Special Awards

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.

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.

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, voted on by the ACM Lifting Lives Board of Directors.

This 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.

This award is presented to an outstanding country music artist, duo/group or industry leader in recognition of years of dedication and service to the Academy of Country Music.

This 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.

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.

This award recognizes an outstanding television movie, series or feature film released during the preceding calendar year which prominently features country music.

This award is presented to an outstanding country music artist or duo/group who has dominated country music over the decade, through success at radio, digital media, sales and streaming, distinguishing events, touring, television appearances, and artistic merit.

This award recognizes an album that has impacted country music over the decade. The factors to be considered are, but not limited to the success at radio of singles released from album, album concept, commercial media, sales and streaming, artistic merit and ACM Award recognition.

This award recognizes a song that has impacted country music over the decade. The factors to be considered are, but not limited to success at radio, commercial media, sales and streaming, creative integrity, artistic merit and ACM Award recognition.

This award recognizes a songwriter whose creative works have impacted country music over the decade. The factors to be considered are, but not limited to success of body of work at radio, commercial media, sales and streaming, creative integrity, artistic merit and ACM Award recognition.

An artist-songwriter is defined as an artist who has commercially released material, written in whole or in part by said artist. This award recognizes a songwriter whose creative works and performance have impacted country music over the decade. The factors to be considered are, but not limited to success at radio, commercial media, sales and streaming, artistic merit and ACM Award recognition.

This award recognizes a single that has impacted country music over the decade. The factors to be considered are, but not limited to success at radio, commercial media, sales and streaming, artistic merit and ACM Award recognition.

This award recognizes a recording performed by artists who do not regularly perform together that has impacted country music over the decade. The factors to be considered are, but not limited to success at radio, commercial media, sales and streaming, artistic merit and ACM Award recognition.

This award recognizes an artist that first impacted country music in the decade and has contributed to the country music format in an impactful way. Factors to be considered are, but not limited to success at radio, commercial media, sales and streaming, creative integrity, touring statistics, artistic merit and ACM Award recognition.