# Academy of Country Music Award for New Male Artist of the Year

The Academy of Country Music Award for New Male Artist of the Year is one of the new artist categories presented at the Academy of Country Music Awards. This award was first awarded in 1966 to Merle Haggard, when this award was known as the Most Promising Male Vocalist.
From 1966 to 1977, this award was known as the Most Promising Male Vocalist.
From 1978 to 2008, the award was known as the Top New Male Vocalist.
And from 2016 to now, this award is now known as the New Male Artist of the Year.
This award is given to the new male artist who has gained initial fame or significantly greater recognition during the promotion of a debut or sophomore album within the eligibility period. The artist must have released a single that reached the Top 40 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs or the Mediabase Country charts. Any albums self-released through an independent label the artist owns and operates may not be counted as a debut or sophomore album, unless it produces a Top 40 single reported by Billboard's Hot Country Songs or Mediabase Country charts.

## Winners and nominees

In the following tables, the years correspond to the date of the ceremony. Artists are eligible based on their work of the previous calendar year. Entries with a blue ribbon next to the artist's name have won the award; those with a white background are the nominees on the short-list.
There was no winner for this award in 2004, 2005, and from 2010 to 2015. For the award was changed into the Academy of Country Music Award for New Artist of the Year award. The winners in 2009 and 2013 would be finalist for the New Artist of the Year.

### 2020s

| Year | Winner | Nominees |
| 2024 | Nate Smith | Ernest Kameron Marlowe Dylan Scott Conner Smith |
| 2023 | Zach Bryan | Jackson Dean Ernest Dylan Scott Nate Smith Bailey Zimmerman |
| 2022 | Parker McCollum | HARDY Walker Hayes Ryan Hurd Elvie Shane |
| 2021 | Jimmie Allen | HARDY Cody Johnson Parker McCollum Travis Denning |
| 2020 | Riley Green | Cody Johnson Jordan Davis Russell Dickerson Morgan Wallen |

### 2010s

| Year | Winner | Nominees |
| 2019 | Luke Combs | Jimmie Allen Jordan Davis Michael Ray Mitchell Tenpenny |
| 2018 | Brett Young | Kane Brown Luke Combs Devin Dawson Russell Dickerson |
| 2017 | Jon Pardi | Kane Brown Chris Janson Chris Lane Brett Young |
| 2016 | Chris Stapleton | Brett Eldredge Chris Janson Thomas Rhett Chase Rice |
| 2013 | Brantley Gilbert | Hunter Hayes Lee Brice |

### 2000s

| Year | Winner | Nominees |
| 2009 | Jake Owen | Jamey Johnson James Otto |
| 2008 | Jack Ingram | Luke Bryan Jake Owen |
| 2007 | Rodney Atkins | Craig Morgan Chris Young |
| 2006 | Jason Aldean | Billy Currington Craig Morgan |
| 2003 | Joe Nichols | Blake Shelton Darryl Worley |
| 2002 | Phil Vassar | Chris Cagle Blake Shelton |
| 2001 | Keith Urban | Billy Gilman Phil Vassar |
| 2000 | Brad Paisley | Gary Allan Chad Brock |

### 1990s

| Year | Winner | Nominees |
| 1999 | Mark Wills | Deryl Dodd David Kersh |
| 1998 | Kenny Chesney | Rhett Akins Michael Peterson |
| 1997 | Trace Adkins | James Bonamy Kevin Sharp |
| 1996 | Bryan White | Wade Hayes David Lee Murphy |
| 1995 | Tim McGraw | David Ball John Berry |
| 1994 | John Michael Montgomery | Doug Supernaw Clay Walker |
| 1993 | Tracy Lawrence | Billy Ray Cyrus Collin Raye |
| 1992 | Billy Dean | Mark Chesnutt Joe Diffie |
| 1991 | Alan Jackson | Doug Stone Travis Tritt |
| 1990 | Clint Black | Garth Brooks Lionel Cartwright |

### 1980s

| Year | Winner | Nominees |
| 1989 | Rodney Crowell | J.C. Crowley Skip Ewing David Lynn Jones Paul Overstreet |
| 1988 | Ricky Van Shelton | Larry Boone Marty Haggard Lyle Lovett Jo-El Sonnier |
| 1987 | Dwight Yoakam | Steve Earle Michael Johnson Lewis Storey Tom Wopat |
| 1986 | Randy Travis | T. Graham Brown Billy Burnette Marty Stuart Keith Whitley |
| 1985 | Vince Gill | Lloyd David Foster Bill Medley Dan Seals Keith Stegall |
| 1984 | Jim Glaser | Darrell Clanton Craig Dillingham Mark Gray Wayne Massey |
| 1983 | Michael Martin Murphy | Kieran Kane Gary Morris George Strait Gary Wolf |
| 1982 | Ricky Skaggs | Earl Thomas Conley Lee Greenwood Eddy Raven John Schneider |
| 1981 | Johnny Lee | Ed Bruce Leon Everette Don King Steve Wariner |
| 1980 | R.C. Bannon | John Anderson Razzy Bailey Randy Barlow Big Al Downing |

### 1970s

| Year | Winner | Nominees |
| 1979 | John Conlee | Lee Dresser Con Hunley Ronnie McDowell Kenny O'Dell |
| 1978 | Eddie Rabbitt | Bobby Borchers Howdy Glenn Vern Gosdin Mel McDaniel |
| 1977 | Moe Bandy | Rex Allen Jr. Billy "Crash" Craddock Larry Gatlin Johnny Lee |
| 1976 | Freddy Fender | Tom Bresh T.G. Sheppard Kenny Starr Gene Watson |
| 1975 | Mickey Gilley | Brian Collins Danny Michaels Red Stegall Billy Swan |
| 1974 | Dorsey Burnette | Larry Booth Danny Michaels Ronnie Milsap Little Joe Shaver Red Stegall |
| 1973 | Johnny Rodriguez | Larry Booth Little Joe Shaver Red Simpson Red Stegall |
| 1972 | Tony Booth | Gene Davis Mayf Nutter Red Stegall Bobby Wright |
| 1971 | Buddy Alan | Tony Booth Mayf Nutter Red Stegall Bobby Wayne |
| 1970 | Freddy Weller | Buddy Alan Cliff Crofford Norm Forrest Eddie Fukano Mayf Nutter Ronnie Sessions |

### 1960s

| Year | Winner | Nominees |
| 1969 | Ray Sanders | Cliff Crofford Glen Garrison Norm Forrest Eddie Fukano |
| 1968 | Jerry Inman | Cliff Crofford Glen Garrison Robert Mitchum Tom Tall |
| 1967 | Billy Mize | Bobby Austin Dick Curless Eddy Downs Glen Garrison Jerry Inman Red Simpson |
| 1966 | Merle Haggard | Buddy Cagle Bobby Durham Jerry Inman Billy Mize |