The countdown to the 51st Academy of Country Music Awards is ON!
With only a few weeks until showtime, CelebSecrets4U is giving you the breakdown on what will go down at one of the most important nights in country music.
Today, we are sharing our thoughts on who will be taking home the awards from the following categories: Entertainer of the Year, Male and Female Vocalist of the Year, Vocal Duo of the Year, Vocal Group of the Year, New Male and Female Vocalist of the Year, New Vocal or Duo Group of the Year, Album of the Year, Single Record of the Year, Video of the Year, and Vocal Event of the Year.
Hosted by Dierks Bentley and Blake Shelton, the 51st Academy of Country Music Awards will be returning to Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena and broadcast LIVE on Sunday, April 3, 2016 at 8:00 PM ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.
Join in on the action and send us a tweet @CelebSecrets4U with your predictions.
Entertainer of the Year: Jason Aldean, Garth Brooks, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Miranda Lambert
Who We Want To Win: There’s something special about being nominated for your first time in a category that every artist dreams of winning. Eric Church scored his first ACM Entertainer of the Year nomination and we’re crossing our fingers for the underdog. Chief does not get enough credit when it comes to his raw abilities to win over the country crowd. Remember when Church decided to not to cancel a show when his bandmates were down with the flu? Instead he marched out on stage by himself and delivered a performance as if nothing was missing. He’s our pick for Entertainer of the Year!
Male Vocalist of the Year: Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, Brett Eldredge, Chris Stapleton
Who We Want To Win: Chris Stapleton will no-doubt be taking home this category at the 51st ACM Awards. Last November, Stapleton took home a win in the very same category at the 2015 CMA Awards. His vocal capabilities are unlike any other artist in country music. Hats off to Chris Stapleton for showing that you can smoothly make the transition from songwriting to center stage.
Female Vocalist of the Year: Kelsea Ballerini, Jana Kramer, Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves, Carrie Underwood.
Who We Want To Win: Who do you pick when you heart is saying Carrie Underwood, but your head is saying Kacey Musgraves? I think this might be the year of the underdog and Kacey Musgraves will more than likely win this battle. This has been an incredible year for Miss Musgraves, with the release of “Pageant Material.” She may not be the power-house of the group, but she’s not just blowing smoke.
Vocal Duo of the Year: Brothers Osborne, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line, Joey + Rory, Maddie & Tae
Who We Want To Win: This might of been the easiest category to declare a winner. Florida Georgia Line has been winning this award for several years now and there’s a reason. This vocal duo is untouchable! Coming off the ride of “Confessions”, this has been another successful year under their belt.
Vocal Group of the Year: Eli Young Band, Little Big Town, Old Dominion, Rascal Flatts, Zac Brown Band
Who We Want To Win: Ladies and Gentlemen, Little Big Town will be bringing home the ACM for Vocal Group of the Year. The group that has been turning heads brought home the award in 2015. Here’s to another year of LBT winning Vocal Group of the Year.
New Male Vocalist of the Year: Brett Eldredge, Chris Janson, Thomas Rhett, Chase Rice, Chris Stapleton
Who We Want To Win: Can Thomas Rhett’s home team brings this win all the way home? “Die a Happy Man” and “Crash and Burn” have done extremely well for someone who just got a Male Vocalist of the Year nomination. I wish we could just hand him the award ourselves, but Chris Stapleton will more than likely take this win home.
New Female Vocalist of the Year: Kelsea Ballerini, Cam, Mickey Guyton, RaeLynn.
Who We Want To Win: The color of the year, yellow! Cam has lit-up the lives of country music fans with her blonde hair and vocal abilities. Let’s not forget that fellow ACM nominee, Bobby Bones help push her music into the airwaves of millions. “Burning House” has had such a massive impact, that Cam will no-doubt be walking away with this award.
New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year: A Thousand Horses, Brothers Osborne, Maddie & Tae, Old Dominion, Parmalee
Who We Want To Win: Say it’s Brothers Osborne, oh pretty please! We love how their rugged, carefree vibes don’t entirely fit in with what’s happening in Country. Their single “Stay A Little Longer” has been all over radio recently and we see a long career ahead of the duo.
Album of the Year: I’m Comin’ Over – Chris Young, Montevallo – Sam Hunt, Mr. Misunderstood – Eric Church, Tangled Up – Thomas Rhett, Traveller – Chris Stapleton
Who We Want To Win: Can there be a two-way tie between Eric Church and Chris Stapleton? We have to acknowledge the fact that Eric dropped Mr. Misunderstood out of thin air. How can we also not acknowledge that everyone has been talking about Traveller for months now! The Academy of Country Music should probably hand over the trophy to Eric Church. He took a giant risk with releasing a record without any pre-promotion, that says something!
Single Record of the Year: “Burning House” – Cam, “Buy Me a Boat” – Chris Janson, “Die a Happy Man” – Thomas Rhett, “Girl Crush “– Little Big Town, “I’m Comin’ Over” – Chris Young, “Take Your Time” – Sam Hunt
Who We Want To Win: Little Big Town should take home Single Record of the Year, mostly because “Girl Crush” stole the show in music. There was so much talk surrounding what many would label the song as “Risky”, that we think that LBT deserves a reward.
Video of the Year: “Biscuits” – Kacey Musgraves, “Burning House” – Cam, “Girl Crush” – Little Big Town, “Mr. Misunderstood” – Eric Church, “Riser” – Dierks Bentley
Who We Want To Win: Cam will take home a win in this category. Out of the other nominees, “Burning House” stands out visually.
Vocal Event of the Year: “Hangover Tonight” – Gary Allan featuring Chris Stapleton, “Home Alone Tonight” – Luke Bryan featuring Karen Fairchild, “Raise ‘Em Up” – Keith Urban featuring Eric Church, “Smokin’ and Drinkin’” – Miranda Lambert featuring Little Big Town, “Wild Child” – Kenny Chesney with Grace Potter
Who We Want To Win: Eric Church and Keith Urban had us all rooting for them when they performed this tune at CMA Fest and The CMA Awards. This was a collaboration that made sense, and blew us all way! How can you resist seeing country’s nice guy and bad boy come together for an uplifting tune?
