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56th Academy Of Country Music Awards: The Complete List Of Nominees

Check out the entire list of artists vying for a coveted hat trophy at the 2021 ceremony, which is set to air live Sunday, Apr. 18 on CBS.
Posted on Feb 26, 2021 | 06:00am
The wait is over!

Nominations for the 56th Academy of Country Music Awards™ have been announced and the most recent batch of nominees are making history. Not only are four Black artists—Jimmie Allen, Kane Brown, Mickey Guyton, and John Legend—nominated for awards in a single year, but every Single of the Year nomination features a female artist.

Find out who walks away with a coveted golden hat trophy when the 56th Academy of Country Music Awards™ air live from three iconic country-music venues—the Grand Ole Opry House, Nashville's historic Ryman Auditorium, and the Bluebird Cafe—on Sunday, April 18 at 8/7c on CBS, and available to stream live and on-demand on Paramount+.

Until then, if we dig into the numbers, reigning Female Artist of the Year winner Maren Morris and now three-time Entertainer of the Year nominee Chris Stapleton earn six nominations each, while Miranda Lambert snags five nominations, which continues her streak as the most-nominated female artist in Academy history with 68 lifetime nominations.

Both co-reigning Entertainer of the Year Thomas Rhett and "One Night Standards" singer Ashley McBryde grab four nominations, while Ingrid Andress receives three nominations, including her second nod for New Female Artist of the Year.

Enough math, right? Let's mosey over and celebrate the full list of 56th ACM Awards nominees!

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
Luke Combs
Eric Church
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 [Awarded to Artist(s) / Producer(s) / Record Company-Label(s)]

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 [Awarded to Artist(s) / Producer(s) / Record Company-Label(s)]

"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 & 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 [Awarded to Songwriter(s) / Publisher(s) / Artist(s)]

"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 [Awarded to Producer(s) / Director(s) / Artist(s)]

"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

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Ashley Gorley
Michael Hardy
Hillary Lindsey
Shane McAnally
Josh Osborne

MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR (Tie Within Category Increased Nominees) [Awarded to Artist(s) / Producer(s) / Record Company-Label(s)]

"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 featuring Eric Church
Producer: Scott Moffatt
Record Label: River House Artists/Columbia Nashville

"I Hope You're Happy Now" - Carly Pearce & Lee Brice
Producer: busbee
Record Label: Big Machine Records / Curb Records

"Nobody But You" - Blake Shelton featuring Gwen Stefani
Producer: Scott Hendricks
Record Label: Warner Music Nashville

"One Beer" - HARDY featuring Lauren Alaina & Devin Dawson
Producers: Derek Wells, Joey Moi
Record Label: Big Loud Records

"One Too Many" - Keith Urban, P!nk
Producers: Cutfather, Dan McCarroll, Keith Urban, PhD
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville

STUDIO RECORDING AWARDS:

BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jarrod Travis Cure
Mark Hill
Tony Lucido
Steve Mackey
Glenn Worf

DRUMMER OF THE YEAR
Fred Eltringham
Evan Hutchings
Derek Mixon
Jerry Roe
Aaron Sterling

GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
J.T. Corenflos
Kris Donegan
Jedd Hughes
Ilya Toshinskiy
Derek Wells

PIANO/KEYS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Dave Cohen
David Dorn
Charlie Judge
Mike Rojas
Benmont Tench

SPECIALTY INSTRUMENT PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Alicia Enstrom
Jim Hoke
Danny Rader
Mickey Raphael
Ilya Toshinsky
Kristin Wilkinson

STEEL GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Spencer Cullum
Dan Dugmore
Mike Johnson
Russ Pahl
Justin Schipper

AUDIO ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
Jeff Balding
Jason Hall
Gena Johnson
Vance Powell
F. Reid Shippen

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Buddy Cannon
Dave Cobb
Dann Huff
Jay Joyce
Joey Moi

Watch the 56th Academy of Country Music Awards™ live from three iconic country-music venues—the Grand Ole Opry House, Nashville's historic Ryman Auditorium, and the Bluebird Cafe—on Sunday, April 18 at 8/7c on CBS, and available to stream live and on-demand on Paramount+.