Country music entertainer Reba McEntire appeared on CBS This Morning Thursday morning to reveal the nominees for the 2018 Academy of Country Music Awards. The Oklahoman, who has hosted the awards show 14 times since the late 1980’s, also shared that she will be returning as the show’s host.
Chris Stapleton leads the pack with eight nominations, Thomas Rhett follows with six nods, Keith Urban and Shane McAnally with five and Maren Morris and Miranda Lambert each nabbed four nominations. The 53rd annual Academy of Country Music Awards will air live from MGM Grand’s Garden Arena in Las Vegas at 7 p.m. CT on April 15th via CBS.
Watch Reba announce some of the nominees and share her big news below!
2018 Academy of Country Music Awards Nominees
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Jason Aldean
Garth Brooks
Luke Bryan
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Reba McEntire
Maren Morris
Carrie Underwood
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Jason Aldean
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban
Chris Young
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
LOCASH
Tim McGraw & Faith Hill
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Lady Antebellum
LANCO
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion
SONG OF THE YEAR
“Body Like a Back Road” by Sam Hunt
Songwriters: Zach Crowell, Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
“Female” by Keith Urban
Songwriters: Ross Copperman, Nicolle Galyon and Shane McAnally
“Tin Man” by Miranda Lambert
Songwriters: Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert Jon Randall
“Whiskey And You” by Chris Stapleton
Songwriters: Lee Thomas Miller, Chris Stapleton
NEW FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Lauren Alaina
Danielle Bradbery
Carly Pearce
Raelynn
NEW MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Kane Brown
Luke Combs
Devin Dawson
Russell Dickerson
Brett Young
NEW VOCAL DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
High Valley
LANCO
LOCASH
Midland
Runaway June
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
“Breaker,” Little Big Town
“California Sunrise,” Jon Pardi
“From A Room Vol. 1,” Chris Stapleton
“Happy Endings,” Old Dominion
“Life Changes,” Thomas Rhett
SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR
“Better Man,” Little Big Town
“Body Like A Back Road,” Sam Hunt
“Broken Halos,” Chris Stapleton
“Drinkin’ Problem,” Midland
“I’ll Name The Dogs,” Blake Shelton
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
“Black,” Dierks Bentley
“It Ain’t My Fault,” Brothers Osborne
“Legends,” Kelsea Ballerini
“Marry Me,” Thomas Rhett
“We Should Be Friends,” Miranda Lambert
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Rhett Akins
Ashley Gorley
Hillary Lindsey
Shane McAnally
Josh Osborne
VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
“Craving You,” Thomas Rhett featuring Maren Morris
“Dear Hate,” Maren Morris featuring Vince Gill
“Funny (How Time Slips Away),” Glen Campbell And Willie Nelson
“The Fighter,” Keith Urban featuring Carrie Underwood
“What Ifs,” Kane Brown Featuring Lauren Alaina
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