Here are the nominations for the 56th Academy of Country Music Awards

Nashville- The 2021 Academy of Country Music Awards will return back to Nashville this year.

On Friday, the nominations were announced for the 56th Academy of country Awards. This year, something special happened. For the first time ever, four African American artists were nominated, as well as a woman for Single of the Year. Maren Morris and Chris Stapleton Lead with 6 Nominations, Miranda Lambert Receives 5 Nominations, Ashley McBryde and Thomas Rhett Each Receive 4 Nominations.

The 2021 Academy of Country Music will be held Sunday, April 18 at 8 PM, ET.

Check out the artists that were nominated in these categories.

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

 FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

 MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

  DUO OF THE YEAR

 GROUP OF THE YEAR

 NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

 NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

 ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
 
 Born Here Live Here Die Here – Luke Bryan
 Producers: Jeff Stevens, Jody Stevens
 Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville
 
 Mixtape Vol. 1 – Kane Brown
 Producers: Andrew Goldstein, Charlie Handsome, Dann Huff, Lindsay Rimes
 Record Label: RCA Nashville
 
 Never Will – Ashley McBryde
 Producer: Jay Joyce
 Record Label: Warner Music Nashville
 
 Skeletons – Brothers Osborne
 Producer: Jay Joyce
 Record Label: EMI Records Nashville
 
 Starting Over – Chris Stapleton
 Producers: Chris Stapleton, Dave Cobb
 Record Label: Mercury Nashville
 
 SINGLE OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
 
 Bluebird – Miranda Lambert
 Producer: Jay Joyce
 Record Label: Vanner Records/RCA Records Nashville
 
 I Hope – Gabby Barrett
 Producers: Ross Copperman, Zach Kale
 Record Label: Warner Music Nashville
 
 I Hope You’re Happy Now – Carly Pearce & Lee Brice
 Producers: busbee
 Record Label: Big Machine Records / Curb Records
 
 More Hearts Than Mine – Ingrid Andress
 Producers: Ingrid Andress, Sam Ellis
 Record Label: Warner Music Nashville
 
 The Bones – Maren Morris
 Producer: Greg Kurstin
 Record Label: Columbia Nashville
 
 SONG OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
 
 Bluebird – Miranda Lambert
 Songwriter(s): Luke Dick, Miranda Lambert, Natalie Hemby
 Publishers: Emileson Songs; Little Louder Songs; Pink Dog Publishing; Songs of Universal, INC; Sony ATV Tree Publishing; Wrucke for You Publishing
 
 One Night Standards – Ashley McBryde
 Songwriter(s): Ashley McBryde, Nicolette Hayford, Shane McAnally
 Publishers: Canned Biscuit Songs; Smackworks Music; Smack Blue, LLC; Smackstreet Music; Tempo Investments; Warner Geo Met Ric Music; Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp
 
 Some People Do – Old Dominion
 Songwriter(s): Jesse Frasure, Matt Ramsey, Thomas Rhett, Shane McAnally
 Publishers: Carrot Seed Songs; EMI Blackwood Music INC; Smackville Music; Songs of ROC Nation; Teremitry Rhythm House Music; Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp; Smack Hits; Tempo Investments; Warner Gro Met Ric Music
 
 Starting Over – Chris Stapleton
 Songwriter(s): Chris Stapleton, Mike Henderson
 Publishers: I Wrote These Songs; Straight Six Music; WC Music Corp
 
 The Bones – Maren Morris
 Songwriter(s): Jimmy Robbins, Maren Morris, Laura Veltz
 Publishers: Big Machine Music, LLC; Extraordinary Alien Publishing; International Dog Music; Oh Denise Publishing; Round Hill Songs; Warner-Tamerlane
 Publishing Corp.
 
 VIDEO OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]
 
 Better Than We Found It – Maren Morris
 Director: Gabrielle Woodland
 Producers: Sarah Kunin, Jennifer Pepke
 
 Bluebird – Miranda Lambert
 Director: Trey Fanjoy
 Producer: Heather Levenstone
 
 Gone – Dierks Bentley
 Directors: Wes Edwards, Ed Pryor, Travis Nicholson, Running Bear and Sam Siske, with animation by Skylar Wilson
 Producer: David Garcia
 
 Hallelujah – Carrie Underwood and John Legend
 Director: Randee St. Nicholas
 Producer: Greg Wells
 
 Worldwide Beautiful – Kane Brown
 Director: Alex Alvga
 Producer: Christen Pinkston
 
 SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR*(Off Camera Award)

 MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR (Tie Within Category Increased Nominees) [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
 
 Be A Light – Thomas Rhett featuring Reba McEntire, Hillary Scott, Chris Tomlin, Keith Urban
 Producer: Dann Huff
 Record Label: The Valory Music Co.
 
 Does To Me – Luke Combs featuring Eric Church
 Producer: Scott Moffatt
 Record Label: River House Artists/Columbia Nashville
 
 I Hope You’re Happy Now – Carly Pearce & Lee Brice
 Producer: busbee
 Record Label: Big Machine Records / Curb Records
 
 Nobody But You – Blake Shelton featuring Gwen Stefani
 Producer: Scott Hendricks
 Record Label: Warner Music Nashville
 
 One Beer – HARDY featuring Lauren Alaina & Devin Dawson
 Producers: Derek Wells, Joey Moi
 Record Label: Big Loud Records
 
 One Too Many – Keith Urban, P!nk
 Producers: Cutfather, Dan McCarroll, Keith Urban, PhD
 Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville
 

STUDIO RECORDING AWARDS

BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR

DRUMMER OF THE YEAR

GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR

PIANO/KEYS PLAYER OF THE YEAR

SPECIALTY INSTRUMENT PLAYER OF THE YEAR (Tie Within Category Increased Nominees)

STEEL GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR

AUDIO ENGINEER OF THE YEAR

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR