The 2023 Academy of Country Music Awards kicked off Thursday with Cole Swindell taking home the night’s first award for Song of the Year for “She Had Me At Heads Carolina,” presented by Dallas Cowboys legends Dak Prescott and Emmitt Smith.
Swindell took on Morgan Wallen’s Sand in my Boots, Cody Johnson’s Till You Can Wait, Hardy featuring Lainey Wilson’s Wait in the Truck, and Chris Stapleton’s You Should Rather Leave Dolly at the show, held at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas Parton and Garth Brooks will host the show.
“I moved to Nashville, Tennessee to be a songwriter, and that’s what this award is about.” Jo Dee, we wouldn’t have had this song without you doing the original, so thank you. “Thank you,” Swindell said.
The Osborne brothers won second prize – Duo of the Year – gutting Brooks & Dunn, Dan + Shay, Maddie & Tae and The War and Treaty.’
“I just want to say thank you to everyone. Thank you fans, we love you guys,” John Osborne began his brief speech, while his brother TJ said his wife Lucy couldn’t be there because they had just had twins, “Like seven weeks ago.”
First Winner: The 2023 Academy of Country Music Awards kicked off Thursday with Cole Swindell taking home the night’s first award for Song of the Year for “She Had Me At Heads Carolina,” presented by Dallas Cowboys legends Dak Prescott and Emmitt Smith
Brothers: Brothers Osborne won second prize – Duo of the Year – beating Brooks & Dunn, Dan + Shay, Maddie & Tae and The War and Treaty
“I love the country music community. We are the happiest people in the world. “We love you so much, thank you so much,” TJ concluded.
Old Dominion won the Group of the Year award, beating Lady A, Little Big Town, Midland and Zac Brown Band.
Veteran Dominion members Trevor Rosen, Matthew Ramsey, Brad Tursi and Geoff Sprung took the stage, with Ramsey saying, “We’re kind of part of this party,” which also includes country legends like hosts Garth Brooks and Dolly Parton.
“It’s amazing that we’re mentioned in the same thing, but also know that there are obviously people in the world right now who are obviously down and trying to understand the divisions and shootings and stuff like that,” he added .
“There are people who are really down right now, and we’re so proud to be in a room full of country fans and making music for those people, but we’re proudest to be able to make music for people who it’s going really bad now,” he added.
“Thank you for including us in this party and allowing us to make music for anyone who needs it.” “We will keep trying and thank my friends here for supporting me when I did.” needed,” he concluded, referring to his bandmates.
Tanya Tucker presented Cole Swindell with the Single of the Year award for “She Had Me At Heads Carolina,” his second award of the night.
He hit “Heart Like a Truck”, Lainey Wilson, “Never Wanted to Be That Girl”, Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde, “Thank God”, Kane Brown with Katelyn Brown and “‘Til You Can’t” by Cody Johnson.
First Prize: While Swindell took home first prize, two major awards were presented at Wednesday night’s ACM Country Kickoff – new male artist and new female artist
Old Dominion: Old Dominion won the Group of the Year award, beating Lady A, Little Big Town, Midland and Zac Brown Band
Making Music: “Thank you for including us in this party and allowing us to make music for anyone who needs it.” “We will keep trying and thank my friends here for supporting me, when I needed it,” he concluded, referring to his bandmates
“Thank you country fans. “That’s all I’ve ever been, and there are so many people I pay attention to, so many people in that category who deserve it so much,” Swindell began.
“I don’t know what I’ve ever done to be so lucky, but I love you all and thank you for giving me a chance,” he added.
“I’m just proud to be here and let’s just enjoy the night.” “Dolly Parton is here,” he concluded.
Mickey Guyton and Tyler Hubbard presented the Music Event of the Year award, which “Wait in the Truck,” Hardy featuring Lainey Wilson, won.
The duo beat out “At The End of a Bar,” Chris Young with Mitchell Tenpenny, and “She Had Me at Heads Carolina.” [Remix]’, Cole Swindell and Jo Dee Messina, ‘Thank God’, Kane Brown with Katelyn Brown and ‘Thinking ‘Bout You’, Dustin Lynch with MacKenzie Porter.
Hardy began by saying, “I forgot to spit out my dip, so I’ll do that with a dip.”
“Thanks, Lainey. You absolutely killed it. “She sings the song with conviction and makes people believe it,” Hardy said to applause.
Wilson added, “I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to it. Thank you Hardy for asking me to be a part of something so special.”
“I didn’t want people to identify with this song, but it’s true, a lot of people do.” “We appreciate you all,” she concluded.
Presenter Dolly Parton presented the Artist of the Year award, which was won by Lainey Wilson, ahead of Kelsea Ballerini, Miranda Lambert, Ashley McBryde and Carly Pearce
Lainey Wilson began, “I can’t believe I just met Dolly Parton.” That’s crazy. I want to thank my father. Thank you Jesus for that, this is absolutely insane.’
She then thanked her family, her label and her team “who fight for me every day”.
She thanked her fellow nominees, who she “looked up to so much,” adding that they weren’t up there by accident.
“For the little girls watching this, this is hard work.” “If you’re going to be a dreamer, you better be a doer,” she concluded.
While Swindell took home first prize, two major awards were presented at Wednesday night’s ACM Country Kickoff – new male artist and new female artist.
Zach Bryan won the New Male Artist Award with his hit “Something in the Orange,” beating out Jackson Dean, Ernest, Dylan Scott, Nate Smith and Bailey Zimmerman
Hailey Witters was named New Female Artist with her hit Everything She Ain’t, beating out Priscilla Block, Megan Moroney, Caitlyn Smith and Morgan Wade.
While Bryan was absent from the ACM Country Kickoff, Witters accepted the award on stage at the event, which was streamed live on Twitch.
“Holy cow, all of you!” I wouldn’t be here without so many people by my side. “Thank you to the Academy of Country Music,” Witters began.
“Thank you to my mom and dad, Laken, River, Heavenly, my angel in heaven, my husband and producer Jake Gear, thank you for being with me all this time,” she added.
She also thanked her record label Songs & Daughters, an offshoot of Big Loud Records, as well as her “incredible management” and her band who “draggs around with me out there every weekend.”
“This is for the girl growing up in the cornfield in the middle of nowhere in Iowa with dreams of one day being on country radio, being in a 10-year town for 15 years, and still holding on to hope that this next song is going to make it.” “Flip the whole thing,” she added.
At the end of her speech, she also thanked her fans and those who believed in her when she couldn’t believe in herself.
The show began with Parton literally spawning a real-life goat named Claire … after Brooks discussed who was the GOAT in country music.
Singer-songwriter HARDY leads the way with seven nominations for the 2023 Academy of Country Music Awards.
The 32-year-old musician (born Michael Wilson Hardy) will compete for song of the year for his hit song Wait in the Truck with Lainey Wilson and Artist-Songwriter of the Year.
He is also nominated for Visual Media of the Year and Music Event of the Year awards, and he is nominated as co-writer of Morgan Wallen’s “Sand In My Boots,” also nominated for Song of the Year” is nominated.
His Wait in the Truck contributor Lainey Wilson is just behind him with six nominations, sharing three with Hardy, followed by Kane Brown with five nominations.
Miranda Lambert also makes history with her 17th nomination for Entertainer of the Year, beating Reba McIntire’s 16 nominations. Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks will host the ceremony, which will air May 11 on streaming service Prime Video.
Hardy will be vying for song of the year against Swindell’s “She Had Me” at Heads Carolina, Cody Johnson’s “Til You Can’t” and Chris Stapleton’s “You Should Probably Leave.”
He will compete for the Visual Media of the Year award against Kelsea Ballerini’s Heartfirst, Cole Swindell’s She Had Me at Heads Carolina, Kane Brown’s Thank God with Katelyn Brown, Til You Can’t by Cody Johnson and “What He Didn’t” vie for Carly Pearce’s Do
Wait In the Truck is also nominated for Music Event of the Year alongside Chris Young’s “At The End of a Bar” with Mitchell Tenpenny and “She Had Me” at Heads Carolina [Remix] by Cole Swindell and Jo Dee Messina, Thank God by Kane Brown with Katelyn Brown and Thinking ‘Bout You by Dustin Lynch with MacKenzie Porter.
He will also compete against Luke Combs, Ernest, Miranda Lambert and Morgan Wallen for the title of Artist-Songwriter of the Year.
His collaborator Lainey Wilson will be vying for one of the night’s biggest awards – Artist of the Year – against Kelsea Ballerini, Miranda Lambert, Ashley McBryde and Carly Pearce.
She is also nominated for Album of the Year for Bell Bottom Country and competes against Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville by Ashley McBryde, Luke Combs’ Growin’ Up, Mr. Saturday Night by Jon Pardi and Palomino by Miranda Lambert.
Her solo song “Heart Like a Truck” also tops Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde’s “Never Wanted to Be That Girl”, Cole Swindell’s “She Had Me at Heads Carolina”, Kane Brown and Katelyn Brown’s “Thank God” for Single of the Year ‘ and Cody Johnson’s ‘Til You’. tipping.
Kane Brown, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert and Cole Swindell are all in the running for five awards each.
Nominated for the night’s top honor – Entertainer of the Year – are Jason Aldean, Kane Brown, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Chris Stapleton, Carrie Underwood and Morgan Wallen.
Male Artist of the Year nominees include Kane Brown, Luke Combs, Jordan Davis, Chris Stapleton and Morgan Wallen.
This is also only the second year in ACM’s history that three albums released by all-female acts have been nominated for Album of the Year in the same year – Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville by Ashley McBryde, Bell Bottom Country by Lainey Wilson and Palomino by Miranda Lambert each receives nominations. T
The only other time three all-female acts had nominated albums for Album of the Year in the same year was in 1999: Faith by Faith Hill, I’m Alright by Jo Dee Messina, and Wide Opens Spaces by The Chicks all received nominations. Wide Open Spaces by The Chicks won the category.
Old Dominion receives a nomination for Group of the Year, making it the eighth consecutive year the group has been nominated in that category.
They have taken home the Group of the Year award for the past five years in a row.
Little Big Town earns its 17th Group of the Year nomination, one short of Alabama’s record 18 Group of the Year nominations.
The group has been nominated in this category every year since 2005, with the exception of 2011.
Academy of Country Music Awards 2023 nominations
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Jason Aldean
Kane Brown
Luke Combs
Miranda Lambert
Chris Stapleton
Carrie underwood
Morgan Wallen
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Ashley McBryde
Carly Pearce
Lainey Wilson—WINNER
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Kane Brown
Luke Combs
Jordan Davis
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen
DUO OF THE YEAR
Brooks & Dunn
Osborne Brothers—WINNERS
Dan + Shay
Maddie & Tae
The War and the Treaty
GROUP OF THE YEAR
Lady A
Small big city
midland
Old Dominion – WINNER
Zac Brown Band
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Priscilla Block
Megan Moroney
Caitlyn Smith
Morgan Wade
Hailey Whitters – WINNER
NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Zach Bryan – WINNER
Jackson Dean
Serious
Dylan Scott
NateSmith
Bailey Zimmerman
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville, Ashley McBryde
Bell Bottom Country, Lainey Wilson
Growin’ Up, Luke Combs
Mr. Saturday Night, Jon Pardi
Palomino, Miranda Lambert
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
“Heart Like a Truck”, Lainey Wilson
“Never wanted to be that girl,” Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde
“She had me at Heads Carolina,” Cole Swindell – WINNER
Thank God Kane Brown with Katelyn Brown
“Until you can’t,” Cody Johnson
SONG OF THE YEAR
“Sand In My Boots” by Ashley Gorley, Josh Osborne and Michael Hardy; Artist: Morgan Wallen
“She Had Me at Heads Carolina” by Ashley Gorley, Cole Swindell, Jesse Frasure, Mark D. Sanders, Thomas Rhett and Tim Nichols; Artist: Swindell) – WINNER
‘Til You Can’t, Writers: Ben Stennis, Matt Rogers; Artist: Cody Johnson
“Wait in the Truck”, Authors: Hunter Phelps, Jordan Schmidt, Michael Hardy, Renee Blair; Artist: Hardy with Lainey Wilson
You Should Probably Leave, Writers: Ashley Gorley, Chris DuBois, Chris Stapleton (Artist: Stapleton)
VISUAL MEDIA OF THE YEAR
“Heart First,” Kelsea Ballerini
“She had me at Heads Carolina,” Cole Swindell
Thank God Kane Brown with Katelyn Brown
“Until you can’t,” Cody Johnson
“Wait in the Truck”, Hardy with Lainey Wilson – WINNER
“What He Didn’t Do”, Carly Pearce
MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR
“At The End of a Bar”, Chris Young with Mitchell Tenpenny
“She had me at Heads Carolina [Remix]’, Cole Swindell and Jo Dee Messina
Thank God Kane Brown with Katelyn Brown
“Thinking ‘Bout You”, Dustin Lynch with MacKenzie Porter
“Wait in the Truck”, Hardy with Lainey Wilson – WINNER
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Nicolle Galyon
Ashley Gorley – WINNER
Chase McGill
Josh Osborne
Hunter Phelps
ARTIST-SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Luke Combs
Serious
Hardy—WINNER
Miranda Lambert
Morgan Wallen