Stapleton leads ACM Awards nominations

Chris Stapleton and Dan + Shay lead the 54th Academy of Country Music Awards with six nominations each, while Grammy album of the year winner Kacey Musgraves comes in with five nominations.

Reba McEntire, who is hosting the show for a record 16th time, announced the nominees in top categories Wednesday. The top category, entertainer of the year, is all-male for the second year in a row, which includes Stapleton, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney and Keith Urban. And Musgraves is the sole female artist in the album of the year category along with Stapleton, Dan + Shay, Eric Church and Dierks Bentley.

Stapleton is nominated twice as producer and artist for album of the year for “From A Room: Volume 2,” which he won last year for “From A Room: Volume 1.” He also seeks to win his second consecutive male artist of the year trophy and is nominated twice for song of the year for “Broken Halos,” for which he is also nominated as a producer.

Dan + Shay could make good on their first Grammy win for best country duo/group performance for “Tequila,” which has earned them three nominations as a duo at the ACMs. They are also nominated for vocal duo of the year, album of the year for their selftitled release and musical event of the year for a duet with Kelly Clarkson.

The ACMs will be aired April 7 on CBS from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

KEVIN WINTER/GETTY Chris Stapleton is nominated as producer and artist for album of the year for “From A Room: Volume 2.”