Nominations Revealed For 61st ACM Awards
Nominees have been unveiled for the 61st annual ACM Awards, taking place May 17 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Female artists showcase strong in the nomination pack this year, with Megan Moroney notching nine, Miranda Lambert earning eight and Ella Langley and Lainey Wilson garnering seven each. Chris Stapleton (six), Zach Top (five) and Cody Johnson (four) are also top leaders this year.
Highlights in this year’s nominations also include Riley Green receiving his first-ever nominations for Male Artist of the Year, Album of the Year (Don’t Mind If I Do (Deluxe)) and Artist-Songwriter of the Year; Parker McCollum notching his first-ever nomination for Album of the Year (Parker McCollum); Reba McEntire earning her first nomination since 2020 (Music Event of the Year (“Trailblazer”)) and every Song of the Year artist nominee also being credited as a songwriter on their respective track.
First time nominees this year include 49 Winchester, Avery Anna, Mackenzie Carpenter, Carter Faith, Caroline Jones, Vincent Mason, Emily Ann Roberts, Thelma & James, Hudson Westbrook and Stephen Wilson Jr.
The ACM Awards will stream live on May 17 at 7 p.m. CST via Prime Video, the Amazon Music channel on Twitch, or the Amazon Music app. Previously-announced performers include Johnson, Kacey Musgraves, Wilson, Little Big Town, Lambert and Green, with more to be revealed in the coming weeks.
Click here to see the full list of nominees.
Big Loud Publishing Promotes Michael Giangreco To President Of A&R
Michael Giangreco. Photo: Jessie Addleman
Big Loud Publishing’s Michael Giangreco has been promoted to President of A&R, effective immediately.
A three-time Variety Hitmaker, Giangreco began his tenure at Big Loud Publishing as an intern before rising the ranks to his current role.
“I am grateful to the partners (Seth [England], Craig [Wiseman] and Joey [Moi]) for their support and guidance. It’s an honor to continue building the legacy of Big Loud Publishing,” Giangreco shares. “When I interned over 10 years ago, I was inspired to learn how a strong independent publishing company operated. We’ve grown and evolved since then, but the songwriters remain the heart of this, and I am proud to represent and support them every day.”
“Mike has been Big Loud from the start,” adds Wiseman, Big Loud Publishing Founder and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer. “Beginning with Kimberly [Gleason] saying, ‘there’s an intern you should keep an eye on.’ Mike has become a true, top shelf publisher. He loves his writers and stands up for them and believes in them. Anyone who works with Mike is blessed to do so and we feel the same. Good on ya, Mike. You deserve this, brother.”
“From his first day, Mike has been an essential part of what we’ve built at Big Loud Publishing,” says England, Partner/CEO, Big Loud. “He has an incredible instinct for talent, a relentless work ethic and a genuine passion for songwriters that shows up in everything he does. This is a reflection of both his impact and the trust we have in his leadership. Mike has become truly best-in-class in publishing and our artists and songwriters couldn’t be in better hands.”
Throughout his tenure at Big Loud, Giangreco has been a key player in the making of Morgan Wallen’s record-setting albums I’m The Problem (2025), One Thing At A Time (2023) and Dangerous: The Double Album (2021), as well as each studio album by Grammy nominated hitmaker ERNEST, including his critically-acclaimed Nashville, Tennessee. He has signed and overseen the rise of multi-Platinum and CMA Triple Play recipients John Byron (Wallen’s No. 1 smashes “Just In Case,” “Love Somebody,” “Thinkin Bout Me,” “Last Night” and more) and Rocky Block (Wallen’s “Cowgirls,” Lil Durk collab “Broadway Girls,” Post Malone/Blake Shelton “Pour Me A Drink”), among other coveted co-creators like Grady Block, Hank Compton, Jordan Dozzi, Jacob Durrett and more.
In addition to his contributions to the Big Loud Publishing roster, Giangreco continues to work closely with Wallen and ERNEST, as well as fast rising band In Color signed to Big Loud Rock.
Cindy Mabe Launches Joan Of Arc Music
Cindy Mabe. Photo: Kevin Wimpy
Music industry veteran Cindy Mabe has launched Joan of Arc Music, a comprehensive entertainment company dedicated to preserving the legacy of country music while championing its future through artist development, label services, publishing, management, TV/film production, next generation technologies and philanthropic impact.
With her decades of proven success in developing country music’s biggest acts, Mabe has guided the careers of superstars including Carrie Underwood, Chris Stapleton, Luke Bryan, Darius Rucker, Brad Paisley, Kacey Musgraves, Keith Urban, and George Strait, among countless others.
“Country music is at a crossroads,” says Mabe, Founder and CEO of Joan of Arc Music. “We risk losing the very essence of what makes country music special—its authentic storytelling, its connection to people’s real lives, and its deep cultural roots. Joan of Arc Music exists to be warriors for creators and protect artistry.”
Joan of Arc Music includes the following four pillars: Joan of Arc Entertainment, which includes artist management, recorded music/label services, project development and marketing and publishing services; Joan of Arc Studio Works, focusing on multi-platform content creation including TV/film production, audio content and short-form monetization; Joan of Arc Ventures, offering strategic investments in innovative partnerships and equity-backed ventures; and Joan of Arc Music Preservation Foundation, a philanthropic division that protects the legacy of country music while championing its continued evolution. The company’s inaugural partnerships include the CMA Foundation, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Porter’s Call.
For distribution, Joan of Arc Music has partnered with Warner Records Nashville.
“This partnership with Cris Lacy and the team at Warner Records Nashville amplifies our mission,” shares Mabe. “Cris is a Nashville veteran whose commitment to the legacy of country music aligns with our vision of preserving the genre’s authentic storytelling while embracing innovative distribution and marketing strategies. Together, we’re creating a powerful platform for both emerging and established artists to reach global audiences.”
In addition to Mabe, Joan of Arc’s leadership team includes Lori Christian, Dawn Gates, Harper Grae, Leigh Morrison and Allison Winkler.
Jordan Reynolds Honored With Curtain Call Award
Jordan Kyle Reynolds is the recipient of the Curtain Call Award at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee April 6, 2026. Photo: Sam Simpkins
Grammy winning songwriter Jordan Reynolds has been honored by Belmont University’s School of Music with the 2026 Curtain Call Award. Reynolds was honored during a special event and performance on Monday (April 6).
An annual award, the Curtain Call Award goes to a Belmont commercial music alumni who have made significant contributions to the music industry.
Reynolds has had cuts by Dan + Shay, Morgan Wallen, Carly Pearce, Kelsea Ballerini, and more. He currently holds five No. 1 hits, including “Tequila,” “Speechless,” “All to Myself,” “10,000 Hours,” and “God Only Knows.”
“Jordan’s career reflects exactly what we hope students take from Belmont: excellence in craft, professionalism, collaboration and long-term thinking,” said Jamie Wigginton, commercial voice instructor in Belmont’s College of Music & Performing Arts. “He didn’t just learn how to write songs, he learned how to work, how to listen and how to show up prepared. That combination of musical depth and real-world readiness is central to our program, and Jordan embodies it.
“Jordan is a powerful example because his success is built on longevity, not flash,” he continued. “He shows students that a sustainable career comes from doing great work consistently, treating people well and staying committed through seasons where results aren’t immediate. He’s the kind of person you want to be in the room.”
“When your gut tells you something, chase that feeling down and just keep going,” reflected Reynolds. “You can’t stay in it just because you want to make money. It’s the connection to the work that sustains you. You’re just making music with your friends, without any expectations — just creating what feels important to you.”
Past recipients of the Curtain Call Award include Melinda Doolittle, Josh Turner, Ginny Owens, Dwan Hill, Alvin Love III, Russell Dickerson, Cody Fry, Sarah Davison, Ashley Crawford and Emmanuel Echem.
Ben Foster Inks With Black River Publishing
Photo: Courtesy of Black River Entertainment
Cross-genre songwriter and producer Ben Foster has signed with Black River Publishing.
“Ben has been a favorite collaborator with our roster for a long time,” says VP of Publishing Rebekah Gordon, “It was a no-brainer to partner together for this next chapter. He is as versatile and creative as they come, his songs are meaningful and captivating, and his production style brings out the best in any artist he works with.”
Originally from Iowa, Foster has spent time in Music City securing cuts with Adam Doleac, Travis Denning, Clayton Mullen, Jervis Campbell, Avery Roberson, Kylie Morgan, Brandon Ratcliff, Averie Bielski and more. Foster was previously signed to Sony Music Publishing in 2021.
“I’m excited to step into this partnership that’s made me feel at home from day one” adds Foster. “There’s something special about being part of a team that trusts you, and I can’t wait to see what songs come from it.”