2024 ACM Awards: Snubs & Surprises

By any measure, Zach Bryan had a phenomenal year in 2023, selling out arenas across the U.S. and opening at No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart with his self-titled album, as well as topping Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart twice, including with his Kacey Musgraves duet, “I Remember Everything” (which also topped the Billboard Hot 100). Bryan is nominated for three awards — music event of the year as artist and producer of “I Remember Everything,” and for artist-songwriter of the year— but he’s on the outside for entertainer of the year, male artist of the year and song or single of the year. He is signed to Warner Records out of Los Angeles instead of directly to a Nashville label, which may somewhat account for the snub, as his label mate, Warren Zeiders, was also shut out. – M.N.

Jelly Roll received four nominations. The only real surprise here is that this is the first year that Jelly Roll has been nominated: He was shut out last year, and this year’s four nominations, including entertainer of the year, are a reminder of just how far and fast he has come since last year. He is the first artist since Billy Ray Cyrus 32 years ago to be nominated for entertainer of the year in his first year of receiving any nominations. Jelly Roll, who swept the CMT Awards earlier this week, is also nominated for male artist, single and music event of the year. – M.N.

Zimmerman earned two Country Airplay chart hits last year, including the six-week No. 1 “Rock and a Hard Place,” as well as the chart-topper “Religiously,” and saw his project Religiously. The Album. debut at No. 3 on the Top Country Albums chart (in addition to leading his own headlining tour and opening shows for Morgan Wallen). Still, Zimmerman earned no nominations. Though he was nominated in the category last year, Zimmerman wasn’t among this year’s new male artist nominees (ACM rules allow an artist to be nominated twice during a three-year period). — J.N.

Megan Moroney received six nominations, leading all female artists. The newcomer lands her first nominations including nods for new female artist of the year and female artist of the year, the only woman to appear in both categories this year. In addition to landing two nominations for song of the year entry and top five Country Airplay hit “Tennessee Orange,” as both performer and songwriter, Moroney gets a nod for “Can’t Break Up Now,” her duet with Old Dominion, for music event of the year. – M.N.

After being nominated for four awards last year, including female artist and song of the year, Carly Pearce received zero nominations this year, despite releasing a beautiful duet with Chris Stapleton, “We Don’t Fight Anymore.” The four-time past winner had been nominated for female artist of the year several times in the past, taking home the award in 2022. Similarly, her collaborations had often garnered music event of the year nominations, including wins for “I Hope You’re Happy Now” with Lee Brice at the 2020 awards and “Never Wanted to Be That Girl” with Ashley McBryde in 2022. – M.N.

Scott, who earned a No. 1 Country Airplay hit last year with “Can’t Have Mine,” is among this year’s nominees for new male artist of the year, alongside ERNEST, Kameron Marlowe, Conner Smith and Nate Smith. It’s a boon for Scott, who released his first country radio single, “Makin’ This Boy Go Crazy,” back in 2013. This isn’t the first time he’s been nominated in this category; he first garnered a nod in the same category last year (an artist may be a nominee two times in a three-year period, per ACM guidelines).

“Can’t Have Mine (Find You A Girl)” marks Scott’s third Country Airplay No. 1 hit, following his 2017 chart leader “My Girl” and 2022’s “New Truck.” — J.N.

Few country artists blazed as fast and bright a trail as Oliver Anthony Music (real name: Christopher Anthony Lunsford) in 2023. Last summer, his viral hit “Rich Men North of Richmond” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, making him the first artist to achieve that feat without having any prior chart history on any Billboard chart. The self-released song, which became a flashpoint for conservatives (despite Lundsford disavowing any specific political leanings), also topped Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. Perhaps his lack of follow-up in the eligibility period and lack of ties to Nashville led to his receiving no nominations, but he seemed a lock for a new male artist of the year nod. – M.N.

Lambert and Underwood have both been mainstays at the ACM Awards, with Lambert winning the ACM’s entertainer of the year honor in 2022 (she’s had seven overall nominations in the category). Underwood has previously taken home the ACM’s entertainer of the year honor three times (in 2009 and 2010, and co-won it in 2020).

So it is odd to see neither artist’s name in the running for the show’s top honor. Underwood released the deluxe version of her Denim & Rhinestones album, spearheaded by songs like “Take Me Out,” and continued with her “Reflection: The Las Vegas Residency” last year. She also opened three shows for rock titans Guns N’ Roses.

Meanwhile, Lambert leaned into her songwriting prowess, penning songs recorded by several artists for their albums, while continuing her own Velvet Rodeo residency in Las Vegas. She also teamed with Leon Bridges for a collaboration, and launched the Big Loud Texas label in conjunction with Big Loud. — J.N.

Given the seeming omnipresence of Wilson both on the Country Airplay chart, on numerous performance stages and in the media over the past year (in addition to the accumulation of other awards accolades she’s earned), it’s no surprise that Wilson is in the running for this year’s ACM entertainer of the year honor.

If Wilson were to win the EOY accolade, she would earn the coveted ACM Triple Crown honor, which is presented to an artist, duo or group who has earned their respective new artist and artist category, as well as the entertainer of the year honor. Previous Triple Crown honorees have included Miranda Lambert, Kenny Chesney and Chris Stapleton. Wilson won the new female artist of the year win in 2022 and the female artist of the year honor last year. Given that Wilson earned her first ACM Award just three years ago (along with her first Country Airplay No. 1), it is the speed of her ascendance to the Triple Crown circle that would be the surprise here, if she picks up an EOY win. – J.N.