# 51st Academy of Country Music Awards

The 51st Academy of Country Music Awards were held on April 3, 2016, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Nominations for the 51st Academy of Country Music Awards were announced on February 1, 2016. Luke Bryan returned to host for his fourth consecutive year, with Dierks Bentley as his cohost for the first time.

## Background

Previously, some categories including Entertainer of the Year, New Male Vocalist of the Year, New Female Vocalist of the Year, and New Duo or Group of the Year were voted directly by fans. Beginning with the 2016 awards show, these became incorporated into a professional membership voting process. Luke Bryan returned to host the show for his fourth consecutive year, with Dierks Bentley as his co-host.

## Winners and nominees

The winners are shown in bold.
| Entertainer of the Year | Album of the Year |
| Jason Aldean Garth Brooks Luke Bryan Eric Church Miranda Lambert | Traveller — Chris Stapleton I'm Comin' Over — Chris Young Montevallo — Sam Hunt Mr. Misunderstood — Eric Church Tangled Up — Thomas Rhett |
| Female Artist of the Year | Male Artist of the Year |
| Miranda Lambert Kelsea Ballerini Jana Kramer Kacey Musgraves Carrie Underwood | Chris Stapleton Jason Aldean Dierks Bentley Eric Church Brett Eldredge |
| Group of the Year | Duo of the Year |
| Little Big Town Eli Young Band Old Dominion Rascal Flatts Zac Brown Band | Florida Georgia Line Brothers Osborne Dan + Shay Joey + Rory Maddie & Tae |
| Single of the Year | Song of the Year |
| "Die a Happy Man" — Thomas Rhett "Burning House" — Cam "Buy Me a Boat" — Chris Janson "I'm Comin' Over" — Chris Young "Take Your Time" — Sam Hunt | "Nobody to Blame – Barry Bales, Ronnie Bowman, Chris Stapleton "Girl Crush" – Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna, Liz Rose "Burning House" – Jeff Bhasker, Cam, Tyler Johnson "Raise 'Em Up" – Tom Douglas, Jaren Johnston, Jeffrey Steele "She Don't Love You" – Eric Paslay & Jennifer Wayne |
| New Female Artist of the Year | New Male Artist of the Year |
| Kelsea Ballerini Cam Mickey Guyton RaeLynn | Chris Stapleton Brett Eldredge Chris Janson Thomas Rhett Chase Rice |
| New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year | Video of the Year |
| Old Dominion A Thousand Horses Brothers Osborne Maddie & Tae Parmalee | "Mr. Misunderstood" — Eric Church "Biscuits" — Kacey Musgraves "Burning House" — Cam "Girl Crush" — Little Big Town "Riser" — Dierks Bentley |
| Vocal Event of the Year ||
| "Smokin' and Drinkin'" — Miranda Lambert (feat. Little Big Town) "Hangover Tonight" — Gary Allan (feat. Chris Stapleton) "Home Alone Tonight" — Luke Bryan (feat. Karen Fairchild) "Raise 'Em Up" — Keith Urban (feat. Eric Church) "Wild Child" — Kenny Chesney and Grace Potter ||

## Performances

| Artist(s) | Song(s) |
| Luke Bryan | "Huntin', Fishin' and Lovin' Every Day" |
| Blake Shelton | "Came Here to Forget" |
| Old Dominion | "Snapback" |
| Kenny Chesney | "Noise" |
| Chris Young & Cassadee Pope | "Think of You" |
| Eric Church | "Record Year" |
| Dierks Bentley | "Somewhere on a Beach" |
| Cam | "Burning House" |
| Jason Aldean | "Lights Come On" |
| Cole Swindell | "You Should Be Here" |
| Brett Eldredge | "Drunk on Your Love" |
| Keith Urban | "Wasted Time" |
| Little Big Town and Trombone Shorty | "Stay All Night" |
| Kelsea Ballerini feat. Nick Jonas | "Peter Pan" |
| Tim McGraw | "Humble and Kind" |
| Charles Kelley | "Lonely Girl" |
| Carrie Underwood | "Church Bells" |
| Sam Hunt | "Make You Miss Me" |
| Thomas Rhett | "Die a Happy Man" |
| Miranda Lambert feat. Billy Gibbons & Keith Urban | "Tush" |
| Dolly Parton and Katy Perry | "Coat of Many Colors", "Jolene", "9 to 5" |
| Florida Georgia Line | "Confession" |
| Chris Stapleton | "Fire Away" |
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