Lainey Wilson and Chris Stapleton dominated the 59th annual Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards, taking home multiple wins at the event held at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, on Thursday (May 16).
Hosted by 16-time ACM Award-winning entertainment icon Reba McEntire, the ceremony featured performances from Jelly Roll, Miranda Lambert, Post Malone, a duet from Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani, ACM New Male Artist of the Year winner Nate Smith feat. Avril Lavigne, Chris Stapleton, and Lainey Wilson, among others.
Lainey Wilson, a rapidly rising star in the country music scene, won Entertainer of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, and Music Event of the Year for Save Me by Jelly Roll with Lainey Wilson. Her track, Heart Like a Truck, was nominated for Song of the Year, but lost to Jordan Davis’ Next Thing You Know.
JoJamie Hahr, EVP of Recorded Music at BMG Nashville, told MBW in an interview last month that “Lainey Wilson is arguably the biggest female country music artist in our format. She is a cultural icon, an artist that speaks for women around the world with her down to earth lifestyle and passion for her roots and her family.”
Grammy-winning Wilson has appeared on various shows including The Kelly Clarkson Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The TODAY Show, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Christmas at Graceland, and American Idol.
“Lainey Wilson has made ‘Country Cool Again.’ Her cool country style of bell bottoms and big hats is crossing genres and truly making the format the hot place for style and lifestyle,” Hahr had said.
Meanwhile, Grammy-winning country music star Chris Stapleton took home awards for Male Artist of the Year, Artist-Songwriter of the Year, and Album of the Year for Higher. His surprise performance with wife Morgane and pop star Dua Lipa was among the highlights of the night.
The evening also celebrated other notable artists. Luke Combs, who had eight nominations, won Single of the Year for his rendition of Tracy Chapman’s Fast Car. Dan + Shay were named the Duo of the Year, while Old Dominion won Group of the Year.
Megan Moroney and Nate Smith were honored as Best New Female and Male Artists, respectively, while Tigirlily Gold were honored as New Duo or Group of the Year.
Here is a complete list of ACM Awards winners for 2024:
Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Lainey Wilson
Nominees: Kane Brown, Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton, Morgan Wallen
Female Artist of the Year
Winner: Lainey Wilson
Nominees: Kelsea Ballerini, Ashley McBryde, Megan Moroney, Kacey Musgraves
Male Artist of the Year
Winner: Chris Stapleton
Nominees: Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, Morgan Wallen
Duo of the Year
Winner: Dan + Shay
Nominees: Brooks & Dunn, Brothers Osborne, Maddie & Tae, The War and Treaty
Group of the Year
Winner: Old Dominion
Nominees: Flatland Cavalry, Lady A, Little Big Town, Zac Brown Band
New Female Artist of the Year
Winner: Megan Moroney
Nominees: Kassi Ashton, Ashley Cooke, Hannah Ellis, Kylie Morgan
New Male Artist of the Year
Winner: Nate Smith
Nominees: ERNEST, Kameron Marlow, Dylan Scott, Conner Smith
New Duo or Group of the Year
Winner: Tigirlily Gold
Nominees: Neon Union, Restless Road
Album of the Year
Winner: Higher by Chris Stapleton
Nominees: Gettin’ Old by Luke Combs, Leather by Cody Johnson, One Thing at a Time by Morgan Wallen, Rolling Up the Welcome Mat (For Good) by Kelsea Ballerini
Single of the Year
Winner: Fast Car by Luke Combs
Nominees: Burn It Down by Parker McCollum, Last Night by Morgan Wallen, Need a Favor by Jelly Roll, Next Thing You Know by Jordan Davis
Song of the Year
Winner: Next Thing You Know by Jordan Davis
Nominees: Fast Car by Luke Combs, Heart Like a Truck by Lainey Wilson, The Painter by Cody Johnson, Tennessee Orange by Megan Moroney
Music Event of the Year
Winner: Save Me by Jelly Roll with Lainey Wilson
Nominees: Can’t Break Up Now by Old Dominion with Megan Moroney, Different ‘Round Here by Riley Green with Luke Combs, I Remember Everything by Zach Bryan with Kacey Musgraves, Man Made a Bar by Morgan Wallen with Eric Church
Visual Media of the Year
Winner: Burn It Down by Parker McCollum
Nominees: Human by Cody Johnson, In Your Love by Tyler Childers, Next Thing You Know by Jordan Davis, Tennessee Orange by Megan Moroney
Songwriter of the Year
Winner: Jessie Jo Dillon
Nominees: Ashley Gorley, Hillary Lindsey, Chase McGill, Josh Thompson
Artist-Songwriter of the Year
Winner: Chris Stapleton
Nominees: Zach Bryan, ERNEST, HARDY, Morgan Wallen
The Academy of Country Music was founded as a regional trade organization in Southern California in 1964. Now headquartered in Nashville, the organization boasts 5,000 members worldwide.
Music Business Worldwide