The Academy of Country Music (ACM) announced the nominations for its 61st annual ceremony. Country music powerhouse Chris Stapleton leads the ASCAP ACM nominations with six nods, including his fifth consecutive nomination for Entertainer of the Year and his 11th consecutive nomination for Male Artist of the Year, an award he’s already won five times.

 

After receiving his first nomination in 2025, country music star Shaboozey is up for New Male Artist of the Year and Music Event of the Year for his collaboration on hit song “Amen.”

 

Joining Shaboozey with two nods, Reba McEntire receives her first nominations since 2020 as both artist and producer for Music Event of the Year (“Trailblazer”), and legendary producer Dann Huff sees nominations for Album of the Year (Don’t Mind If I Do (Deluxe)) and Music Event of the Year (“Don’t Mind If I Do”).

 

Country music darling Kelsea Ballerini receives her ninth nomination for Female Artist of the Year; Reigning Group of the Year Old Dominion is once again nominated in the category after winning the honor for the past eight years in a row; and Brothers Osborne celebrate their 19th overall nomination with Duo of the Year.

 

Record-breaking songwriter Ashley Gorley is once again nominated for Songwriter of the Year, while first-time ASCAP ACM nominees Thelma & James are up for Duo of the Year.

 

The 61st ACM Awards will stream live exclusively on Prime Video on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. PT from the world-renowned MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

 

Congratulations to our 2026 nominees!

 

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

Chris Stapleton

 

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Kelsea Ballerini

 

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Chris Stapleton

 

GROUP OF THE YEAR

Old Dominion
Rascal Flatts

 

DUO OF THE YEAR

 

Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Thelma & James

 

NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Shaboozey

 

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

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

Don’t Mind If I Do (Deluxe)
Producer: Dann Huff

Parker McCollum
Producer: Frank Liddell

SONG OF THE YEAR

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

 

“A Song To Sing”

Artist: Chris Stapleton
Songwriters: Chris Stapleton

 

“Somewhere Over Laredo”
Songwriters: Andy Albert, Harold Arlen & Yip Harburg

SINGLE OF THE YEAR

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

“The Fall”
Producer: Trent Willmon

MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR

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

“A Song To Sing”

Artist: Chris Stapleton

“Amen”

Artist: Shaboozey
Producers: Danny Majic, Sean Cook

“Don’t Mind If I Do”

Producer: Dann Huff

“Trailblazer”

Artist: Reba McEntire
Producer: Reba McEntire

VISUAL MEDIA OF THE YEAR

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

 

“A Song To Sing”

Artist: Chris Stapleton

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

Ashley Gorley