Here are the CU staff’s personal picks and predicted winners for Sunday’s ACM Awards, which kick off at 8 PM Eastern/7 PM Central.
This year, Country Universe will be liveblogging the show on Twitter, with commentary provided on our official @CountryUniverse account by our Twitter king, Jonathan Keefe!
Entertainer of the Year
Should Win:
- Luke Bryan
- Eric Church – ZK
- Luke Combs – KJC, JK
- Thomas Rhett
- Chris Stapleton
Will Win:
- Luke Bryan
- Eric Church – JK
- Luke Combs – KJC
- Thomas Rhett – ZK
- Chris Stapleton
ZK: What an absolute mess. Who entertained last year? We can’t possibly have as big of a clusterfuck as last year’s winner(s), but to see Thomas Rhett included over Carrie Underwood, good grief. Luke Combs is the biggest artist, but Eric Church has been itching to “gather again,” as he says, and has been the most responsible one here for going about it. So I’d like to see him win … which means he won’t.
JK: In as much as it’s hard to gauge an artist’s impact over the last year, it does seem that Combs has been the most dominant force in country music over the whole of the eligibility period. Without a tour to justify a potential win, I find it hard to argue that Church would be more deserving than Combs, but if the comparatively stodgy CMA voters went with Church as their pick just a few months ago, I imagine the ACM panel will, too.
KJC: Even in a year without touring, they still have an all male lineup. Of the five nominees, Luke Combs had the most significant success in 2020, so he’s my pick and my predicted winner.
Male Artist of the Year
Should Win:
- Dierks Bentley
- Eric Church – ZK
- Luke Combs – KJC
- Thomas Rhett
- Chris Stapleton – JK
Will Win:
- Dierks Bentley
- Eric Church
- Luke Combs – ZK, KJC, JK
- Thomas Rhett
- Chris Stapleton
ZK: It’s Luke Combs’ award, no doubt, so at least it’s not Thomas Rhett’s.
KJC: I’d love to see Eric Church or Dierks Bentley finally win, but they should do so following a year where they released an album. Combs deserves the win.
JK: I’d honestly be fine with a win for anyone but Rhett. Combs’ commercial success should be enough here. During the eligibility period, Stapleton released the music I thought was the strongest, but not overwhelmingly so.
Female Artist of the Year
Should Win:
- Kelsea Ballerini
- Miranda Lambert
- Ashley McBryde – ZK, KJC, JK
- Maren Morris
- Carly Pearce
Will Win:
- Kelsea Ballerini – KJC
- Miranda Lambert
- Ashley McBryde
- Maren Morris – ZK, JK
- Carly Pearce
ZK: I wouldn’t immediately count Miranda Lambert out this year, given her unexpected commercial rebound last year. I’d love to see Ashley McBryde win, though, given that I still don’t see much of the appeal for Maren Morris outside of her Highwomen contributions. I still think Morris takes it.
KJC: Unless the ACM reverts to its “let’s award Miranda Lambert” reflex, this race is pretty wide open. I think that Ashley McBryde made the best music, but hey, Sylvia has won this award. They like their pop crossover ladies, and Kelsea Ballerini is currently enjoying a big hit.
JK: As long as her politics haven’t burned off too many conservative voters, Morris will win this, which is fine. McBryde is the only one of the five who released more than one song I loved during the eligibility year (I’ll still go to bat for the ballerini version of “Hole in the Bottle”), but Pearce’s 29 will hold sway with me come CMA time.
Duo of the Year
Should Win:
- Brooks & Dunn
- Brothers Osborne – ZK, JK
- Dan + Shay
- Florida Georgia Line
- Maddie & Tae – KJC
Will Win:
- Brooks & Dunn
- Brothers Osborne
- Dan + Shay – ZK, KJC, JK
- Florida Georgia Line
- Maddie & Tae
ZK: Would love to see Brothers Osborne win, but the commercial success just isn’t there, and so it’ll go to Dan + Shay, who has yet to release a song that isn’t the audio equivalent of NyQuil.
KJC: Dan + Shay are the most commercially successful, so their streak should extend. But I’d like to see the only duo without a win to finally take one home.
JK: I’ll keep saying it until they do it: Merge the Duo and Group categories to trim the fat. Still, I liked BrOs’ album far more than Maddie & Tae’s, and Dan + Shay will win for some of their most emetic music to date.
Group of the Year
Should Win:
- The Cadillac Three
- The Highwomen – ZK, KJC, JK
- Lady A
- Little Big Town
- Old Dominion
Will Win:
- The Cadillac Three
- The Highwomen
- Lady A
- Little Big Town
- Old Dominion – ZK, KJC, JK
ZK: I’d love to see the Highwomen win … even though they really owe an apology to Mickey Guyton. Otherwise, I’m the only CU writer who went to bat for Little Big Town’s Nightfall last year and thinks that Old Dominion is at least tolerable now, so … progress?
KJC: I’m still rooting for the Highwomen, but I expect Old Dominion to repeat.
JK: Wild to see how little traction Midland has gotten; I’d have nominated them ahead of The Cadillac Three, Lady WhitePrivilege, and (sorry, Zack) Little Big Town. The Highwomen clearly made the best music here, but no reason to think Old Dominion’s reign will end this year.
Album of the Year
Should Win:
- Born Here Live Here Die Here – Luke Bryan
- Produced by Jeff Stevens and Jody Stevens
- Mixtape Vol. 1 – Kane Brown – KJC
- Produced by Andrew Goldstein, Charlie Handsome, Dann Huff, and Lindsay Rimes
- Never Will – Ashley McBryde – ZK, JK
- Produced by Jay Joyce
- Skeletons– Brothers Osborne
- Produced by Jay Joyce
- Starting Over– Chris Stapleton
- Produced by Chris Stapleton and Dave Cobb
Will Win:
- Born Here Live Here Die Here – Luke Bryan
- Produced by Jeff Stevens and Jody Stevens
- Mixtape Vol. 1 – Kane Brown
- Produced by Andrew Goldstein, Charlie Handsome, Dann Huff, and Lindsay Rimes
- Never Will – Ashley McBryde
- Produced by Jay Joyce
- Skeletons– Brothers Osborne
- Produced by Jay Joyce
- Starting Over– Chris Stapleton – ZK, KJC, JK
- Produced by Chris Stapleton and Dave Cobb
ZK: Take out the Kane Brown and Luke Bryan projects and it’s a surprisingly strong field. I seem to like Skeletons more than most folks and don’t enjoy Starting Over as much as most others, and it’s another category where my heart will break knowing that Ashley McBryde is a dark horse candidate at best.
KJC: Track for track, I enjoy Kane Brown’s Mixtape the most out of all of these nominees. But he doesn’t have the critical acclaim of Stapleton, who has a clear path to a win as the only established prestige artist in the running. I’d love to see McBryde get a win, but I’m not optimistic about it happening.
JK: McBryde made a fantastic album, BrOs and Stapleton made solid ones, and Brown and Bryan… are also nominated. Part of me wonders if ACM voters will remember how they correctly rewarded Miranda Lambert’s Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and do the same for McBryde’s sophomore record, but McBryde doesn’t have even the inconsistent radio support that Lambert did at this juncture in her career. Stapleton’s probably the safest bet, but be prepared to cue the (incorrect) cries of “virtue signaling” should Skeletons win.
Single Record of the Year
Should Win:
- “Bluebird” – Miranda Lambert
- Produced by Jay Joyce – JK
- “I Hope” – Gabby Barrett
- Produced by Ross Copperman and Zach Kale
- “I Hope You’re Happy Now” – Carly Pearce and Lee Brice – ZK, KJC
- Produced by busbee
- “More Hearts Than Mine” – Ingrid Andress
- Produced by Ingrid Andress and Sam Ellis
- “The Bones” – Maren Morris
- Produced by Greg Kurstin
Will Win:
- “Bluebird” – Miranda Lambert
- Produced by Jay Joyce
- “I Hope” – Gabby Barrett – ZK, KJC, JK
- Produced by Ross Copperman and Zach Kale
- “I Hope You’re Happy Now” – Carly Pearce and Lee Broce
- Produced by busbee
- “More Hearts Than Mine” – Ingrid Andress
- Produced by Ingrid Andress and Sam Ellis
- “The Bones” – Maren Morris
- Produced by Greg Kurstin
ZK: Since we’re weighing in commercial standards over artistic quality, it has to go to either “Bluebird” or “I Hope.” I’d rather see “More Hearts Than Mine” or “I Hope You’re Happy Now” win, but they’re the least likely to win, as it typically goes.
KJC: I don’t particularly like any of these records, but I’ll root for Carly Pearce to finally get some recognition.
JK: It’s nowhere near my favorite of Lambert’s singles, but I’d say “Bluebird” is the best-produced and best-performed hit of this lot. Either Barrett’s or Morris’ crossover single will win on broad appeal.
Song of the Year
Should Win:
- “Bluebird” – Miranda Lambert
- Written by Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby, and Miranda Lambert
- “The Bones” – Maren Morris
- Written by Maren Morris, Jimmy Robbins, and Laura Veltz
- “One Night Standards” – Ashley McBryde – KJC, ZK, JK
- Written by Nicolette Hayford, Shane McAnally, and Ashley McBryde
- “Some People Do” – Old Dominion
- Written by Jesse Frasure, Shane McAnally, Matt Ramsey, and Thomas Rhett
- “Starting Over” – Chris Stapleton
- Written by Mike Henderson and Chris Stapleton
Will Win:
- “Bluebird” – Miranda Lambert – KJC, ZK
- Written by Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby, and Miranda Lambert
- “The Bones” – Maren Morris
- Written by Maren Morris, Jimmy Robbins, and Laura Veltz
- “One Night Standards” – Ashley McBryde
- Written by Nicolette Hayford, Shane McAnally, and Ashley McBryde
- “Some People Do” – Old Dominion – JK
- Written by Jesse Frasure, Shane McAnally, Matt Ramsey, and Thomas Rhett
- “Starting Over” – Chris Stapleton
- Written by Mike Henderson and Chris Stapleton
ZK: This … this category doesn’t suck? Wow, I’m genuinely surprised! In a good way! I mean it! Yay! Oh … but Ashley McBryde won’t win. That makes me sad. I think Miranda Lambert will. Or Maren Morris. And that’s OK.
KJC: “One Night Standards” is one of those brilliant songs that you can’t believe nobody ever wrote before. But I don’t anticipate McBryde will win. Maybe ACM voters are finally over Miranda Lambert, but I’ll believe it when I see it.
JK: McBryde’s inclusion here is my favorite nomination on the whole ballot, and it makes me wonder if she might have enough support to pull off that Album win, after all… This is a longer shot, though. I can’t say it’s anything more than a gut feeling, but “Some People Do” strikes me as the kind of Really?!? winner the ACMs go for every so often.
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