Chris Stapleton and Maren Morris picked up six nominations each for the 56th Academy of Country Music Awards, making them the leading nominees for this year’s show.
The nominees were announced on CBS on Friday (Feb. 26) beginning with Kelsea Ballerini and Brothers Osborne who shared the first six, which was followed by the rest being revealed on Entertainment Tonight.
Stapleton, who released his fourth solo studio album last year, “Starting Over,” was nominated twice as artist and producer for album of the year, as well as twice for being the songwriter/artist for the title track for song of the year. He also has a nomination for male artist and entertainer of the year.
Morris garnered nods with the crossover hit “The Bones,” which was nominated for single of the year and earned her two nominations as songwriter and artist for song of the year. She was also nominated for female artist of the year, which she won last year, and music video of the year for “Better Than We Found It.” She had another nomination for the all-star collaboration The Highwomen in group of the year.
Miranda Lambert follows with five nominations, and Thomas Rhett and Ashley McBryde are each up for four awards. See the full list of nominees below.
2021 ACM Awards: The Nominees List
Entertainer of the Year
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Luke Combs
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
Female Artist of the Year
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Ashley McBryde
Maren Morris
Carly Pearce
Male Artist of the Year
Dierks Bentley
Eric Church
Luke Combs
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
Duo of the Year
Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Maddie & Tae
Group of the Year
Lady A
Little Big Town
Old Dominion
The Cadillac Three
The Highwomen
New Female Artist of the Year
Ingrid Andress
Tenille Arts
Gabby Barrett
Mickey Guyton
Caylee Hammack
New Male Artist of the Year
Jimmie Allen
Travis Denning
Hardy
Cody Johnson
Parker McCollum
Album of the Year
Born Here, Live Here, Die Here, Luke Bryan (Producers: Jeff Stevens, Jody Stevens. Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville)
Mixtape Vol. 1, Kane Brown (Producers: Andrew Goldstein, Charlie Handsome, Dann Huff, Lindsay Rimes. Record Label: RCA Nashville)
Never Will, Ashley McBryde (Producer: Jay Joyce. Record Label: Warner Music Nashville)
Skeletons, Brothers Osborne (Producer: Jay Joyce. Record Label: EMI Records Nashville)
Starting Over, Chris Stapleton (Producers: Chris Stapleton, Dave Cobb. Record Label: Mercury Nashville)
Single of the Year
“Bluebird,” Miranda Lambert (Producer: Jay Joyce. Record Label: Vanner Records/RCA Records Nashville)
“I Hope,” Gabby Barrett (Producers: Ross Copperman, Zach Kale. Record Label: Warner Music Nashville)
“I Hope You’re Happy Now,” Carly Pearce and Lee Brice (Producers: Busbee. Record Label: Big Machine Records / Curb Records)
“More Hearts Than Mine,” Ingrid Andress (Producers: Ingrid Andress, Sam Ellis. Record Label: Warner Music Nashville)
“The Bones,” Maren Morris (Producer: Greg Kurstin. Record Label: Columbia Nashville
Song of the Year
“Bluebird,” Miranda Lambert (Songwriter(s): Luke Dick, Miranda Lambert, Natalie Hemby. Publishers: Emileon Songs; Little Louder Songs; Pink Dog Publishing; Songs of Universal, INC; Sony ATV Tree Publishing; Wrucke for You Publishing)
“One Night Standards,” Ashley McBryde (Songwriter(s): Ashley McBryde, Nicolette Hayford, Shane McAnally. Publishers: Canned Biscuit Songs; Smackworks Music; Smack Blue, LLC; Smackstreet Music; Tempo Investments; Warner Geo Met Ric Music; Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp)
“Some People Do,” Old Dominion (Songwriter(s): Jesse Frasure, Matt Ramsey, Thomas Rhett, Shane McAnally. Publishers: Carrot Seed Songs; EMI Blackwood Music INC; Smackville Music; Songs of ROC Nation; Telemitry Rhythm House Music; Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp; Smack Hits; Tempo Investments; Warner Gro Met Ric Music)
“Starting Over,” Chris Stapleton (Songwriter(s): Chris Stapleton, Mike Henderson. Publishers: I Wrote These Songs; Straight Six Music; WC Music Corp)
“The Bones,” Maren Morris (Songwriter(s): Jimmy Robbins, Maren Morris, Laura Veltz. Publishers: Big Machine Music, LLC; Extraordinary Alien Publishing; International Dog Music; Oh Denise Publishing; Round Hill Songs; Warner-Tamerlane
Publishing Corp.)
Video of the Year
“Better Than We Found It,” Maren Morris (Director: Gabrielle Woodland. Producers: Sarah Kunin, Jennifer Pepke)
“Bluebird,” Miranda Lambert (Director: Trey Fanjoy. Producer: Heather Levenstone)
“Gone,” Dierks Bentley (Directors: Wes Edwards, Ed Pryor, Travis Nicholson, Running Bear and Sam Siske, with animation by Skylar Wilson. Producer: David Garcia)
“Hallelujah,” Carrie Underwood and John Legend (Director: Randee St. Nicholas. Producer: Greg Wells)
“Worldwide Beautiful,” Kane Brown (Director: Alex Alvga. Producer: Christen Pinkston)
Music Event of the Year
“Be a Light,” Thomas Rhett featuring Reba McEntire, Hillary Scott, Chris Tomlin, Keith Urban (Producer: Dann Huff. Record Label: The Valory Music Co.)
“Does to Me,” Luke Combs feat. Eric Church (Producer: Scott Moffatt. Record Label: River House Artists/Columbia Nashville)
“I Hope You’re Happy Now,” Carly Pearce and Lee Brice (Producer: Busbee. Record Label: Big Machine Records / Curb Records)
“Nobody But You,” Blake Shelton feat. Gwen Stefani (Producer: Scott Hendricks. Record Label: Warner Music Nashville)
“One Beer,” Hardy feat. Lauren Alaina and Devin Dawson (Producers: Derek Wells, Joey Moi. Record Label: Big Loud Records)
“One Too Many,” Keith Urban and Pink (Producers: Cutfather, Dan McCarroll, Keith Urban, PhD. Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville.)
Songwriter of the Year
Ashley Gorley
Michael Hardy
Hillary Lindsey
Shane McAnally
Josh Osborn
