Sunday night was a huge night for country music fans, as they tuned into CBS to watch the 51st annual Academy of Country Music Awards. Broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley hosted the popular show that presented awards varying from “Song of the Year” to “Entertainer of the Year”. The event had 11.2 million viewers this year, and, evidently, did not disappoint. The full list of winners are posted below:
Entertainer of the Year – Jason Aldean
Male Vocalist of the Year – Chris Stapleton
Female Vocalist of the Year – Miranda Lambert
Vocal Duo of the Year – Florida Georgia Line
Vocal Group of the Year – Little Big Town
Album of the Year – Chris Stapleton, Traveller
New Male Vocalist of the Year – Chris Stapleton
New Female Vocalist of the Year – Kelsea Ballerini
New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year – Old Dominion
Single Record of the Year – “Die a Happy Man,” Thomas Rhett
Video of the Year – “Mr. Misunderstood,” Eric Church
Song of the Year – “Nobody to Blame,” Chris Stapleton
Vocal Event of the Year – “Smokin’ and Drinkin’,” Miranda Lambert (Feat. Little Big Town)
Songwriter of the Year – Ross Copperman
Special Awards Categories
ACM Lifting Lives Gary Haber Award: Carrie Underwood
Career Achievement Award: Glen Campbell
Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award: Crystal Gayle, Tanya Tucker, the Statler Brothers
Crystal Milestone Award: Little Big Town
Jim Reeves International Award: Jeff Walker
Mae Boren Axton Award: Keith Urban
Poet’s Award: Eddie Rabbitt, Jimmy Webb
Tex Ritter Award: Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors
Studio Recording Awards
Bass Player of the Year: Michael Rhodes
Drummer of the Year: Shannon Forrest
Guitar Player of the Year: Derek Wells
Piano/Keyboards Player of the Year: Jim ‘Moose’ Brown
Specialty Instrument(s) Player of the Year: Danny Rader
Steel Guitar Player of the Year: Paul Franklin
Audio Engineer of the Year: Justin Niebank
Producer of the Year: Dave Cobb