Country music icon Reba McEntire has returned to hosting the 54th Academy of Country Music Awards for the 16th time Sunday night. Chris Stapleton and Keith Urban led in the top categories, but Urban ultimately took home entertainer of the year.
"We've got to keep it light. We've got to keep it fun. No politics. This is fun. This is entertainment. We are in the entertainment business, and that's what we're going to be doing," she said.
The show also featured memorable performances, including one by "This Is Us" star Chrissy Metz who gave her first live TV singing debut.
ARTIST OF THE DECADE
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
- Jason Aldean
- Luke Bryan
- Kenny Chesney
- Chris Stapleton
- Keith Urban — WINNER
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Miranda Lambert
- Ashley McBryde
- Maren Morris
- Kacey Musgraves — WINNER
- Carrie Underwood
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Dierks Bentley
- Luke Combs
- Thomas Rhett — WINNER
- Chris Stapleton
- Keith Urban
DUO OF THE YEAR
- Brothers Osborne
- Dan + Shay — WINNER
- Florida Georgia Line
- LoCash
- Maddie & Tae
GROUP OF THE YEAR
- Lady Antebellum
- Lanco
- Little Big Town
- Midland
- Old Dominion — WINNER
SONG OF THE YEAR
- "Break Up In The End," Cole Swindell
Songwriters: Jessie Jo Dillon, Chase McGill and Jon Nite - "Broken Halos," Chris Stapleton
Songwriters: Mike Henderson, Chris Stapleton - "Meant To Be," Bebe Rexha featuring Florida Georgia Line
Songwriters: David Garcia, Tyler Hubbard, Joshua Miller, Bebe Rexha - "Space Cowboy," Kacey Musgraves
Songwriters: Luke Laird, Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves - "Tequila," Dan + Shay
Songwriters: Nicolle Galyon, Jordan Reynolds, Dan Smyers — WINNER - "Yours," Russell Dickerson
Songwriters: Casey Brown / Russell Dickerson / Parker Welling
NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Danielle Bradbery
- Lindsay Ell
- Ashley McBryde — WINNER
- Carly Pearce
NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Jimmie Allen
- Luke Combs — WINNER
- Jordan Davis
- Michael Ray
- Mitchell Tenpenny
NEW VOCAL DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
- High Valley
- LANCO — WINNER
- Runaway June
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
- "Dan + Shay," Dan + Shay
- "Desperate Man," Eric Church
- "From A Room Vol. 2," Chris Stapleton
- "Golden Hour," Kacey Musgraves — WINNER
- "The Mountain," Dierks Bentley
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
- "Down to the Honky Tonk," Jake Owen
- "Heaven," Kane Brown
- "Meant To Be," Bebe Rexha featuring Florida Georgia Line
- "Most People Are Good," Luke Bryan
- "Tequila," Dan + Shay — WINNER
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
- "Babe," Sugarland featuring Taylor Swift
- "Burn Out," Midland
- "Burning Man," Dierks Bentley featuring Brothers Osborne
- "Drunk Girl," Chris Janson — WINNER
- "Shoot Me Straight," Brothers Osborne
- "Tequila," Dan + Shay
MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR
- "Burning Man," Dierks Bentley featuring Brothers Osborne — WINNER
- "Drowns the Whiskey," Jason Aldean featuring Miranda Lambert
- "Everything's Gonna Be Alright," David Lee Murphy featuring Kenny Chesney
- "Keeping Score," Dan + Shay featuring Kelly Clarkson
- "Meant To Be," Bebe Rexha Featuring Florida Georgia Line
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
- Ross Copperman
- Ashley Gorley
- Shane McAnally — WINNER
- Chase McGill
- Josh Osborne
I AGREE WITH BB1227 THEY NEED TO STOP CALLING IT COUNTRY MUSIC BECAUSE THIS MUSIC IS NOT COUNTRY MUSIC AS WE KNEW IT IT’S " NEW COUNTRY " !! COUNTRY MUSIC AS WE KNEW IT IS DEAD !! YOU ALL HAVE GOD GIVEN TALENT IN MUSIC IT’S JUST NOT COUNTRY MUSIC. SORRY JUST MY OPINION I’LL JUST CONTINUE TO LISTEN TO THE OLD COUNTRY MUSIC AND THE OLD COUNTRY MUSIC SINGERS OF THE PAST. GOD BLESS THEM ALL !! ❤
Reba is a Magnificent Host, she deserves more than she gets. Reba is a very Beautiful Lady and a great Country Singer.
I really thought Miranda Lambert was great! I really believe you deserved female Artist of the year
I think old Dominion should have gotten to sing on tv
Congrats to y’all who won the not-so-Country awards. It’s great to have your talent recognized. I guess the only name this new music can be called is “new country”. Much success to all y’all!!!