Academy of Country Music, Academy of Country Music Awards, ACM Awards, Brothers Osbourne, CBS, Chris Stapleton, Jason Aldean, Las Vegas, Miranda Lambert
April 15, 2018
by Carla Hay
Chris Stapleton, Jason Aldean and Miranda Lambert were among the top winners at the 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards, which were presented at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on April 15, 2018. Reba McEntire hosted the show, which was telecast in the U.S. on CBS and available for streaming on CBS All Access.
Stapleton went into the ceremony with the most nominations (eight) and ended up winning two: Male Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year (for “From a Room: Volume 1.” Stapleton could not attend the ceremony since his wife had given birth to twin sons that day.
Aldean was named Entertainer of the Year for the third year in a row. At the beginning of the ceremony, he joined Luke Bryan, Maren Morris, Thomas Rhett and Lambert to acknowledge victims of violence (specifically, those at the 2017 Route 91 Harvest Festival) and the healing power of music.
Lambert took the prize for Best Female Vocalist for the ninth year in the row. She holds the record for the most ACM wins for Female Vocalist of the Year. Lambert’s “Tin Man” also won the prize for Song of the Year.
Brothers Osbourne also won two ACM Awards: Vocal Duo of the Year and Video of the Year (for “It Ain’t My Fault”).
Performers included Lauren Alaina, Aldean, Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Kelly Clarkson, Florida Georgia Line, Alan Jackson, Lady Antebellum, Lambert, Little Big Town, McEntire, Midland, Maren Morris, Jon Pardi, Bebe Rexha, Thomas Rhett, Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban and Brett Young. Presenters included David Boreanaz, Drew Brees, AJ Buckley, Cam, Sam Elliot, Eve, Ashton Kutcher, Dustin Lynch, Nancy O’Dell, Rebecca Romijn, Max Thieriot and Lindsey Vonn.
Allen Shapiro, Mike Mahan, R.A. Clark, Barry Adelman and Mark Bracco were executive producers of the 2018 ACM Awards. Pete Fisher was the show’s executive producer for the Academy of Country Music.
A complete list of winners can be found at the official ACM website. Here is a partial list of the nominees and winners of the 2018 ACM Awards:
*=winner
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
- Jason Aldean*
- Garth Brooks
- Luke Bryan
- Chris Stapleton
- Keith Urban
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
- Kelsea Ballerini
- Miranda Lambert*
- Reba McEntire
- Maren Morris
- Carrie Underwood
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
- Jason Aldean
- Thomas Rhett
- Chris Stapleton*
- Keith Urban
- Chris Young
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
- Brothers Osborne*
- Dan + Shay
- Florida Georgia Line
- LOCASH
- Tim McGraw & Faith Hill
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 [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company-Label(s)]
- Breaker – Little Big Town Producer: Jay Joyce Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville
- California Sunrise – Jon Pardi Producers: Bart Butler, Jon Pardi Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville
- From A Room: Vol. 1 – Chris Stapleton Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton Record Label: Mercury Records*
- Happy Endings – Old Dominion Producer: Shane McAnally Record Label: RCA
- 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 [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company-Label(s)]
- “Better Man” – Little Big Town Producer: Jay Joyce Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville
- “Body Like A Back Road” – Sam Hunt Producer: Zach Crowell Record Label: MCA Nashville*
- “Broken Halos” – Chris Stapleton Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton Record Label: Mercury Records
- “Drinkin’ Problem” – Midland Producers: Dann Huff, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne Record Label: Big Machine Records
- “I’ll Name The Dogs” – Blake Shelton Producer: Scott Hendricks Record Label: Warner Bros.
SONG OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
- “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
- “Female” – Keith Urban Songwriters: Ross Copperman, Nicolle Galyon and Shane McAnally Publishers: EMI Blackwood Music Inc./Rezolant Music/Plain Jane Songs, Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp./A Girl Named Charlie (BMI), Smack Hits/Smack Songs LLC (GMR)
- “Tin Man” – Miranda Lambert Songwriters: Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert Jon Randall Publishers: Sony/ATV Tree Publishing/Pink Dog Publishing (BMI), Beat Up Ford Publishing (BMI), BMG Platinum Songs (BMI)/SWMBMGBMI/Lonesome Vinyl Music*
- “Whiskey And You” – Chris Stapleton Songwriters: Lee Thomas Miller, Chris Stapleton Publishers: WB Music Corp./New Sea Gayle Music (ASCAP), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp./New Sea Gayle Music (BMI)
VIDEO OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]
- “Black” – Dierks Bentley Director: Wes Edwards Producer: Max A. Butler
- “It Ain’t My Fault” – Brothers Osborne Director: Wes Edwards, Ryan Silver Producer: Tiffany Davies*
- “Legends” – Kelsea Ballerini Director: Jeff Venable Producer: Ben Skipworth
- “Marry Me” – Thomas Rhett Director: TK McKamy Producer: Dan Atchison
- “We Should Be Friends” – Miranda Lambert Director: Trey Fanjoy Producer: April Dace
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR*(Off Camera Award)
- Rhett Akins*
- Ashley Gorley
- Hillary Lindsey
- Shane McAnally
- Josh Osborne
VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company-Label(s)]
- “Craving You” – Thomas Rhett Featuring Maren Morris Producers: Julian Bunetta, Dann Huff, Joe London, Thomas Rhett Record Label: The Valory Music Co.
- “Dear Hate” – Maren Morris featuring Vince Gill Producers: Brad Hill, Maren Morris Record Label: Columbia Nashville
- “Funny (How Time Slips Away)” – Glen Campbell And Willie Nelson Producer: Carl Jackson Record Label: Universal Music Enterprises
- “The Fighter” – Keith Urban featuring Carrie Underwood Producers: Busbee, Keith Urban Record Label: Capitol Nashville*
- “What Ifs” – Kane Brown Featuring Lauren Alaina Producer: Dann Huff Record Label: RCA Nashville