ACM Reveals Off-Camera Award Winners

Today the Academy of Country Music announced winners of awards to be presented Sept. 24 at the 6th Annual ACM Honors in Nashville. These off-camera categories include Special Awards, Industry Awards, MBI (Musician, Bandleader, Instrumentalist) and Songwriter of the Year.

The ACM Awards will be telecast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 1 at 7 p.m. CT on CBS.

Special Awards
Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award—Emmylou Harris, Billy Sherrill, Ricky Skaggs, Dwight Yoakam
Crystal Milestone Award—Kenny Chesney
Career Achievement Award—Vince Gill
Jim Reeves International Award—Alan Jackson
Mae Boren Axton Award—Gayle Holcomb, a longtime executive at William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, and ACM board member for 17 years, including five years as ACM chairman. She was instrumental in moving the Awards show to Las Vegas, and launching ACM Lifting Lives.
Poet’s Award—Bobby Braddock and Roger Miller

Songwriter of the Year—Dallas Davidson

Industry Awards
Casino of the Year—Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, NV
Don Romeo Talent Buyer of the Year—Jimmy Jay, Jayson Promotions, Inc.
Nightclub of the Year—Billy Bob’s Texas, Ft. Worth, TX
Promoter of the Year—Brian O’Connell, Live Nation
Venue of the Year—Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN

MBI (Musicians, Band, Instrumental) Awards
Producer of the Year—Frank Liddell
Audio Engineer of the Year—Justin Niebank
Bass Player of the Year—Michael Rhodes
Percussionist/Drummer of the Year—Shannon Forrest
Guitarist of the Year—Kenny Greenberg
Fiddle Player of the Year – Stuart Duncan
Piano/Keyboard Player of the Year—John Hobbs
Specialty Instruments Player of the Year—Aubrey Haynie
Steel Guitar Player of the Year—Paul Franklin

Methodology: The Academy of Country Music Special Awards are voted on by the ACM Board of Directors and are awarded during years where the Board of Directors feels there are clear and deserving candidates. Industry Awards are voted on by professional members of the Academy. The MBI ballot is voted on by professional members of the Academy classified in the Artist-Entertainer/Musician-Bandleader-Instrumentalist category, and the Producer-Engineer-Studio Manager sub-category (contained within the Affiliated category). The Songwriter of the Year ballot is voted on by professional members of the Academy in the following categories; Artist-Entertainer/Musician-Bandleader-Instrumentalist, Composer, Music Publisher/PRO, Record Company, and the Producer/Engineer/Studio Manager subcategory (contained within the Affiliated category).