The 2019 ACM Awards Complete Preview

(Tune in Sunday night for Saving Country Music’s LIVE Blog of the ACM Awards)

THE 54th ANNUAL ACM AWARDS

• When: 7 PM Central, 8 PM Eastern Sunday, April 7th, 2019 on CBS.

• Where: MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

• Host: Reba McEntire.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

It’s the ACM Awards, so don’t expect too much actual country. But George Strait and Miranda Lambert are set to perform a medley of classic country songs together that could be interesting. Miranda Lambert is also set to perform her own medley of songs. The ACMs love these medlies because they cram more songs into a smaller performance time, but they rarely result in a memorable “moment.” We’ll see if “King” George and Miranda can buck that trend.

Ashley McBryde is performing current single “Girl Goin’ Nowhere” solo. In a night that will be filled with many duets and medley performances, this may be the one that could result in a “moment.” It was McBryde debuting this song on the Grand Ole Opry that really helped command her national attention. It’s currently doing okay at radio, but not great. This could be the moment it receives the jolt it needs.

If Kacey Musgraves wins for Album of the Year, that will give Golden Hour the “Triple Crown,” making Musgraves the 12th artist in country music history to do so. She has to be considered a front runner for Album of the Year going into the night. Her momentum from the Grammy Awards may also make her a more likely candidate for Female Artist of the Year.

With Keith Urban stunning everyone by walking away with the CMA for Entertainer of the Year last November, this makes the award that much more intriguing. Could Keith Urban really win it again? Or will it be Jason Aldean, who is also receiving an Artist of the Decade trophy on the night? Or will it be Chris Stapleton’s turn? It might be Stapleton’s last shot at the distinction for a while, if ever.

THE PRESENTERS

Musical presenters include Lauren Alaina, Midland, Clint Black, Jesse James Decker, Hunter Hayes, Carly Pearce, Cole Swindell, Lady Antebellum, and Michael Ray.

Non musical presenters include race car driver Danica Patrick, actress Beth Behrs of Two Broke Girls, actor Dennis Quaid (who also has a band called Dennis Quaid and the Sharks), Jay Hernandez of CBS’s reboot of Magnum P.I., Entertainment Tonight’s Nancy O’Dell, Wilmer “Fez” Valderrama from That 70’s Show, and actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau on Black Hawk Down and Game of Thrones.

 

THE PERFORMERS

• George Strait and Miranda Lambert will perform a medley of classic country hits being labeled as “ACM Flashbacks.” Lambert will also perform a medley of her hits solo.

• Brooks & Dunn will perform “Brand New Man” with Luke Combs off their new Reboot record. UPDATE: It also appears Amanda Shires will also be part of this performance.

R&B artist Khalid will perform with Kane Brown (not vice versa), likely “Saturday Nights.”

• Eric Church is performing with Ashley McBryde on “The Snake”. McBryde will also perform her current single “Girl Goin’ Nowhere.”

This Is Us star Chrissy Metz and Carrie Underwood will perform the song “I’m Standing With You” from the Breakthrough soundtrack with Lauren Alaina, Maddie & Tae, and Mickey Guyton. Carrie Underwood will also perform “Southbound” solo.

• Florida Georgia Line and Jason Aldean will perform the song “Can’t Hide Red.”

• Jason Aldean will also perform with Kelly Clarkson, likely a medley of his hits, including “Don’t You Wanna Stay,” which the two recorded together in 2010.

• Dan + Shay will perform with Kelly Clarkson as well on the song “Keeping Score.”

• Dierks Bentley is singing “Travelin’ Light” with Brandi Carlile.

• Maren Morris will collaborate with Brothers Osborne on “All My Favorite People.”

• Blake Shelton will perform new song “God’s Country.”

• Luke Bryan will perform new song “Knockin’ Boots.”

Host Reba McEntire will perform “Freedom.”

• Little Big Town performs new song “The Daughters.”

• Thomas Rhett will perform “Look What God Gave Her.”

• Lanco will perform new song “Rival.”

• Chris Stapleton is singing “A Simple Song.”

• Old Dominion will perform “Make It Sweet.”

• Keith Urban is also set to perform.

 

 AWARD NOMINEES

Some Awards Have Already Been Handed Out:

  • New Male Vocalist of the Year – Luke Combs
  • New Female Vocalist of the Year – Ashley McBryde
  • New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year – Lanco
  • Vocal Group of the Year – Old Dominion
  • Video of the Year – Chris Janson’s “Drunk Girl”
  • Music Event of the Year – Burning Man – Dierks Bentley featuring Brothers Osborne
  • Songwriter of the Year – Shane McAnally

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
• Jason Aldean
• Luke Bryan
• Kenny Chesney
• Chris Stapleton
• Keith Urban

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
• Miranda Lambert
• Ashley McBryde
• Maren Morris
• Kacey Musgraves
• Carrie Underwood

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
• Dierks Bentley
• Luke Combs
• Thomas Rhett
• Chris Stapleton
• Keith Urban

DUO OF THE YEAR
• Brothers Osborne
• Dan + Shay
• Florida Georgia Line
• LOCASH
• Maddie & Tae

GROUP OF THE YEAR
• Lady Antebellum
• LANCO
• Little Big Town
• Midland
• Old Dominion

NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
• Danielle Bradbery
• Lindsay Ell
• Ashley McBryde – Won
• Carly Pearce

NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
• Jimmie Allen
• Luke Combs – Won
• Jordan Davis
• Michael Ray
• Mitchell Tenpenny

NEW DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
• High Valley
• LANCO – Won
• Runaway June

ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
Dan + Shay – Dan + Shay
Producers: Scott Hendricks / Dan Smyers / Matt Dragstrem
Record Label: Warner Music Nashville

Desperate Man – Eric Church
Producers: Jay Joyce / Arturo Buenahora Jr.
Record Label: EMI Records Nashville

From A Room: Volume 2 – Chris Stapleton
Producers: Dave Cobb / Chris Stapleton
Record Label: Mercury Nashville

Golden Hour – Kacey Musgraves
Producers: Ian Fitchuk / Daniel Tashian / Kacey Musgraves
Record Label: MCA Nashville

The Mountain – Dierks Bentley
Producers: Ross Copperman / Jon Randall Stewart / Arturo Buenahora Jr.
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville

SINGLE OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
• Down to the Honky Tonk – Jake Owen
Producer: Joey Moi
Record Label: Big Loud Records

• Heaven – Kane Brown
Producer: Dann Huff / Polow Da Don
Record Label: RCA Nashville

• Meant To Be – Bebe Rexha featuring Florida Georgia Line
Producer: Wilshire for Rock The Soul Ent
Record Label: Warner Bros. Records

• Most People Are Good – Luke Bryan
Producers: Jeff Stevens / Jody Stevens
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville

• Tequila – Dan + Shay
Producers: Scott Hendricks / Dan Smyers
Record Label: Warner Music Nashville

SONG OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
• Break Up In The End – Cole Swindell
Writers: Jessie Jo Dillon / Chase McGill / Jon Nite
Publishers: EMI April Music Inc. / Nite Writer Music (ASCAP) / Songs of Universal, Inc. / Plum Nelly (BMI) / Big Music Machine (BMI)/ Big Ass Pile Of Dimes Music (BMI)

• Broken Halos – Chris Stapleton
Writers: Mike Henderson / Chris Stapleton
Publishers: WB Music Corp./House of Sea Gayle Music, admin. by ClearBox Rights/Spirit Catalog Holdings, S.a.r.l. admin. by Spirit Two Nashville (ASCAP); Straight Six Music (BMI)

• Meant To Be – Bebe Rexha featuring Florida Georgia Line
Writers: David Garcia / Tyler Hubbard / Joshua Miller / Bebe Rexha
Publishers: BMG Platinum Songs/Kiss Me If You Can Music (BMI) (all rights administered by BMG Rights Management (US) LLC) Big Loud Mountain (BMI) and T Hubb Publishing (BMI). All Rights Administered by Round Hill Works. Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. on behalf of itself and Songs of the Corn and Jack 10 Publishing. Universal Music – Brentwood Benson Publishing (ASCAP) D Soul Music (ASCAP) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com)

• Space Cowboy – Kacey Musgraves
Writers: Luke Laird / Shane McAnally / Kacey Musgraves
Publishers: Smack Hits/Smack Songs, admin by Kobalt Music Group ltd. (GMR)/Universal Music Works/We Are Creative NBaSmack Hits/Smack Songs, LLC, admin. by Kobalt Music Group Ltd. (GMR); Universal Music Works/We Are Creative Nation/Jake and Mack Music, admin. by Universal Music Works; Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp./351 Music (BMI).

• Tequila – Dan + Shay
Writers: Nicolle Galyon / Jordan Reynolds / Dan Smyers
Publishers: Beats and Banjos (ASCAP)/ WB Music Corp. (ASCAP)/A Girl Named Charlie (BMI) / Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI) / Buckeye26 (ASCAP) / Jreynmusic (ASCAP)

• Yours – Russell Dickerson
Writers: Casey Brown / Russell Dickerson / Parker Welling
Publishers: BMG Platinum Songs/Kailey’s Dream / So Essential Tunes / Not Just Another Song Publishing / Hillbilly Science and Research Publishing/Trailerlily Music

VIDEO OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]
• Babe – Sugarland featuring Taylor Swift
Producer: Roger Hunt
Director: Anthony Mandler

• Burn Out – Midland
Producer: Ben Skipworth
Director: TK McKamy / Cameron Duddy

• Burning Man – Dierks Bentley featuring Brothers Osborne
Producer: Nate Eggert
Director: Wes Edwards

• Drunk Girl – Chris Janson
Producer: Ben Skipworth
Director: Jeff Venable

• Shoot Me Straight – Brothers Osborne
Producer: April Kimbrell
Director: Wes Edwards / Ryan Silver

• Tequila – Dan + Shay
Producer: Christen Pinkston
Director: Patrick Tracy

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR*(Off Camera Award)
• Ross Copperman
• Ashley Gorley
• Shane McAnally – Won
• Chase McGill
• Josh Osborne

MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
• Burning Man – Dierks Bentley featuring Brothers Osborne – WON
Producers: Ross Copperman / Jon Randall Stewart / Arturo Buenahora Jr.
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville

• Drowns the Whiskey – Jason Aldean featuring Miranda Lambert
Producer: Michael Knox
Record Labels: Macon Music, LLC; Broken Bow Records; BBR Music Group; BMG

• Everything’s Gonna Be Alright – David Lee Murphy featuring Kenny Chesney
Producers: Buddy Cannon / Kenny Chesney / David Lee Murphy
Record Label: Reviver Records

• Keeping Score – Dan + Shay featuring Kelly Clarkson
Producers: Scott Hendricks / Dan Smyers
Record Label: Warner Music Nashville

• Meant To Be – Bebe Rexha featuring Florida Georgia Line
Producer: Wilshire for Rock The Soul Ent
Record Label: Warner Bros. Records

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