ACM Awards
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Dan + Shay won their fourth duo of the year award at The Academy of Country Music’s 59th ACM Awards on Thursday night (May 16). “I’m freaking out right now,” Dan Smyers told the crowd at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, upon taking the stage to accept the trophy, turning to his partner. “Shay, I love […]
Jelly Roll made sure to make his appearance at Thursday night’s (May 16) 2024 ACM Awards count, when he treated audiences at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, to a brand new song. Taking to the stage bathed in red light, Jelly performed his unreleased new song “Liar,” a rousing rock track in […]
Jordan Davis took home the first televised award of the night at the Academy of Country Music Awards Thursday (May 16), winning for song of the year with “Next Thing You Know.” The 36-year-old looked surprised as he heard presenter Randy Travis read out his name as the category’s winner, beating out Luke Combs’ cover […]
On Tuesday night (May 16), Lainey Wilson kicked off what host Reba McEntire would later call “country music’s party of the year” with her 2024 ACM Awards-opening mini-medley performance. Billboard‘s recent cover star began her performance with a “What’s going on, Texas?” greeting to the crowd at The Star in Frisco, TX, before launching into […]
These days, it’s not a country music party until Jelly Roll and his wife Bunnie XO show up — so it looks like the 2024 Academy of Country Music Awards have officially achieved party status. In addition to Jelly and Bunnie, current Hot Country Songs chart-topper Shaboozey — the man behind the viral hit “A […]
The Academy of Country Music’s “party of the year” has arrived! Going into the 59th ACM Awards — which will broadcast live from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas — on Thursday (May 16), Luke Combs leads in nominations with eight nods, while Megan Moroney — this year’s most nominated woman at the ACMs — and Morgan Wallen are just behind him with six.
Among the awards the “Fast Car” singer is in the running for are entertainer of the year; album, song and single of the year; and male entertainer of the year. The “Last Night” crooner will be giving him a run for his money in the album of the year, male artist of the year and single of the year. Moroney, meanwhile, is up for female artist of the year as well as new female artist of the year (which she won ahead of the show) and song of the year, among other honors.
Jelly Roll, who is a first-time ACM Awards nominee, has four nods: entertainer of the year, male artist of the year, single of the year and music event of the year.
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The 2024 ceremony is hosted by country music icon Reba McEntire, who is a 16-time ACM Awards winner, and produced by Dick Clark Productions. (DCP is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a Penske Media Corporation subsidiary and joint venture between PMC and Eldridge. PMC is the parent company of Billboard.)
While some of the trophies were handed out ahead of the show, the biggest awards will happen during the ceremony. Find out which country stars are taking home ACM Awards as the show airs live tonight via Prime Video, beginning at 8 p.m. ET. We’ll be updating this list of winners are victors are announced.
Entertainer of the year
Kane BrownLuke CombsJelly RollCody JohnsonChris StapletonMorgan WallenLainey Wilson
Female artist of the year
Kelsea BalleriniAshley McBrydeMegan MoroneyKacey MusgravesLainey Wilson
Male artist of the year
Luke CombsJelly RollCody JohnsonChris StapletonMorgan Wallen
Duo of the year
Brooks & Dunn Brothers Osborne Dan + Shay Maddie & Tae The War And Treaty
Group of the year
Flatland CavalryLady A Little Big Town Old Dominion Zac Brown Band
New female artist of the year
Kassi AshtonAshley CookeHannah EllisKylie Morgan WINNER: Megan Moroney
New male artist of the year
ERNEST Kameron MarloweDylan Scott Conner SmithWINNER: Nate Smith
New duo or group of the year
Neon UnionRestless RoadWINNER: Tigirlily Gold
Album of the year
[Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
Gettin’ Old – Luke Combs; Producer: Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton, Luke Combs; Record Company-Label: River House Artists / Columbia Nashville
Higher – Chris Stapleton; Producer: Chris Stapleton, Dave Cobb, Morgane Stapleton; Record Company-Label: Mercury Nashville
Leather – Cody Johnson; Producers: Trent Willmon; Record Company-Label: CoJo Music LLC / Warner Music Nashville LLC
One Thing at a Time – Morgan Wallen; Producers: Joey Moi, Cameron Montgomery, Charlie Handsome, Jacob Durrett; Record Company-Label: Big Loud Records / Republic Records / Mercury Records
Rolling Up the Welcome Mat (For Good) – Kelsea Ballerini; Producers: Kelsea Ballerini, Alysa Vanderheym; Record Company-Label: Black River Entertainment
Single of the year
[Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
“Burn It Down” – Parker McCollum; Producer: Jon Randall; Record Company-Label: MCA Nashville
“Fast Car” – Luke Combs; Producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton; Record Company-Label: River House Artists / Columbia Nashville
“Last Night” – Morgan Wallen; Producer: Joey Moi, Charlie Handsome; Record Company-Label: Big Loud Records / Republic Records / Mercury Records
“Need a Favor” – Jelly Roll; Producer: Austin Nivarel; Record Company-Label: Stoney Creek Records / BMG Nashville
“Next Thing You Know” – Jordan Davis; Producer: Paul DiGiovanni; Record Company-Label: MCA Nashville
Song of the year
[Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
“Fast Car” – Luke Combs; Songwriters: Tracy Chapman; Publishers: Purple Rabbit
“Heart Like a Truck” – Lainey Wilson; Songwriters: Dallas Wilson, Lainey Wilson, Trannie Anderson; Publishers: Sony / ATV Countryside; Songs of Riser House; Songs of Wild Cat Well Music
“Next Thing You Know” – Jordan Davis; Songwriters: Chase McGill, Greylan James, Jordan Davis, Josh Osborne; Publishers: Family Farm Songs; Hold On Can I Get A Number 1 Music; Songs of Universal Inc.
“The Painter” – Cody Johnson; Songwriters: Benjy Davis, Kat Higgins, Ryan Larkins; Publishers: Big Music Machine; BMG Platinum Songs US; Nashblonde Music; Pompano Run Music; Songs for Ellie May; Sony / ATV Tree Publishing; Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Group; Well That Was Awkward Music
“Tennessee Orange” – Megan Moroney; Songwriters: Ben Williams, David Fanning, Megan Moroney, Paul Jenkins; Publishers: 33 Creative; Bone Bone Creative; Sony / ATV Tree Publishing
Music event of the year
[Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
“Can’t Break Up Now” – Old Dominion, Megan Moroney; Producers: Brad Tursi, Geoff Sprung, Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen, Whit Sellers, Ross Copperman, Kristian Bush; Record Company-Label: Three Up Three Down, LLC / Columbia Nashville
“Different ‘Round Here” – Riley Green (Ft. Luke Combs); Producer: Dann Huff; Record Company-Label: BMLG Records
“I Remember Everything” – Zach Bryan (feat. Kacey Musgraves); Producer: Zach Bryan; Record Company-Label: Belting Bronco Records / Warner Records, Inc
“Man Made a Bar” – Morgan Wallen (feat. Eric Church); Producer: Joey Moi; Record Company-Label: Big Loud Records / Mercury Records / Republic Records
“Save Me” – Jelly Roll (with Lainey Wilson); Producers: Zach Crowell, David Ray Stevens; Record Company-Label: Stoney Creek Records / BMG Nashville
Visual media of the year
[Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]
WINNER: “Burn It Down” – Parker McCollum; Producers: Christen Pinkston &Wesley Stebbins-Perry; Director: Dustin Haney
“Human” – Cody Johnson; Producer: Christen Pinkston &Wesley Stebbins-Perry; Director: Dustin Haney
“In Your Love” – Tyler Childers; Producer: Kacie Barton, Whitney Wolanin, Nicholas Robespierre, Ian Thorton, Silas House; Director: Bryan Schlam
“Next Thing You Know” – Jordan Davis; Producer: Jamie Stratakis; Director: Running Bear (Stephen Kinigopoulos, Alexa Stone)
“Tennessee Orange – Megan Moroney; Producer: Lauren Starr, Saul Levitz, Laura Burhenn; Director: Jason Lester
Songwriter of the year
WINNER: Jessie Jo Dillon Ashley GorleyHillary LindseyChase McGillJosh Thompson
Artist-songwriter of the year
Zach BryanERNESTHARDYWINNER: Chris StapletonMorgan Wallen
Since the inaugural Academy of Country Music Awards ceremony was held in 1966, featured a slate of awe-inspiring performances and pivotal artist career moments. This year, Reba McEntire will host the awards for a 17th time, when it streams live on Amazon Prime Video on Thursday night (May 16). Each year, artists vie for the […]
When Reba McEntire watched last year’s ACM Awards and saw her buddies and fellow country icons Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks co-hosting the show and leading the festivities, she knew she wanted to join in again on the ACMs fun.
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“They were so great, I was like, ‘I want to do that again!,’” McEntire told Billboard, just days before it was announced that McEntire will host the Academy of Country Music Awards for a 17th time on May 16, when the 59th annual awards show streams on Amazon Prime Video, returning to the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.
“I was really anxious to get back on the stage,” she said. “Going back to Texas is always good for me — because that’s close to home, southeastern Oklahoma.”
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The ACMs, which launched in 1966, has highlighted country music’s biggest stars for nearly six decades. But the awards show’s team is still intent on breaking new ground: In 2022, the ACM Awards made history by becoming the first major music awards show to exclusively livestream when it shifted from CBS to Amazon Prime Video.
McEntire, a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, has 16 ACM Awards trophies to her credit, and nine ACM entertainer of the year nominations. She won the entertainer of the year accolade in 1994, and holds the most nominations for female artist of the year.
She says promoting new music and spending time with industry friends — as well as making new ones — are always big draws for taking part in the awards show ceremony.
“You get to go have fun with all your friends and buddies that you’ve gotten to know over the last 45, 50 years in the business and meet new people,” she said. “It’s the best place to get to meet the new artists, and that’s what I really enjoy getting to do. The last time I was at an awards show, it was Lainey Wilson. I got to hang out with her a bit, and Jelly Roll. Meeting new people and making new friends is what I love about the business.”
Having hosted a previous 16 ACM Awards ceremonies when the show was held in Las Vegas and various cities in California, McEntire knows well the work involved in preparing for hosting — from working with trusted writers to create and refine dialogue used for the evening, to balancing multiple outfit changes (McEntire says this year’s fashion theme will lean “a little more tough, sexy cowgirl”). She easily summarizes the essentials to being a great awards show host: “Keep it interesting, keep it running smoothly and show up. Be on time, be prepared.”
Of course, with live television, anything can happen. McEntire recalled how at the 2004 ACM Awards, producer Dick Clark assisted her in filling a time delay after performer Keith Urban’s guitar had been lost backstage.
“Dick was like, ‘Get out there and stall,’” she said. “I panicked. I mean, I got booed offstage in 1978 for telling jokes because I only had three songs to sing, so I think I have flashbacks of that when somebody says, ‘Get out there and wing it.’ I’m not [actor/comedian] Melissa Peterman — I cannot do that. So, Dick had to come out and help with it, and we got through it.”
Over the years, she’s learned a few key strategies for filling in any gaps.
“If anything does happen, they don’t have to depend on me to fill the space,” she said, “I’m going to have everybody mapped out in the audience that I will take a microphone down to, and they will be the ones to bridge the gap. There’s a lot of interesting characters in a country music industry party, so I will be making my rounds down into the audience.”
Through leading the ACM Awards more than a dozen times, McEntire has hosted in various configurations — both solo and co-hosting alongside artists including George Strait, Blake Shelton, Alan Jackson and John Schneider. Still, she does have a couple of bucket list people she would love to co-host with — including her beau, Rex Linn.
“I’d love to co-host with Rex. Rex is the biggest fan of music,” she said. “He and Melissa Peterman are two people who love music more than anybody. Boy, that would be fun. Melissa, Rex and me — the three of us hosting it? That would be a hoot. I would just sit back and have an iced tea and let them do all the work,” she quipped.
In addition to hosting, McEntire has over the years been responsible for some of the ACM Awards’ most prestigious and memorable performances, such as in 2007, when she performed “Because of You” alongside Kelly Clarkson. This year, McEntire will also perform her new single, “I Can’t,” which she called “a very strong woman’s song about standing up for herself.”
And yes — a new album is in the works, she says. McEntire worked on the project with producer Dave Cobb, who also worked on her 2021 album Reba: Revived Remixed Revisited.
“We’ve been working on it for over a year now, so not sure when it will be released, but I’m very proud of it,” McEntire said. “We wanted to do something a little more laid-back, with not so many instruments on it. But by the time we got more involved with it, we started putting more instruments back in and making it to where we like it.”
Ever a passionate music fan herself, McEntire says one of the projects she’s been listening to lately is Lauren Daigle’s Look Up Child. “I was listening to her album the other day. I love her singing and I got to sing ‘Back to God’ with her on the ACMs years ago — that was one of the highlights.”
McEntire added, “The ACMs have been very good to me, and the collaborations I’ve gotten to do, not only singing but hosting, have been very memorable.”
DCP is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a Penske Media Corporation (PMC) subsidiary and joint venture between PMC and Eldridge. PMC is the parent company of Billboard.
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The brightest stars in country music are getting ready for the 59th annual Academy of Country Music Awards, hosted by Reba McEntire.
The show will air live from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, on Thursday (May 16) at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT (7 p.m. CT) and will stream exclusively on Prime Video and Amazon Music’s Twitch channel.
The ceremony will feature a tribute to Toby Keith performed by Jason Aldean.
Other performers include Kelsea Ballerini, Kane Brown, Jelly Roll, Gwen Stefani, Lainey Wilson, Chris Stapleton, Cody Johnson, Noah Kahan, Avril Lavigne, Miranda Lambert, Post Malone, McEntire, Parker McCollum, Thomas Rhett, Blake Shelton and Nate Smith.
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Presenters include Alabama, Breland, Tyler Cameron, Jordan Davis, Sara Evans, Carin León, Little Big Town, Ashley McBryde, Dion and Rozene Pride, Noah Reid, Richard Sherman, Charissa Thompson, Randy Travis, and Clay Walker. Amber Anderson and Kelly Sutton will host the AMC Awards red carpet.
The 59th Academy of Country Music Awards is produced by Dick Clark Productions. (DCP is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a Penske Media Corporation subsidiary and joint venture between PMC and Eldridge. PMC is the parent company of Billboard.)
Keep reading for details on how to stream the ACM Awards from anywhere.
2024 ACM Awards: How to Stream for Free
You don’t need an Amazon Prime membership to stream the 59th Annual ACM Awards live on Prime Video. Simply click below to begin streaming the show live on Thursday, May 16, at 8 p.m. ET.
The show will rebroadcast on Friday, May 17, at 8 p.m. ET on the Amazon Music App and Amazon’s Freevee.
Interested in becoming a Prime member? Even though you don’t need Prime to ACMs, the membership comes with several perks such as free shipping and free access to Prime Video and Amazon Music. Launch your free 30-day trial to Amazon Prime here.
Aside from award shows, music documentaries and concert specials and original series such as The Idea of You, Fallout, Them, Citadel, Daisy Jones & The Six, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, The Boys, Invincible, and The Rings of Fire.
The ACM Awards red carpet kicks off at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. A full rebroadcast will be available to stream for free on Amazon Freevee starting Friday, May 16, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
Prime Video is available to stream on a smart TV, phone, computer or notebook device via the Prime Video app (use ExpressVPN to access Prime Video internationally).
After the first free month, your Prime membership will renew at $14.99/month or $139 a year, if you chose the annual plan. The membership also includes exclusive deals such as unlimited photo storage; access to Prime reading and Prime Gaming. Want more savings? Amazon Prime offers 50% off for qualifying students and SNAP/Medicaid recipients.
Besides streaming exclusive programs, Prime Video subscribers can add channels such as Max, Paramount+, Starz and Showtime, plus buy and rent movies and stream everything from one platform.
Jason Aldean will pay tribute to the late Toby Keith by performing Keith’s 1993 debut hit “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” on the Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, May 16. The song was Keith’s first hit on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. It reached No. 1 that June, his first of 20 No. 1 country hits. Keith died on Feb. 5 at age 62 following a two-year battle with stomach cancer.
Aldean’s performance will be a case of one ACM entertainer of the year paying tribute to another. Keith won the award in 2003 and 2004. Aldean won it three years running from 2016-18.
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Keith won 14 ACM Awards. Aldean has won 15, including artist of the decade for the 2010s.
Hosted by 16-time ACM Award-winner Reba McEntire, the ACM Awards will stream live for a global audience on Prime Video from Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, on Thursday, May 16, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. A Prime membership will not be required to watch live. The full rebroadcast will be available directly following the stream on Prime Video and available the next day for free on Amazon Freevee and the Amazon Music app.
The 2024 ACM Awards will feature collaboration performances by Kelsea Ballerini and Noah Kahan; Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani; and Nate Smith featuring Avril Lavigne. In addition, Post Malone is booked for the show. He is expected to perform “I Had Some Help,” his new single featuring Morgan Wallen, though that has not yet been announced.
The show will also feature performances by McEntire, Kane Brown, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Parker McCollum, Thomas Rhett, Blake Shelton, Chris Stapleton and Lainey Wilson.
The 59th Academy of Country Music Awards is produced by Dick Clark Productions. Raj Kapoor is executive producer and showrunner, with Patrick Menton as co-executive producer. Damon Whiteside serves as executive producer for the Academy of Country Music, and Barry Adelman serves as executive producer for DCP. John Saade continues to serve as consulting producer for Amazon MGM Studios.
DCP is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a Penske Media Corporation (PMC) subsidiary and joint venture between PMC and Eldridge. PMC is the parent company of Billboard.