Dan + Shay Tied for Most-Nominated Artist Overall; Kenny Chesney Up for Entertainer of the Year
This morning, Warner Music Nashville artists garnered the most ACM Awards nominations since 2009, when the company came under the leadership and direction of Chairman and CEO, John Esposito. Ashley McBryde, Chris Janson, Cole Swindell, Dan + Shay, High Valley, Kenny Chesney and Michael Ray, the multi-talented entertainers that call WMN their record label home, were recognized for 18 nods across 11 categories.
Following their first-ever GRAMMY win, platinum-selling pair Dan + Shay are tied as the most-nominated artist overall with six nominations with the duo’s Dan Smyers earning an additional four nominations for his work as a songwriter and producer. The skyrocketing superstars return to the Duo of the Year category for the sixth consecutive year received the first-ever Album of the Year nod for Dan + Shay and first-ever Song, Single, Video and Music Event nominations for “Tequila.” They recently performed the multi-platinum crossover smash on this year’s GRAMMY Awards, where it also took home the award for Best Country Duo / Group Performance.
“We’re proud to feel the love in a big way from our country music family this morning,” said Smyers. “Still trying to process it all, but wow. We sure are grateful for the opportunity to tell our stories and chase our childhood dreams every single day. Also, it’s pretty cool to be mentioned in the same headlines as Chris Stapleton. We’ll brag to our kids about that someday!”
With four Entertainer of the Year wins under his belt, Kenny Chesney rejoins the category for the first time since 2012. The hit-making country star also notched a Vocal Event of the Year nomination for his No. 1 song “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright” alongside David Lee Murphy. In 2018 he celebrated a multi-week chart-topper with “Get Along” from his album Songs for the Saints, which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales and Top Country Albums charts and No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Breakout star Ashley McBryde snagged her first-ever ACM nominations for Female and New Female Artist of the Year. Girl Going Nowhere, McBryde’s debut album, earned a nomination at this year’s GRAMMY Awards alongside a multitude of critical acclaim from The New York Times, The Washington Post, Rolling Stone, Variety and more.
“Holy crap, what a way to wake up this morning!” said McBryde. “Seeing my name among these nominations is unreal. This last year we’ve tried to stay focused and consistently take our live show to a new level each night. We’ve had this ‘head down, do work’ mentality. To have a GRAMMY nomination and now two ACM nominations really blows our minds. It’s such an honor to be in these categories. I’m so proud to be a female in country music. It’s a good time to be a ‘chick with a guitar.’ Congrats to all of us, ladies. Go get ‘em!”
Michael Ray joins McBryde in the New Artist field with his first-ever ACM nomination. His sophomore album, Amos, debuted Top 3 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart upon release and has already spawned the hit “Get to You” and Top 10 and climbing single "One That Got Away.”
"I’m honestly still taking it all in," said Ray. "Growing up I always watched the ACM Awards and I would write down the winners. Then the next year I'd pull out that piece of paper and compare it year-to-year. This is what I’ve been working toward since I was a kid. It’s always been my biggest dream to be in country music, and now being brought into the family and recognized by my peers feels incredible and surreal. And celebrating my first nomination with Carly, who is also nominated, makes it that much sweeter."
Rising duo High Valley is celebrating their second career ACM Nomination in the New Duo or Group of the Year category. Comprising brothers Curtis and Brad Rempel, they have brought their bluegrass-inspired songs featuring melodic harmonies and expert string musicianship to national audiences on Live with Kelly and Ryan, NBC’s TODAY and CBS This Morning.
“We’re feeling overwhelmed with thankfulness,” said Brad. “This career has taken us places that we never could have dreamed. Letting this soak in today and really enjoying it!”
With a finale on last year’s ACM Awards that Rolling Stone called a “must see performance,” Chris Janson is back this year with a nomination for “Drunk Girl” in the Video of the Year category. Named as “possibly the most important song to come out of Nashville in years” by CMT, the single followed smash No. 1 hits such as “Fix A Drink” and the career-defining, Multi-Platinum “Buy Me A Boat.” His new track “Good Vibes” is the first single released from his forthcoming third studio album.
“I’m excited and honored to be in this category for such an important video and message,” said Janson. “Thanks to everyone who made it possible. Thanks to Shane Tarleton and Mike Dupree from Warner Music Nashville for having the incredible vision and driving it home, and special thanks to Jeff Venable for directing. This is very humbling.”
Platinum-selling singer / songwriter and previous ACM New Artist of the Year winner Cole Swindell earned continued recognition today with a Song of the Year nod for his 8th No. 1 career single “Break Up In The End.” The GRAMMY-nominated song was named one of the best country songs of 2018 by Amazon, Spotify, Billboard and YouTube among others. Swindell recently performed his current single, “Love You Too Late,” on ABC’s Dancing With the Stars and Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Said Swindell: "I knew 'Break Up In The End' was a special song the moment I heard it, and I just knew I had to record it. I've said it before, but I am so grateful that Chase [McGill], Jon [Nite] and Jessie Jo [Dillon] trusted me with this song – a song that could have easily gone to any artist in this town. It means the world to me to see this song and these songwriters get the recognition that they deserve – from hitting No. 1 on the charts to the GRAMMY nomination to now an ACM Song of the Year nomination. What a great honor. Congratulations to Chase, Jon and Jessie Jo!”
ABOUT WARNER MUSIC NASHVILLE
Warner Music Nashville was created in 2009 with the goal of expanding the presence of WMG and its family of labels has had in the Nashville music community for more than 60 years. Under the leadership of Chairman & CEO John Esposito, the division is home to Warner Bros. Nashville and Atlantic Nashville.
