Nominations out for Country Music Awards
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Eric Church and Chris Stapleton lead the nominees for the 51st annual Academy of Country Music Awards with five nominations each, including male vocalist and album of the year.
In nominations announced Monday, Church earned a first-time nod for entertainer of the year, along with Jason Aldean, Garth Brooks, Luke Bryan — co-hosting the show with Dierks Bentley — and Miranda Lambert. Church also earned nominations for video of the year for “Mr. Misunderstood,” and vocal event of the year for “Raise `Em Up” with Keith Urban.
Bryan and Blake Shelton, who got shut out of nominations this year, had been co-hosts of the show since 2013, but Bentley, who helped announce the nominees on “CBS This Morning,” took Shelton’s spot as co-host this year.
“It’s great having a co-host that’s already been there,” Bentley said. “He can kind of give me some pointers along the way. It’s a big deal hosting one of these things. You’ve got to be part, you know, comedian, part entertainer, part historian, and it’s a tough gig but I love challenges, and I’ve never done it before so it felt like the right time.”
Stapleton earned two nominations for album of the year category for his “Traveller,” as both artist and co-producer. Chris Young, Thomas Rhett and Sam Hunt are also nominated for album of the year. Stapleton, 2015’s breakout country artist with four Grammy nominations, also earned nominations for new male vocalist of the year and vocal event of the year for “Hangover Tonight” with Gary Allan.
Bentley, Aldean and Brett Eldredge also are vying for male vocalist.
Lambert, who earned three nominations overall, earned her 10th consecutive nod for female vocalist of the year; she’ll compete against Carrie Underwood, Kacey Musgraves, Kelsea Ballerini and Jana Kramer.
First-time ACM nominee Cam got four nominations, including new female vocalist and video of the year for “Burning House.” The single also earned Cam a dual nomination for artist and producer in the single record of the year category.
Chris Young received four nominations for his work as artist and co-producer on the album, “I’m Comin’ Over,” and for single record of the year for the album’s title song.
