The biggest stars in country music were out in force on Monday evening at the 57th Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas.
Morgan Wallen picked up the prestigious Album of the Year award for Dangerous: The Double Album.
The win seemed to signal that Academy voters weren’t fazed by Wallen’s scandal last year, when he was caught shouting the N-word on camera.
Looking past it? Morgan Wallen won Album of the Year for Dangerous: The Double Album at Monday’s 57th Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas, despite his N-word scandal last year
‘When I started this album, I was a kid. By the time I put it out, I was a father,’ Wallen said in his speech. ‘And that’s become more important to me than anything else.’
He also thanked those who have shown him ‘grace’ and concluded with a message for his fans: ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you!’
Wallen was initially banned from country music stations for his N-word scandal, and his label suspended him, but fans seemed to support Wallen even more after his racist behavior was caught on camera.
Dangerous, his second album, was released just under a month before the scandal broke, but after it did, sales for his album increased by more than 1000 percent, according to Rolling Stone.
Months after the controversy, Morgan admitted he hadn’t bothered to consider whether there was a ‘race problem in country music overall’ during an interview with Michael Strahan for Good Morning America.
The show was back in Las Vegas after taking a detour to Nashville last year, and this was the first time that it featured a packed audience in two years, after opting for smaller shows due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Moving on: Wallen was initially banned from country music stations for his N-word scandal, and his label suspended him, but fans seemed to support Wallen even more after his racist behavior was caught on camera
Voting with their wallets: Dangerous, his second album, was released just under a month before the scandal broke, but after it did, sales for his album increased by more than 1000 percent, according to Rolling Stone
The broadcast kicked off with the competitive Duo of the Year category, with Brothers Osborne taking home the prize.
The next category was Group of the Year, which was awarded to an ecstatic Old Dominion.
They noted the ‘people fighting for their lives’ around the world, referencing the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has sent refugees fleeing the country to safety.
In addition to returning to Las Vegas after time away, the ACM Awards have switched venues, moving from its traditional home at the MGM Grand Garden Arena to the Allegiant Stadium, which had its lower levels packed with audience members.
The 2022 edition was being broadcast live on Amazon Prime after CBS opted not to renew its contract with the show.
It takes two: The 57th Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas on Monday kicked off with Brothers Osborne winning Duo of the Year
Back to normal? The show was back in Las Vegas after taking a detour to Nashville last year, and this was the first time that it featured a packed audience in two years
Out in force: The next category was Group of the Year, which was awarded to an ecstatic Old Dominion
Thinking of others: They noted the ‘people fighting for their lives’ around the world, referencing the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has sent refugees fleeing the country to safety
Lainey Wilson scored her first win of the broadcast for Song of the Year, which is awarded to songwriters, their publishers and the artists performing.
She won for Things A Man Oughta Know, and she opened by thanking her ‘Lord and Savior’ for giving her her musical dream, along with her family and her cowriters and producers.
‘The country music fans have wrapped their loving arms around me, which is a prayer answered,’ she said ecstatically before leaving the stage.
It was the second big win for her, as Miranda Lambert surprised her via video chat earlier in the day to reveal that she had won the New Female Artist of the Year award, which was presumably to avoid showing the category on the broadcast.
Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood followed her up with their win for Single of the Year — which goes to artists and performers — for If I Didn’t Love You.
Country legend Dolly Parton was taking care of hosting duties for the evening, and she was assisted by Jimmie Allen and Gabby Barrett.
Double wins: Lainey Wilson scored her first win of the broadcast for Song of the Year, which is awarded to songwriters, for Things A Man Oughta Know. She won New Female Artist of the Year award before the broadcast
In good hands: Country legend Dolly Parton was taking care of hosting duties for the evening, and she was assisted by Jimmie Allen and Gabby Barrett
Double trouble: Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood followed Wilson up with their win for Single of the Year — which goes to artists and performers
Victorious: Carrie pumped her fist in the air to celebrate winning for If I Didn’t Love You
ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC NOMINATIONS
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Eric Church
Luke Combs
Miranda Lambert
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Gabby Barrett
Miranda Lambert
Ashley McBryde
Maren Morris
Carly Pearce
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Jimmie Allen
Luke Combs
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen
DUO OF THE YEAR
Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne — WINNER
Dan + Shay
LOCASH
Maddie & Tae
GROUP OF THE YEAR
Lady A
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion — WINNER
The Cadillac Three
NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Tenille Arts
Priscilla Block
Lily Rose
Caitlyn Smith
Lainey Wilson — WINNER
NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
HARDY
Walker Hayes
Ryan Hurd
Parker McCollum — WINNER
Elvie Shane
ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
29: Written in Stone – Carly Pearce
Producers: Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Jimmy Robbins, Tony Brown
Record Company-Label: Big Machine Records
Country Again: Side A – Thomas Rhett
Producers: Dann Huff, Jesse Frasure, Matt Dragstrem
Record Company-Label: Big Machine Label Group
Dangerous: The Double Album – Morgan Wallen — WINNER
Producer: Joey Moi, Jacob Durrett, Charlie Handsome, Matt Dragstrem, Dave Cohen
Record Company-Label: Big Loud Records / Republic Records
Famous Friends – Chris Young
Producer: Mark Holman, Corey Crowder, Chris Young, Chris DeStefano
Record Company-Label: RCA Records Nashville
The Marfa Tapes – Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall
Producers: Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall
Record Company-Label: Vanner Records / RCA Records Nashville
Carrie Underwood, pictured at the CMA Awards in 2021, is up for Entertainer of the Year
SINGLE OF THE YEAR [AWARDED TO ARTIST(S)/PRODUCER(S)/RECORD COMPANY-LABEL(S)]
Buy Dirt – Jordan Davis feat. Luke Bryan
Famous Friends – Chris Young and Kane Brown
Fancy Like – Walker Hayes
If I Didn’t Love You – Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood — WINNER
You Should Probably Leave – Chris Stapleton
SONG OF THE YEAR [AWARDED TO SONGWRITER(S)/PUBLISHER(S)/ARTIST(S)]
7 Summers – Morgan Wallen
Buy Dirt – Jordan Davis feat. Luke Bryan
Fancy Like – Walker Hayes
Knowing You – Kenny Chesney
Things A Man Oughta Know – Lainey Wilson — WINNER
VIDEO OF THE YEAR [AWARDED TO PRODUCER(S)/DIRECTOR(S)/ARTIST(S)]
Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home) – Elle King and Miranda Lambert — WINNER
Famous Friends – Chris Young and Kane Brown
I Bet You Think About Me (Taylor’s Version) – Taylor Swift feat. Chris Stapleton
If I Didn’t Love You – Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood
Never Wanted To Be That Girl – Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde
MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR [AWARDED TO ARTIST(S)/PRODUCER(S)/RECORD COMPANY-LABEL(S)]
Buy Dirt – Jordan Davis feat. Luke Bryan
Famous Friends – Chris Young and Kane Brown
Half Of My Hometown – Kelsea Ballerini feat. Kenny Chesney
If I Didn’t Love You – Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood
Never Wanted To Be That Girl – Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde — WINNER
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Ashley Gorley
Michael Hardy — WINNER
Jesse Frasure
Josh Osborne
Nicolle Galyon
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