2017 ACM Awards Winners List and Live Blog

American Idol season 4 winner Carrie Underwood received two nods–one for Entertainer of the Year and another for Female Vocalist of the Year. Season 10 runner-up Lauren Alaina is nominated in the New Female Vocalist of the Year category (but lost to Maren Morris. The category was announced earlier)  Chris Young and The Voice 3 winner Cassadee Pope are nominated in the Vocal Event of the Year category for “Think of You.”

Former American Idol judge Keith Urban leads with seven nominations in five categories, including his seventh for Entertainer of the Year and 10th nod for Male Vocalist of the Year.

Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban are set to perform their hit “The Fighter.” Lauren Alaina and Kellie Pickler will take the stage to present.

The nominees for Entertainer of the year kick off the show with a medley of No. 1 hits. Jason Aldean is first.  Luke Bryan is up next. These are little snippets of their own hits. Now, Florida-Georgia Line. It’s an unbroken string of BROS. C’mon let’s break this up.  YAS. Carrie Underwood is next singing “Church Bells.” Sweet relief. #SaveUsFromTheBros. And finally Keith Urban, Hooray #MyKindofBro. He sings “Wasted Time.”

Next, hosts Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley and musician Joe Walsh hit the stage to perform a tribute to the late, great Chuck Berry. “Johnny B. Goode” is the tune. A blistering guitar solo from Joe Walsh! 

Time for the opening monologue. Zzzzz. Taped bit. Luke and Dierks hit the Vegas strip. It’s basically a tourist commercial for the city. David Blaine, and Cirque du Soliel are featured. Photos of the two shirtless with “Thunder from Downunder” ME EYES. Keith Urban joke. 

Next, Sam Hunt performs his single “Body Like a Back Road.” The song title tells you everything you need to know about this song. And I’ll say no more. Who was the woman he crooned to in the audience? His wife maybe?

Host Dierks Bentley is next performing his single “Black.”  He’s dressed down for his performance in a white t shirt and jeans. You’d think he’d dress up for the party. 

Nancy O’Dell and magician David Copperfield are here to hand out Song of the Year to …   “David…this is odd,” says Nancy. OSCAR JOKE DEAD AHEAD. The card says “Emma Stone La La Land.”  David Copperfield performs a trick and magically, it says “Die a Happy Man” by Thomas Rhett. He thanks his pregnant wife. He mumbles a bit then leaves the stage. He did not think he would win.

Kellie Pickler is on stage to introduce Maren Morris, who won Best New Female Vocalist. She sings “I Could Use a Love Song.” I like Maren, but that performance was a little flat. After, the singer says it’s been the best year of her life. She thanks Keith Urban for taking her out on tour.

The next segment opens with a bit–Luke’s statue from Madame Tussauds makes an appearance. Those was figures. SO CREEPY.

Jason Aldean performs next. I swear this dude cannot sing.  But he is singing “Any Ole’ Barstool.” 

Lauren Alaina, Kane Brown and Storm Warren are on stage to present Vocal Duo of the Year to Brothers Osborne. Not Florida Georgia Line? Ha. These acceptance speeches are blessedly short

Next, the sublime Miranda Lambert performs her song “Tin Man.” Simple acoustic accompaniment. SO GOOD. 

Next, a recap of Party For a Cause, Lifting Lives Golf Event and some other stuff. 

Rascal Flatts are next performing “Yours if You Want It.” They’re barely a country act at this point. Please. The caterwauling. Gary LeVox needs a lozenge. 

NEXT Keith Urban hits the stage with his massive hit “Blue Ain’t Your Color.”  Carrie Underwood joins him on stage for a performance of their duet “The Fighter.”  Keith is FIIIIINNNNE. Great vocal from the former American Idol judge.  He glides seamlessly into “The Fighter.” Wife Nicole Kidman  is in the audience grinning. Carrie appears from the back to join him. She’s all sparkly in a shimmery mini dress.  Fun pop country.

After, it’s Little Big Town performing their perplexing song “Happy People.” The stage is covered with videos of colorful blooming flowers. Time to toke up! The audience is like WUT.

Let’s check out a clip of Keith Urban and Little Big Town singing “We Can Be Heros” for ACM Lifting Lives Stand Up To Cancer.

After the break, it’s Lady Antebellum with a performance of the soulful, slinky hit “You Look Good.” It’s the UNLV marching band on Brass. They shift to Bill Withers “Use Me” on the bridge. That was fresh!

Jack Owen and CBS radio personality Rob Stone present Vocal Group of the Year to Little Big Town. They spend most of their time gushing over Lady Antebellum

Kellie Pickler returns! She introduces Brothers Osborne, the New Vocal Group of the year. They sing “It Ain’t My Fault.” After, they promise never to take their audience for granted. 

Derek Carr from the Oakland soon to be Las Vegas Raiders football team introduces Kelsea Ballerini. She performs “Yeah Boy” in a teeny tiny pink onesie with matching mini-boots.

Chris Stapleton is next! His band performs…well, whatever that was, it was incendiary. Wow. 

The Chrisley couple from that CMT reality show introduce Brett Eldredge wandering all around the arena as he sings  “Something I’m Good At.” He never even hits the stage!

It’s host Luke Bryan’s turn to perform. He performs his song, “Fast.”

Darius Rucker and radio personality Bobby Bones present Album of the Year to Miranda Lambert’s The Weight of These Wings. Miranda thanks her fans for allowing her to share her heartbreak…

Next, it’s the world wide premiere of “Speak to a Girl” from husband and wife duo Faith Hill and Tim McGraw. Better respect her mama and don’t lie. The end. 

Nascar drivers Elliott Sadler and Bubba Wallace present Video of the Year to–Presented by XFinity!- to “Forever Country” Various Artists!

The next performance “Craving You” is from Thomas Rhett and duet partner Kacey Musgraves. And this one sounds more like a Justin Bieber song. Huh. What passes for country these days.

Old Dominion are next to perform “No Such Thing as a Broken Heart.”

Kacey Musgraves and a radio dude present Male Vocalist of the Year to Thomas Rhett. “It’s the most amazing thing that’s ever happened to me in my whole existence,” he says. His pregnant wife beams in the audience.

Next Cole Swindell and Dierks Bentley sing the brotastic “Flatliner.” Chicks. Whiskey. Trucks. Zzzz.

Miss America Savvy Shields and New England Patriots Julian Edelman awkwardly present Female Vocalist of the Year to Miranda Lambert. “Carrie can sing me under the table…we agreed on that,” she says. She’s also encouraged by the way her fellow female country singers are “kicking some ass.”

Ronnie Dunn introduces Reba McEntire and Lauren Daigle who perform “Back to God” from Reba’s new gospel album.  Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban watch from the audience.

Hi Kellie Pickler. She’s back to introduce the New Male Vocalist of the Year Jon Pardi, who sings “Dirt on My Boots.” 

And finally, the big performance of the night is introduced: Florida Georgia Line and Backstreet Boys join forces to sing “God Your Mama and Me.” The BBs definitely improve this joint. They finish with “Everybody.” Oh boy.  Carrie Underwood is TOTALLY into it. NOW FOR SOME CHOREOGRAPHY. Holy crap. Alrighty then. Let’s end the night on a comic note. 

Joe Walsh returns to presents Entertainer of the Year award to…Jason Aldean. Boo. Another bro. He shouted out to his fellow nominees, his fans and his wife.  Shot of Carrie. She looks a little disappointed. Don’t blame her. 

DANG. Keith Urban had seven nominations in five categories and he was totally SHUTOUT. Ditto Carrie Underwood who had two noms. 

And…that’s it. 

Entertainer of the Year

• Jason Aldean – WINNER
• Luke Bryan
• Florida Georgia Line
• Carrie Underwood
• Keith Urban

Male Vocalist of the year

• Jason Aldean
• Dierks Bentley
• Thomas Rhett – WINNER
• Chris Stapleton
• Keith Urban

Female Vocalist of the year

• Kelsea Ballerini
• Miranda Lambert – WINNER
• Maren Morris
• Kacey Musgraves
• Carrie Underwood

Vocal Duo of the year

• Big & Rich
• Brothers Osborne – WINNER
• Dan + Shay
• Florida Georgia Line
• Maddie & Tae

Vocal Group OF THE YEAR

• Eli Young Band
• Lady Antebellum
• Little Big Town – WINNER
• Old Dominion
• Rascal Flatts

NEW MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY T-MOBILE

• Kane Brown
• Chris Janson
• Chris Lane
• Jon Pardi – WINNER
• Brett Young

NEW FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY T-MOBILE

• Lauren Alaina
• Cam
• Brandy Clark
• Maren Morris – WINNER

* four nominees only

NEW VOCAL DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY T-MOBILE

• A Thousand Horses
• Brothers Osborne – WINNER
• Dan + Shay
• LOCASH
• Maddie & Tae

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

• Black – Dierks Bentley
  Producers: Ross Copperman, Arturo Buenahora Jr.
  Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville
• Dig Your Roots – Florida Georgia Line
  Producer: Joey Moi
  Record Label: Big Machine Label Group
• HERO – Maren Morris
  Producers: busbee, Brad Hill, Maren Morris
  Record Label: Columbia Nashville
• Ripcord – Keith Urban
  Producers: Jeff Bhasker, busbee, Nathan Chapman, Nitzan Kaikov, Dann Huff, Tyler Johnson, Johnny Price, Nile                                Rodgers, Keith Urban, Greg Wells
  Record Labels: Hit Red Records, Capitol Records Nashville
• The Weight of These Wings – Miranda Lambert – WINNER
  Producers: Frank Liddell, Eric Masse, Glenn Worf
  Record Labels: RCA Nashville, Vanner Records

Single Record of the Year [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

• Blue Ain’t Your Color – Keith Urban
  Producers: Dann Huff, Keith Urban
  Record Labels: Hit Red Records, Capitol Records Nashville
• H.O.L.Y. – Florida Georgia Line – WINNER
  Producer: Joey Moi
  Record Label: Big Machine Label Group
• Humble And Kind – Tim McGraw
  Producers: Byron Gallimore, Tim McGraw
  Record Labels: McGraw Music, Big Machine Records
• My Church – Maren Morris
  Producers: busbee, Maren Morris
  Record Label: Columbia Nashville
• Vice – Miranda Lambert
  Producers: Frank Liddell, Eric Masse, Glenn Worf
  Record Labels: RCA Nashville, Vanner Records

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

• Blue Ain’t Your Color – Keith Urban
  Songwriters: Clint Lagerberg, Hillary Lindsey, Steven Lee Olsen
  Publishers: WB Music Corp (ASCAP), Music Of The Corn (ASCAP), HillarodyRathbone Music (ASCAP), BMG Gold Songs (ASCAP), House of Sea Gayle Music (ASCAP), Spirit Catalog Holdings (S.a.r.l.), Spirit Two Nashville (ASCAP)
• Die A Happy Man – Thomas Rhett – WINNER
  Songwriters: Thomas Rhett, Sean Douglas, Joe Spargur
  Publishers: EMI Blackwood Music Inc (BMI), Cricket On The Line (BMI), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp (BMI), Eastman Pond Publishing (BMI), Music of Big Deal (BMI), Nice Life (BMI), Frederic And Reid Music (BMI), BMG Platinum Songs (BMI), Brodsky Spensive Publishing (BMI)
• Humble And Kind – Tim McGraw
  Songwriter: Lori McKenna
  Publishers: Songs of Universal Inc (BMI), Hoodie Songs (BMI)
• Kill A Word – Eric Church Featuring Rhiannon Giddens
  Songwriters: Eric Church, Luke Dick, Jeff Hyde
  Publishers: Emileon Songs (BMI), Little Louder Songs (BMI), Longer And Louder Music (BMI), Mammaw’s Fried Okra Music (BMI), Sony/ATV Tree Publishing (BMI)
• Tennessee Whiskey – Chris Stapleton
  Songwriters: Dean Dillon, Linda Hargrove
  Publishers: Universal-Songs Of PolyGram International (BMI), EMI Algee (BMI)
• Vice – Miranda Lambert
  Songwriters: Miranda Lambert, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
  Publishers: Sony/ATV Tree Publishing (BMI), Pink Dog Publishing (BMI), Smack Hits (GMR), Kobalt Music Group,
  Ltd. (GMR), Anderson Fork In The Road Music (ASCAP), Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc. (ASCAP), Smackville Music (ASCAP)

Video of the Year PRESENTED BY XFINITY
[Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]

• Fire Away – Chris Stapleton
  Director: Tim Mattia
  Producer: Jennifer Rothlein
• Forever Country – Artists of Then, Now & Forever – WINNER
  Director: Joseph Kahn
  Producers: Nathan de la Rionda, Jil Hardin, Charleen Manca, Joanna Carter, Chandra LaPlume, Sarah Trahern, Damon Whiteside
• Humble And Kind – Tim McGraw
  Director: Wes Edwards
  Producer: Jennifer Rothlein
• Peter Pan – Kelsea Ballerini
  Director: Kristin Barlowe
  Producer: Michelle Abnet
• Vice – Miranda Lambert
  Director: Trey Fanjoy
  Producer: Ashley Bergeron Ford

Songwriter of the year*(Off Camera Award)

• Ashley Gorley
• Luke Laird
• Hillary Lindsey
• Shane McAnally
• Lori McKenna – WINNER

Vocal Event of the Year [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

• Different For Girls – Dierks Bentley Featuring Elle King
  Producers: Ross Copperman, Arturo Buenahora Jr.
  Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville
• Forever Country – Artists of Then, Now & Forever
  Producer: Shane McAnally
  Record Label: MCA Nashville
• May We All – Florida Georgia Line Featuring Tim McGraw – WINNER
  Producer: Joey Moi
  Record Label: Big Machine Label Group
• Setting The World On Fire – Kenny Chesney Featuring P!nk
  Producers: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney
  Record Labels: Blue Chair Records, Columbia Nashville
• Think Of You – Chris Young Featuring Cassadee Pope
  Producers: Corey Crowder, Chris Young
  Record Labels: RCA Nashville, RCA Records