ACM nominations indicate 'changing of the guard'
This time last year, Chris Janson was writing his now-platinum-selling “Buy Me a Boat.”
Chris Stapleton was still nine months away from his breakthrough performance on the CMA Awards with Justin Timberlake and his near sweep of eligible categories.
Chris Young was eager to reveal his upcoming single, “I’m Comin’ Over,” which became a multi-week No. 1 hit that energized his career.
And for Cam, “Burning House” wasn’t even a flicker. She was still being introduced to country radio.
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When the nominations for the 51st Academy of Country Music Awards were revealed Monday morning — for the men, Cam and many others —the list was a testament to the difference a year can make. The show, hosted by Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley, will air live from MGM Grand’s Garden Arena in Las Vegas at 7 p.m. April 3 on CBS.
Stapleton and Eric Church led the nominations with five nods each. Church was recognized in categories including Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year and Album of the Year. Stapleton’s nominations include Male Vocalist of the Year, New Male Vocalist of the Year and Album of the Year for “Traveller.”
Other leading nominees include Young, Cam and Little Big Town, who received four nominations each, and Miranda Lambert, Thomas Rhett and Janson,. who each earned three nods.
“It feels pretty amazing,” Young said. “Being able to have one nomination would have been amazing, and then I found out I had four (including Single Record of the Year and Album of the Year). It’s just absolutely incredible. I’m excited as I could be, waking up today and seeing my name next to all of that. Having a nomination for Album of the Year, it doesn’t get any bigger than that.”
“He’s been pounding the pavement, built a following,” said Bob Romeo, the Academy of Country Music’s chief executive officer, of Young. “Look at Kenny Chesney. People forget how many years he pounded the pavement … and if you take a look at that, I don’t think Chris Young is any different than Kenny Chesney.”
This time last year, no one had heard of Cam — the top nominated female vocalist going into the 51st version of the ACMs.
“I was still meeting people, and generally speaking, it was hard for them to be superoptimistic about a new female act in country music,” she said about her career in early 2015. “It’s been fun to win everybody over … and make all of those people who believed in me really proud.”
Unlike Cam, Janson has had several record deals and has been known as a powerhouse songwriter and performer to music industry watchers for years without any mainstream success as an artist. Until now, he never had a reason to pay attention to awards show nominations.
“I try to just hit on all cylinders at all times and then something like this pops up out of nowhere, it’s just amazing,” he said. “For years you watch the show from home or from a hotel room, and then all of a sudden you’re going to be the one on the television. I’m pretty humbled by that.”
Romeo called the new nominees a “changing of the guard.”
“We see that every three or four years,” he said. “As people discover new music, I think that’s where you’re seeing Chris Stapleton pop in, Brett Eldredge pop in, Kelsea Ballerini, Brothers Osborne.”
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Eldredge earned his first nomination for Male Vocalist of the Year, a nod Romeo said is much deserved. For Eldredge the inclusion in the category is the realization of a lifelong dream.
“I would sing anywhere,” said Eldredge, who as a college student regularly drove from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro to Nashville to play for anyone who would listen. “Being a singer is all I ever wanted to do, and that’s all I care about. Now, I just get to sing in places a little bit bigger, but I’ll still sing in the lobby of a hotel if someone gives me a guitar.”
In addition to bolstering newcomers, nominations for the 51st Academy of Country Music Awards also embraced a wide range of musical styles. Stapleton’s been much lauded for his traditional lean, and Young’s baritone is one of the genre’s most nimble and classic voices. But the inclusion of Sam Hunt’s top-selling hip-hop influenced “Montevallo” in the Album of the Year category, and pop country artist Kelsea Ballerini in the Female Vocalist of the Year category along with superstars Lambert and Carrie Underwood, indicates that one trend isn’t overtaking another.
“I think this affirms that I’m going in the right direction,” said Ballerini of her Female Vocalist of the Year nomination. Ballerini’s pop-heavy “Love Me Like You Mean It” marked the first time a female country singer had topped the country radio airplay charts with her debut single in 10 years. “It’s really nice to have those things that happen that give you that affirmation that it’s working. (The female vocalist of the year nomination) is a giant affirmation right there.”
There were a handful of notable exclusions.
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Carrie Underwood’s well-reviewed “Storyteller” album didn’t crack the male-dominated Album of the Year category, and neither did Ashley Monroe’s critically acclaimed “The Blade” or Kacey Musgraves’ “Pageant Material.” Blake Shelton, the show’s former co-host, got no nominations for the first time since 2008. The Band Perry was shut out of nominations for the first time since 2009, as was Lady Antebellum. The trio, who announced they were going on hiatus this year, has been nominated every year since winning Top New Vocal Duo or Group in 2007.
Romeo said he was surprised that Chesney didn’t get more nominations and admitted it’s a “head scratcher” that Brad Paisley, Keith Urban and Tim McGraw’s superstar success wasn’t recognized in a way that correlates more accurately with their achievements.
“The awards cycle seems to be a much much shorter cycle than an artist’s career,” Romeo said. “I think fans are loyal and they stay with artists for many years, but I think in a fan’s psyche there’s a quest to find what’s new. I think it’s the nature of the business.”
Reach Cindy Watts at 615-664-2227 or ciwatts@tennessean.com.
Complete list of nominees for 51st Academy of Country Music Awards:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Jason Aldean
Garth Brooks
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Miranda Lambert
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Jason Aldean
Dierks Bentley
Eric Church
Brett Eldredge
Chris Stapleton
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Kelsea Ballerini
Jana Kramer
Miranda Lambert
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Joey+Rory
Maddie & Tae
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Eli Young Band
Little Big Town
Old Dominion
Rascal Flatts
Zac Brown Band
NEW MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Brett Eldredge
Chris Janson
Thomas Rhett
Chase Rice
Chris Stapleton
NEW FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Kelsea Ballerini
Cam
Mickey Guyton
RaeLynn
NEW VOCAL DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
A Thousand Horses
Brothers Osborne
Maddie & Tae
Old Dominion
Parmalee
ALBUM OF THE YEAR (Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s) )
"I’m Comin’ Over" — Chris Young
Producers: Corey Crowder, Chris Young
Record label: RCA Records
"Montevallo" — Sam Hunt
Producers: Zach Crowell, Shane McAnally
Record label: MCA Nashville
"Mr. Misunderstood" — Eric Church
Producer: Jay Joyce
Record label: EMI Records Nashville
"Tangled Up" — Thomas Rhett
Producers: Dann Huff, Jesse Frasure, Chris DeStefano, Joe London
Record label: The Valory Music Co.
"Traveller" — Chris Stapleton
Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
Record label: Mercury Records
Single Record of the Year (Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s) )
"Burning House" — Cam
Producers: Jeff Bhasker, Tyler Johnson, Camaron Ochs
Record labels: Arista Nashville, RCA Records, Kravenworks
"Buy Me A Boat" — Chris Janson
Producers: Brent Anderson, Chris DuBois, Chris Janson
Record label: Warner Music Nashville
"Die A Happy Man" — Thomas Rhett
Producers: Dann Huff, Jesse Frasure
Record label: The Valory Music Co.
"Girl Crush" — Little Big Town
Producer: Jay Joyce
Record label: Capitol Records Nashville
"I’m Comin’ Over" — Chris Young
Producers: Corey Crowder, Chris Young
Record label: RCA Nashville
"Take Your Time" — Sam Hunt
Producers: Zach Crowell, Shane McAnally
Record label: MCA Nashville
Video of the Year (Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)) *(Off Camera Award)
"Biscuits" — Kacey Musgraves
Director: Mark Klasfeld
Producer: Nicole Acacio
"Burning House" — Cam
Director: Trey Fanjoy
Producer: Trent Hardville
"Girl Crush" — Little Big Town
Directors: Karla Welch, Matthew Welch
Producer: Amanda Prunesti
"Mr. Misunderstood" — Eric Church
Directors: Reid Long, John Peets
Producer: Megan Smith
"Riser" — Dierks Bentley
Director: Wes Edwards
Producer: Jennifer Rothlein
Vocal Event of the Year (Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)) *(Off Camera Award)
"Hangover Tonight" — Gary Allan featuring Chris Stapleton
Producers: Gary Allan, Greg Droman
Record label: MCA Nashville
"Home Alone Tonight" — Luke Bryan featuring Karen Fairchild
Producers: Jeff Stevens, Jody Stevens
Record label: Capitol Nashville
"Raise ‘Em Up" — Keith Urban featuring Eric Church
Producers: Nathan Chapman, Keith Urban
Record labels: Hit Red Records, Capitol Nashville
"Smokin’ And Drinkin’ " — Miranda Lambert featuring Little Big Town
Producers: Frank Liddell, Chuck Ainlay, Glenn Worf
Record label: RCA Nashville
"Wild Child" — Kenny Chesney with Grace Potter
Producers: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney
Record labels: Blue Chair Records, Columbia Nashville