The ACM Nominations were announced this morning. See the full list here
Chris Stapleton and Dan + Shay lead the 2019 ACM Awards nominations with six each, with Kacey Musgraves right behind them with five ACM nods in three categories in 2019. Dierks Bentley, Brothers Osborne, Florida Georgia Line and Bebe Rexha all received four ACM Awards nominations.
Did you notice any of your favorites missing from it? We did.
So here we go: the Snubs and Surprises
Entertainer of the Year
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Kenny Chesney
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban
Snub: The Women of country music. Once again the category is male dominated. Reba told CBS, “It doesn’t make me very happy because we’ve got some very talented women out there who are working their butts off.”
WATCH: @Reba just announced nominees for the @ACMawards live on @CBS. https://t.co/aNJ9GjFALu #ACMawards pic.twitter.com/wi2SddPueX
— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) February 20, 2019
In case you’re wondering, last year’s nominees for entertainer of the year were also all male. In 2015, 2016 and 2017 only one woman made it into the category. The last woman to win entertainer of the year was Taylor Swift in 2011.
Male Vocalist of the Year
Dierks Bentley
Luke Combs
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban
Surprise! Luke Combs earned his first nomination in this category. Is it really a surprise though? Not really considering he the only solo country artist in history to score four consecutive No. 1 singles on the Billboard Country Airplay chart with his first four singles.
Snub: Kane Brown. He also just had his last 4 singles hit #1 on the charts. He did receive a nomination for one them- “Heaven” is up for Single of the Year.
Female Vocalist of the Year
Miranda Lambert
Ashley McBryde
Maren Morris
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood
Snub: Kelsea Ballerini! She failed to receive an ACM Awards nomination, and her fans speaking out on her behalf. She tweeted, then deleted, just one word. “Wow.”

Wow is right. She had three hit singles, including the No. 1 hit, “Legends,” and her current single, “Miss Me More,” which is already in the Top 15. She spent most of the year on the road, both opening for Keith Urban as well as headlined her own Unapologetically Tour.
Surprise: Ashley McBryde and Kacey Musgraves both of whom have not had a hit single at radio. Even Miranda Lambert failed to have a song land on the carts after the release of Tin Man.
Fans were quick to jump on Twitter and speak out for Kelsea
Seriously confused about how @KelseaBallerini wasn’t nominated for a single ACM award. What is life @ACMawards
— kaitlyn (@kait_berkowitz) February 20, 2019
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
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“Down to the Honky Tonk,” Jake Owen
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“Heaven,” Kane Brown
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“Meant To Be,” Bebe Rexha featuring Florida Georgia Line
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“Most People Are Good,” Luke Bryan
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“Tequila,” Dan + Shay
Surprise: Jake Owen. It’s been a decade since Jake Owen was last nominated for an ACM Award.
Holy guacamole 🥑 … I just woke up with my little girl laying on my shoulder to find out about this! Life can’t get much better. Thanks so much to my team and fans out there! Wow. I’m seriously so excited https://t.co/kB5812XsWy
— Jake Owen (@jakeowen) February 20, 2019
Also,… I must say… COUNTRY RADIO!!!!!! Thank YOU!!!! For so many years you all have supported me and the only way to be nominated for “Single of the Year” is to have one being played like crazy on the radio! I am forever grateful for your support
— Jake Owen (@jakeowen) February 20, 2019
SONG OF THE YEAR
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“Break Up In The End,” Cole Swindell
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“Broken Halos,” Chris Stapleton
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“Meant To Be,” Bebe Rexha featuring Florida Georgia Line
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“Space Cowboy,” Kacey Musgraves
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“Tequila,” Dan + Shay
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“Yours,” Russell Dickerson
Surprise: Russell Dickerson earned his first ever nomination for his song “Yours”
WHAT?!?!?! #Yours is the little song that could! We started with absolutely nothing but this song. Now, years later THIS!!!!! Thank you all for believeing in me and in this song!!! Thank you @ACMawards for nominating it for SONG 👏🏼 OF 👏🏼 THE 👏🏼 YEARRRRRRR!!!!!! AHHHH! 🎉🎉🎉🎉 pic.twitter.com/BooGGbz5gG
— Russell Dickerson (@russelled) February 20, 2019
Equally excited for her nomination: Carly Pearce. She earned a nod for New Female Artist
PRETTY SURE ALL OF LA JUST HEARD ME SCREAM!!!!! 😍😂 @ACMawards #ACMAwards pic.twitter.com/gHEdCjOJDI
— Carly Pearce (@carlypearce) February 20, 2019
Michael Ray celebrated his and his fiance Carly’s nods
Gonna take a second for this to sink in. Thank you #CountryMusic community & #ACMawards for your love & support. And congrats to my smoking hot fiancée CP on new female vocalist! Thank you Lord for this blessing & showing me it’s all about your time. This is our year #NINETEEN pic.twitter.com/B7I0YPwsBH
— Michael Ray (@Michaelraymusic) February 20, 2019
btw this means if they both win, they will be competing with each other for the overall Best New Artist!
Mitchell Tenpenny is also in the running for Best New Male Artist and revealed last year he was at the ACMs watching from the nosebleeds. He’s up for New Male Artist
Last year I was in the nose bleeds watching the @ACMawards . This year I’m nominated?!??? I can’t believe it. Truly woke up to the best news ever!!!!!! Thank you to my team & everyone who made this happen!!!! We are going to Vegas baby 🎉🎉🎉 pic.twitter.com/mBnwbVtLGU
— Mitchell Tenpenny (@m10penny) February 20, 2019
He wasn’t the only one in the nosebleed section, Jimmie Allen shared, “Last year I watched the @acmawards from the the nose bleed section wearing a suit I couldn’t afford. This year I’m nominated alongside some of my favorite artists for New Male Artist of The Year. Hopefully I’ll be sitting in a better seat but still will be wearing a suit I can’t afford. Haha. 😂😂😂 Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote for me. I appreciate you so much. #Thankful
Last year I watched the @ACMawards from the the nose bleeds section wearing a suit I couldn’t afford. This year I’m nominated alongside some of my favorite artists for New Male Artist of The Year. Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote for me. I appreciate you so much. pic.twitter.com/jL2go1rhmF
— Jimmie Allen (@JimmieAllen) February 20, 2019
Keith Urban revealed his whirlwind day and nomination
PLAYED A SHOW IN VEGAS LAST NIGHT- GOT BACK TO NASHVILLE AT 4.30am THIS MORN- AND WOKE UP TO THESE INCREDIBLE ACM NOMS!!!!!!!!!!! THANK U THANK U ALL- #ELATED!!! – KU #ACMawards pic.twitter.com/EpGW9zEtPS
— Keith Urban (@KeithUrban) February 20, 2019
Dan + Shay reacted to their SIX nominations
SIX NOMINATIONS. wow, thank you @ACMawards and all the voting members for making us feel loved this morning. additionally, thank you country music for giving us a home to tell our stories and chase our childhood dreams. we are forever grateful for your support. pic.twitter.com/F0Qhkkhr3C
— Dan + Shay (@DanAndShay) February 20, 2019
and sent congrats to fellow nominees The Brothers Osborne
congrats boys! let’s party in vegas. and probably in east nashville, too. but definitely vegas.
— Dan + Shay (@DanAndShay) February 20, 2019