Chris Stapleton Leads 2021 ACM Awards Nominations
March 1, 2021
With six nominations in four categories, country music powerhouse Chris Stapleton leads the 2021 ACM Awards nominations. Earning his third nomination for Entertainer of the Year, Stapleton is also nominated for Male Artist of the Year and received double-nods for Album of the Year for Starting Over, as both artist and producer, and Song of the Year for “Starting Over,” as both artist and songwriter.
Carly Pearce and producer Dann Huff picked up three nominations each, while Brothers Osborne, Old Dominion and Dierks Bentley are each up for two awards.
Nominees in top categories were revealed Friday morning on CBS This Morning by Female Artist of the Year nominee Kelsea Ballerini and double-nominees Brothers Osborne. The 2021 show will air on April 18 at 8PM ET/PT, broadcasting from Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House with additional performances at the Ryman Auditorium and the Bluebird Cafe.
Congratulations to all our 2021 ASCAP ACM Awards nominees:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Chris Stapleton
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Kelsea Ballerini
Carly Pearce
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Dierks Bentley
Chris Stapleton
DUO OF THE YEAR
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Maddie & Tae
GROUP OF THE YEAR
Lady A
Old Dominion
The Cadillac Three
NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Caylee Hammack
ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
Mixtape Vol. 1
Producer: Dann Huff
Skeletons – Brothers Osborne
Starting Over – Chris Stapleton
Producer: Chris Stapleton
SINGLE OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
I Hope You’re Happy Now – Carly Pearce
More Hearts Than Mine
Producer: Sam Ellis
The Bones
Producer: Greg Kurstin
SONG OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
Some People Do – Old Dominion
Songwriter: Matt Ramsey
Publishers: Carrot Seed Songs; EMI Blackwood Music INC; Smackville Music; Songs of ROC Nation; Teremitry Rhythm House Music; Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp; Smack Hits; Tempo Investments; Warner Gro Met Ric Music
Starting Over – Chris Stapleton
Songwriter: Chris Stapleton
Publishers: I Wrote These Songs; Straight Six Music; WC Music Corp
The Bones
Songwriter: Jimmy Robbins
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 [Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]
Gone – Dierks Bentley
Producer: David Garcia
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Ashley Gorley
Hillary Lindsey
Josh Osborne
MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
Be A Light - featuring Reba McEntire
Producer: Dann Huff
I Hope You’re Happy Now – Carly Pearce
STUDIO RECORDING AWARDS
BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Tony Lucido
Glenn Worf
DRUMMER OF THE YEAR
Jerry Roe
GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jedd Hughes
Ilya Toshinskiy
PIANO/KEYS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Benmont Tench
SPECIALTY INSTRUMENT PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Ilya Toshinskiy
AUDIO ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
Reid Shippen
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Buddy Cannon
Dann Huff