In an unprecedented broadcast, the 2020 ACM Awards managed to convey the loneliness and hopeful spirit we’ve all shared as a nation as we wait out this pandemic. Empty seats in venues all across Nashville represented the vast array of spaces that seem to be holding their breath just waiting for fans to be allowed back in.
But in those empty spaces, artists seemed even more raw and real than ever. Miranda Lambert made us promises from the Bluebird, while Old Dominion threw speeches out the window and spoke their painful truths. Luke Bryan gave one of his best award show performances to date, as if he knew how badly we all needed a win, and even Carrie Underwood managed to take her energy level up ten-fold to do justice to the women of country she came to honor. All in all, it may be our favorite award show of all time, and although the seats were empty, the fans were still well-represented.
Without further ado, the winners of the 202 American Country Music Awards are:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Luke Combs
Thomas Rhett — WINNER/TIE
Carrie Underwood — WINNER/TIE
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Maren Morris — WINNER
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Dierks Bentley
Luke Combs — WINNER
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban
DUO OF THE YEAR
Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay — WINNER
Florida Georgia Line
Maddie & Tae
GROUP OF THE YEAR
Lady A
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion — WINNER
The Highwomen
NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Ingrid Andress
Gabby Barrett
Lindsay Ell
Caylee Hammack
Tenille Townes — WINNER
NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Jordan Davis
Russell Dickerson
Riley Green — WINNER
Cody Johnson
Morgan Wallen
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Center Point Road – Thomas Rhett
GIRL – Maren Morris
Heartache Medication – Jon Pardi
What You See Is What You Get – Luke Combs — WINNER
Wildcard – Miranda Lambert
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
“God’s Country” – Blake Shelton — WINNER
“One Man Band” – Old Dominion
“Rainbow” – Kacey Musgraves
“Rumor” – Lee Brice
“What If I Never Get Over You” – Lady Antebellum
SONG OF THE YEAR
“10,000 Hours” – Dan + Shay feat. Justin Bieber
“Girl Goin’ Nowhere” – Ashley McBryde
“God’s Country” – Blake Shelton
“One Man Band” – Old Dominion — WINNER
“Some of It” – Eric Church
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
“10,000 Hours” – Dan + Shay feat. Justin Bieber
“God’s Country” – Blake Shelton
“One Man Band” – Old Dominion
“Remember You Young” – Thomas Rhett — WINNER
“Sugar Coat” – Little Big Town
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Ashley Gorley
Michael Hardy
Hillary Lindsey — WINNER
Shane McAnally
Josh Osborne
MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR
“10,000 Hours” – Dan + Shay feat. Justin Bieber
“Dive Bar” – Garth Brooks feat. Blake Shelton
“Fooled Around and Fell in Love” – Miranda Lambert feat. Maren Morris, Ashley McBryde, Tenille Townes, Caylee Hammack & Elle King — WINNER
“Old Town Road” – Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus
“What Happens in a Small Town” – Brantley Gilbert feat. Lindsay Ell
