ACM Awards 2024: Snubs & Surprises

In any case, Zach Bryan has had an amazing year in 2023, selling out arenas across the US and opening at No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart with his self-titled album, as well as topping Advertising signon the Hot Country Songs chart twice, including a duet with Kacey Musgraves, “I Remember Everything” (which also topped the Billboard Hot 100). Bryan is up for three awards — musical event of the year as artist and producer of “I Remember Everything” and artist-songwriter of the year — but is out for entertainer of the year, male artist of the year and song or single of the year. He's signed to Los Angeles-based Warner Records instead of directly to a Nashville label, which may account for some of the confusion since his bandmate Warren Zainders was also dropped. – MN

Jelly Roll received four nominations. The only real surprise here is that this is Jelly Roll's first year in the running: He was shut out last year, and his four nominations this year, including artist of the year, are a reminder of how far and fast he's come. since last year. He is the first artist since Billy Ray Cyrus 32 years ago to be nominated for Artist of the Year in his first year of receiving nominations. Jelly Roll, who swept the CMT Awards earlier this week, is also nominated for Male Artist, Single and Music Event of the Year. – MN

Zimmerman scored two Country Airplay chart hits last year, including the six-week No. 1 “Rock and a Hard Place,” as well as the chart-topper “Religiously,” and saw his work Religious. The album. debuted at No. 3 on the Top Country Albums chart (in addition to headlining his own tour and opening for Morgan Wallen). However, Zimmerman did not win any nominations. Although nominated in the category last year, Zimmerman was not among the new male artist nominees this year (ACM rules allow an artist to be nominated twice in a three-year period). — JN

Megan Moroney received six nominations, leading all female artists. The newcomer earns her first nominations, including nods for New Female Artist of the Year and female artist of the year, the only woman to appear in both categories this year. In addition to her two nominations for Entry Song of the Year and the top five Country Airplay hit “Tennessee Orange,” both as a performer and songwriter, Moroney gets a nod for “Can't Break Up Now,” the her duet with Old Dominion, for musical event of the year. – MN

After being nominated for four awards last year, including female artist and song of the year, Carly Pearce received zero nominations this year despite releasing a beautiful duet with Chris Stapleton, “We Don't Fight Anymore.” The four-time winner has been nominated for female artist of the year several times in the past, picking up the award in 2022. Similarly, her collaborations have often garnered nominations for music event of the year, including wins for “I Hope You” re Happy Now' with Lee Brice at the 2020 awards and 'Never Wanted to Be That Girl' with Ashley McBryde in 2022. – MN

Scott, who scored a No. 1 Country Airplay hit last year with “Can't Have Mine,” is among this year's nominees for New Male Artist of the Year, along with ERNEST, Kameron Marlowe, Conner Smith and Nate Smith . It's a boon for Scott, who released his first country radio single, “Makin' This Boy Go Crazy,” in 2013. This isn't the first time he's been nominated in this category. first earned a nod in the same category last year (an artist can be nominated twice in a three-year period, according to ACM guidelines).

“Can't Have Mine (Find You A Girl)” marks Scott's third Country Airplay No. 1 hit, following his 2017 chart-topper “My Girl” and 2022's “New Truck.” — JN

Few country artists have blazed a trail as fast and bright as Oliver Anthony Music (real name: Christopher Anthony Lunsford) in 2023. Last summer, his viral hit “Rich Men North of Richmond” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, making him the first artist to achieve this feat without having a previous chart history on any Advertising sign chart. The self-released song, which became a flashpoint for conservatives (despite Ludsford disavowing any particular political leanings), also topped Advertising signHot Country Songs Chart. Perhaps his lack of following during the eligibility period and his lack of ties to Nashville led to him not receiving nominations, but he seemed a lock for a new male artist of the year. – MN

Lambert and Underwood have both been mainstays at the ACM Awards, with Lambert winning the 2022 ACM Entertainer of the Year award (she had seven total nominations in the category). Underwood has previously won the ACM Artist of the Year award three times (in 2009 and 2010 and co-won in 2020).

So it's strange to see any artist's name in contention for the show's top honor. Underwood released the deluxe version of it Jeans & rhinestones album, spearheaded by songs like “Take Me Out,” and followed up with “Reflection: The Las Vegas Residency” last year. He also opened three shows for rock titans Guns N' Roses.

Meanwhile, Lambert leaned into her craft of songwriting, writing songs that were recorded by several artists for their albums while continuing her own Velvet Rodeo in Las Vegas. He also teamed up with Leon Bridges for a collaboration and started the Big Loud Texas label in conjunction with Big Loud. — JN