56th Academy of Country Music Awards

56th Academy of Country Music Awards
DateApril 18, 2021 (2021-04-18)
Location
Hosted by
Most awardsMaren Morris (3)
Most nominations (4 each)
Television/radio coverage
NetworkCBS
Viewership6.28 million
← 55th · ACM · 57th →

The 56th Academy of Country Music Awards were held on April 18, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee, and broadcast from various locations around Nashville. The evening was co-hosted by Keith Urban and Mickey Guyton. Maren Morris and Chris Stapleton received the most nominations (six each), including one for Morris as a member of the Highwomen. Morris led the night with three wins, including one trophy for Female Artist of the Year and two trophies for Song of the Year, "The Bones," as both the artist and as the songwriter. The ceremony involved no ticketed audience due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but featured a limited number of health care workers.

Background

On March 11, 2021, CBS announced that the ceremony would be co-hosted by Keith Urban and Mickey Guyton. With her involvement, Guyton became the first African-American female, and second African-American overall, to host the ceremony, after Charley Pride, who co-hosted the ceremony in 1984. The full list of performers were announced on April 5, 2021, which included a record four Black artists.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the show followed a similar format to the 55th ceremony, utilizing several locations and including a mix of live and pre-recorded performances. As with the 55th ceremony, presentations took place at the Grand Ole Opry House, Ryman Auditorium, and the Bluebird Café, while performances were also held at The Station Inn, Lower Broadway, and the Cumberland River. Unlike the previous ceremony, a limited number of health care workers were also invited to attend the components of the ceremony at the Grand Ole Opry House and Ryman Auditorium, seated on the balconies (while the main floors were used to seat rotating groups of nominees).

On February 3, 2021, the ACM announced that Morgan Wallen would be ineligible to receive nominations or be involved with the ceremony, amid criticism of Wallen over a video that depicted him using a racial slur. The ACM stated that it "does not condone or support intolerance or behavior that doesn't align with our commitment and dedication to diversity and inclusion."

Winners and nominees

Winners are shown in bold.

Entertainer of the Year Album of the Year
Female Artist of the Year Male Artist of the Year
Group of the Year Duo of the Year
Single of the Year Song of the Year
New Female Artist of the Year New Male Artist of the Year
Songwriter of the Year Video of the Year
Music Event of the Year

Performances

On April 15, 2021, the ACMs announced the official setlist for the ceremony. Luke Bryan was originally scheduled to perform at the ceremony but had to withdraw after testing positive for COVID-19. He was replaced by Lady A.

Performer(s) Song(s)
Miranda Lambert
Elle King
"Drunk (And I Don't Wanna Go Home)"
Lady A "Like a Lady"
Alan Jackson "Drive (For Daddy Gene)"
"You'll Always Be My Baby"
Brothers Osborne "I'm Not For Everyone
"Dead Man's Curve"
Chris Young
Kane Brown
"Famous Friends"
Eric Church "Bunch of Nothing"
Maren Morris
Ryan Hurd
"Chasing After You"
Carrie Underwood
CeCe Winans
"Amazing Grace"
"Great Is Thy Faithfulness"
"The Old Rugged Cross"
"How Great Thou Art"
Gabby Barrett
Cade Foehner
"The Good Ones"
Jimmie Allen
Brad Paisley
"Freedom Was a Highway"
Miranda Lambert
Jack Ingram
Jon Randall
"In His Arms"
Blake Shelton "Austin"
"Minimum Wage"
Carly Pearce
Lee Brice
"I Hope You're Happy Now"
Keith Urban "Tumbleweed"
Kelsea Ballerini
Kenny Chesney
"Half of My Hometown"
Kenny Chesney "Knowing You"
Luke Combs "Forever After All"
Mickey Guyton "Hold On"
Thomas Rhett "Country Again"
"What's Your Country Song"
Chris Stapleton
Miranda Lambert
"Maggie's Song"
Dan + Shay "Glad You Exist"
Little Big Town "Wine, Beer, Whiskey"
Ashley McBryde "Martha Divine"
Dierks Bentley
The War and Treaty
Larkin Poe
"Pride (In the Name of Love)"

Presenters

On April 16, 2021, the ACMs announced the presenters for the ceremony:

Presenters
Ingrid Andress
Blanco Brown
Amy Grant
Leslie Jordan
Martina McBride
Dolly Parton
Darius Rucker
Clay Walker

Reception

The ceremony was generally well received. Noted for its "efforts to add diversity to its ranks" said the Rolling Stone, "the broadcast hit nearly all the right notes". The 56th ACM Awards gained 6.28 million viewers making it the lowest-rated and least watched ACM Awards to date, but still topping all of broadcast in the demo and drew larger audience than its network competitors combined.


This page was last updated at 2023-12-29 18:39 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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