There goes Chris Stapleton riding off into the sunset with yet another addition to his awards mantle. At Thursday night’s ACM Awards (May 16), which are produced by Dick Clark Productions, the country superstar took home male artist of the year.
Nominated alongside fellow country hitmakers Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson and Morgan Wallen, Stapleton earned his third career triumph in this category. He boasts nine total nominations for male artist of the year, including victories in 2016, 2018 and 2022. In his acceptance speech, Stapleton gave a sweet shoutout to his mother, who is unfortunately “under the weather.”
On Wednesday (May 15), Stapleton was announced as the winner of artist-songwriter of the year, beating out Wallen, Zach Bryan, Ernest and HARDY. The “Tennesee Whiskey” singer is nominated in two other categories at the 2024 ACM Awards: album of the year for 2023’s Higher and entertainer of the year. Stapleton won the latter category last year.
Higher debuted atop Country Albums late last year (chart dated Nob. 25, 2023), marking his fifth consecutive chart-topper on that ranking. Stapleton introduced the set with Grammy-winning lead single “White Horse,” which reached No. 5 on Hot Country Songs and No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100, his highest peak as a lead artist. Follow-up single “I Think I’m In Love With You” reached No. 20 on Hot Country Songs.
With his triumph this year, a different artist has won male artist of the year each year of the 2020s. Combs triumphed in 2020, Thomas Rhett followed in 2021, Stapleton reigned in 2022 and Wallen took home the trophy in 2023.
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