Country

16 May 2024

Here Are the 2024 ACM Awards Winners: Complete List (Updating)

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 Brown
Luke Combs
Jelly Roll
Cody Johnson
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen
Lainey Wilson

Female artist of the year

Kelsea Ballerini
Ashley McBryde
Megan Moroney
Kacey Musgraves
Lainey Wilson

Male artist of the year

Luke Combs
Jelly Roll
Cody Johnson
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen

Duo of the year

Brooks & Dunn 
Brothers Osborne 
Dan + Shay 
Maddie & Tae 
The War And Treaty

Group of the year

Flatland Cavalry
Lady A 
Little Big Town 
Old Dominion 
Zac Brown Band

New female artist of the year

Kassi Ashton
Ashley Cooke
Hannah Ellis
Kylie Morgan 
WINNER: Megan Moroney 

New male artist of the year

ERNEST 
Kameron Marlowe
Dylan Scott 
Conner Smith
WINNER: Nate Smith 

New duo or group of the year

Neon Union
Restless Road
WINNER: 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 Gorley
Hillary Lindsey
Chase McGill
Josh Thompson

Artist-songwriter of the year

Zach Bryan
ERNEST
HARDY
WINNER: Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen

16 May 2024

Luke Combs, Jelly Roll & More Share New Music For ‘Twisters’ Movie Companion Album

The soundtrack for the upcoming movie Twisters is massive — and it’s chock full of country goodness.

Twisters: The Album , which will be in stores and at all online retailers on Friday, July 19, launches with Luke Combs‘ new song “Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma.” The music video for the song features a cameo from NASCAR driver John Hunter Nemechek.

Other country artists featured on the sprawling 29-track soundtrack (released by Atlantic Records) include Miranda Lambert, Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, Bailey Zimmerman, Kane Brown, Thomas Rhett, Shania Twain, Charley Crockett, Flatland Cavalry, Tyler Childers and Megan Moroney.

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Press materials for Twisters tout it as a “current-day chapter of the 1996 blockbuster.” The movie stars Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, Anthony Ramos and more.



See the full tracklist below:

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TWISTERS: THE ALBUM

TRACKLIST

1. Luke Combs – Ain’t No Love In Oklahoma

2. Miranda Lambert – Ain’t In Kansas Anymore

3. Conner Smith – Steal My Thunder (feat. Tucker Wetmore)

4. Thomas Rhett – Feelin’ Country

5. Warren Zeiders – The Cards I’ve Been Dealt

6. Megan Moroney – Never Left Me

7. Lainey Wilson – Out of Oklahoma

8. Bailey Zimmerman – Hell Or High Water

9. Jelly Roll – Dead End Road

10. Kane Brown – Country Classic

11. Sam Barber – Tear Us Apart

12. Tyler Childers – Song While You’re Away

13. Tucker Wetmore – Already Had It

14. Leon Bridges – Chrome Cowgirl 

15. Benson Boone – Death Wish Love

16. Shania Twain & BRELAND – Boots Don’t

17. Dylan Gossett – Stronger Than A Storm

18. Lanie Gardner – Chasing The Wind

19. Jelly Roll – Leave The Light On (feat. Alexandra Kay)

20. Wyatt Flores & Jake Kohn – Before I Do

21. The Red Clay Strays  – Caddo County

22. Tanner Usrey – Blackberry Wine

23. Tanner Adell – Too Easy

24. Mason Ramsey – Shake Shake (All Night Long)

25. Tyler Halverson – New Loop

26. Flatland Cavalry – Touchdown

27. Nolan Taylor – Driving You Home

28. Wilderado, Ken Pomeroy, & James McAlister – Wall of Death

29. Charley Crockett – (Ghost) Riders In The Sky

16 May 2024

ACM Awards: Looking Back at Top Moments

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 recognition of their creative peers in this industry-voted awards show, hoping they are called to the winners circle — a moment that acknowledges and honors their creativity and years of hard work put in on the road, in the studio and often in the writing room. Of course, as much as the awards themselves commemorate the artists’ best songs and albums over the past year, the awards show stage itself is also a prime opportunity to look toward the future, as many artists use their performance time in front of the viewing audience to debut new music. Other times, they are paying homage to those who have come before them, as the ACMs have often been a moment to honor legendary country performers.

The Academy of Country Music was founded in Southern California in 1964 as a regional trade organization. Since then, the organization has heralded and advocated for the growth of country music, both domestically and abroad. The ACM is now headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee and has a membership of over 5,000 globally. The organization also has the philanthropic arm ACM Lifting Lives, which aids those in need, and focuses on health initiatives. Additionally, the ACM advocates for underrepresented groups in country music, with programs including ACM LEVel Up, a professional development and enrichment curriculum for rising leaders, and OnRamp, a guaranteed income program for Black members of the Nashville music community, in partnership with the Black Music Action Coalition.

Here, we look back at a few of the top moments from the Academy of Country Music Awards over the years.

16 May 2024

Keith Urban Plays Solo Acoustic Cover of Ariana Grande’s ‘We Can’t Be Friends,’ Calls It ‘Audible Heroin’

Keith Urban is jonesing for another hit of that Eternal Sunshine. No, that’s not some new designer drug. The country singer can’t stop gushing about the song “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For You Love)” from Ariana Grande‘s most recent album.

He proved his endless love for the track by playing it during a small club show earlier this week and posting a video of the cover on Monday, in which he croons the heartbreak anthem solo acoustic. “Me and my truth, we sit in silence/ There in the mirror it’s just me and you/ I don’t wanna argue, but I don’t wanna bite/ My tongue, yeah, I think I’d rather die/ You got me misunderstood, but at least I look this good,” Urban sang while bathed in blue light (and slightly changing up a few lyrics.)

Urban captioned his post, “this song is audible heroin,” after earlier heaping praise on the track written and produced by Grande, Max Martin and Ilya Salmanzadeh that debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in an interview with People last week. “I don’t know what is going on with that song, but I cannot stop playing it. It’s like audible heroin,” Urban said at the time in his first use of the musical drug simile. “Literally, I have to have another hit. I play that thing over and over and over.”

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As the magazine reported, Urban got his fix of the tune he further said has some “real celestial magic” on May 6 when Grande performed the song at the Met Gala, which the singer attended with wife actress Nicole Kidman. “That’s my absolute current obsession song right now,” Urban said.

“Ariana has always had that unique vocal gift,” Urban told People. “On top of that, she’s a phenomenal writer and producer. So it was easy for me to stumble upon that new album. I was interested in it before it came out.” Urban is not the only one entranced by the song, as evidenced by fellow country star Tate McRae performing her own stripped-down version of the tune during a gig at the Apollo Theatre in London last month.

“We Can’t Be Friends” was the second single from Grande’s seventh studio album, which was released in March; Eternal Sunshine was Grande’s sixth LP to top the Billboard 200 album chart.

Check out Urban’s performance below.

15 May 2024

Hannah Karp Presents Shaboozey With Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart Plaque for “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” | Country Power Players 2024

Billboard Editorial Director Hannah Karp presents Shaboozey with a Billboard Hot Country Songs No.1 chart plaque to celebrate his record breaking achievement with his song “A Bar Song (Tipsy).”

Hannah Karp:

Good evening, everyone. I’m Hannah Karp. I’m Billboard’s Editorial Director. And I am thrilled to have with us, tonight, an artist who scored his first three Hot 100 Hits this year. The first two “SPAGHETTII” and “SWEET ★ HONEY ★ BUCKIIN’” were collaborations with Beyoncé, who of course made history this year, as the first black woman ever to top Billboard’s Hot Country Songs Chart with her hit “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM.” But a few weeks ago, this fast rising star that we have in the house tonight, made even more history when he replaced Beyoncé atop the Hot Country Songs Chart with his own hit “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” marking the first time that two black artists have topped the 66 year old chart back to back. Give it up. So now, “Tipsy” is in its third week at No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs Chart having hit No. 3 on the Hot 100 and No. 5 on Billboard’s Global 200 Chart. And it’s continuing to climb the Country Airplay and Pop AirPlay Charts. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Shaboozey to the stage. Shaboozey, it is our pleasure. It is our pleasure to present you with this plaque to commemorate your historic No. 1 and here’s to many, many more. And we are so excited to hear your new album coming out at the end of the month.

15 May 2024

Shaboozey Accepts Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart Plaque For “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” | Country Power Players 2024

Shaboozey accepts his Billboard Hot Country Songs No.1 chart plaque for his record breaking achievement with his song “A Bar Song (Tipsy).”

Shaboozey:

I was told this was going to be like a dinner. So I didn’t prepare a speech at all. But um, I just want to say I’m like super grateful and super honored to just be here on this stage. You know, I never thought in my like wildest dreams that I would be here getting an award like this, you know there’s so many people here I want to thank. There’s so many people that you know, I think you know, we should all be up here together. So, you know, this is not just for me, this is for everybody that’s really just making change in this space. You know, Mike and Tanya, I see y’all know. I mean, I remember hearing “Hey Driver” for the first time and just crying my eyes out. I see Reyna Robertson here as well. I know there’s a couple other people that may not be here, may be here, Tanner, Willie, everybody, I just you know, super. You guys mean a lot to me and everything you guys have done in this, you know, we’re here together. And my message is has always been my message has been integration and just bringing people together and just sharing stories. You know, it’s never been about anything. Other than that, so, you know, thank you so much. And also thank Beyoncé, too. What am I talking about, the Queen. Thank y’all so much. Love y’all seriously.

15 May 2024

Lainey Wilson Performs ‘Wildflowers and Wild Horses’ & ‘Country’s Cool Again’ | Billboard Country Power Players 2024

Lainey Wilson performs her song “Wildflowers and Wild Horses” and “Country’s Cool Again” at Billboard’s Country Power Players 2024.

Read the lyrics below and stay tuned for more Lainey Wilson news.

Lainey Wilson’s “Wildflowers and Wild Horses” Lyrics

In the middle of the night
I hear a cornfield coyote cry
Up at the moon, no matter what
Sky, I’m layin’ under

In the eye of a hurricane
When I got one foot in the grave
I’ll dig my boots into the dirt
And face the rollin’ thunder

I’m five generations of blazin’ a trail
Through barb-wired valleys and overgrown dells
I’m barefoot and bareback and born tough as nails
Whoa, whoa, whoa

I’m four-fifths of reckless and one-fifth of jack
I push like a daisy through old sidewalk cracks
Yeah, my kinda crazy’s still runnin’ its courses with
Wildflowers and wild horses

It’s in the water, in my veins
That bread of Heaven falls like rain
So I’m taken care of either way
Make somethin’ outta how I’m made
Until I hitch a ride on Glory’s train

I’m five generations of blazin’ a trail
Through barb-wired valleys and overgrown dells
I’m barefoot and bareback and born tough as nails
Whoa, whoa, whoa

I’m four-fifths of reckless and one-fifth of jack
I push like a daisy through old sidewalk cracks
Yeah, my kinda crazy’s still runnin’ its courses with
Wildflowers and wild horses

I’m five generations of blazin’ a trail
Through barb-wired valleys and overgrown dells
I’m barefoot and bareback and born tough as nails
Whoa, whoa, whoa

I’m four-fifths of reckless and one-fifth of jack
I push like a daisy through old sidewalk cracks
Yeah, my kinda crazy’s still runnin’ its courses with
Wildflowers and wild horses

Yeah, my kinda crazy’s still runnin’ its courses with
Wildflowers and wild horses
Wildflowers and wild horses

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Songwriters: Paul Sikes / Lainey Wilson / Trannie Anderson

15 May 2024

Jelly Roll Spills on His Most ‘Frivolous Habit’ Since Becoming Famous

Jelly Roll‘s hard-fought journey from prison inmate to Billboard chart-topper is well-known, and was even the focus of the Hulu documentary Jelly Roll: Save Me. Onstage and in interviews, he is unfiltered and down-to-earth in relating to his audience and sharing his story.

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But now with three No. 1 Country Airplay hits to his credit, Grammy nominations, his hit album Whitsitt Chapel, and his 44-city Backroad Baptism Tour in 2023, Jelly Roll opens up about one thing he’s splurged on, which he calls a “frivolous habit” — and it involves socks.

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Speaking with Audacy’s Sabrina from Queens, Jelly Roll said, “Don’t judge me for this, y’all. I promise I grew up very humble, but I only wear socks once. I buy socks in bulk…it’s the most frivolous thing I’ve done with my success. I’m sorry, I hope I didn’t let nobody down with that but when you’re fat, you can’t have stinky feet too, so you gotta have fresh socks!”

Leading up to the Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday (streaming on Prime Video), Jelly Roll is celebrating his first year of being nominated. His name is there in the categories of male artist of the year, music event of the year (for “Save Me” with Lainey Wilson), single of the year (“Need a Favor”) and the night’s biggest honor, entertainer of the year.

“The entertainer of the year [nomination], that’s crazy talk,” Jelly Roll told Audacy’s Katie Neal. “I just couldn’t wrap my head around being nominated four times. Before I even seen what the four noms were, I seen the stat that it was the first time someone went from zero nominations to EOTY nomination since Billy Ray Cyrus in 1993.”

The ACM Awards will take place at the Ford Center at the Star in Frisco on Thursday night and will be hosted by Reba McEntire.

15 May 2024

The War and Treaty Accepts Groundbreaker Award | Billboard’s Country Power Players 2024

The War and Treaty accepts the Groundbreaker award at Billboard’s Country Power Players 2024.

Tanya Trotter:
Well, I would first want to thank God for getting us here. And I have to thank my best friend, my lover, my partner in crime, my songwriting partner and my husband, Mr. Michael Trotter Jr. I just can’t believe that we’re standing up here, to be very honest.

We journeyed into Americana music a few years ago, we called a young lady by the name of Rissi Palmer and we were in … and we were like, homeless in Maryland, asking her what does she think about us doing country music or Americana music? And she says, “I don’t see why not. I think you can do anything you put your mind to.” And we charted on that path. We love The Civil Wars, we love Shovels & Rope, we loved all those bands.

And we began our journey in our turtle top Ford van, up and down 95 with our little son in the back, putting cheeseburgers up under his seat when we stopped at McDonald’s for the $1 meal. And we’re just grateful for where it has led us. We want to thank. I’m gonna let my husband talk. We want to thank you UMG, want to thank Cindy Mape, our family at UMG, we want to thank our lawyer, Jeff Covin, our team. We started our management company about nine or 10 months ago. And we want to thank Virginia Prater, who was our first booking agent and our young team Jolene and Michelle.

Keep watching to learn more!

15 May 2024

Zach Bryan Gets Stitches After ‘Traumatizing’ Vehicle Accident

Zach Bryan and his girlfriend Brianna LaPaglia are safe after an off-road vehicle crash that led to the country superstar getting stitches.

“Two nights ago, Zach and I got into a traumatizing side-by-side crash,” LaPaglia recalled in a video shared to TikTok on Tuesday (May 14). “It flipped a bunch of times, everything shattered and thank god we had our seatbelts on.”

The podcast host continued, “There was a lot of blood and we thought — we were saying goodbye to each other.”

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LaPaglia noted that when paramedics arrived to the scene, they treated Bryan by giving him stitches. “It was a huge gash, but we are OK. We are happy and alive,” she shared, noting that she suffered several bruises and scratches from the broken glass.

However, a few hours after the accident, LaPaglia’s cat Mango dashed out of the tour bus and into the woods. “Zach tries to jump on her, all of his stitches burst again, he’s bleeding everywhere… so much blood,” LaPaglia said, assuring fans that Mango was eventually found.

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Thankfully, despite the series of unfortunate events, Bryan was still able to continue his tour, performing on May 13 and 14 in Little Rock, Arkansas. The star’s Quittin Time tour is hitting stadiums and arenas across North America, and launched with two shows at Chicago’s United Center on March 6-7 before heading to football stadiums in Denver; Foxborough, Mass.; Philadelphia; Atlanta; Tampa, Fla.; Arlington, Texas; and Minneapolis. The tour will wrap in Bryan’s home state of Oklahoma, with two shows at the BOK Center on Dec. 13-14.

Watch LaPaglia’s full TikTok below.