The ACM Awards returned to Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena with host Reba McEntire. The show began with the iconic redhead charming the crowd with her monologue. Creative performances then took over from Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Lauren Alaina and Kane Brown, along with flashback song collaborations from Toby Keith and Blake Shelton on “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” to Jon Pardi and Alan Jackson performing “Chattahoochee”.
Miranda Lambert made her mark as the all-time most awarded artist in ACM history by picking up her consecutive win for Female Vocalist and Song of the Year for “Tin Man”. Backstage Lambert then discussed the need for more female nominees in the Entertainer of the Year category. Carrie Underwood returned, by performing her new single “Cry Pretty,” which she released earlier in the week prior to the show.
Country artists also gathered to remember the victims of the Route 91 Harvest Festival, who were shot down during the music festival in Las Vegas. You can view that again HERE.
See more Backstage interviews from winners, presenters, and host Reba by visiting our Facebook Page.
See the full list of winners down below
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Jason Aldean – Winner
Garth Brooks
Luke Bryan
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert – Winner
Reba McEntire
Maren Morris
Carrie Underwood
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Jason Aldean
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton – Winner
Keith Urban
Chris Young
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Brothers Osborne – Winner
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
LOCASH
Tim McGraw & Faith Hill
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Lady Antebellum
LANCO
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion – Winner
NEW FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Lauren Alaina – Winner
Danielle Bradbery
Carly Pearce
Raelynn
NEW MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Kane Brown
Luke Combs
Devin Dawson
Russell Dickerson
Brett Young – Winner
NEW VOCAL DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
High Valley
LANCO
LOCASH
Midland – Winner
Runaway June
ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
Breaker – Little Big Town
Producer: Jay Joyce
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville
California Sunrise – Jon Pardi
Producers: Bart Butler, Jon Pardi
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville
From A Room Vol. 1 – Chris Stapleton – Winner
Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
Record Label: Mercury Records
Happy Endings – Old Dominion
Producer: Shane McAnally
Record Label: RCA
Life Changes – Thomas Rhett
Producers: Julian Bunetta, Jesse Frasure, Dann Huff, Joe London, Thomas Rhett
Record Label: The Valory Music Co.
SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
Better Man – Little Big Town
Producer: Jay Joyce
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville
Body Like A Back Road – Sam Hunt – Winner
Producer: Zach Crowell
Record Label: MCA Nashville
Broken Halos – Chris Stapleton
Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
Record Label: Mercury Records
Drinkin’ Problem – Midland
Producers: Dann Huff, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
Record Label: Big Machine Records
I’ll Name The Dogs – Blake Shelton
Producer: Scott Hendricks
Record Label: Warner Bros.
SONG OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/ Artist(s)]
Body Like a Back Road – Sam Hunt
Songwriters: Zach Crowell, Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
Publishers: Universal Music Corp./Sam Hunt Publishing, Highly Combustible Music/I Love Pizza Music,/Songs of Southside Independent Music Publishing/Who Wants to Buy My Publishing/Atlas Music Publishing, Anderson Fork In The Road Music/Smackville Music/Smack Songs LLC, Smack Hits
Female – Keith Urban
Songwriters: Ross Copperman, Nicolle Galyon and Shane McAnally
Publishers: EMI Blackwood Music Inc./Rezolant Music/Plain Jane Songs, Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp./A Girl Named Charlie (BMI), Smack Hits/Smack Songs LLC (GMR)
Tin Man – Miranda Lambert – Winner
Songwriters: Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert Jon Randall
Publishers: Sony/ATV Tree Publishing/Pink Dog Publishing (BMI), Beat Up Ford Publishing (BMI), BMG Platinum Songs (BMI)/SWMBMGBMI/Lonesome Vinyl Music
Whiskey And You – Chris Stapleton
Songwriters: Lee Thomas Miller, Chris Stapleton
Publishers: WB Music Corp./New Sea Gayle Music (ASCAP), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp./New Sea Gayle Music (BMI)
VIDEO OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/ Artist(s)]
Black – Dierks Bentley
Director: Wes Edwards
Producer: Max A. Butler
It Ain’t My Fault – Brothers Osborne – Winner
Director: Wes Edwards, Ryan Silver
Producer: Tiffany Davies
Legends – Kelsea Ballerini
Director: Jeff Venable
Producer: Ben Skipworth
Marry Me – Thomas Rhett
Director: TK McKamy
Producer: Dan Atchison
We Should Be Friends – Miranda Lambert
Director: Trey Fanjoy
Producer: April Dace
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR*(Off Camera Award)
Rhett Akins – Winner
Ashley Gorley
Hillary Lindsey
Shane McAnally
Josh Osborne
VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
Craving You – Thomas Rhett Featuring Maren Morris
Producers: Julian Bunetta, Dann Huff, Joe London, Thomas Rhett
Record Label: The Valory Music Co.
Dear Hate – Maren Morris featuring Vince Gill
Producers: Brad Hill, Maren Morris
Record Label: Columbia Nashville
Funny (How Time Slips Away) – Glen Campbell And Willie Nelson
Producer: Carl Jackson
Record Label: Universal Music Enterprises
The Fighter – Keith Urban featuring Carrie Underwood – Winner
Producers: Busbee, Keith Urban
Record Label: Capitol Nashville
What Ifs – Kane Brown Featuring Lauren Alaina
Producer: Dann Huff
Record Label: RCA Nashville