Academy of Country Music® to Celebrate 15th Academy of Country Music Honors™ on Wednesday, August 24, 2022 at Nashville’s Historic Ryman Auditorium

ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2022

AT NASHVILLE’S HISTORIC RYMAN AUDITORIUM

Winners of the Special Awards, Songwriter of the Year Award,

Studio Recording Awards, and Industry Awards

to be Celebrated at the Annual Event

WHAT: The 15^TH ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC HONORS™ is an evening of live music and tributes celebrating recipients of the Academy of Country Music’s Special Awards, Songwriter of the Year Award, Studio Recording Awards, and Industry Awards from the 57^th ACM Awards cycle. The event, frequently described as “the Country Music industry’s favorite night,” will return to Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium for the twelfth year.

WHEN: Wednesday, August 24, 2022

WHERE: Ryman Auditorium – 116 5th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37219

MORE: Additional details including this year’s winners, host, performers, and general event information will be announced in the coming weeks. For more information, please visit www.acmcountry.com. To stay up to date on upcoming announcements and receive exclusive access to ticket pre-sales, subscribe to the ACM A-List Newsletter.

Each year, the Academy recognizes Special Award winners voted on by the Academy’s Board of Directors for their outstanding achievements and contributions to the Country Music industry and ACM Lifting Lives. Special Awards categories include:

• The Cliffie Stone Icon Award is presented to a Country Music artist, duo/group, or industry leader who has advanced the popularity of the genre through their contributions in multiple facets of the industry. Notable winners from the past 15 years include Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire, George Strait, and Conway Twitty.
• The Gene Weed Milestone Award is presented to a Country Music artist, duo/group, or industry leader with an outstanding achievement in the genre during the preceding calendar year. Notable winners from the past 15 years include Garth Brooks, Luke Combs, Merle Haggard, Taylor Swift, and Carrie Underwood.
• The Gary Haber Lifting Lives Award is presented to a Country Music artist, duo/group, or industry leader who is devoted to improving lives through the power of music. Notable winners from the past 15 years include Rascal Flatts, Dolly Parton, Darius Rucker, and Carrie Underwood.
• The Jim Reeves International Award is presented to a Country Music artist, duo/group, or industry leader for outstanding contributions to the growth of country music throughout the world. Notable winners from the past 15 years include Eric Church, Dan + Shay, Kacey Musgraves, and Taylor Swift.
• The Mae Boren Axton Service Award is presented to a Country Music artist, duo/group, or industry leader in recognition of years of dedication and service to the Academy of Country Music. Notable winners from the past 15 years include RAC Clark, Bob Kingsley, Reba McEntire, and Keith Urban.
• The Merle Haggard Spirit Award is presented to a singer-songwriter who is continuing the legacy of country legend and 20-time ACM Award Winner Merle Haggard by following his/her own path, crafting great songs and epitomizing Merle’s spirit through genuine performances and great storytelling. Past winners include Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, Toby Keith, and Miranda Lambert.
• The Poet’s Award is presented to a Country Music songwriter for outstanding and longstanding musical and/or lyrical contributions throughout their career. Notable winners from the past 15 years include Bill Anderson, Kris Kristofferson, Loretta Lynn, Buck Owens, and Hank Williams.
• The Tex Ritter Film Award recognizes an outstanding television movie, series or feature film released during the preceding calendar year which prominently features country music. Notable winners from the past 15 years include Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors, Nashville, A Star Is Born, and Ken Burns’s Country Music.

In addition to the Special Awards honorees, the 15^th Annual ACM Honors will acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of this year’s Songwriter of the Year, HARDY. This award is presented to an individual who stood out as the top wordsmith of the past year, helping to create the stories that artists share with their fans through song. The Award is selected by a special Professional Panel of judges composed of songwriters, publishers, producers, and performing rights organization representatives. Notable winners from the past 15 years include Rhett Akins, Hillary Lindsey, Shane McAnally, and Lori McKenna.

The Academy’s Studio Recording Awards recognize the creators behind the music, with categories including Bass Player of the Year, Drummer of the Year, Acoustic Guitar Player of the Year, Piano/Keys Player of the Year, Specialty Instrument(s) Player of the Year, Electric Guitar Player of the Year, Audio Engineer of the Year, and Producer of the Year. The eligibility of each artist, musician, producer, and engineer recognized in their respective category is determined by a Professional Panel of judges chosen by the ACM Officers, with each honoree having achieved a Top 20 or better on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs, Billboard’s Top Country Albums or Mediabase Country charts during the current eligibility period. Notable winners in the Studio Recording Awards categories in the past 15 years include busbee, Dann Huff, Jay Joyce, Jimmie Lee Sloas, and Ilya Toshinskiy, among others. For more information on Studio Recording Awards eligibility and nominees, view here.

ACM Industry Awards recognize venues and talent buyers/promoters who have bought or promoted a set number of country concerts (number varies based on category), is in good standing with all agents/vendors, and helps promote Country Music ticket sales. The various categories honored include Casino of the Year – Theater, Casino of the Year – Arena, Fair/Rodeo of the Year, Festival of the Year, Club of the Year, Theater of the Year, Outdoor Venue of the Year, Arena of the Year, Don Romeo Talent Buyer of the Year, and Promoter of the Year. Notable winners in the Industry Awards categories in the past 15 years include Billy Bob’s Texas, Brian O’Connell, Ed Warm, Madison Square Garden, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, and The Beacon Theatre. For more information on Industry Awards eligibility and nominees, view here.

To search the Academy’s database and view the full list of previous winners for each category, visit here.

About the Academy of Country Music:

Founded in Southern California in 1964 as a regional trade organization, the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC (ACM) has grown in the almost-60 years since into a leading association for the Country Music industry. Today, the Academy boasts more than 4,550 professional members nationwide and serves as a powerhouse advocate for Country fans, artists, and all facets of the business, as well as a supporter of philanthropic work through charitable arm ACM LIFTING LIVES^®, which works to improve lives through the power of music. 2022 will be a landmark year for the Academy, with a relocation from Los Angeles, CA to Nashville, TN and its iconic Academy of Country Music Awards^™ streaming on Amazon Prime Video live from Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium, in a historic partnership, the first time a major awards show has been streamed exclusively. For more information, log onto www.ACMcountry.com or www.ACMLiftingLives.org.

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