<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In an unprecedented broadcast, the 2020 <a title="ACM Awards" href="https://ticketmaster.evyy.net/c/1224809/264167/4272?subId1=WPScmnbACM&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ticketmaster.com%2Facademy-of-country-music-awards-tickets%2Fartist%2F866377&partnerpropertyid=5213910&MediaPartnerPropertyId=5213910">ACM Awards</a> managed to convey the loneliness and hopeful spirit we&#8217;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. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://countrymusicnewsblog.com/wp-content/uploads/ACMAwards-1024x858.png" alt="2020 ACM Awards. Academy ofCountry Music Award winners, performances and live stream" class="wp-image-37458"/></figure>



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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">But in those empty spaces, artists seemed even more raw and real than ever. <a title="Miranda Lambert" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSMLambert/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fmiranda-lambert-tickets%2F">Miranda Lambert</a> made us promises from the Bluebird, while <a title="Old Dominion" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSOldDominion/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fold-dominion-tickets%2F">Old Dominion</a> threw speeches out the window and spoke their painful truths. <a title="Luke Bryan" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSLukeBryan/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fluke-bryan-tickets%2F">Luke Bryan</a> gave one of his best award show performances to date, as if he knew how badly we all needed a win, and even <a title="Carrie Underwood" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/carrie-underwood-tour-dates/">Carrie Underwood</a> 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. </p>



<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jjkWRwnGH3s" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Without further ado, the winners of the 202 American Country Music Awards are: </strong><br></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR<br></strong><a title="Luke Bryan" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSLukeBryan/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fluke-bryan-tickets%2F">Luke Bryan</a><br><a title="Eric Church" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/eric-church-tour-dates/">Eric Church</a><br><a title="Luke Combs" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSLukeCombs/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fluke-combs-tickets%2F">Luke Combs</a><br><strong>Thomas Rhett &#8212; WINNER/TIE</strong><br><strong><a title="Carrie Underwood" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/carrie-underwood-tour-dates/">Carrie Underwood</a> &#8212; WINNER/TIE</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR<br></strong><a title="Kelsea Ballerini" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSKBallerini/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fkelsea-ballerini-tickets%2F">Kelsea Ballerini</a><br><a title="Miranda Lambert" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSMLambert/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fmiranda-lambert-tickets%2F">Miranda Lambert</a><br><strong><a title="Maren Morris" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSMMorris/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fmaren-morris-tickets%2F">Maren Morris</a> &#8212; WINNER</strong><br><a title="Kacey Musgraves" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSMusgraves/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fkacey-musgraves-tickets%2F">Kacey Musgraves</a><br><a title="Carrie Underwood" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/carrie-underwood-tour-dates/">Carrie Underwood</a></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR<br></strong><a title="Dierks Bentley" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/dierks-bentley-concert-tour-dates/">Dierks Bentley</a><br><strong><a title="Luke Combs" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSLukeCombs/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fluke-combs-tickets%2F">Luke Combs</a> &#8212; WINNER</strong><br>Thomas Rhett<br><a title="Chris Stapleton" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSStapleton/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fchris-stapleton-tickets%2F">Chris Stapleton</a><br><a title="Keith Urban" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSKUrban/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fkeith-urban-tickets%2F">Keith Urban</a></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>DUO OF THE YEAR<br></strong>Brooks &; Dunn<br><a title="Brothers Osborne" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/tour-dates-brothers-osborne/">Brothers Osborne</a><br><strong><a title="Dan + Shay" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/dan-shay-concert-tour-tickets/">Dan + Shay</a> &#8212; WINNER</strong><br><a title="Florida Georgia Line" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/florida-georgia-line-tour-tickets/">Florida Georgia Line</a><br>Maddie &; Tae</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>GROUP OF THE YEAR<br></strong><a title="Lady A" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/lady-antebellum-concert-tour-tickets/">Lady A</a><br><a title="Little Big Town" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/new-little-big-town-tour-dates/">Little Big Town</a><br>Midland<br><strong><a title="Old Dominion" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSOldDominion/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fold-dominion-tickets%2F">Old Dominion</a> &#8212; WINNER</strong><br>The Highwomen</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR<br></strong>Ingrid Andress<br>Gabby Barrett<br>Lindsay Ell<br>Caylee Hammack<br><strong>Tenille Townes &#8212; WINNER</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR<br></strong><a title="Jordan Davis" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSJDavis/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fjordan+davis-tickets%2F">Jordan Davis</a><br><a title="Russell Dickerson" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSDickerson/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Frussell-dickerson-tickets%2F">Russell Dickerson</a><br><strong>Riley Green &#8212; WINNER</strong><br><a title="Cody Johnson" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSCodyJohnson/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fcody-johnson-tickets%2F">Cody Johnson</a><br><a title="Morgan Wallen" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSMWallen/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fmorgan-wallen-tickets%2F">Morgan Wallen</a></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>ALBUM OF THE YEAR<br></strong><em>Center Point Road</em> – Thomas Rhett<br><em>GIRL</em> – <a title="Maren Morris" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSMMorris/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fmaren-morris-tickets%2F">Maren Morris</a><br><em>Heartache Medication</em> – Jon Pardi<br><strong><em>What You See Is What You Get</em> – <a title="Luke Combs" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSLukeCombs/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fluke-combs-tickets%2F">Luke Combs</a> &#8212; WINNER</strong><br><em>Wildcard</em> – <a title="Miranda Lambert" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSMLambert/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fmiranda-lambert-tickets%2F">Miranda Lambert</a></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>SINGLE OF THE YEAR<br>&#8220;God’s Country&#8221; – <a title="Blake Shelton" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSBlakeS/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fblake-shelton-tickets%2F">Blake Shelton</a> &#8212; WINNER</strong><br>&#8220;One Man Band&#8221; – <a title="Old Dominion" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSOldDominion/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fold-dominion-tickets%2F">Old Dominion</a><br>&#8220;Rainbow&#8221; – <a title="Kacey Musgraves" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSMusgraves/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fkacey-musgraves-tickets%2F">Kacey Musgraves</a><br>&#8220;Rumor&#8221; – <a title="Lee Brice" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/lee-brice-concert-tour-tickets/">Lee Brice</a><br>&#8220;What If I Never Get Over You&#8221; – <a title="Lady Antebellum" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/lady-antebellum-concert-tour-tickets/">Lady Antebellum</a></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>SONG OF THE YEAR<br></strong>&#8220;10,000 Hours&#8221; – <a title="Dan + Shay" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/dan-shay-concert-tour-tickets/">Dan + Shay</a> feat. Justin Bieber<br>&#8220;Girl Goin’ Nowhere&#8221; – <a title="Ashley McBryde" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSMcBryde/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fashley-mcbryde-tickets%2F">Ashley McBryde</a><br>&#8220;God’s Country&#8221; – <a title="Blake Shelton" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSBlakeS/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fblake-shelton-tickets%2F">Blake Shelton</a><br><strong>&#8220;One Man Band&#8221; – <a title="Old Dominion" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSOldDominion/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fold-dominion-tickets%2F">Old Dominion</a> &#8212; WINNER</strong><br>&#8220;Some of It&#8221; – <a title="Eric Church" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/eric-church-tour-dates/">Eric Church</a></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>VIDEO OF THE YEAR<br></strong>&#8220;10,000 Hours&#8221; – <a title="Dan + Shay" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/dan-shay-concert-tour-tickets/">Dan + Shay</a> feat. Justin Bieber<br>&#8220;God’s Country&#8221; – <a title="Blake Shelton" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSBlakeS/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fblake-shelton-tickets%2F">Blake Shelton</a><br>&#8220;One Man Band&#8221; – <a title="Old Dominion" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSOldDominion/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fold-dominion-tickets%2F">Old Dominion</a><br><strong>&#8220;Remember You Young&#8221; – Thomas Rhett &#8212; WINNER</strong><br>&#8220;Sugar Coat&#8221; – <a title="Little Big Town" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/new-little-big-town-tour-dates/">Little Big Town</a></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR<br></strong>Ashley Gorley<br>Michael <a title="Hardy" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSHardy/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fhardy-tickets%2F">Hardy</a><br><strong>Hillary Lindsey &#8212; WINNER</strong><br>Shane McAnally<br>Josh Osborne</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR<br></strong>&#8220;10,000 Hours&#8221; – <a title="Dan + Shay" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/dan-shay-concert-tour-tickets/">Dan + Shay</a> feat. Justin Bieber<br>&#8220;Dive Bar&#8221; – <a title="Garth Brooks" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSGarth/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fgarth-brooks-tickets%2F">Garth Brooks</a> feat. <a title="Blake Shelton" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSBlakeS/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fblake-shelton-tickets%2F">Blake Shelton</a><br><strong>&#8220;Fooled Around and Fell in Love&#8221; – <a title="Miranda Lambert" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSMLambert/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fmiranda-lambert-tickets%2F">Miranda Lambert</a> feat. <a title="Maren Morris" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSMMorris/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fmaren-morris-tickets%2F">Maren Morris</a>, <a title="Ashley McBryde" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSMcBryde/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fashley-mcbryde-tickets%2F">Ashley McBryde</a>, Tenille Townes, Caylee Hammack &; <a title="Elle King" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/rocker-elle-king-announces-tour-to-support-country-debut/">Elle King</a> &#8212; WINNER</strong><br>&#8220;Old Town Road&#8221; – Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus<br>&#8220;What Happens in a Small Town&#8221; – <a title="Brantley Gilbert" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/brantley-gilbert-concert-tour-tickets/">Brantley Gilbert</a> feat. Lindsay Ell</p>