The singer and songwriter is up for awards in five categories including entertainer of the year.
Chris Stapleton leads in nominations for the 2018 Academy of Country Music Awards, airing live on CBS on April 15. The singer and songwriter is up for eight awards in five categories including entertainer of the year, Stapleton’s first time vying for the penultimate prize of the night. Reba McEntire will host the show, which is held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, returning to emcee the ACMs for the first time since 2012, when she appeared alongside Blake Shelton.
Thomas Rhett, who won male vocalist of the year in 2017, collected six nominations, including another for the title he currently holds. Keith Urban follows in five categories, including his eighth time as a contender for entertainer of the year, along with songwriter Shane McAnally, whose credits include Sam Hunt’s “Body Like A Back Road” and Keith Urban’s “Female,” Old Dominion’s “Happy Endings” and Midland’s “Drinkin’ Problems.”
Not far behind in the nomination tally is Miranda Lambert, ACM’s reigning female vocalist of the year, with four nominations. She has collected 29 ACM awards since emerging onto the scene in 2003. Newcomer also received Maren Morris received four nominations, including her second in the female vocalist of the year category.
Among country groups, Little Big Town, Lady Antebellum and Midland collected nods as did Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, their first as a duo.
See the full list of nominations below:
Vocal group of the year
Lady Antebellum
LANCO
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion
New female vocalist of the year
Lauren Alaina
Danielle Bradbery
Carly Pearce
Raelynn
New male vocalist of the year
Kane Brown
Luke Combs
Devin Dawson
Russell Dickerson
Brett Young
New vocal duo or group of the year
High Valley
LANCO
LOCASH
Midland
Runaway June
Album of the year
“Breaker” – Little Big Town
Producer: Jay Joyce
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville
Life Changes – Thomas Rhett
Producers: Julian Bunetta, Jesse Frasure, Dann Huff, Joe London, Thomas Rhett
Record Label: The Valory Music Co.
Single record of the year
“Better Man” – Little Big Town
Producer: Jay Joyce
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville
Song of the year
“Body Like a Back Road – Sam Hunt
Songwriters: Zach Crowell, Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
Publishers: Universal Music Corp./Sam Hunt Publishing, Highly Combustible Music/I Love Pizza Music,/Songs of Southside Independent Music Publishing/Who Wants to Buy My Publishing/Atlas Music Publishing, Anderson Fork In The Road Music/Smackville Music/Smack Songs LLC, Smack Hits
Vocal event of the year
“Craving You” – Thomas Rhett Featuring Maren Morris
Producers: Julian Bunetta, Dann Huff, Joe London, Thomas Rhett
Record Label: The Valory Music Co.
