2015 ACM Awards Nominees, Preview, & Predictions
This story has been updated.
The nominees for the 50th Annual ACM Awards set to transpire Sunday, April 19th were announced Friday morning (1-29) via the ACM’s social network streams. The nominees were originally scheduled to be announced on Tuesday, but presumably because of the big snowstorm foretasted to hit New York City that day, they were moved to Friday, both minimizing the chance the announcement would be buried in the news cycle, and tipping of country fans to how the true mother brain of the country music industry lies farther north than Nashville.
To celebrate the 50th Anniversary, this year’s awards will be held in Arlington, TX at AT&T Stadium, also known as the home of The Dallas Cowboys. Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan will once again be the hosts, and both the presentation and pre-show festivities are expected to be much bigger affairs to mark the half century mark for the show originally started by Dick Clark and still run by Dick Clark Productions.
Though all country music award shows sit on spurious foundations from the amount of cloistered, behind-the-scenes vote swapping and political horse trading amongst labels, especially the ACM’s, this year seems especially stained since in 2014, artist Justin Moore was nominated for New Artist of the Year when he was clearly ineligible by the ACM’s own stated rules. Exacerbating the concerns with the New Artist category, many of last year’s nominees returned again this year, and out of the eight semi-finalists, there’s not even one woman in an era when extra effort is being put out to emphasize women since they recently have become so bereft from the genre.
READ: ACM’s Present a Sausage Fest for 2015 New Artist Award
Below are the nominees and some quick, knee-jerk thoughts and predictions.
Entertainer of the Year
Yes, Garth’s name deserves to be here, even with his lack of radio play. His current tour is breaking records while his albums sales are rallying to show a solid effort. If he can just get an actual single to radio that stations will play instead of what he wish they would play, he’d be in business.
And don’t act surprised Florida Georgia Line is here. Frankly, I’m surprised they weren’t here in the last cycle. In regards to financial and influential impact, they deserved to be. All the bros are following Florida Georgia Line’s lead. Meanwhile, Blake Shelton is the odd man out.
But this is Luke Bryan’s accolade to lose.
- Jason Aldean
- Garth Brooks
- Luke Bryan – WINNER
- Miranda Lambert
- Florida Georgia Line
Female Vocalist of the Year
This is Miranda’s running away. Carrie mounted a valiant charge with the singles from her Greatest Hits release, but it likely won’t be enough to tackle the mighty Miranda. Good to see Brandy Clark’s name here, but she has absolutely no chance, neither does Martina McBride whose last album wasn’t even country. This is an off album year for Kacey. Maybe next year.
- Brandy Clark
- Miranda Lambert – WINNER
- Martina McBride
- Kacey Musgraves
- Carrie Underwood
Male Vocalist of the Year
Boring list of the same names we could have predicted would be here six months ago. Dierks and Brad Paisley have to feel it’s a victory to just be included here, but this is a race between Blake, Jason Aldean, and Luke Bryan. If the push is for Luke Bryan to win Entertainer of the Year, they may try to give Vocalist of the Year to someone else. Since Aldean got snubbed for the CMA’s, there may be a push to recognize him here. And Shelton is the perennial front runner for this award. Aside from all of that, this is a hard one to call. No outside chance for Church. He’s an album and song guy.
Also note, this category has been stretched to six because male country artists are so top heavy, while the ACM’s continue to struggle finding five women to fill the female slots.
- Jason Aldean – Potential Winner
- Dierks Bentley
- Luke Bryan – Potential Winner
- Eric Church
- Brad Paisley
- Blake Shelton – Potential Winner
Album of the Year
Once again were seeing the forced love for Little Big Town where it’s not deserved. Why are they even included here? Platinum has to be considered the front runner, simply because it’s received so much praise in the last year. However The Outsiders could mount an outside charge with all the rhetoric from Church of how it’s the greatest album ever, and his admiration he has for album awards beyond everything else. There will be pressure to give him something, and this might be it. Also an outside change for Dierks’ Riser. None of these album deserve high praise such as this.
- Old Boots, New Dirt by Jason Aldean
- Pain Killer by Little Big Town
- Platinum by Miranda Lambert – WINNER
- The Outsiders by Eric Church – Other Potential Winner
- Riser by Dierks Bentley
Song of the Year
Good gosh the weak fields keep coming. Since “Follow Your Arrow” won at the CMA’s and nothing else stands out, it has to be considered. Otherwise, this is an incredibly weak and wide open field.
- “American Kids” (Rodney Clawson / Luke Laird / Shane McAnally, performed by Kenny Chesney)
- “Automatic” (Nicolle Galyon / Natalie Hemby / Miranda Lambert, performed by Miranda Lambert)
- “Drink A Beer” (Jim Beavers / Chris Stapleton, performed by Luke Bryan)
- “Follow Your Arrow” (Brandy Clark / Shane McAnally / Kacey Musgraves, performed by Kacey Musgraves) – Potential Winner
- “Give Me Back My Hometown” (Eric Church / Luke Laird, performed by Eric Church)
- “I Hold On” (Dierks Bentley / Brett James, performed by Dierks Bentley)
Vocal Duo of the Year
They should make this a pre-telecast award since the winner is so obvious, and move a more compelling competition to the primetime slot.
Brothers Osborne
Dan+Shay
Florida Georgia Line – WINNER
Maddie & Tae
The Swon Brothers
Vocal Group of the Year
Ugh. None of these bands deserve anything. But Little Big Town has been receiving such a big push from their label, including getting inducted into the Grand Ole Opry of all things, enough votes will be swapped in their favor to pull off the victory. Lady Antebellum with a new album out also has an outside chance, but don’t even come close to deserving it. Zac Brown Band is the best band represented here, but hasn’t released an album in nearly three years. This category needs some new blood badly.
- Little Big Town – Winner
- Lady Antebellum – Other Potential Winner
- Rascal Flatts
- The Band Perry
- Zac Brown band
Single Record of the Year
Why all this love for Chesney’s “American Kids”? It makes you think they’ll give him an award for something even if he doesn’t deserve it. “Dirt” really should be a Song of the Year nominee, and it arguably would be a stronger contender than any of them. With both it’s commercial and critical success, it’s the clear front runner. “Drunk On A Plane” was also real big for Dierks. Consider it a close second. Is it a shame Florida Georgia Line is now winning song categories too? Hey, ironically they were the only ones with the rocks to release a song with depth that wasn’t hackneyed.
- “American Kids” by Kenny Chesney
- “Automatic” by Miranda Lambert
- “Dirt” by Florida Georgia Line – WINNER
- “Drunk On A Plane” by Dierks Bentley – Other potential Winner
- “I Don’t Dance” by Lee Brice
Vocal Event of the Year
A few ways this could go. There’s going to be a lot of pressure to give this to “Somethin’ Bad” or “This Is How We Roll” since they were such blockbusters, while “Lonely Tonight” and “Meanwhile Back At Mama’s” could split the critical votes. Anybody’s guess aside from “The South” having no chance. Boy have The Cadillac Three been a bust for Big Machine so far.
- “Somethin’ Bad” (Miranda Lambert with Carrie Underwood“
- “Lonely Tonight” (Blake Shelton featuring Ashley Monroe)
- “This Is How We Roll” (Florida Georgia Line featuring Luke Bryan)
- “Meanwhile Back At Mama’s” (Tim McGraw featuring Faith Hill)
- “The South” (The Cadillac Three featuring Florida Georgia Line, Dierks Bentley, & Mike Eli)
New Artist of the Year
These are the semi-finalists. Fans will get a chance to vote, and they’ll be parred down to the finalists before the show. Notice there’s no women on this list. And really who cares who wins this corrupt category since the ACM’s made a mockery of their own rules last year. This list reads like the who’s who of up-and-coming Bro-Country acts who will flame out with the trend halfway through 2015 if they’re lucky.
- Brett Eldredge
- Tyler Farr
- Sam Hunt
- Kip Moore
- Thomas Rhett
- Chase Rice
- Cole Swindell
- Dan + Shay
Video of the Year
The sympathy vote is going to be very strong for Glen Campbell, and without any clear front runner from the rest of the field, Glen could pull away. Was there anything particularly special about any of these other videos, or is this simply another category to acknowledge hit singles? If this is the case, put Florida Georgia Line’s “Dirt” on here. It had a lot more breadth and story than really any of these. Unfortunately even if Campbell wins, this is likely to be a pre-telecast award. If they bumped it to the live portion, it could make a special moment surrounding the ailing Campbell.
- “Drunk On A Plane” by Dierks Bentley, directed by Wes Edwards, produced by Clarke Gallivan
- “American Kids” by Kenny Chesney, directed by Shaun Silva and produced by Don Lepore
- “Cop Car” by Keith Urban, director by John Urbano, produced by Michelle Abnet
- “I’m Not Gonna Miss You” by Glen Campbell, directed by James Keach and produced by Julian Raymond – WINNER
- “Somethin’ Bad” by Miranda Lambert duet with Carrie Underwood, directed by Trey Fanjoy and produced by Trent Hardville.
Songwriter of the Year
Definitely a list constructed from commercial success as opposed to critical success, which is unfortunate for a category that normally bucks this trend.
- Rodney Clawson
- Ashley Gorley
- Luke Laird
- Josh Osborne
- Chris Tompkins
Brandon
January 30, 2015 @ 9:56 am
Why is Miranda there instead of Carrie while Something in the Water is doing so well and Miranda has none nothing impressive?
Trigger
January 30, 2015 @ 10:34 am
I was surprised not to see “Something In The Water” here, but it was released late in the ACM’s eligibility cycle, especially when considering it was sort of a late bloomer on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. It also unfortunately may be too early in the ACM cycle to be considered for next year. Sometimes timing is everything for these awards, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see it on next year’s list. As both a critical and commercial success, it should be high in consideration.
Brandon
January 30, 2015 @ 10:52 am
It would suck so bad to be really successful at the exact worst time and get screwed.
Eli
January 30, 2015 @ 12:18 pm
“Something in the Water” was released Sep 29, 2014 Criteria states the award is for songs during the calendar year of Nov 28, 2013 to Nov 26, 2014.
For Single of the Year, the song must chart in the Top 20 in that time frame.
For Song of the Year, the song has to have peaked on the charts in that time frame.
For Vocal Event of the Year, the song must reach at least 50 on the charts during that time frame, which is why “Lonely Tonight” is eligible. That song was released to radio November 10 and debuted on Mediabase at #46.
JC Eldredge
January 30, 2015 @ 10:02 am
Seems like Sara Evans should have been nominated instead of Martina. She has at least put out some new stuff recently.
UMG Nashville is promoting the hell out of Kip Moore for “New” Artist on Twitter. Way more than Warner is for Brett Eldredge, who should win, but is really only getting PR by doing it himself. (Yes I know Warner reps Swindell & Dan+Shay also, but… yuck). I don’t necessarily agree that Brett & Kip will fizzle though. They both have something different about them that make them stand out from the cookie cutter, frat boy turned country star others.
Trigger
January 30, 2015 @ 10:43 am
Once again were seeing the symptom of mainstream country music being completely unable to develop female talent. No offense to Martina, but they put her in there as a warm body because they didn’t have any more names on the same tier of name recognition with Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert. This is all about getting viewers, not about showcasing the talent that deserves these awards.
Eric
January 30, 2015 @ 1:11 pm
Trigger, do you think it is possible that the bro-country years have deterred many women from pursuing a mainstream country music career to begin with?
Trigger
January 30, 2015 @ 2:40 pm
I think mainstream country has turned away a lot of top shelf talent over the last few years, with more artists going towards Americana because they don’t want to be lumped with the likes of Florida Georgia Line, but I’m not sure if it’s disproportionate to women. It might be, but I’m not seeing a lack of mainstream female acts as much as I’m seeing a lack of support for them. Where’s Kellie Pickler? Is she no longer marketable for some reason? There’s plenty of female country talent, but when you lock women out of the “New Artist” category and other such things, you’re never going to develop it to the point where it can compete with the men.
Eric
January 30, 2015 @ 4:24 pm
The point about artists choosing Americana over mainstream country sounds fascinating. I wonder if there are statistics showing a sharp spike in the popularity of Americana over the last three years.
Bear
February 1, 2015 @ 4:19 pm
I think this is true to a degree but I also think even more importantly many of these bro-country EDM guys (i.e. Sam Hunt and crew) claim it as country music because they are afraid or know that if they labeled or marketed their pop music as pop they wouldn’t be able to compete with the women in pop WHO are DOMINATING all over the place. Calling it country in this climate allows them to make pop music (like they really want to) and yet rack up sales recognitions and awards without having to compete with females. PLUS with country just awash with males it’s just feels less threatening. I really think these acts are that shallow and that scared of having to compete with acts like Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Rhianna etc.
Keith
January 30, 2015 @ 10:16 am
Why wasn’t “Small Town Throwdown” not up for Vocal Event of the Year? I know it had some radio exposure and had 3 of the Bros singing on it. I haven’t even heard of “The South” and “Meanwhile Back at Momma’s” is more of a single with Faith singing back up than a Vocal Event.
Trigger
January 30, 2015 @ 10:49 am
Yeah, this is label politics at its worst. The Cadillac Three is on Big Machine Records with Florida Georgia Line, and generally has not been sticking as a mainstream-level act like the label wants them to. So you gerrymander The Cadillac Three in there to give them some more recognition. We also saw this when The Cadillac Three was featured on ABC’s “Nashville” drama, and was even mentioned in the context of Big Machine. I think Scott Borchetta sees The Cadillac Three as a more gritty, authentic answer to Florida Georgia Line (which they are) to be there once Bro-Country completely implodes. This is all about name recognition.
Usually this category is where we see some older, and more traditional artists featured. Not this year, unless you count Ashley Monroe, but then if you root for her, you have to root for Blake Shelton too.
Applejack
January 30, 2015 @ 11:40 am
Man, I forgot about the Cadillac Three. I heard that “all about the South” refrain used in a hundred SEC football broadcasts last fall, but I haven’t heard jack squat about them lately.
I hated “The South” when I first heard it (I think I said it sounded like Kings of Leon mixed with laundry list country), but it actually kinda grew on me. I gotta admit, I love that crunchy guitar riff that comes right before the hook. Clearly they are more of a southern rock band than a country outfit, but they are easily preferable to FGL.
gbkeith
January 31, 2015 @ 7:48 pm
The “get your buzz on” guys are gritty and authentic?
Anthony
January 30, 2015 @ 10:32 am
Hey Trigger, do you have a take on CMT’s recent All-Time Top 40 Artists that they aired? I thought you would have a lot to say about that even though its not something you would normally review.
Trigger
January 30, 2015 @ 10:51 am
I have an open boycott against anything and everything CMT because of “Party Down South” and Viacom’s other vehicles of cultural erosion, so I haven’t seen it, nor would want to risk accidentally promoting it by even talking about it, even if some cool artists happen to be highlighted as part of the program.
Chris
January 30, 2015 @ 10:50 am
Trig, how do you feel about Kip Moore? Your statement for New Artist of the Year sort of lumped all nominees together in the Bro-Country category. I have always looked at Kip’s music far differently than that of Chase or Cole’s and my thought is that Kip’s second album will remove him even further. I am curious to see how you feel on this?
Trigger
January 30, 2015 @ 10:57 am
Kip and Brett Eldredge would be the exception to that rule. I said as much in the dedicated article I wrote about the New Artist nominees when they were announced (https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/acms-present-a-sausage-fest-for-2015-new-artist-award) but failed to put that qualifier here. Nonetheless, this is a dud of a list of New Artists, and Kip probably doesn’t qualify simply because there’s not really anything about him that is “new.” “Somethin’ ‘Bout A Truck” was released late summer 2011 for goodness sakes and has been certified Platinum. He may be better than the rest, but he still doesn’t deserve this award.
Chris
January 30, 2015 @ 11:30 am
Thanks for the link, Trig. I must have missed that one. Totally agree with what you are saying. The new artist awards are rarely given to an actual “new artist” these days though.
Kevin
January 30, 2015 @ 11:34 am
Why the hate for ZBB? Almost all of your recent posts have praised ZBB for their Grohl album and for their music in general. They deserve to win group of the year every year they’re nominated, but get beat out by Lady Antebellum and Little Big Town. I’m a little surprised to see that you don’t think they’re deserving, again, especially because of your lack of criticism in recent posts. I understand that they won’t win, but that doesn’t mean they don’t deserve to.
Trigger
January 30, 2015 @ 11:59 am
I didn’t mean to knock Zac Brown Band at all here. I forgot to clarify why I thought they weren’t qualified to win. Yes, Zac Brown Band is by far the front runner in the category when it comes to quality, but they haven’t released a full-length record in nearly three years. “The Grohl Sessions” was great, but EP’s don’t qualify for these type of distinctions. Traditionally, a band would show up and fall out of these such categories along with the success or release of their albums. But now mainstream country is so top heavy, they’re simply fielding a list of nominees based off of the most recognizable names they can put together. All due respect to Zac Brown Band, but they don’t deserve this nomination. Wait until next year when they release an album, and then give them a legitimate shot of winning it, not this gerrymandered, label politics business.
Kevin
January 30, 2015 @ 12:08 pm
Understandable.
Sam Jimenez
January 30, 2015 @ 11:44 am
Hasn’t each of the award ceremonies already happened twice in the last month already?
Brandon
January 30, 2015 @ 11:52 am
Hey, if they could get away with giving Justin Moore New Artist of the Year for no reason whatsoever, they should be able to give Carrie Underwood a lot more consideration for Song, Female Vocalist winner, and even a chance at Entertainer of the Year next year. They may only do that for bros though, and she’s a girl in a sexist industry. Speaking of which, is there an actual straight answer for WHY women can’t do anything these days?
In Entertainer of the Year: Obviously Miranda has no chance, probably Garth too, though he would be the best outcome. Jason Aldean should not win this because of his R&B/EDM sexy time album, and it would be embarrassing for FGL to win. Luke Bryan is the safest person to win, which isn’t saying much.
Anthony
January 30, 2015 @ 11:53 am
Understandable lol. For what its worth it was put together by all the artists in country music.
judd
January 30, 2015 @ 12:09 pm
Kip moore should not be new artist heck he had one big album now the guy is anybody.
And good grief every year its the same new artist. Its like they keep trying till everybody wins… its like kids soccer.
bamstrait
January 30, 2015 @ 2:53 pm
The usual suspects, so damn boring. I don’t see where any of the male vocalist nominated have anything special about them or their vocals. How in the hell did Paisley get nominated again, I thought his time had passed.
Grady Smith
January 30, 2015 @ 3:30 pm
Great write-up, Trigger.
The New Artist category really is the biggest sham of them all. The period in which someone is considered “New” in country music really never seems to end for label promo teams until these guys are getting nominated in the Male Vocalist categories. (Of course there are also a few guys like Chris Young (who’s probably got the best pure voice in male mainstream country right now) that just exist in the no-man’s land of huge radio success but non-A-list status because he’s a little stiff when it comes to be funny/social/likable, which is what the entire Empire of Shelton/Bryan is built upon.
Regarding the groups — I think The Band Perry has really shot themselves in the foot with single releases lately. I feel like they got paranoid that they’d be typecast as an ‘If I Die Young’ type of Southern gothic country-pop band, so they spent the whole ‘Pioneer’ era determinedly trying to market themselves as a 1970s rock band with stupid singles like ‘Done’ and ‘Chainsaw,” but the reality is, they do that whole weepy “If I Die Young” style so very well. (I think “Gentle On My Mind” is a nice medium of the styles.) I really wonder what could have been if they’d released the title track from ‘Pioneer’, which I think is genuinely inspirational, or a song like ‘End of Time,’ which reimagines a breakup as a Southern apocalypse in a kitschy but effective way. They’re going for short term radio play, but they should be going for long term respect.
Sandra
January 30, 2015 @ 6:06 pm
Dierks is nominated for 6 awards but will walk away with none or maybe just one for video. It just saddens me because he never wins and he deserves it.
Maran
April 20, 2015 @ 11:03 am
Wow you were completely right! I was crossing my fingers that they’d finally give him an award that matters. Maybe his label doesn’t push for him.
Mike2
January 30, 2015 @ 6:19 pm
I’m almost surprised Sturgill isn’t on here despite his massive commercial success. Is the industry truly blind to his existence or are they purposely ignoring him?
Jason
January 30, 2015 @ 6:24 pm
Same old boring, predictable award show.
It’d be nice to see Brett Eldredge win new artist of the year though. As long as Chase Rice, Cole Swindell, or Sam Hunt don’t win that I’m fine
Kevin H.
January 30, 2015 @ 7:04 pm
ACM’s are a joke, just like every other “Country” awards show. Sturgill Simpson should be on this list, but he’s not because he’s real and doesn’t fit into their shitty pop country mold.
Justin
January 30, 2015 @ 9:28 pm
Rodney Clawson songwriter of the year.
Bryce
January 31, 2015 @ 9:36 am
Why bother watching when it is obvious who will win every category. Miranda wins every year, even if she has a bad year or her singles don’t even chart or are as successful as Carrie’s. At this rate, I don’t think we will ever see females rise again as long as Miranda keeps winning awards she clearly does not deserve. Unless Carrie can pull off the win this year at the ACMs or CMAs, or Kacey or another female, like Raelynn, can have more success at radio, Miranda will win this category for the next 15 years.
Brandon
January 31, 2015 @ 2:48 pm
What does Miranda ever have over Carrie other than being BS’s wife?
Leigh
February 2, 2015 @ 12:37 pm
Ya kidding? Carrie has vocals but ALWAYS out sings the song. Water is a Gospel song anyway. She is so Vanilla. Miranda, on the other hand, is an ARTIST! Lambert plays instruments. writes her own songs (not like Carrie and her 3 to 4 people on every song. Look at Miranda’s first 3 cds many solo credits and Annies 2 albums- lots of songwriting cred) and still sounds country. Even in her “rock” songs she sounds country. Also Blake is not an ACM fav. He has like 3 awards and one was given to him for “contributions to the genre”. This could be Deirks or Eric’s year since Aldean has already won a few.
audrey brown
February 3, 2015 @ 6:43 pm
Um what? Carrie is the pop/country singer she is great and she has lots of money but she is not the current country princess because she seldom goes near anything even semi traditional. Miranda is not a great country singer because of her husband she is one all on her own. They have only been married a few years she was resonating with fans and per awards long before that. It is rude to try to take her accomplishments away from her and hand them to her husband. Miranda is like the second coming of Loretta and LL has made the comparison before too. Miranda deserves that EOY award too as she did at the last CMAs.
Six String Richie
January 31, 2015 @ 9:38 pm
I meant to say,
Has anybody hear heard Rascal Flatts’ new single “Riot”? It’s one of my favorite singles by a big act in awhile. I would love to hear Trigger’s thought’s on it.
I tried to post this comment earlier but something went wrong. You can delete the comment I’m responding to.
Bear
February 1, 2015 @ 4:24 pm
Ad frankly with the way they throw around the best new artist label by selecting acts that are not even new I think ANYONE of this roster is a better choice
https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/t31.0-8/10828096_880827775271486_4165582702743510240_o.jpg
Bear
February 1, 2015 @ 4:22 pm
LOL! Best New Artist are many who had big hits not that long ago! LOL! What a joke Lucette is new, Karen Jonas is new… oh I’m sorry I forgot where I was…