Academy of Country Music - Definition and Overview

The Academy of Country Music (ACM) was founded in 1964 in Nashville, Tennessee. It was originally called the Country & Western Music Academy; and was formed by people who wanted to share their love of Country music.

In 1965, the first annual awards ceremony was held. Buck Owens won for Top Male Vocalist and Bonnie Owens won for Top Female Vocalist. Merle Haggard was named Top New Male Vocalist and Kaye Adams was named Top New Female Vocalist.

Awards

The most prestigious awards are for Artist of the Decade and Entertainer of the Year. There are a number of other awards to recognize male and female vocalists, albums, videos, songs and musicians. An award is presented in recognition of achievement in the previous year. An award presented in 1999 is for achievement in 1998, i.e., the "1998" award.

Artist of the Decade

1990s Garth Brooks

1980s Alabama

1970s Loretta Lynn

1960s Marty Robbins

Entertainer of the Year

2001 Brooks & Dunn

2000 Dixie Chicks

1999 Shania Twain

1998 Garth Brooks

1996 Brooks & Dunn

1995 Brooks & Dunn

1994 Reba McEntire

1993 Garth Brooks

1992 Garth Brooks

1991 Garth Brooks

1990 Garth Brooks

1989 George Strait

1988 Hank Williams Jr.

1987 Hank Williams Jr.

1986 Hank Williams Jr.

1985 Alabama

1984 Alabama

1983 Alabama

1982 Alabama

1981 Alabama

1980 Barbara Mandrell

1979 Willie Nelson

1978 Kenny Rogers

1977 Dolly Parton

1976 Mickey Gilley

1975 Loretta Lynn

1974 Mac Davis

1973 Roy Clark

1972 Roy Clark

1971 Freddie Hart

1970 Merle Haggard

Top Male Vocalist

2003 Toby Keith

2002 Kenny Chesney

2001 Alan Jackson

2000 Toby Keith

1999 Tim McGraw

1998 Tim McGraw

1997 George Strait

1996 George Strait

1995 Alan Jackson

1994 Alan Jackson

1993 Vince Gill

1992 Vince Gill

1991 Garth Brooks

1990 Garth Brooks

1989 Clint Black

1988 George Strait

1987 Randy Travis

1986 Randy Travis

1985 George Strait

1984 George Strait

1983 Lee Greenwood

1982 Ronnie Milsap

1981 Merle Haggard

1980 George Jones

1979 Larry Gatlin

1978 Kenny Rogers

1977 Kenny Rogers

1976 Mickey Gilley

1975 Conway Twitty

1974 Merle Haggard

1973 Charlie Rich

1972 Merle Haggard

1971 Freddie Hart

1970 Merle Haggard

1969 Merle Haggard

1968 Glen Campbell

1967 Glen Campbell

1966 Merle Haggard

1965 Buck Owens

Top Female Vocalist

2003 Martina McBride

2002 Martina McBride

2001 Martina McBride

2000 Faith Hill

1999 Faith Hill

1998 Faith Hill

1997 Trisha Yearwood

1996 Patty Loveless

1995 Patty Loveless

1994 Reba McEntire

1993 Wynonna

1992 Mary Chapin Carpenter

1991 Reba McEntire

1990 Reba McEntire

1989 Kathy Mattea

1988 K.T. Oslin

1987 Reba McEntire

1986 Reba McEntire

1985 Reba McEntire

1984 Reba McEntire

1983 Janie Fricke

1982 Sylvia

1981 Barbara Mandrell

1980 Dolly Parton

1979 Crystal Gayle

1978 Barbara Mandrell

1977 Crystal Gayle

1976 Crystal Gayle

1975 Loretta Lynn

1974 Loretta Lynn

1973 Loretta Lynn

1972 Donna Fargo

1971 Loretta Lynn

1970 Lynn Anderson

1969 Tammy Wynette

1968 Cathie Taylor

1967 Lynn Anderson

1966 Bonnie Guitar

1965 Bonnie Owens

See also

• Country Music Association
• Country Music Hall of Fame
• Grand Ole Opry

External links

• Academy Of Country Music - Official Website (http://www.acmcountry.com/)
• Academy Of Country Music - Award Archives - Past Winners - Page 1 (http://www.acmcountry.com/acm_past_winners1.htm)