Morgan Wallen Took Home Album Of The Year At Last Night's ACM Awards
The 57th Academy of Country Music Awards was from Las Vegas on last night with host Dolly Parton and co-hosts Jimmie Allen and Gabby Barrett taking emcee duties.
Parton kicked off the show with a dedication to the people of Ukraine.
In addition to the night's big winners, there were also a slew of performances from stars like Kelly Clarkson, who performed a tribute to Parton,
(sidebar - Parton recently talked about “I Will Always Love You” and how she nearly crashed her car the first time she heard the late Whitney Houston sing the song, which became one of the all-time biggest singles. Parton also revealed she earned about $10 million in royalties in the 1990s, which she used to help a black neighborhood in Nashville.)
Luke Bryan,
Carrie Underwood and Jason Aldean,
Brothers Osborne,
Eric Church (who I finally get to see live this Friday at United Center),
Chris Stapleton,
Maren Morris, Thomas Rhett and Parton herself.
Breland, an artist poised to have a SMASH coming out party this year, crushed it with Rhett.
the real story of the night, at least for me, was Morgan Wallen taking home a long overdue, and much deserved Album of The Year award for "Dangerous".
He did not directly reference any controversy in his acceptance speech.
"When I started this album I was a kid. By the time I put it out I was a father and that's become more important to me than anything else," he said. "To my son this album and this award will signify that his daddy was a fighter and that he chased his dreams and worked hard to make them a reality."
He was humble and appreciative in his acceptance of the award, thanking those who had shown him "grace along the way."
(sidebar- there are very few songs that go off in a country bar, or a mainstream bar for that matter, like "Whiskey Glasses". Still. Like three years after it came out.)
Here's the full list of winners from last night-
Entertainer of the Year
Eric Church
Luke Combs
Miranda Lambert – WINNER
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood
Female Artist of the Year
Gabby Barrett
Miranda Lambert
Ashley McBryde
Maren Morris
Carly Pearce – WINNER
Male Artist of the Year
Jimmie Allen
Luke Combs
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton – WINNER
Morgan Wallen
Duo of the Year
Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne – WINNER
Dan + Shay
LoCash
Maddie & Tae
Group of the Year
Lady A
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion – WINNER
The Cadillac Three
New Female Artist of the Year
Tenille Arts
Priscilla Block
Lily Rose
Caitlyn Smith
Lainey Wilson – WINNER
New Male Artist of the Year
Hardy
Walker Hayes
Ryan Hurd
Parker McCollum – WINNER
Elvie Shane
Album of the Year
29: Written in Stone, Carly Pearce
Country Again: Side A, Thomas Rhett
Dangerous: The Double Album, Morgan Wallen – WINNER
Famous Friends, Chris Young
The Marfa Tapes, Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall
Single of the Year
“Buy Dirt,” Jordan Davis featuring Luke Bryan
“Famous Friends,” Chris Young and Kane Brown
“Fancy Like,” Walker Hayes
“If I Didn’t Love You,” Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood – WINNER
“You Should Probably Leave,” Chris Stapleton
Song of the Year
“7 Summers,” Morgan Wallen (Morgan Wallen, Josh Osborne, Shane McAnally)
“Buy Dirt,” Jordan Davis featuring Luke Bryan (Jordan Davis, Jacob Davis, Josh Jenkins, Matt Jenkins)
“Fancy Like,” Walker Hayes (Cameron Bartolini, Josh Jenkins, Shane Stevens, Walker Hayes)
“Knowing You,” Kenny Chesney (Adam James, Brett James, Kat Higgins)
“Things a Man Oughta Know,” Lainey Wilson (Jason Nix, Jonathan Singleton, Lainey Wilson) – WINNER
Video of the Year
“Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home),” Elle King and Miranda Lambert – WINNER
“Famous Friends,” Chris Young and Kane Brown
“I Bet You Think About Me (Taylor’s Version),” Taylor Swift featuring Chris Stapleton
“If I Didn’t Love You,” Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood
“Never Wanted to Be That Girl,” Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde
Songwriter of the Year
Jesse Frasure
Nicolle Galyon
Ashley Gorley
Michael Hardy – WINNER
Josh Osborne
Music Event of the Year
“Buy Dirt,” Jordan Davis featuring Luke Bryan
“Famous Friends,” Chris Young and Kane Brown
“Half of My Hometown,” Kelsea Ballerini featuring Kenny Chesney
“If I Didn’t Love You,” Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood
“Never Wanted to Be That Girl,” Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde – WINNER