Article Updated to Reflect Winners in bold: 3/8/22
We’ve already learned that Dolly Parton will be hosting the 57th Academy of Country Music Awards, along with Jimmie Allen and Gabby Barrett. Today, they announced the nominees for each category. Check out the highlights and full list of the 57th ACM Award nominees below!
How to Watch the ACM Awards 2022
The 57th ACM Awards will stream live on Prime Video and without commercial interruption, on Monday, March 7, 2022, 8:00 p.m. EST/7:00 p.m. CST/5:00 p.m. PST from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Tickets are currently on-sale at Ticketmaster.
Video Announcement from Gabby Barrett and Jimmie Allen
ACM Nominee Highlights and Facts
- Chris Young leads with seven nominations including Album of the Year and Single of the Year. Young shares three of his nominations with fellow artist and collaborator Kane Brown for their song Famous Friends.
- Miranda Lambert receives record-tying 16th Female Artist of the Year nomination (tied with Reba McEntire), as well as four other nominations.
- Walker Hayes receives five nominations as a first-time nominee. This comes 17 years after Hayes moved to Nashville to pursue a career in music.
- Women continue to see an increase in representation, pulling in 37% of nominations, compared to an average of 35% in the past 5 years (2% increase).
- The Academy continues its legacy of being the first to recognize artists early in their careers, with 35% of this year’s nominees being first-time nominees overall, or first-time nominees in their respective categories.
- 57th Academy of Country Music Awards co-hosts Jimmie Allen and Gabby Barrett receive their first nods in the Male Artist of the Year and Female Artist of the Year categories, respectively.
- Women make up 50% of the producers and directors in the Video of the Year nominations.
- 35% of Nominees Are Nominated for the First-Time Within Their Categories
57th ACM Award Nominees – Full List
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
- Eric Church
- Luke Combs
- Miranda Lambert
- Chris Stapleton
- Carrie Underwood
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Gabby Barrett
- Miranda Lambert
- Ashley McBryde
- Maren Morris
- Carly Pearce
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Jimmie Allen
- Luke Combs
- Thomas Rhett
- Chris Stapleton
- Morgan Wallen
DUO OF THE YEAR
- Brooks & Dunn
- Brothers Osborne
- Dan + Shay
- LOCASH
- Maddie & Tae
GROUP OF THE YEAR
- Lady A
- Little Big Town
- Midland
- Old Dominion
- The Cadillac Three
NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Tenille Arts
- Priscilla Block
- Lily Rose
- Caitlyn Smith
- Lainey Wilson
NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- HARDY
- Walker Hayes
- Ryan Hurd
- Parker McCollum
- Elvie Shane
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
[Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
- 29: Written in Stone – Carly Pearce
- Producers: Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Jimmy Robbins, Tony Brown
- Record Company-Label: Big Machine Records
- Country Again: Side A – Thomas Rhett
- Producers: Dann Huff, Jesse Frasure, Matt Dragstrem
- Record Company-Label: Big Machine Label Group
- Dangerous: The Double Album – Morgan Wallen
- Producer: Joey Moi, Jacob Durrett, Charlie Handsome, Matt Dragstrem, Dave Cohen
- Record Company-Label: Big Loud Records / Republic Records
- Famous Friends – Chris Young
- Producer: Mark Holman, Corey Crowder, Chris Young, Chris DeStefano
- Record Company-Label: RCA Records Nashville
- The Marfa Tapes – Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall
- Producers: Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall
- Record Company-Label: Vanner Records / RCA Records Nashville
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
[Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
- Buy Dirt – Jordan Davis featuring Luke Bryan
- Producer: Paul DiGiovanni
- Record Company-Label: MCA Nashville
- Famous Friends – Chris Young and Kane Brown
- Producers: Corey Crowder, Chris Young
- Record Company-Label: RCA Records Nashville
- Fancy Like – Walker Hayes
- Producers: Walker Hayes, Shane McAnally, Joe Thibodeau
- Record Company-Label: Monument Records
- If I Didn’t Love You – Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood
- Producers: Michael Knox
- Record Company-Label: Broken Bow Records; Macon Music, LLC; BBR Music Group, BMG
- You Should Probably Leave – Chris Stapleton
- Producer: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
- Record Company-Label: Mercury Nashville
SONG OF THE YEAR
[Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
- 7 Summers – Morgan Wallen
- Songwriters: Morgan Wallen, Josh Osborne, Shane McAnally
- Publishers: Big Loud Mountain, Bo Wallace Publishing, Smackborne Music, Sony/ATV Accent, Smackstreet Music, Tempo Investments, Warner Geo Met Ric Music
- Buy Dirt – Jordan Davis featuring Luke Bryan
- Songwriters: Jordan Davis, Jacob Davis, Josh Jenkins, Matt Jenkins
- Publishers: Anthem Music Publishing II, Bentprop Pub, Big Blue Nation Music, Combustion Five, Jentown, Jordan Davis Music, Smackwork Music, Smack Blue, Kobalt Music Group Music, Universal Music Corporation, WC Music Corp
- Fancy Like – Walker Hayes
- Songwriters: Cameron Bartolini, Josh Jenkins, Shane Stevens, Walker Hayes
- Publishers: Songs of SMACK, Rarespark Media Group, Smackworks Music, Smack Blue, Kobalt Music Group, Holy Graffiti Music, Purplebeatz, WC Music Corp
- Knowing You – Kenny Chesney
- Songwriters: Adam James, Brett James, Kat Higgins
- Publishers: 3 Ring Circus, BMG Platinum Songs, Pompano Run Music, Songs of Brett, WC Music Corp
- Things A Man Oughta Know – Lainey Wilson
- Songwriters: Jason Nix, Jonathan Singleton, Lainey Wilson
- Publishers: Sony/ATV Accent, Sony/ATV Countryside, Spirit Two Nashville, Super Big Music
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
[Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]
- Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home) – Elle King and Miranda Lambert
- Producers: Angie Lorenz, Wes Edwards, James Stratakis
- Directors: Alexa Kinigopoulos, Stephen Kinigopoulos
- Famous Friends – Chris Young and Kane Brown
- Producer: Jennifer Ansell
- Director: Peter Zavadil
“7 NOMINATIONS!!!! Are ya’ll serious??? ACM – Academy of Country Music THANK YOU and see you in VEGAS! #LUCKYNUMBER7 Kane Brown” – @ChrisYoungMusic
“YESSIR/MAM
” – @KaneBrownCountry
- I Bet You Think About Me (Taylor’s Version) – Taylor Swift featuring Chris Stapleton
- Producers: Jil Hardin, Blake Lively, Kathy Palmer, Austin Swift
- Director: Blake Lively
- If I Didn’t Love You – Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood
- Producers: Christen Pinkston, Wesley Stebbins-Perry
- Director: Shaun Silva
- Never Wanted To Be That Girl – Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde
- Producer: Ryan Byrd
- Director: Alexa Campbell
“This has been such a journey, and I take none of it for granted ever. Each one of these nominations means the world to me.”
– Carly Pearce
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR*
(Off Camera Award)
- Jesse Frasure
- Nicolle Galyon
- Ashley Gorley
- Michael Hardy
- Josh Osborne
MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR
[Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
- Buy Dirt – Jordan Davis featuring Luke Bryan
- Producer: Paul DiGiovanni
- Record Company-Label: MCA Nashville
- Famous Friends – Chris Young and Kane Brown
- Producers: Corey Crowder, Chris Young
- Record Company-Label: RCA Records Nashville
- half of my hometown – Kelsea Ballerini featuring Kenny Chesney
- roducers: Ross Copperman, Jimmy Robbins, Kelsea Ballerini
- Record Company-Label: Black River Entertainment
- If I Didn’t Love You – Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood
- Producer: Michael Knox
- Record Company-Label: Broken Bow Records; Macon Music, LLC; BBR Music Group, BMG
- Never Wanted To Be That Girl – Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde
- Producers: Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
- Record Company-Label: Big Machine Label Group, Warner Music Nashville
The 2021 Industry Awards and Studio Recording Awards will be presented to recipients at Academy of Country Music Honors™, a special event held annually in August at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN. More details to be announced in coming months.
STUDIO RECORDING AWARDS
BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
- J.T. Cure
- Mark Hill
- Viktor Krauss
- Jimmie Lee Sloas
- Glenn Worf
DRUMMER OF THE YEAR
- Chad Cromwell
- Fred Eltringham
- Evan Hutchings
- Derek Mixon
- Jerry Roe
- Nir Z
ACOUSTIC GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
- Dave Cobb
- Todd Lombardo
- Bryan Sutton
- Ilya Toshinskiy
- Charlie Worsham
PIANO/KEYBOARDS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
- David Dorn
- Charlie Judge
- Billy Justineau
- Gordon Mote
- Benmont Tench
SPECIALTY INSTRUMENT PLAYER OF THE YEAR
- Stuart Duncan
- Paul Franklin
- Josh Matheny
- Mickey Raphael
- Kristin Wilkinson
ELECTRIC GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
- Tom Bukovac
- Dan Dugmore
- Jedd Hughes
- Rob McNelley
- Derek Wells
AUDIO ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
- Brandon Bell
- Jim Cooley
- Gena Johnson
- Jason Hall
- Vance Powell
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
- Buddy Cannon
- Dave Cobb
- Ian Fitchuk
- Dann Huff
- Joey Moi
INDUSTRY AWARDS
CASINO OF THE YEAR – THEATER
- Agua Caliente – Rancho Mirage, CA
- Choctaw Casino – Durant, OK
- Deadwood Mountain Grand – Deadwood, SD
- Resorts World – Las Vegas, NV
- Soaring Eagle Casino – Mt. Pleasant, MI
CASINO OF THE YEAR – ARENA
- Hard Rock (Live at Etess Arena) – Atlantic City, NJ
- Laughlin Event Center – Laughlin, NV
- Mohegan Sun Arena – Uncasville, CT
- Mystic Lake Casino – Prior Lake, MN
FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR
- Carolina Country Music Fest – Myrtle Beach, SC
- Country Thunder – Florence, AZ
- Faster Horses Festival – Brooklyn, MI
- Tortuga Music Festival – Ft. Lauderdale, FL
- Windy City Smokeout Festival – Chicago, IL
FAIR/RODEO OF THE YEAR
- Auburn Rodeo – Auburn, AL
- California Mid-State Fair – Paso Robles, CA
- Cheyenne Frontier Days – Cheyenne, WY
- Minnesota State Fair – St. Paul, MN
- San Antonio Rodeo – San Antonio, TX
CLUB OF THE YEAR
- Basement East – Nashville, TN
- Billy Bob’s – Ft. Worth, TX
- Cain’s Ballroom – Tulsa, OK
- Coca-Cola Roxy – Atlanta, GA
- Georgia Theatre – Athens, GA
THEATER OF THE YEAR
- American Music Theatre – Lancaster, PA
- Andrew J Brady ICON Music Center – Cincinnati, OH
- Blue Gate Performing Arts Center – Shipshewana, IN
- Ruth Eckerd Hall – Clearwater, FL
- Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN
OUTDOOR VENUE OF THE YEAR
- Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion – Gilford, NH
- Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO
- Saint Augustine Amphitheatre – St. Augustine, FL
- The Wharf Amphitheater – Orange Beach, AL
- Whitewater Amphitheater – New Braunfels, TX
ARENA OF THE YEAR
- BOK Center – Tulsa, OK
- Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN
- Dickies Arena – Ft. Worth, TX
- Ford Center – Evansville, IN
- Rupp Arena – Lexington, KY
DON ROMEO TALENT BUYER OF THE YEAR
- Brent Fedrizzi
- Michelle Romeo
- RJ Romeo
- Shawn Radley
- Todd Boltin
PROMOTER OF THE YEAR
- Aaron Spalding
- Adam Weiser
- Bradley Jordan
- Brian O’Connell
- Ed Warm
