17th ACM Honors


ACM Honors is dedicated to celebrating special award honorees, off-camera category winners, and ACM Industry and Studio Recording Awards. The 17th ACM Honors took place on August 21, 2024 at Nashville's historic Ryman Auditorium.

Honorees Walt AldridgeTony BrownLuke BryanAlan JacksonShannon Sanders, Chris Stapleton, Lainey Wilson, and Trisha Yearwood were celebrated during an unforgettable evening of live music and tributes, frequently described as the “Country Music Industry’s favorite night. The show was hosted by four-time ACM Award winner Carly Pearce, who returned for the fourth straight year, and reigning ACM Song of the Year winner Jordan Davis

Performers included Lauren Alaina & Emmylou Harris, Jason AldeanEric ChurchJordan DavisVince Gill & Ashley McBrydeJamey JohnsonCarly PearceLee Ann Womack, and more.

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 16 years include busbee, Dann Huff, Jay Joyce, Jimmie Lee Sloas, Ilya Toshinskiy, and Charlie Worsham among others. For more information on Studio Recording Awards eligibility and nominees, view here.

The Academy of Country Music® Special Awards are voted on by the ACM Board of Directors and are awarded during years where the board feels there are clear and deserving candidates. Industry Awards, Special Awards and Studio Recording Awards are presented to recipients at ACM Honors, a special event held annually in the fall at the historic Ryman Auditorium.

Click here to view the complete Special Awards & Criteria List

ACM Triple Crown Award

Wilson qualified for the Triple Crown Award after winning ACM New Female Artist of the Year, ACM Female Artist of the Year, and ACM Entertainer of the Year, an honor only nine other artists have been awarded.

Lainey Wilson

Lainey Wilson

ACM Icon Award

This award is inspired by Cliffie Stone, and 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.

Tony Brown

Tony Brown

Trisha Yearwood

Trisha Yearwood

ACM Lift Every Voice Award

This award is presented to a Country Music artist, duo/group, industry leader or affiliate/partner who plays a pivotal role in elevating underrepresented voices throughout the country music genre, transcending demographics and geography. The nominee for this category is proposed by the rising leaders in the Academy’s LEVel UP: Lift Every Voice professional development and enrichment program.

Shannon Sanders

Shannon Sanders

ACM Lifting Lives Award

This award is inspired by Gary Haber and 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.

Luke Bryan

Luke Bryan

ACM Milestone Award

The ACM Milestone Awards honors the contributions of Gene Weed and 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.    

Lainey Wilson

Lainey Wilson

ACM Poet's Award

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.

Alan Jackson

Alan Jackson

Walt Aldridge

Walt Aldridge

Artist-Songwriter of the Year

Chris Stapleton

Chris Stapleton

ERNEST

ERNEST

HARDY

HARDY

Morgan Wallen

Morgan Wallen

Zach Bryan

Zach Bryan

Songwriter of the Year

Ashley Gorley

Ashley Gorley

Chase McGill

Chase McGill

Hillary Lindsey

Hillary Lindsey

Jessie Jo Dillon

Jessie Jo Dillon

Josh Thompson

Josh Thompson


To view Merit Street, audiences can access the channel-finder link by entering zip codes at www.meritstreetmedia.com. Merit Street can also be found on DirecTV, Dish, U-Verse, Samsung TV Plus and additional broadcast, basic cable, national satellites, and FAST channels. Or stream it by downloading the free Merit+ app, available to download via iPhone & Android mobile devices, Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, and Roku. 

Listen to the tunes of ACM Honors in the official ACM Honors playlist, available on Amazon Music, Apple, Pandora, and Spotify, HERE.