Nominations announced for the 51st Academy of Country Music Awards

The nominations have now been announced for the 51st Academy of Country Music Awards. The night will be hosted by country superstar Dierks Bentley and the reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan, broadcast LIVE from the US at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 3, 2016 at 8:00 PM – 11:00 PM ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.
Dierks Bentley announced the nominees for six categories including Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, Vocal Duo of the Year, Vocal Group of the Year, and Album of the Year live on ‘CBS This Morning’ in the US. ‘Entertainment Tonight’ co-host Nancy O’Dell revealed nominees for the newcomer categories, Single Record of the Year, Video of the Year and Vocal Event of the Year on ETOnline.com
Eric Church, Maverick’s latest exclusive cover artist, has topped the nominations with Chris Stapleton, as both received nominations from five categories. Church’s nominations include his first for Entertainer of the Year and third for Male Vocalist of the Year. He is nominated for Album of the Year for MR. MISUNDERSTOOD, Video of the Year for Mr. Misunderstood and Vocal Event of the Year for Raise ‘Em Up with Keith Urban.
Chris Stapleton received his first-ever nominations for Male Vocalist of the Year, New Male Vocalist of the Year, Vocal Event of the Year for Hangover Tonight with Gary Allan. He is also twice nominated as both artist and producer in the Album of the Year category for TRAVELLER.
Cam, who we have pitched as one to watch this year, is a first-time ACM Awards nominee, with an impressive four nominations, including New Female Vocalist of the Year, Video of the Year for Burning House. She is twice nominated as both artist and producer in the Single Record of the Year category for Burning House.
Chris Young received four nominations, including his first Album of the Year nomination for I’m Comin’ Over as both the artist and producer. Also, he received two nods as artist and producer in the Single Record of the Year category for I’m Comin’ Over. Little Big Town, reigning Vocal Group of the Year, leads group nominations with four, including their 10th nomination for Vocal Group of the Year. The group earned nominations in the Single Record of the Year and Video of the Year categories for the song Girl Crush. Also, Little Big Town received a Vocal Event of the Year nomination for Smokin’ And Drinkin’ with Miranda Lambert. Additionally, Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild received an individual nomination for Vocal Event of the Year for Home Alone Tonight with Luke Bryan.
First-time ACM Awards nominee, Chris Janson earned three nominations, including New Male Vocalist of the Year, and is twice nominated as both artist and producer in the Single Record of the Year category for Buy Me A Boat. Reigning Female Vocalist of the Year, Miranda Lambert earned three nominations, including her fifth nomination for Entertainer of the Year and 10th consecutive nod for Female Vocalist of the Year.  Additionally, she is nominated for Vocal Event of the Year for Smokin’ And Drinkin’ featuring Little Big Town. Thomas Rhett earned three nominations including his first in the Album of the Year category for Tangled Up and Single Record of the Year category for Die a Happy Man. Also, he received a nomination for New Male Vocalist of the Year.
The previously fan-voted, Entertainer of the Year and Newcomer categories, New Male Vocalist of the Year, New Female Vocalist of the Year and New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year, are now all incorporated into the professional membership voting process this year.
Entertainer of the Year:
Jason Aldean
Garth Brooks
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Miranda Lambert
Male Vocalist of the Year:
Jason Aldean
Dierks Bentley
Eric Church
Brett Eldredge
Chris Stapleton
Female Vocalist of the Year:
Kelsea Ballerini
Jana Kramer
Miranda Lambert
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood
Vocal Duo of the Year:
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Joey + Rory
Maddie & Tae
Vocal Group of the Year:
Eli Young Band
Little Big Town
Old Dominion
Rascal Flatts
Zac Brown Band
New Male Vocalist of the Year:
Brett Eldredge
Chris Janson
Thomas Rhett
Chase Rice
Chris Stapleton
New Female Vocalist of the Year:
Kelsea Ballerini
Cam
Mickey Guyton
RaeLynn
New Vocal Duo/Group of the Year:
A Thousand Horses
Brothers Osborne
Maddie & Tae
Old Dominion
Parmalee
Album of the Year [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s):
I’M COMIN’ OVER – Chris Young
Producers: Corey Crowder, Chris Young
Record Label: RCA Records
MONTEVALLO – Sam Hunt
Producers: Zach Crowell, Shane McAnally
Record Label: MCA Nashville
MR. MISUNDERSTOOD – Eric Church
Producer: Jay Joyce
Record Label: EMI Records Nashville
TANGLED UP – Thomas Rhett
Producers: Dann Huff, Jesse Frasure, Chris DeStefano, Joe London
Record Label: The Valory Music Co.
TRAVELLER – Chris Stapleton
Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
Record Label: Mercury Records
Single Record of the Year [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]:
Burning House – Cam
Producers: Jeff Bhasker, Tyler Johnson, Camaron Ochs
Record Labels: Arista Nashville, RCA Records, Kravenworks
Buy Me A Boat – Chris Janson
Producers: Brent Anderson, Chris DuBois, Chris Janson
Record Label: Warner Music Nashville
Die A Happy Man – Thomas Rhett
Producers: Dann Huff, Jesse Frasure
Record Label: The Valory Music Co.
Girl Crush – Little Big Town
Producer: Jay Joyce
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville
I’m Comin’ Over – Chris Young
Producers: Corey Crowder, Chris Young
Record Label: RCA Nashville
Take Your Time – Sam Hunt
Producers: Zach Crowell, Shane McAnally
Record Label: MCA Nashville
Video of the Year [Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)] *(Off Camera Award):
Biscuits – Kacey Musgraves
Director: Mark Klasfeld
Producer: Nicole Acacio
Burning House – Cam
Director: Trey Fanjoy
Producer: Trent Hardville
Girl Crush – Little Big Town
Directors: Karla Welch, Matthew Welch
Producer: Amanda Prunesti
Mr. Misunderstood – Eric Church
Directors: Reid Long, John Peets
Producer: Megan Smith
Riser – Dierks Bentley
Director: Wes Edwards
Producer: Jennifer Rothlein
Vocal Event of the Year [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]*(Off Camera Award)
Hangover Tonight – Gary Allan Featuring Chris Stapleton
Producers: Gary Allan, Greg Droman
Record Label: MCA Nashville
Home Alone Tonight – Luke Bryan Featuring Karen Fairchild
Producers: Jeff Stevens, Jody Stevens
Record Label: Capitol Nashville
Raise ‘Em Up – Keith Urban Featuring Eric Church
Producers: Nathan Chapman, Keith Urban
Record Labels: Hit Red Records, Capitol Nashville
Smokin’ And Drinkin’ – Miranda Lambert Featuring Little Big Town
Producers: Frank Liddell, Chuck Ainlay, Glenn Worf
Record Label: RCA Nashville
Wild Child – Kenny Chesney With Grace Potter
Producers: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney
Record Labels: Blue Chair Records, Columbia Nashville