The Academy of Country Music has announce the recipients of the Special Awards for the 59th Academy Of Country Music Awards. Honorees Walt Aldridge, Tony Brown, Luke Bryan, Alan Jackson, Shannon Sanders, Lainey Wilson, and Trisha Yearwood will be celebrated during the 17th Academy Of Country Music Honors, frequently described as the “Country Music Industry’s favorite night,” during an unforgettable evening of live music and tributes.
The event will take place Wednesday, August 21, 2024 at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN and will be hosted by four-time ACM Award winner Carly Pearce, who is returning for the fourth straight year, and reigning ACM Song of the Year winner Jordan Davis.
Tickets for Acamedy Of Country Music Honors will be available to ACM A-List email newsletter subscribers and Academy members through an exclusive pre-sale beginning Thursday, June 20, with general on-sale beginning Friday, June 21, through AXS. Fans can subscribe now to the A-List here to gain access to Thursday’s pre-sale. Performers will be announced in the coming weeks. Visit the event’s official website for further information.
“I’m thrilled to return to host ACM Honors for the fourth year in a row. It’s always an unforgettable night that I look forward to, and I’m excited to have Jordan joining me this year!” Carly Pearce said, with Jordan Davis adding, “I’ve performed at ACM Honors for the past two years and love that the show celebrates the behind-the-scenes titans in this industry, as well as so many of the artists I’ve looked up to for years. I’m really honored to join Carly as host this year and excited for what will be a great night.”
Additionally, previously announced Artist-Songwriter of the Year winner Chris Stapleton, Songwriter of the year Jessie Jo Dillon, as well as Studio Recording Award and Industry Award winners, will be feted at ACM HONORS. Eleven-time ACM Award winner Tyler Hubbard will present the ACM Studio Recording and Industry Awards portion of ACM Honors.
2024: ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC SPECIAL AWARD HONOREES:
ACM TRIPLE CROWN AWARD – Lainey Wilson will receive the prestigious ACM Triple Crown Award following her win for ACM Entertainer of the Year at the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards in May 2024. Wilson qualified for the Triple Crown Award after winning ACM New Female Artist of the Year, ACM Female Artist of the Year, and ACM Entertainer of the Year, an honor only nine other artists have been awarded. Wilson is the first solo woman to achieve the ACM Triple Crown Award in a three-year span and the first artist since The Chicks (1998-2000) to qualify for the ACM Triple Crown in that timeframe.
ACM ICON AWARD – Tony Brown and Trisha Yearwood have both been chosen to receive the ACM Icon Award, honoring the contributions of Cliffie Stone, who was known for his producing work along with his Country Music career. This award is presented to a Country Music artist, duo/group or industry leader who, throughout their career, has advanced the popularity of the genre through their contributions in multiple facets of the industry, such as songwriting, recording, production, touring, film, television, literary works, philanthropic contributions, and other goodwill efforts.
ACM LIFT EVERY VOICE AWARD – Shannon Sanders has been chosen to receive the ACM Lift Every Voice Award. This award is presented to a Country Music artist, duo/group, industry leader or affiliate/partner who plays a pivotal role in elevating underrepresented voices throughout the Country Music genre, transcending demographics and geography. The nominee for this category is proposed by the rising leaders in the Academy’s LEVel UP: Lift Every Voice professional development and enrichment program, a two-year curriculum designed to empower participants to play a pivotal role in expanding the horizons of Country Music into new audiences that transcend demographics and geography.
ACM LIFTING LIVES AWARD – Luke Bryan has been chosen to receive the ACM Lifting Lives Award, honoring the contributions of Gary Haber, known as a business manager and past president of ACM Lifting Lives. This award is presented to a Country Music artist, duo/group, or industry professional who is devoted to improving lives through the power of music, has a generosity of spirit, and is committed to serving others. It is voted on by the ACM Lifting Lives Board of Directors.
ACM MILESTONE AWARD – Lainey Wilson has been chosen as the recipient of the ACM Milestone Award, honoring the contributions of Gene Weed, who directed and produced the ACM Awards for more than 30 years. This award is presented to a Country Music artist, duo/group or industry leader for a specific, unprecedented or outstanding achievement in the field of Country Music during the preceding calendar year.
ACM POET’S AWARD – Walt Aldridge and Alan Jackson have each been chosen as recipients of the ACM Poet’s Award. This award is presented to a Country Music songwriter for outstanding and longstanding musical and/or lyrical contributions throughout their career, with special consideration given to a song or songs’ impact on the culture of Country Music.
ACM ARTIST-SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR AWARD – As previously announced, Chris Stapleton was awarded the 59th ACM Artist-Songwriter of the Year Award, his fourth ACM Award this year and his 20th ACM Award to date. This award is presented to an individual known both as an artist and a songwriter, selected by a Professional Panel of judges whose members composed of songwriters, publishers, producers, and performing rights organization (PRO) representatives. The Panel submits five nominees, at which time ACM members in the Artist/Musician/Producer/Engineer, Songwriter, Music Publisher/PRO and Record Company categories vote for the winner.
ACM SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR AWARD – As previously announced, Jessie Jo Dillon was awarded the 59th ACM Songwriter of the Year Award. This award is presented to an individual known predominately as a songwriter, selected by a professional panel of judges composed of songwriters, publishers, producers, and performing rights organization (PRO) representatives. The Panel submits five nominees, at which time ACM members in the Artist/Musician/Producer/Engineer, Songwriter, Music Publisher/PRO and Record Company categories vote for the winner. This is Jessie Jo Dillon’s first ACM Award.