Our 2018 ACM Awards Predictions – Make Yours!
It's that time of year again! The 2018 ACM Awards are coming right up, and that means it's time for the staff of Taste of Country and our readers to square off to predict the night's big winners.
Chris Stapleton, Keith Urban, Miranda Lambert and Jason Aldean are among the artists with the most nominations in the 2018 ACM Awards. Aldean, Garth Brooks, Luke Bryan, Stapleton and Urban are vying for the biggest category, Entertainer of the Year.
Stapleton leads the 2018 ACM Awards nominations with eight, while Thomas Rhett scored six nods. Urban has five nominations, and Lambert is tied with Maren Morris with four nominations in 2018. Sam Hunt and Midland are both up for three ACMs in 2018.
The 2018 ACM Awards are set for April 15, 2018. Reba McEntire returns to host the awards when they air live on CBS from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Remember: The best way to watch the ACM Awards is on TV, with ToC on your phone.
2018 Academy of Country Music Awards Predictions:
Entertainer of the Year
Our Pick: Jason Aldean
Sure, all of the ACM Entertainer of the Year nominees have had a big year. But Aldean owns this award in 2018 for more reasons than just his continued success as a radio star and concert draw. Aldean served as the public face of country music in many ways over the last year, after the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history took place during his set at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas. His grace under pressure provided a beacon for country music fans to move forward after one of the worst tragedies ever to strike the genre.
Male Vocalist of the Year
Our Pick: Chris Stapleton
It's not hard to see why Stapleton is our pick for Male Vocalist of the Year in the 2018 ACM Awards. He's Chris Stapleton. 'Nuff said.
Female Vocalist of the Year
Our Pick: Maren Morris
There's certainly no shortage of talent in this important category. It's really anyone's ballgame, but we predict Morris takes home Female Vocalist on the strength of her performances on her instant classic debut, Hero, as well as her vocals on collaborations including "Craving You" with Thomas Rhett and "The Middle" with Zedd.
Vocal Duo of the Year
Our Pick: Tim McGraw and Faith Hill
Sometimes an award goes to an artist who has contributed a lot to a genre over a long period of years, even if this isn't their biggest year. We predict that will be the case with Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, who released their first-ever duets album, The Rest of Our Life, recently.
Vocal Group of the Year
Our Pick: Little Big Town
This is another tough category. Midland are certainly strong contenders, and so are Lady Antebellum. But with LBT's history of winning major awards, it's not hard to predict they take this one home in 2018.
Album of the Year
Our Pick: Chris Stapleton, From A Room: Vol. 1
Once again, this goes without explanation. Pretty much every year that Stapleton is nominated is going to be his year for the time being.
Single Record of the Year (Awarded to Artist(s) / Producer(s) / Record Label(s))
Our Pick: Chris Stapleton, "Broken Halos"
This is another really tough category, but we're giving Stapleton the nod because ... well, because Chris Stapleton.
Video of the Year (Awarded to Producer(s) / Director(s) / Artist(s))
Our Pick: Thomas Rhett, "Marry Me"
Rhett is our pick because he quite simply captured his song better than anyone else this year in country music in the video for "Marry Me."
Song of the Year (Awarded to Songwriter(s) / Publisher(s) / Artist(s)
Our Pick: Keith Urban, "Female"
This is another very, very difficult category, but Urban's "Female" gets the nod because it's so timely and relevant to what's going on in the culture today.
Vocal Event of the Year (Awarded to Artist(s) / Producer(s) / Record Label(s))
Our Pick: "Dear Hate"
There are some really big hits in this category, but that's not what's going to decide it. We predict "Dear Hate" will take home the ACM Award despite the fact that it's not a chart hit. The song perfectly captures the mood of the country, and especially country music, in the wake of the mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas.
Songwriter of the Year
Our Pick: Shane McAnally
Everyone in this category has had a stellar year, but none so stellar as McAnally. We predict he's going home with the Songwriter of the Year award after the 2018 ACM Awards.
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