Joey Moi:
Hey, everybody. Thank you so much for the honor. For the recognition, it’s an honor to get to be a steward of an award that represents the output of an amazing group of people who all come together and make these records happen. I’d like to thank first and foremost, the artists. Next, the songwriters who all got together and pitch their best work to us. All the session musicians who sit in the studio with us and bring these songs to life.

After the music is made and turned in, you know, you’ve got a lot of a lot of marketing people and promotion people and publicity and artist management that all come together and make sure this music gets to you guys. And last but not least, I’d like to thank the fans for always listening and making this happen. Thank you guys.

The 2021 award nominees are highlighted by Chris Stapleton and Maren Morris, leading the pack with six nominees a piece. Also of note, artists John Legend, P!nk and Gwen Stefani are all first-time ACM nominees. See below for the full list and check back here for more information as we get closer to The 56th ACM Awards on CBS.

MAIN AWARDS:

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Luke Combs
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Ashley McBryde
Maren Morris
Carly Pearce

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Dierks Bentley
Luke Combs
Eric Church
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton

DUO OF THE YEAR

Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Maddie & Tae

GROUP OF THE YEAR

Lady A
Little Big Town
Old Dominion
The Cadillac Three
The Highwomen

NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Ingrid Andress
Tenille Arts
Gabby Barrett
Mickey Guyton
Caylee Hammack

NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Jimmie Allen
Travis Denning
Hardy
Cody Johnson
Parker Mccollum

ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

Born Here Live Here Die Here – Luke Bryan
Producers: Jeff Stevens, Jody Stevens
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville

Mixtape Vol. 1 – Kane Brown
Producers: Andrew Goldstein, Charlie Handsome, Dann Huff, Lindsay Rimes
Record Label: RCA Nashville

Never Will – Ashley McBryde
Producer: Jay Joyce
Record Label: Warner Music Nashville

Skeletons – Brothers Osborne
Producer: Jay Joyce
Record Label: EMI Records Nashville

Starting Over – Chris Stapleton
Producers: Chris Stapleton, Dave Cobb
Record Label: Mercury Nashville

SINGLE OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

Bluebird – Miranda Lambert
Producer: Jay Joyce
Record Label: Vanner Records/RCA Records Nashville

I Hope – Gabby Barrett
Producers: Ross Copperman, Zach Kale
Record Label: Warner Music Nashville

I Hope You’re Happy Now – Carly Pearce & Lee Brice
Producers: busbee
Record Label: Big Machine Records / Curb Records

More Hearts Than Mine – Ingrid Andress
Producers: Ingrid Andress, Sam Ellis
Record Label: Warner Music Nashville

The Bones – Maren Morris
Producer: Greg Kurstin
Record Label: Columbia Nashville

SONG OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]

Bluebird – Miranda Lambert
Songwriter(s): Luke Dick, Miranda Lambert, Natalie Hemby
Publishers: Emileon Songs; Little Louder Songs; Pink Dog Publishing; Songs of Universal, INC; Sony ATV Tree Publishing; Wrucke for You Publishing

One Night Standards – Ashley McBryde
Songwriter(s): Ashley McBryde, Nicolette Hayford, Shane McAnally
Publishers: Canned Biscuit Songs; Smackworks Music; Smack Blue, LLC; Smackstreet Music; Tempo Investments; Warner Geo Met Ric Music; Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp

Some People Do – Old Dominion
Songwriter(s): Jesse Frasure, Matt Ramsey, Thomas Rhett, Shane McAnally
Publishers: Carrot Seed Songs; EMI Blackwood Music INC; Smackville Music; Songs of ROC Nation; Telemitry Rhythm House Music; Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp; Smack Hits; Tempo Investments; Warner Gro Met Ric Music

Starting Over – Chris Stapleton
Songwriter(s): Chris Stapleton, Mike Henderson
Publishers: I Wrote These Songs; Straight Six Music; WC Music Corp

The Bones – Maren Morris
Songwriter(s): Jimmy Robbins, Maren Morris, Laura Veltz
Publishers: Big Machine Music, LLC; Extraordinary Alien Publishing; International Dog Music; Oh Denise Publishing; Round Hill Songs; Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

VIDEO OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Producr(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]

Better Than We Found It – Maren Morris
Director: Gabrielle Woodland
Producers: Sarah Kunin, Jennifer Pepke

Bluebird – Miranda Lambert
Director: Trey Fanjoy
Producer: Heather Levenstone

Gone – Dierks Bentley
Directors: Wes Edwards, Ed Pryor, Travis Nicholson, Running Bear and Sam Siske, with animation by Skylar Wilson
Producer: David Garcia

Hallelujah – Carrie Underwood and John Legend
Director: Randee St. Nicholas
Producer: Greg Wells

Worldwide Beautiful – Kane Brown
Director: Alex Alvga
Producer: Christen Pinkston

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR*(Off Camera Award)

Ashley Gorley
Michael Hardy
Hillary Lindsey
Shane McAnally
Josh Osborne

MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR (Tie Within Category Increased Nominees)
[Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

Be A Light – Thomas Rhett featuring Reba McEntire, Hillary Scott, Chris Tomlin, Keith Urban
Producer: Dann Huff
Record Label: The Valory Music Co.

Does To Me – Luke Combs featuring Eric Church
Producer: Scott Moffatt
Record Label: River House Artists/Columbia Nashville

I Hope You’re Happy Now – Carly Pearce & Lee Brice
Producer: busbee
Record Label: Big Machine Records / Curb Records

Nobody But You – Blake Shelton featuring Gwen Stefani
Producer: Scott Hendricks
Record Label: Warner Music Nashville

One Beer – HARDY featuring Lauren Alaina & Devin Dawson
Producers: Derek Wells, Joey Moi
Record Label: Big Loud Records

One Too Many – Keith Urban, P!nk
Producers: Cutfather, Dan McCarroll, Keith Urban, PhD
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville

STUDIO RECORDING AWARDS:

BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Jarrod Travis Cure
Mark Hill
Tony Lucido
Steve Mackey
Glenn Worf

DRUMMER OF THE YEAR

Fred Eltringham
Evan Hutchings
Derek Mixon
Jerry Roe
Aaron Sterling

GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR

J.T. Corenflos
Kris Donegan
Jedd Hughes
Ilya Toshinskiy
Derek Wells

PIANO/KEYS PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Dave Cohen
David Dorn
Charlie Judge
Mike Rojas
Benmont Tench

SPECIALTY INSTRUMENT PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Alicia Enstrom
Jim Hoke
Danny Rader
Mickey Raphael
Ilya Toshinsky
Kristin Wilkinson

STEEL GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Spencer Cullum
Dan Dugmore
Mike Johnson
Russ Pahl
Justin Schipper

AUDIO ENGINEER OF THE YEAR

Jeff Balding
Jason Hall
Gena Johnson
Vance Powell
F. Reid Shippen

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

Buddy Cannon
Dave Cobb
Dann Huff
Jay Joyce
Joey Moi

The song was written by John Byron and Jamie Moore, and it’s a snapshot of what it’s like to date in the 21st Century. Joey Moi helms the production, bringing the heartbreak of the song to life.

“‘Hello, You Up’ is one of those songs you hear and actually feel,” Stemaly shares. “I’ve been through it and millions of other people have too. We all have a hard time letting go sometimes when it comes to relationships; that’s why I cut this song. I can feel it when I play it. It’s got a contagious melody that kind of gets your mind off the fact that it’s a sad song, and I love that. My whole team killed it on this one and I can’t wait for the world to hear it!”

The music video is directed by Mason Dixon and it was shot in Nashville. the track’s neon-lit clip finds Stemaly in a local dive, drinking his split-up woes away after a text leaves him high and dry.

Stemaly is currently in the studio working on new music, which he plans to release later this year.

Featuring the newcomer’s burly baritone vocal and a modern twist on the country breakup ballad, the track is all about the heart-wrenching hope of reconnecting with your ex. These days, that often plays out over text message, and Stemaly captures the timeless scene in a lonely barstool clip.

Directed by Mason Dixon and shot in Nashville, the video finds things going from bad to worse for Stemaly, as the chance he was looking for finally shows up — and then gets away. But even though the twangy track ends with the musical equivalent of three little dots, not letting listeners know how things turn out, the video gives some late-night resolution.

“‘Hello, You Up’ is one of those songs you hear and actually feel,” Stemaly shares. “I’ve been through it and millions of other people have too. We all have a hard time letting go sometimes when it comes to relationships; that’s why I cut this song. I can feel it when I play it. It’s got a contagious melody that kind of gets your mind off the fact that it’s a sad song, and I love that. My whole team killed it on this one and I can’t wait for the world to hear it!”

“Hello, You Up” was written by John Byron and Jamie Moore, and premiered at Number One on the iTunes Country Songs Chart. Sean Stemaly has previously released tracks like “Come Back to Bed,” “Back On a Back Road,” “As Far As I Know” and more, and is now working with all-star producer Joey Moi (Florida Georgia Line, Morgan Wallen) on more new music expected this year.