About the Academy
In the half century since its inception, the Academy of Country Music has grown from a regional Southern California trade organization to a national powerhouse with its sights set on a higher purpose: improving lives by connecting fans, artists and the industry.
Improving lives by connecting fans, artists and the industry
In the half century since its inception, the Academy of Country Music® has grown from a regional Southern California trade organization to a national powerhouse with its sights set on a higher purpose – improving lives by connecting fans, artists and the industry. Today, the ACM® is dedicated more than ever to promoting new artists, artists on the rise and established superstars, while supporting the good work of charitable causes nationwide through ACM Lifting Lives®.
Six decades of Country
While the Academy strives to produce high-quality entertainment through the annual awards show, ACM Honors in Nashville, and other specials, many events serve a dual purpose as fundraisers for the Academy's philanthropic partner. ACM Lifting Lives is dedicated to improving lives through the power of music, harnessing the strength of the Country Music community to provide aid in times of need, with a focus on health-related initiatives.
To date, the organization has given more than $10 million to worthy causes, often to fund music therapy programs around the country.
- 1964
The Academy was officially founded in Los Angeles when performer Tommy Wiggins, songwriter Eddie Miller and club owners Mickey and Chris Christensen teamed up with other performers, radio and record label executives to establish the Country and Western Music Academy. Their vision was to promote Country Music in the western 13 states and to support artists based on the West Coast such as Billy Mize, Johnny Bond, Glen Campbell, Merle Haggard, Roger Miller, Buck Owens, Wynn Stewart, Jimmy Wakely and Tex Williams.
- 1965
An official Board of Directors was formed.
- 1966
The Academy hosted its first official Country Music awards show, honoring the industry's accomplishments from the previous year. It was the first Country Music awards program held by a major organization, propelling Country Music into the public spotlight for the first time.
- 1968
The Academy's signature “hat” trophy was created, the same year Fran Boyd was hired as the Academy's first paid employee.
- Early 1970s
The organization changed its name from the Academy of Country and Western Music to the Academy of Country Music (ACM). The awards show hit the TV airwaves in 1972, broadcast in syndication for the first time through Metromedia.
- 1979
The Academy joined forces with Dick Clark Productions to produce the show. Dick Clark and Al Schwartz served as producers while Gene Weed, who had taken over producing and directing in 1974, continued to direct.
- 1995
Fran Boyd became executive director after her husband, Bill Boyd, passed away. After 34 years of service, Fran retired and the position went to concert promoter and longtime ACM Board member Bob Romeo, who served in the post for 12 years.
- 2003
After being staged in Los Angeles since the 1960s, the ACM Awards left Southern California for the first time and settled into Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino Events Center, moving to the MGM Grand Garden Arena in 2006.
- 2015
The Academy moved the show to AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the ACM Awards. The show and the two-day ACM Party for a Cause Festival sold out in 18 minutes, landing in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most attended live awards show, with more than 70,000 fans in the house.
- 2016–2018
Former Grand Ole Opry General Manager Pete Fisher served as CEO.
- 2020
In January, renowned marketing executive Damon Whiteside became the new CEO of the Academy. That spring the coronavirus pandemic forced the Academy to postpone the 55th ACM Awards for the first time ever; the show moved to Nashville and three of its iconic venues: Grand Ole Opry House, Ryman Auditorium and The Bluebird Cafe. ACM Lifting Lives' COVID-19 Response Fund raised more than $3.6 million following the ACM Presents: Our Country special on CBS.
- 2022
The 57th ACM Awards headed back to Las Vegas and streamed live from Allegiant Stadium on Prime Video, making it the first major awards show to livestream exclusively.
- 2025
The 60th ACM Awards streamed live on Prime Video from Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, on May 8, with Reba McEntire hosting.
- 2026
The 61st ACM Awards returned to Las Vegas and the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 17, hosted by Shania Twain. In July, the Academy announced Andy Schuon as its new Chief Executive Officer.
Moments that made the Academy
Historic photography from the Academy's first five decades, 1966 to 2013.
History of the ACM Awards
From Los Angeles to Las Vegas, Nashville and Texas
The Academy hosted its first official Country Music awards show in 1966, honoring the industry's accomplishments from the previous year. It was the first Country Music awards program held by a major organization, propelling Country Music into the public spotlight for the first time.
The awards show hit the TV airwaves in 1972, broadcast in syndication for the first time through Metromedia. Gene Weed took over producing and directing the show in 1974, which ABC aired nationally, and in 1979 the Academy joined forces with Dick Clark Productions to produce the show. Dick Clark and Al Schwartz served as producers while Weed continued to direct. The Academy named Bill Boyd executive director, where he also served as the talent coordinator for the show. Under their guidance, the ACM Awards® moved first to NBC, then CBS, and finally to Prime Video, where it remains today.
After being staged in Los Angeles since the 1960s, the ACM Awards left Southern California for the first time in 2003 and settled into Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino Events Center in 2003, then moving to the MGM Grand Garden Arena in 2006. In 2015, the Academy moved the show to AT&T Stadium—the home of the Dallas Cowboys – to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the ACM Awards. The show (as well as the two-day ACM Party for a Cause Festival at Globe Life Park) sold out in 18 minutes, landing in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most attended live awards show (with more than 70,000 fans in the house). After that triumphant event, the Academy returned to Las Vegas in 2016.
Then came 2020. After selling out the 55th ACM Awards and surrounding Party for a Cause® events that were planned for April in Las Vegas, the coronavirus pandemic caused the closure of large live events, and the Academy was forced to postpone the show for the first time ever. After an exhaustive nationwide search, the ACM moved the show to the home of Country Music and three of Nashville’s iconic venues: Grand Ole Opry House, Ryman Auditorium and The Bluebird Cafe. The 55th Awards show, dubbed A NIGHT OF HEART AND HITS – LIVE FROM NASHVILLE, was a more intimate experience with artists performing and sharing their thoughts about the songs, venues and artists who have inspired them. The 56th ACM Awards followed suit, this time with Keith Urban and Mickey Guyton as hosts with performances again from the Grand Ole Opry House, Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium and The Bluebird Cafe, as well as at legendary locations across the city including the Station Inn, Bridge Building and on Broadway.
The 57th ACM Awards headed back to Las Vegas and streamed live from Allegiant Stadium on March 7, making it the first major awards show to livestream exclusively. The incredible Dolly Parton hosted the two-hour, commercial free show alongside co-hosts Gabby Barrett and Jimmy Allen. Then in 2023, the 58th ACM Awards made its way back to Texas for the first time since the record-breaking 50th ACM Awards. Dolly Parton returned to host for the second year in a row alongside Garth Brooks, which marked his awards show hosting debut.
The 59th ACM Awards returned to Frisco, Texas with entertainment icon Reba McEntire at the helm. The show saw record success with unique, out-of-genre collaborations including Dua Lipa, Noah Kahan and Post Malone.
The 60th anniversary show returned to Ford Center at The Star in Frisco on May 8, 2025, streaming live on Prime Video with Reba McEntire hosting for the 18th time, more times than any other artist in the Academy's history. The 61st ACM Awards followed on May 17, 2026, live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and hosted by Shania Twain.
Meet the Board and staff
The Academy is led by a Board of Directors drawn from across the Country Music industry and a dedicated staff.