner
• Mickey Raphael
• Ilya Toshinsky

STEEL GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
• Dan Dugmore
• Steve Hinson
• Mike Johnson
• Russ Pahl
• Justin Schipper

AUDIO ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
• Craig Alvin
• Ryan Gore
• Jeff Juliano
• Vance Powell
• F Reid Shippen

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
• Buddy Cannon
• Ian Fitchuk
• Dann Huff
• Jay Joyce
• Michael Knox

Fusion Music has partnered with Don Williams‘ long-time manager, Robert Pratt, to consult on business development for the Country Music Hall of Fame member’s estate. Plans for a live music experience and new music will release later this year. Williams died Sept. 8, 2017, at age 78.

“Don Williams’ iconic catalog of music continues to react with fans around the world,” says Daniel Miller, Fusion Music Managing Partner. “His music has spanned more than five decades, and we’re honored to support his legacy.”

Williams was a dominating country hit maker throughout the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s, and continues to have one of the most-streamed catalogs from that era. Often referred to as the Gentle Giant because of his commanding presence and laid-back demeanor, Williams’ voice and song choices earned him hits including “We Should Be Together,” “I’m Just A Country Boy,” “Amanda,” “It Must Be Love” and “Tulsa Time.” Williams recorded 35 albums, with more than 50 Top 40 country and 17 chart-topping hits, including, “I Believe In You.” His songs have been recorded by country artists including Alan Jackson and Lee Ann Womack, as well as rock artists Pete Townshend and Eric Clapton.

Williams was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2010 and was a member of the Grand Ole Opry. In addition to his recording career, he appeared in the Burt Reynolds classic films W. W. and the Dixie Dancekings and Smokey & The Bandit II and appeared as a guest performer on The Dukes of Hazzard.

In association with Red Light Management, the Fusion Music team also represents Martina McBride, Cassadee Pope, Jacob Davis and Ryan Kinder.

MusicRow Magazine, Nashville’s leading music industry publication, is proud to reveal the winners for its 17th Annual Meet & Greet and CountryBreakout Awards.

The private event, held Wednesday morning (Feb. 13) at The Listening Room Cafe, presented the winners to a packed house, including country radio broadcasters and industry affiliates ahead of the 2019 Country Radio Seminar (CRS).

Sponsored by business management firm Vaden Group/Elliott Davis, the event was hosted by MusicRow Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson and MusicRow Chart Director Alex Kobrick.

This year’s award winners were determined by airplay accumulations on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart in 2018. In addition to celebrating this year’s honorees, guests were entertained with performances from Sea Gayle Records’ CJ Solar and independent artist Chance McKinney.

2019 MusicRow CountryBreakout Award Winners:
Independent Artist of the Year – CJ Solar
Reporter of the Year – Derek Beck
Songwriter of Year–Shane McAnally
Label of the Year – Capitol Records Nashville
Male Artist of Year – Jason Aldean
Female Artist of the Year – Kelsea Ballerini
Group/Duo of the Year – Florida Georgia Line
Breakout Artist of the Year – Jordan Davis

Attendees also received the newly-revealed MusicRow Magazine Country Radio print issue featuring Curb Records’ Dylan Scott on the cover.

Click here for more in-depth coverage from the legendary ‘Bobby Karl’ working the room at this annual event, which celebrates radio success on the MusicRow country radio chart.

Kacey Musgraves was the golden girl at Sunday evening’s (Feb. 10) Grammy honors, picking up four of the coveted golden grammophones.

Most importantly, the UMG Nashville artist’s Golden Hour album bested the seven other nominees in the coveted, all-genre Album of the Year.

Musgraves swept every category she was nominated in, which also included Best Country Album (for the same project), Best Country Song (“Space Cowboy”) and Best Country Solo Performance (“Butterflies”). The trophies join the artist’s two previous Grammy wins, for her album Same Trailer, Different Park and “Merry Go ‘Round.”

“I never dreamed this record would be met with such love, such warmth, such positivity,” said Musgraves just after winning Best Country Album for Golden Hour. She shared the stage with co-producers Ian Fitchuk and Daniel Tashian. “I love country music with everything that I am and I’m very lucky to share my version of that with the world.”

Previous country albums to earn the overall Album of the Year honor have included Glen Campbell’s By The Time I Get To Phoenix (1969), Dixie Chicks’ Taking The Long Way (2007), and Taylor Swift’s Fearless (2010). Like Musgraves, the albums from Swift and the Dixie Chicks both earned Country Album of the Year and overall Album of the Year during their respective Grammy-winning ceremonies.

One year after Recording Academy president Neil Portnow advised female artists to “step up” if they wanted more industry recognition and award nominations, female artists proved they had been stepping up all along.

Musgraves’ win, along with wins for artists such as Dua Lipa (Best New Artist) and Cardi B (the first solo female to win Best Rap album), proved the pinnacle of an evening that saw numerous female artists, songwriters, producers and engineers celebrating triumphs.

Sunday evening, 31 women earned Grammy award wins, in a total of 38 categories. The number marks a wave of change from last year, when 17 of the evening’s 86 honors were awarded to female artists or female-led groups. Nashville artists, and artists who made their projects in Music City, were a big part of the evening–made even more impressive given the 21,000 music submissions that were considered for this year’s Grammy honors.

Musgraves performed early in the televised portion of the show, standing illuminated by a lone spotlight, backed by a stately piano and stage trimmed in rainbow lights as she offered a subtle, elegant rendition of Golden Hour’s uplifting “Rainbow.”

The evening featured a musical tribute to current MusiCares Person of the Year honoree Dolly Parton.

While the tribute had a slightly shaky start due to Katy Perry over-singing on a portion of Parton’s “Here You Come Again,” which was paired with Musgraves’ more subdued and accurate rendering, the tribute swiftly became glorious as Dolly appeared, with her soaring, airy soprano and charming persona.

And really, who better to pay musical tribute to Dolly Parton than Parton herself?

Parton was joined by her goddaughter Miley Cyrus for a sassy version of “Jolene,” before Maren Morris joined the two, creating a stunning rendition of “After The Gold Rush,” a track Parton first recorded with Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris on the second Trio album. The comfortable, complementary harmonies from Parton, Cyrus and Morris made clear the 73-year-old Parton’s vocal influence is still going strong.

Little Big Town backed Parton with rich, nuanced harmonies on newer track “Red Shoes,” before they were joined by Perry, Cyrus, Musgraves and Morris for an all-sing on Parton’s classic “9 To 5.”

Brandi Carlile, whose critical favorite By The Way I Forgive You was recorded at Nashville’s RCA Studio A, earned three award wins before the telecast, sweeping the American Roots categories, including Best Americana Album, Best American Roots Performance (“The Joke”) and Best American Roots Song (“The Joke”).

Though Carlile was shut out of the all-genre categories for which she was nominated, she did offer a star-making, impassioned performance of “The Joke” during the telecast. She commanded the stage, wielding her guitar and leading her band with a casual confidence and blistering lead vocal. In a moment of transparent joy, Carlile concluded her performance by jumping up and down onstage as the crowd stood to its feet.

Prior to the telecast, Lauren Daigle earned two honors in the Contemporary Christian Music categories, earning Best Album for Look Up Child, and Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song for “You Say.” Similarly, Tori Kelly earned Best Gospel Album for Hiding Place and Best Gospel Performance/Song for “Never Alone.”

Nashville’s female artists weren’t the only ones relishing a triumphant evening. Following earning their first Grammy win for Best Country Duo/group performance for “Tequila,” Dan + Shay offered a piano-and guitar-backed rendition of the hit during the telecast. The performance put Shay Mooney’s flawless vocals in the spotlight and undoubtedly introduced an even larger audience to the song that was already the most-streamed country song in 2018.

Numerous artists throughout the evening noted the power music has to strengthen souls in times of struggle, to comfort in times of doubt, and to provide a familiar place to revive the creative spirit in times of rejection.

Perhaps Diana Ross summed it best during her arresting performance of “Reach Out And Touch (Somebody’s Hand),” as she advised the crowd, “Learn. Dream. Unlock new doors. Everything is possible with music.”