From nominations and notes to performers and presenters, here’s everything a country music fan needs to know about the 55th ACM Awards on Sept. 16.
- Date: Wednesday, Sept. 16
- Time: 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT / delayed PT
- Location: Grand Ole Opry House, The Bluebird Cafe and Ryman Auditorium
- TV Channel: CBS
- Online Stream: CBS All Access
- Host: Keith Urban
- Performers: Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban and Pink, Blake Shelton with Gwen Stefani, Jimmie Allen, Kelsea Ballerini, Gabby Barrett, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw, Maren Morris, Old Dominion, Riley Green, Tenille Townes, Thomas Rhett with Jon Pardi, Eric Church, Mickey Guyton, Morgan Wallen, Dan + Shay, Kane Brown, Florida Georgia Line, Trisha Yearwood, Taylor Swift, and Luke Bryan
- Presenters: Lauren Alaina, Lily Aldridge, Clint Black and Lisa Hartman Black, Cam, Darius Rucker, Runaway June, CeCe Winas and more
- Previously Announced Winners: Riley Green (New Male Vocalist of the Year), Tenille Townes (New Female Vocalist of the Year), Hillary Lindsey (Songwriter of the Year), Thomas Rhett (Video of the Year “Remember You Young”), and Miranda Lambert featuring Maren Morris, Caylee Hammack, Elle King, Ashley McBryde and Tenille Townes (Music Event of the Year “Fooled Around and Fell in Love”)
- Pre-Show/Red Carpet: 6 p.m. CT
- Notes: The ACM Awards were originally planned to air from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on April 5. The Academy scrapped the plan on March 15 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Set List
Ryman Auditorium
- Kelsea Ballerini – “Hole in the Bottle”
- Gabby Barrett – “I Hope”
- Maren Morris – “To Hell & Back”
- Old Dominion – medley
- Thomas Rhett – “Beer Can’t Fix”
- Riley Green – TBA
- Tenille Townes – TBA
Bluebird Cafe
- Jimmie Allen – “Make Me Want To”
- Luke Combs – “Better Together”
- Miranda Lambert featuring Natalie Hemby and Luke Dick – “Bluebird”
- Tim McGraw – “I Called Mama”
Grand Ole Opry
- Mickey Guyton – “What Are You Gonna Tell Her”
- Eric Church – “Stick That in Your Country Song”
- Luke Bryan – “One Margarita”
- Morgan Wallen – “Whiskey Glasses”
- Kane Brown – “Worldwide Beautiful”
- Dan + Shay – “I Should Probably Go to Bed”
- Florida Georgia Line – “I Love My Country”
- Carrie Underwood – medley of songs by Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Barbara Mandrell, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton
- Taylor Swift – “Betty”
TBA
- Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani – “Happy Anywhere”
- Trisha Yearwood – “I’ll Carry You Home” (In Memoriam)
- Keith Urban and Pink – “One Too Many”
- Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Eric Church, Carrie Underwood and Thomas Rhett – medley
The Nominees
Song of the Year (Awarded to Songwriter/Publisher/Artist)
- “10,000 Hours” – Dan + Shay feat. Justin Bieber, written by Justin Bieber, Jason “Poo Bear” Boyd, Jessie Jo Dillon, Shay Mooney, Jordan Reynolds, Dan Smyers
- “Girl Goin’ Nowhere” – Ashley McBryde, written by Jeremy Bussey, Ashley McBryde
- “God’s Country” – Blake Shelton, written by Devin Dawson, Michael Hardy, Jordan Schmidt
- “One Man Band” – Old Dominion, written by Josh Osborne, Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen, Brad Tursi
- “Some of It” – Erich Church, written by Eric Church, Clint Daniels, Jeff Hyde, Bobby Pinson
Duo of the Year
- Brooks & Dunn
- Brothers Osborne
- Dan + Shay
- Florida Georgia Line
- Maddie & Tae
Group of the Year
- Lady A
- Little Big Town
- Midland
- Old Dominion
- The Highwomen
Male Artist of the Year
- Dierks Bentley
- Luke Combs
- Thomas Rhett
- Chris Stapleton
- Keith Urban
Female Artist of the Year
- Kelsea Ballerini
- Miranda Lambert
- Maren Morris
- Kacey Musgraves
- Carrie Underwood
Entertainer of the Year
- Luke Bryan
- Eric Church
- Luke Combs
- Thomas Rhett
- Carrie Underwood
Album of the Year [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
- Center Point Road – Thomas Rhett
- Girl – Maren Morris
- Heartache Medication – Jon Pardi
- What You See Is What You Get – Luke Combs
- Wildcard – Miranda Lambert
Single of the Year [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
- “God’s Country” – Blake Shelton
- “One Man Band” Old Dominion
- “Rainbow” – Kacey Musgraves
- “Rumor” – Lee Brice
- “What If I Never Get Over You” – Lady Antebellum
New Female Artist of the Year
- Ingrid Andress
- Gabby Barrett
- Lindsay Ell
- Caylee Hammack
- Tenille Townes WINNER
New Male Artist of the Year
- Jordan Davis
- Russell Dickerson
- Riley Green WINNER
- Cody Johnson
- Morgan Wallen
Music Event of the Year [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
- “10,000 Hours” – Dan + Shay featuring Justin Bieber
- “Dive Bar” – Garth Brooks featuring Blake Shelton
- “Fooled Around and Fell in Love” – Miranda Lambert featuring Maren Morris, Elle King, Tenille Townes, Ashley McBryde and Caylee Hammack WINNER
- Old Town Road” – Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus
- “What Happens in a Small Town” – Brantley Gilbert featuring Lindsay Ell
Songwriter of the Year
- Ashley Gorley
- Michael Hardy
- Hillary Lindsey WINNER
- Shane McAnally
- Josh Osborne
Video of the Year [Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]
- “10,000 Hours” – Dan + Shay featuring Justin Bieber
- “God’s Country” – Blake Shelton
- “One Man Band” – Old Dominion
- “Remember You Young” – Thomas Rhett WINNER
- “Sugarcoat” – Little Big Town
