The annual country music extravaganza, which broadcast on Prime Video Thursday night from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, and featured hosts Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks, got things started on Wednesday with a slew of early victories.
Zach Bryan and Hailey Whitters were the first to take home a trophy, as Bryan won new male artist of the year and Whitters won new female artist of the year on Wednesday. Ashley Gorley, meanwhile, who’s co-written hits like “Sand in My Boots” for Morgan Wallen and “You Should Probably Leave” for Chris Stapleton, won songwriter of the year.
Whitters expressed her shock and excitement on Instagram, tagging the show and writing “WHAT 
” as the caption on a post shortly after she was given her award. Bryan, meanwhile, thanked the Academy of Country Music in an Instagram Story.
HARDY entered the night as the most-nominated artist, with seven nods, including song of the year and artist-songwriter of the year. He shared three of his nominations with Lainey Wilson, who was nominated for six awards.
Trailing them are Kane Brown, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert and Cole Swindell, who will each vie for five trophies.
Lambert, who won the coveted Triple Crown Award last year, is up for female artist of the year for a record-breaking 17th time; this year’s nomination pushes her past Reba McEntire’s 16 nods in the category.
If either Combs or Stapleton take home entertainer of the year, they too will be Triple Crown winners, which means an artist has won entertainer of the year, new artist and artist of the year.
The show is set to be a star-studded affair, with performances from Keith Urban, Jason Aldean, HARDY, Brown, Combs, Cody Johnson, Lambert, Jelly Roll, Morgan Wallen, The War and Treaty, Wilson, Bailey Zimmerman and Parton, who will debut the first single from her upcoming rock album.
Carly Pearce and Trisha Yearwood will also duet on a medley of hits, while Cole Swindell and Jo Dee Messina will team up on “She Had Me at Heads Carolina (Remix).” Ashley McBryde, Brandy Clark, Caylee Hammack, Pillbox Patti and Brothers Osborne’s John Osborne will also sing “Bonfire at Tina’s,” while Ed Sheeran will appear for a special performance.
See below for the complete list of ACM Award winners.
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
- Jason Aldean
- Kane Brown
- Luke Combs
- Miranda Lambert
- Chris Stapleton
- Carrie Underwood
- Morgan Wallen
