Chris Stapleton leads country nominations
Chris Stapleton leads in nominations for the 2018 Academy of Country Music Awards, airing live April 15 on CBS. The singer and songwriter is up for eight awards in five categories, including entertainer of the year, Stapleton’s first time vying for the penultimate prize of the night. Reba McEntire will host the show, which is held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, returning to emcee the ACMs for the first time since 2012, when she appeared alongside Blake Shelton.
Thomas Rhett, who won male vocalist of the year in 2017, collected six nominations, including another for the title he currently holds. Keith Urban follows in five categories, including his eighth time as a contender for entertainer of the year, along with songwriter Shane McAnally, whose credits include Sam Hunt’s “Body Like A Back Road,” Urban’s “Female,” Old Dominion’s “Happy Endings” and Midland’s “Drinkin’ Problems.”
Not far behind in the nomination tally is Miranda Lambert, ACM’s reigning female vocalist of the year, with four nominations. She has collected 29 ACM awards since emerging onto the scene in 2003. Newcomer Maren Morris also received four nominations, including her second in the female vocalist of the year category.
Among country groups, Little Big Town, Lady Antebellum and Midland collected nods, as did Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, their first as a duo.
— Variety