The Academy of Country Music (ACM) was founded in 1964 in Los Angeles, California as the Country & Western Music Academy. Whereas the Country Music Association founded in 1958 was based in Nashville, the Academy sought to promote country music in the western states. Among those involved in the founding was West Coast singer, songwriter, and actor Eddie Dean.[1] As such, its early membership was largely composed of those country performers based in the west. This is evidenced by the early awards shows being dominated by Bakersfield artists Buck and Bonnie Owens, and Merle Haggard. At the first ceremony held in 1965, Buck Owens won for Top Male Vocalist and Bonnie Owens won for Top Female Vocalist. Haggard was named Top New Male Vocalist, Kaye Adams was named Top New Female Vocalist and Buck Owens's band, The Buckaroos, were named Band Of The Year. [edit] Awards The most prestigious awards are for Artist of the Decade and Entertainer of the Year. There are a number of other awards to recognize male and female vocalists, albums, videos, songs and musicians. The awards are typically presented in May and recognize achievement for the previous year. An award presented in 1999 is for achievement in 1998, i.e., the "1998" award. [edit] Artists of the Decade - 2000s George Strait (presented 2009)
- 1990s Garth Brooks (presented 1999)
- 1980s Alabama (presented 1989)
- 1970s Loretta Lynn (presented 1979)
- 1960s Marty Robbins (presented 1969)
[edit] Major awards | Year | Entertainer of the Year | Male Vocalist of the Year | Female Vocalist of the Year | Song of the Year | | 2008 | Carrie Underwood | Brad Paisley | Carrie Underwood | Jamey Johnson, Lee Thomas Miller, James Otto – "In Color" | | 2007 | Kenny Chesney | Brad Paisley | Carrie Underwood | Jennifer Nettles – "Stay" | | 2006 | Kenny Chesney | Brad Paisley | Carrie Underwood | Bill Anderson, Buddy Cannon, Jamey Johnson – "Give It Away" | | 2005 | Kenny Chesney | Keith Urban | Sara Evans | Craig Wiseman, Ronnie Dunn – "Believe" | | 2004 | Kenny Chesney | Keith Urban | Gretchen Wilson | Craig Wiseman, Tim Nichols – "Live Like You Were Dying" | | 2003 | Toby Keith | Toby Keith | Martina McBride | Doug Johnson, Kim Williams – "Three Wooden Crosses" | | 2002 | Toby Keith | Kenny Chesney | Martina McBride | Phillip Brian White, David Vincent Williams – "I'm Movin' On" | | 2001 | Brooks & Dunn | Alan Jackson | Martina McBride | Alan Jackson – "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" | | 2000 | Dixie Chicks | Toby Keith | Faith Hill | Mark D. Sanders, Tia Sillers – "I Hope You Dance" | | 1999 | Shania Twain | Tim McGraw | Faith Hill | Marv Green, Aimee Mayo – "Amazed" | | 1998 | Garth Brooks | Tim McGraw | Faith Hill | Steve Wariner, Billy Kirsch – "Holes in the Floor of Heaven" | | 1997 | Garth Brooks | George Strait | Trisha Yearwood | Stephony Smith – "It's Your Love" | | 1996 | Brooks & Dunn | George Strait | Patty Loveless | Bill Mack – "Blue" | | 1995 | Brooks & Dunn | Alan Jackson | Patty Loveless | Dickey Lee, Karen Staley, Danny Mayo – "The Keeper of the Stars" | | 1994 | Reba McEntire | Alan Jackson | Reba McEntire | Gary Baker, Frank Myers – "I Swear" | | 1993 | Garth Brooks | Vince Gill | Wynonna Judd | Victoria Shaw, Chuck Cannon – "I Love the Way You Love Me" | | 1992 | Garth Brooks | Vince Gill | Mary Chapin Carpenter | Vince Gill, John Barlow Jarvis – "I Still Believe in You" | | 1991 | Garth Brooks | Garth Brooks | Reba McEntire | Billy Dean, Richard Leigh – "Somewhere in My Broken Heart" | | 1990 | Garth Brooks | Garth Brooks | Reba McEntire | Tony Arata – "The Dance" | | 1989 | George Strait | Clint Black | Kathy Mattea | Jon Vezner, Don Henry – "Where've You Been" | | 1988 | Hank Williams, Jr. | George Strait | K. T. Oslin | Charles Nelson, Paul Nelson – "Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses" | | 1987 | Hank Williams, Jr. | Randy Travis | Reba McEntire | Paul Overstreet, Don Schlitz – "Forever and Ever, Amen" | | 1986 | Hank Williams, Jr. | Randy Travis | Reba McEntire | Paul Overstreet, Don Schlitz – "On the Other Hand" | | 1985 | Alabama | George Strait | Reba McEntire | Fred Parris, Mike Reid, Troy Seals – "Lost in the Fifties Tonight" | | 1984 | Alabama | George Strait | Reba McEntire | Harlan Howard, Brent Maher, Sonny Throckmorton – "Why Not Me" | | 1983 | Alabama | Lee Greenwood | Janie Fricke | Larry Henley, Jeff Silbar – "Wind Beneath My Wings" | | 1982 | Alabama | Ronnie Milsap | Sylvia | Merle Haggard – "Are the Good Times Really Over" | | 1981 | Alabama | Merle Haggard | Barbara Mandrell | Felice Bryant, Boudleaux Bryant, Larry Collins, Sandy Pinkard – "You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma" | | 1980 | Barbara Mandrell | George Jones | Dolly Parton | Bobby Braddock, Curly Putman – "He Stopped Loving Her Today" | | 1979 | Willie Nelson | Larry Gatlin | Crystal Gayle | Sonny Throckmorton, Curly Putman – "It's a Cheatin' Situation" | | 1978 | Kenny Rogers | Kenny Rogers | Barbara Mandrell | Randy Goodrum – "You Needed Me" | | 1977 | Dolly Parton | Kenny Rogers | Crystal Gayle | Roger Bowling, Hal Bynum – "Lucille" | | 1976 | Mickey Gilley | Mickey Gilley | Crystal Gayle | Baker Knight – "Don't the Girls All Get Prettier at Closing Time" | | 1975 | Loretta Lynn | Conway Twitty | Loretta Lynn | Larry Weiss – "Rhinestone Cowboy" | | 1974 | Mac Davis | Merle Haggard | Loretta Lynn | Don Wayne – "Country Bumpkin" | | 1973 | Roy Clark | Charlie Rich | Loretta Lynn | Kenny O'Dell – "Behind Closed Doors" | | 1972 | Roy Clark | Merle Haggard | Donna Fargo | Donna Fargo – "The Happiest Girl In the Whole USA" | | 1971 | Freddie Hart | Freddie Hart | Loretta Lynn | Freddie Hart – "Easy Loving" | | 1970 | Merle Haggard | Merle Haggard | Lynn Anderson | Kris Kristofferson – "For the Good Times" | | 1969 | — | Merle Haggard | Tammy Wynette | — | | 1968 | — | Glen Campbell | Cathie Taylor | — | | 1967 | — | Glen Campbell | Loretta Lynn | — | | 1966 | — | Merle Haggard | Bonnie Guitar | — | | 1965 | — | Buck Owens | Bonnie Owens | — | [edit] Awards by year 2008 (presented 2009) 2007 (presented 2008) 2006 (presented 2007) 2005 (presented 2006) 2004 (presented 2005) 2003 (presented 2004) 2002 (presented 2003) 2001 (presented 2002) 2000 (presented 2001) 1999 (presented 2000) 1998 (presented 1999) 1997 (presented 1998) 1996 (presented 1997) 1995 (presented 1996) 1994 (presented 1995) 1993 (presented 1994) 1992 (presented 1993) 1991 (presented 1992) 1990 (presented 1991) 1989 (presented 1990) 1988 (presented 1989) 1987 (presented 1988) 1986 (presented 1987) 1985 (presented 1986) 1984 (presented 1985) 1983 (presented 1984) 1982 (presented 1983) 1981 (presented 1982) 1980 (presented 1981) 1979 (presented 1980) 1978 (presented 1979) 1977 (presented 1978) 1976 (presented 1977) 1975 (presented 1976) | Entertainer of the Year: | Loretta Lynn | | Song of the Year: | "Rhinestone Cowboy" – Glen Campbell – Larry Weiss | | Single of the Year: | "Rhinestone Cowboy" – Glen Campbell | | Album of the Year: | Feelin's – Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty | | Top Male Vocalist: | Conway Twitty | | Top Female Vocalist: | Loretta Lynn | | Top Vocal Duo: | Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn | | Top New Male Vocalist: | Freddy Fender | | Top New Female Vocalist: | Crystal Gayle | 1974 (presented 1975) 1973 (presented 1974) 1972 (presented 1973) 1971 (presented 1972) | Entertainer of the Year: | Freddie Hart | | Song of the Year: | "Easy Loving" – Freddie Hart – Freddie Hart | | Single of the Year: | "Easy Loving" – Freddie Hart | | Album of the Year: | Easy Loving – Freddie Hart | | Top Male Vocalist: | Freddie Hart | | Top Female Vocalist: | Loretta Lynn | | Top Vocal Duo: | Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn | | Top New Male Vocalist: | Tony Booth | | Top New Female Vocalist: | Barbara Mandrell | 1970 (presented 1971) 1969 (presented 1970) 1968 (presented 1969) 1967 (presented 1968) 1966 (presented 1967) 1965 (presented 1966) [edit] ACM Award records Entertainer of the Year Most Consecutive Entertainer of the Year Award wins: - Alabama (5) - (1981-1985)
Females to win Entertainer of the Year: - Loretta Lynn - (1975)
- Dolly Parton - (1977)
- Barbara Mandrell - (1980)
- Reba McEntire - (1994)
- Shania Twain - (1999)
- The Dixie Chicks - (2000)
- Carrie Underwood - (2008)
Most Entertainer of the Year Awards won: - Garth Brooks (6) - (1990-1993, 1997-1998)
Female Vocalist of the Year Most Consecutive Female Vocalist of the Year Award wins: - Reba McEntire (4) - (1984-1987)
Most Female Vocalist of the Year Awards won: - Reba McEntire (7) - (1984-1987, 1990-1991, 1994)
Male Vocalist of the Year Most Consecutive Male Vocalist of the Year Award wins: - Brad Paisley (3) - (2006-2008)
Most Male Vocalist of the Year Award wins: - Merle Haggard (6) - (1966, 1969-1970, 1972, 1974, 1981)
[edit] See also [edit] External links [edit] References - ^ Academy of Country Music -> "The Academy" -> "History"
| American music award shows | | | Multi-genre | | | | Country | | | | Rock / Pop | | | | Latin | | | | Hip Hop / R&B | | | | Kids | | | | Audio | | | | Gospel | | | | Discontinued | | | | † Peer award | | |
