Nominations were announced today for the 50th ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, Country Music’s Party of the Year®, honoring country music’s superstars and hottest emerging talent. Hosted by ACM Award winners Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan, the ACM Awards are produced for television by dick clark productions and will be broadcast LIVE, and as previously announced, extended by half an hour in celebration of its golden anniversary, from the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX on Sunday, April 19, 2015 at 8:00 PM – 11:30PM ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.
Nominees were revealed online via the fourth annual ACM digital press conference this morning. Jason Aldean, Lee Brice, Kristian Bush, Brandy Clark, Tara Lipinski, Dustin Lynch, Joel McHale, Nancy O’Dell, Melissa Peterman, Jamie Lynn Spears and the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders all announced nominations via photo postings to the Academy’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts during the online event.
Fans will once again help select the winner of both the Academy’s most prestigious honor, Entertainer of the Year, and the New Artist of the Year. As previously announced, Brett Eldredge, Tyler Farr, Sam Hunt, Kip Moore, Thomas Rhett, Chase Rice, Cole Swindell, and Dan + Shay are the semi-finalists for this year’s ACM New Artist of the Year Award. These top eight (8) artists from the first round of ACM professional voting will compete via fan vote at VoteACM.com and voteacm.CMT.com, combined with the ACM professional membership vote, to determine the three nominees for the award. An additional combined fan and professional membership vote will determine the winner. The winners of Entertainer of the Year and New Artist of the Year will be announced live during the 50th Academy of Country Music Awards.
Following is the list of final nominees. Winners in each of the categories, except where noted, will be presented with an ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARD during the live television broadcast:
Entertainer of the Year
· Jason Aldean
· Garth Brooks
· Luke Bryan
· Miranda Lambert
· Florida Georgia Line
Male Vocalist of the Year [TIE]
· Jason Aldean
· Dierks Bentley
· Luke Bryan
· Eric Church
· Brad Paisley
· Blake Shelton
Female Vocalist of the Year
· Brandy Clark
· Miranda Lambert
· Martina McBride
· Kacey Musgraves
· Carrie Underwood
Vocal Duo of the Year
· Brothers Osborne
· Dan + Shay
· Florida Georgia Line
· Maddie & Tae
· The Swon Brothers
Vocal Group of the Year
· Lady Antebellum
· Little Big Town
· Rascal Flatts
· The Band Perry
· Zac Brown Band
ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
· Old Boots, New Dirt – Jason Aldean
Producer: Michael Knox
Record Label: Broken Bow Records
· Pain Killer – Little Big Town
Producer: Jay Joyce
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville
· Platinum – Miranda Lambert
Producers: Chuck Ainlay, Frank Liddell, Glenn Worf
Record Label: RCA Nashville
· Riser – Dierks Bentley
Producers: Ross Copperman, Jaren Johnston
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville
· The Outsiders – Eric Church
Producer: Jay Joyce
Record Label: EMI Records Nashville
Single Record of the Year [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
· American Kids – Kenny Chesney
Producers: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney
Record Label: Blue Chair Records/Columbia Nashville
· Automatic – Miranda Lambert
Producers: Chuck Ainlay, Frank Liddell, Glenn Worf
Record Label: RCA Nashville
· Dirt – Florida Georgia Line
Producer: Joey Moi
Record Label: Republic Nashville
· Drunk On A Plane – Dierks Bentley
Producer: Ross Copperman
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville
· I Don’t Dance – Lee Brice
Producer: Lee Brice
Record Label: Curb Records
Song of the Year [TIE] [Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
· American Kids – Kenny Chesney
Songwriters: Rodney Clawson, Luke Laird, Shane McAnally
Publishers: Big Red Toe Music (BMI), Creative Nation Music (BMI), Farm Town Songs (BMI), Smack Ink (ASCAP), Songs Of Universal, Inc. (BMI), Twangin And Slangin Songs (BMI), Universal Music Corporation (ASCAP)
· Automatic – Miranda Lambert
Songwriters: Nicolle Galyon, Natalie Hemby, Miranda Lambert
Publishers: EMI Blackwood Music, Inc. (BMI), Pink Dog Publishing (BMI), Sony/ATV Tree Publishing (BMI), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI), Wruckestrike (BMI)
· Drink A Beer – Luke Bryan
Songwriters: Jim Beavers, Chris Stapleton
Publishers: House of Sea Gayle Music (ASCAP), Sony/ATV Tree Publishing (BMI), WB Music Corp. (ASCAP)
· Follow Your Arrow – Kacey Musgraves
Songwriters: Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves
Publishers: 351 Music (BMI), Highway 508 Songs (ASCAP), House of Sea Gayle Music (ASCAP), Smack Ink (ASCAP), Universal Music Corporation (ASCAP), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI)
· Give Me Back My Hometown – Eric Church
Songwriters: Eric Church, Luke Laird
Publishers: Creative Nation Music (BMI), Longer And Louder Music (BMI), Songs Of Universal, Inc. (BMI), Sony/ATV Tree Publishing (BMI), Twangin And Slangin Songs (BMI)
· I Hold On – Dierks Bentley
Songwriters: Dierks Bentley, Brett James
Publishers: Atlas Holdings (ASCAP), Big White Tracks (ASCAP), External Combustion Music (ASCAP), Songs of Brett (ASCAP), WB Music Corp. (ASCAP)
Songwriter of the Year *(Off Camera Award)
· Rodney Clawson
· Ashley Gorley
· Luke Laird
· Josh Osborne
· Chris Tompkins
Video of the Year [Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)] *(Off Camera Award)
· American Kids – Kenny Chesney
Director: Shaun Silva
Producer: Don Lepore
· Cop Car – Keith Urban
Director: John Urbano
Producer: Michelle Abnet
· Drunk On A Plane – Dierks Bentley
Director: Wes Edwards
Producer: Clarke Gallivan
· I’m Not Gonna Miss You – Glen Campbell
Director: James Keach
Producer: Julian Raymond
· Somethin’ Bad – Miranda Lambert Duet With Carrie Underwood
Director: Trey Fanjoy
Producer: Trent Hardville
Vocal Event of the Year [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]*(Off Camera Award)
· Lonely Tonight – Blake Shelton Featuring Ashley Monroe
Producer: Scott Hendricks
Record Label: Warner Bros. Records
· Meanwhile Back At Mama’s – Tim McGraw Featuring Faith Hill
Producers: Byron Gallimore, Tim McGraw
Record Label: Big Machine Records
· Somethin’ Bad – Miranda Lambert Duet With Carrie Underwood
Producers: Chuck Ainlay, Frank Liddell, Glenn Worf
Record Label: RCA Nashville
· The South – The Cadillac Three Featuring Florida Georgia Line, Dierks Bentley & Mike Eli
Producers: Dann Huff, Justin Niebank
Record Label: Big Machine Records
· This Is How We Roll – Florida Georgia Line Featuring Luke Bryan
Producer: Joey Moi
Record Label: Republic Nashville
