2016 ACM Award Nominees

The 2016 Academy of Country Music Awards sure are shaping up to be a greandbreaking party! This year’s nominees run the complete gambit from traditional country to hick hop and everything in between. We know our favorites of course, but what we really want to know is yours! Check out the ACM class of 2016 and tell us who gets YOUR vote!

Entertainer Of The Year


Eric Church


Garth Brooks


Jason Aldean


Luke Bryan


Miranda Lambert

Male Vocalist Of The Year


Brett Eldredge


Chris Stapleton


Dierks Bentley


Eric Church


Jason Aldean

Female Vocalist Of The Year


Carrie Underwood


Jana Kramer


Kacey Musgraves


Kelsea Ballerini


Miranda Lambert

Vocal Duo Of The Year


Brothers Osborne


Dan + Shay


Florida Georgia Line


Joey + Rory


Maddie & Tae

Vocal Group Of The Year


Eli Young Band


Little Big Town


Old Dominion


Rascal Flatts


Zac Brown Band

New Male Vocalist of the Year


Brett Eldredge


Chase Rice


Chris Janson


Chris Stapleton


Thomas Rhett

New Female Vocalist of the Year


Cam


Kelsea Ballerini


Mickey Guyton


RaeLynn

New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year


A Thousand Horses


Brothers Osborne


Maddie & Tae


Old Dominion


Parmalee

Album Of The Year [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company-Label(s)]


I’m Comin’ Over
Chris Young


Montevallo
Sam Hunt


Mr. Misunderstood
Eric Church


Tangled Up
Thomas Rhett


Traveller
Chris Stapleton

Single Record Of The Year [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company-Label(s)]


Burning House
Cam


Buy Me A Boat
Chris Janson


Die A Happy Man
Thomas Rhett


Girl Crush
Little Big Town


I’m Comin’ Over
Chris Young


Take Your Time
Sam Hunt

Video Of The Year [Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)] *(Off Camera Award)


Biscuits
Kacey Musgraves


Burning House
Cam


Girl Crush
Little Big Town


Mr. Misunderstood
Eric Church


Riser
Dierks Bentley

Vocal Event Of The Year [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company-Label(s)]*(Off Camera Award)


Hangover Tonight
Gary Allan Featuring Chris Stapleton


Home Alone Tonight
Luke Bryan Featuring Karen Fairchild


Raise ‘Em Up
Keith Urban Featuring Eric Church


Smokin’ And Drinkin’
Miranda Lambert Featuring Little Big Town


Wild Child
Kenny Chesney With Grace Potter

SONG OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]


Burning House
Cam


Girl Crush
Little Big Town


Nobody To Blame
Chris Stapleton


Raise ‘Em Up
Keith Urban Featuring Eric Church


She Don’t Love You
Eric Paslay

Songwriter of the Year


Ashley Gorley


Josh Osborne


Shane McAnally


Rodney Clawson


Ross Copperman

NOMINEES FOR INDUSTRY AND SPECIAL AWARDS

BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR :

  • Jimmie Lee Sloas
  • Mark Hill
  • Michael Rhodes
  • Tony Lucido
  • Tully Kennedy

DRUMMER OF THE YEAR

  • Chad Cromwell
  • Chris McHugh
  • Fred Eltringham
  • Nir Zidkyahu
  • Shannon Forrest

GUITARIST OF THE YEAR

  • Danny Rader
  • Derek Wells
  • Jerry McPherson
  • JT Corenflos
  • Kenny Greenberg

PIANO/KEYBOARDS PLAYER OF THE YEAR

  • Charlie Judge
  • Gordon Mote
  • Jim ‘Moose’ Brown
  • Matt Rollings
  • Steve Nathan

SPECIALTY INSTRUMENT(S) PLAYER OF THE YEAR

  • Aubrey Haney
  • Dan Dugmore
  • Danny Rader
  • Glen Duncan
  • Larry Franklin

STEEL GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR

  • Mike Johnson
  • Paul Franklin
  • Russ Pahl
  • Steve Fishell
  • Steve Hinson

AUDIO ENGINEER OF THE YEAR

  • Derek Bason
  • Justin Niebank
  • Reid Shippen
  • Steve Marcantonio
  • Vance Powell

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

  • Dann Huff
  • Dave Cobb
  • Michael Knox
  • Nathan Chapman
  • Ross Copperman

NIGHTCLUB OF THE YEAR

  • Boondocks – Springfield, IL
  • Bub City – Chicago, IL
  • The Bluestone – Columbus, OH
  • The Pageant – St. Louis, MO
  • 8 Seconds Saloon – Indianapolis, IN

CASINO OF THE YEAR – SMALL CAPACITY

  • Beau Rivage Resort & Casino – Biloxi, MS
  • Inn of The Mountain Gods – Mescalero, NM
  • Riverwind Casino – Norman, OK
  • Turning Stone Showroom – Verona, NY
  • Wolf Den at Mohegan Sun – Uncasville, CT

CASINO OF THE YEAR – MEDIUM CAPACITY

  • Casino Rama – Rama, ON, Canada
  • Choctaw Casino Event Center – Durant, OK
  • Mohegan Sun Arena – Uncasville, CT
  • The Colosseum at Caesars Palace – Las Vegas, NV
  • The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Las Vegas, NV

VENUE OF THE YEAR – SMALL CAPACITY

  • Georgia Theatre – Athens, GA
  • House of Blues – Anaheim, CA
  • House of Blues – Boston, MA
  • Terminal 5 – New York, NY
  • The Rave/Eagles Ballroom – Milwaukee, WI

VENUE OF THE YEAR – MEDIUM CAPACITY

  • Ascend Amphitheatre – Nashville, TN
  • Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion at Meadowbrook – Gilford, NH
  • Denny Sanford Premier Center – Sioux Falls, SD
  • Huntington Center – Toledo, OH
  • Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie – Grand Prairie, TX

VENUE OF THE YEAR – LARGE CAPACITY

  • Blossom Music Center – Cuyahoga Falls, OH
  • Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion – Bangor, ME
  • Gorge Amphitheatre – Quincy, WA
  • Klipsch Music Center – Noblesville, IN
  • Xfinity Center – Mansfield, MA

FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR

  • Boots and Hearts Music Festival – Toronto, Canada
  • Faster Horses – Brooklyn, MI
  • Stagecoach – Indio, CA
  • Watershed – Quincy, WA
  • Windy City Smokeout – Chicago, IL

DON ROMEO TALENT BUYER OF THE YEAR

  • Fran Romeo – Romeo Entertainment Group
  • Gil Cunningham – Neste Event Marketing
  • John Valentino – AEG Live
  • Stacey Vee – Goldenvoice
  • Todd Boltin – Variety Attractions

PROMOTER OF THE YEAR

  • Brent Fedrizzi – AEG Live
  • Brian O’Connell – Live Nation
  • Darin Lashinsky – National Shows 2
  • Jason Wright – Live Nation
  • Michael Yerke – House of Blues

About Shauna "WhiskeyChick" Castorena

Shauna "WhiskeyChick" Castorena is a freelance writer for both Country Music News and Country Music On Tour. Want to collab on some content? Email me. Want my rates for commercial promo work outside of music? Get them right here.