Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton Win ACM Decade Awards
Man, the Academy of Country Music sure knows how to soft pedal the excitement behind some of their awards. Each year they announce their New Artist of the Year recipients by basically having some intern cap off a tweet on a random Tuesday, and if you’re not paying close attention, you’ll miss it. Recently they’ve been unveiling their ‘Decade’ awards, and are doing it in a similar fashion, stringing them out over months instead of having an event to announce them, surprising artists backstage at gigs and shoving an award in their face as a few flashbulbs go off, and then sending a blurb out on social media. Congratulations.
Most of the winners are pretty obvious, and easy to be offended by if you’re an actual country music fan. Florida Georgia Line was give a trio of awards, including Breakout Artist of the Decade, Single of the Decade for “Cruise,” and Music Event of the Decade for “Meant To Be” with Bebe Rexha. Hate on “Cruise” all you want, but it’s probably deserved just because of the impact the song had in launching the Bro-Country era in earnest, for better or worse. But the Bebe Rexha joint shouldn’t qualify for anything in country, and when we look back on the past decade, Florida Georgia Line very well may be the punchline, while Luke Combs could be the “breakout” artist of note, even if he got a late start.
Jason Aldean was also named Artist of the Decade back in April, which is very highly debatable. Has that dude really done enough to deserve a distinction like that?
But there were also a couple of awards that speak to how the last decade in popular country hasn’t been all bad. Miranda Lambert won Song of the Decade along with songwriters Tom Douglas and Allen Shamblin for “The House That Built Me.” Not much has gone right in the last decade of country music, but one of them was the solidifying of this track as a bona fide standard during an era where few true standards have been launched (or adhered to). Tanya Tucker recently covered “The House That Built Me” on her comeback record, While I’m Livin’.
In 2011, “The House That Built Me” won the ACMs for Song, Single, and Video of the year. Since then, nothing has come even close in the mainstream to dethroning it. Miranda and the songwriters received the ACM Decade award on September 3rd when it was also revealed that the other nominees were apparently Eli Young Band’s “Crazy Girl” (2011), Lee Brice’s “I Drive Your Truck” (2014), Chris Stapleton’s “Nobody to Blame” (2015), Thomas Rhett’s “Die a Happy Man” (2016) and Dan + Shay’s “Tequila” (2018). So yeah, they got this one right at least.
Chris Stapleton didn’t win for Song of the Decade, but he did win for Artist-Songwriter of the Decade. This is different from Songwriter of the Decade, which went to Rhett Atkins. Though all the other Artist-Songwriters had about a half a decade start on Stapleton, it’s hard to say there’s been any other songwriter since that has had as significant of an impact on mainstream country as Stapleton. This marks his 10th ACM Award, for example. And if were speaking honestly, Stapleton probably deserves Artist of the Decade as well, not Aldean. Nobody’s had a greater impact in the last 10 years in country music than Stapleton, Jason Aldean’s touring numbers notwithstanding. And nobody has more country awards, ACM or otherwise in the last decade than Miranda Lambert.
Anyway, you would think when we’re awarding stuff like the best of something over an entire decade, we’d make a bigger deal than just ambushing artists backstage somewhere and snapping a promo photo. But again, this is the ACMs. We’ll have to see in the coming months what they come up with for Duo and Group of the Decade, and whatever other awards they have up their sleeve leading up to the next ACM Awards presentation in April, 2020.
Tracy
October 6, 2019 @ 11:23 am
The ACM show is always so generic and cheesy (the sound quality alone is horrendous), I’m not surprised they couldn’t be bothered to properly hand out these awards.
Scotty J
October 6, 2019 @ 11:35 am
Spose every publication and organization in music, movies, sports, etc. will be releasing these ‘Best of the Decade’ things over the next couple months.
Trigger
October 6, 2019 @ 12:53 pm
I’ll probably be guilty of doing an Albums of the Decade post. I did one of the last decade. It is a good way to retrospectively see what’s happened, and promote stuff some might have missed.
Scotty J
October 6, 2019 @ 1:02 pm
One thing it can do is sort of highlight trends. Are things really getting worse or better? And also remind people of stuff that is forgotten. Honestly without seeing this it seemed like ‘House’ was older than that. Off the top of my head I would have said 2007 or so.
Also can point out the decline of certain artists that looked like the future a few years ago but now seem lost in other genres.
Euro South
October 6, 2019 @ 5:05 pm
Oh man, I can’t wait for that post!
Gabe
October 6, 2019 @ 11:45 am
I’m beyond tired of the ACMs. It’s almost like they find a way to award themselves for awarding themselves. This is almost as bad as the 50th anniversary milestone award a couple of years ago. Over time these awards begin to lose their meanings.
Trigger
October 6, 2019 @ 12:51 pm
How do you expect anyone to take your awards seriously when it doesn’t even seem like you do?
Corncaster
October 6, 2019 @ 4:12 pm
Instead of rewarding cynical commerce, they could start rewarding quality. But who knows where that would lead.
Chris
October 6, 2019 @ 11:59 am
Honestly, the ACM might as well only give out the Artist of the Decade award. That’s what they’re known for. As for other awards, everyone knows the CMAs are more prestigious.
Really, it should have been Miranda or Chris for that award anyway. I mean, it’s been a bad decade for country, but at least those two have brought some actual substance.
Shell Clem
October 6, 2019 @ 12:56 pm
ALL of the country music song writers, do not get enough recognition or notary, they too deserve. Some of these award shows have become a bore to watch. In agreement with Chris above. The CMA’s are the most prestigious. We could take a public debate to decide who should be awarded with what. I do agree Alean deserved the award. Im sitting back and have watched Luke Combs literally “Come in like a hurricane” In high demand, So who votes this guy, and to what and how many awards?
Ms. Emme
October 6, 2019 @ 1:13 pm
IMHO, the battle of ACM versus the CMAs goes to the CMAs. Radio’s role in this hasn’t helped either one illuminate new talent and acts have become stagnant over the last 10-15 years. I wish this had also been explored more in Ken Burns’ Country Music documentary.
Gina
October 6, 2019 @ 1:35 pm
Well, some good news. I agree about the ACMs which I can’t even bring myself to hate Watch anymore
Jared S.
October 6, 2019 @ 2:30 pm
That list of nominees for “song of the decade” is depressing. “House that built me” is the only one of that last even remotely of a place on that list.
Jared S.
October 6, 2019 @ 2:33 pm
My phone really butchered that last sentence. Should be “only one that even remotely deserves a place on that list.”
North Woods Country
October 6, 2019 @ 2:41 pm
You’re being a little too hard on “Crazy Girl” and “I Drive Your Truck.” Those are great songs that dominated radio when most of radio was trash.
Cool Lester Smooth
October 14, 2019 @ 8:06 am
I Drive Your Truck is very well done.
Rhonda Ogletree
October 6, 2019 @ 5:46 pm
Blake Shelton was obviously over looked very talented and doesn’t get the recognition he deserves. Just saying😡🤦🏻♀️🥰💜💜💜💜🙋🏻♀️
albert
October 6, 2019 @ 6:30 pm
good one rhonda .
with few exceptions blake has arguably recorded THE most forgettable material in recent years . if it weren’t for his VOICE exposure I think he’d be a ‘country’ music footnote by now.
Alekc
October 11, 2019 @ 5:28 am
This can be said and other singers, in including and about the same Miranda
Melanie S Stone
October 6, 2019 @ 6:29 pm
That’s great love Chris Stapleton and Miranda Lambert is amazing! Both of these stand on their own. Chris has a new baby with his beautiful wife. And Miranda has a man that makes such a difference in her life, seeing her smile again and what it’s all about. I will say I have always been ca fan of Miranda and Blake, but her music now is amazing! Music does heal all. Congratulations to you both!
Deanna
October 6, 2019 @ 6:31 pm
Blake shelton has his head so far up gwen stephani’s ass Don’t speak i can’t speak😂😂😂. He is so in love yeah right. He probably farts hearts🙌💓💓😂. They are both fame whores. ACM got it right chris and miranda are both awesome
Cindy
October 6, 2019 @ 7:57 pm
Blake Shelton?? Isn’t he the guy who forfeited his career in order to become a Valley Girl? I heard he drives a baby blue Prius these days.
jeannie
October 6, 2019 @ 8:18 pm
The last couple months Shelton has been blowing about going to be at the CMA’s.(WHY) Does that mean his red chair and Hollywood Days are about over…Or maybe because he happens to be Reba and Blackstock client. Reba will be helping host. Her last two years of hosting the ACM’s he and Kelly Clarkson had a big part from the stage and on the stage. They manage both…..
Sam
October 6, 2019 @ 9:19 pm
Ah look at all the ranrats that came to dump on Shelton. Funny they don’t attack East or Felker. I like Shelton’s voice. He’s a damn good performer and entertainer. And he cares about Country Music and promotes it. Every frigging time I decide to look at this site And fracking Lambert is mentioned they show up. Hey news flash. Her new music sucks. It ‘s not selling or streaming. So instead of writing nasty posts (hey Cindy been awhile) go stream her music that Miley passed on.
Mike Honcho
October 7, 2019 @ 6:57 am
What’s a ranrat, Sam? Never heard that term.
Tom
October 7, 2019 @ 9:24 am
I’ve never heard of East or Felker, myself. Or a ranrant.
Cool Lester Smooth
October 14, 2019 @ 8:08 am
Felker’s the lead singer of Turnpike Troubadours.
If you haven’t checked them out yet, you absolutely should.
Tom
October 14, 2019 @ 8:26 am
Thanks. I’m well aware of TT, just not familiar with the members’ names, I guess.
Now if I can just figure out who East is and what a ranrant is I’ll be able to sleep at night.
Cool Lester Smooth
October 14, 2019 @ 9:11 am
Anderson East, I’m guessing – blues-y, soul-y stuff – dude’s music is what people who hate Americana pretend the whole genre is like, haha.
They’ve both dated Lambert at some point, so I’m assuming it’s some sort of unhinged rant by someone who cares more about gossip columns than music.
FGL is brojob muzak
October 7, 2019 @ 4:49 pm
“Her new music sucks. It ‘s not selling or streaming.”
Sorry about you having a two digit IQ, troll.
Betty
October 6, 2019 @ 10:18 pm
Glad to see the ACM pick two deserving artists. Both are very gifted singer songwriters.
thebugman10
October 7, 2019 @ 5:09 am
I feel like those songs of the decade nominations were very weak, even for mainstream country. I’ll stick with mainstream country hits, but some better choices would’ve been:
“Springsteen” – Eric Church (not his best song or single, but definitely the biggest)
“Humble and Kind” – Time McGraw
“If I Die Young” – The Band Perry
“Colder Weather” – Zac Brown Band
“Merry Go Round” – Kacey Musgraves
There were a lot of songs in the last decade, so I’m sure there are even better ones than I mentioned, but I feel like all of those are better than the other nominees besides Lambert’s.
Mike Honcho
October 7, 2019 @ 6:58 am
Every song you just listed sucks donkey balls. IMNSHO.
You and Your White Claw
October 7, 2019 @ 9:40 am
I was surprised not to see Humble and Kind up there. It was a big song. It’s almost like they had their winner and just added the other nominees to pad out the list.
Cool Lester Smooth
October 14, 2019 @ 8:10 am
Merry Go Round had a ton of SotY wins, too.
Tyler Wayne
October 7, 2019 @ 7:43 am
Very interested to see who gets album of decade. I will not be surprised if they give it to Golden Hour. Hoping it goes to either Kacey, Miranda, Stapleton, or Church
Trigger
October 7, 2019 @ 9:23 am
By stats, it should probably be Chris Stapleton’s “Traveller.” But since they’re handing out accolades in bunches and the ACMs merry troupe of trophy fairies already visited Stapleton, perhaps it won’t be. I guess they can always visit him again. Eric Church’s “Chief” would be another interesting selection. It won the ACM, CMA, and Grammy Album of the Year. So did Kacey’s “Golden Hour,” but this is the ACMs, and they may be more obsessed with sales than what “Golden Hour” can boast.
Tyler Wayne
October 7, 2019 @ 10:11 am
I thought the same thing that it wouldn’t go to Miranda or chris bc they have already been given awards.
Charlie
October 7, 2019 @ 8:30 am
Self-serving BS, by their very nature. I appreciate the true artists who thumb their noses, and respect the hell out of the ones who accept them anyway.
Because it’s ultimately for the fans, but the fans don’t get theirs until the corporate machine gets all of its and more.
You and Your White Claw
October 7, 2019 @ 9:36 am
Miranda Lambert just won an award and her fans are still bleating about her ex husband from 5 years ago. That’s a sad commentary on how women are just reduced to their relationship history and tabloid shenanigans.
Are they handing out these awards to cut down on show length or are they just going to forfeit their tv show? With the continued decrease in ratings maybe it’s time to pull the plug.
Tom
October 7, 2019 @ 9:43 am
Is there really even a point to the ACM’s existence any more? It was originally formed to promote country music west of the Continental Divide and support artists based in that region who were underserved by the Nashville-based CMA, but for years it’s just seemed like a discount label version of the same thing.
Hey Arnold
October 7, 2019 @ 11:59 am
My single of the Decade nominees:
Humble and Kind – Tim McGraw
God’s Country – Blake Shelton
House that Built Me – Miranda Lambert
Girl Crush – Little Big Town
Head Over Boots – Jon Pardi
Beautiful Crazy – Luke Combs
Like a Cowboy – Randy Houser
I Drive Your Truck – Lee Brice
If Heaven Wasn’t so Far Away – Justin Moore ,
If I Die Young – Band Perry
Wagon Wheel – Darius Rucker
(Also , Need You Know by Lady A. I think it was released in late 2009 but maybe it didn’t make the deadline last decade?)
GrantH
October 7, 2019 @ 1:48 pm
As surprised as I am that Aldean got the Artist of the Decade nod, I don’t think I would have given it to Stapleton either. As much as I hate to say this, Luke Bryan probably deserves it.
Ruth
October 7, 2019 @ 4:08 pm
Alan Jackson is the best , but they never recognize him.
Bamstrait
October 7, 2019 @ 6:57 pm
Is there really a reason to give yet another award of any kind to these two? Both so overrated and tired.
Nate
October 8, 2019 @ 12:57 pm
Artist of the DECADE? Miranda Lambert can barely sell out half of an arena on tour. Her album sales are horrible and her singles do not chart well at all. So how exactly is she considered ” Artist of the decade”? I understand they want to add value by being inclusive to women BUT Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban and the list goes on and on. They have had more sales in terms of albums, singles and DEFINITELY selling out arenas. MIRANDAs awards are being handed to her while she barely accomplishes anything.
Alekc
October 9, 2019 @ 8:36 am
As soon as I see “most awarded” I can’t help laughing,she should be awarded as the most overrated artist of the decade
Ann Stokman
October 11, 2019 @ 8:15 am
Well Deserved!