Hillary Lindsey attends the 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 15, 2018 in Las Vegas.
Emma Mcintyre/ACMA2018/Getty Images for ACMSongwriter Hillary Lindsey and producer Jay Joyce will each receive top awards at the 14th annual ACM Honors at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on Aug. 25.
Lindsey will receive the Academy of Country Music’s songwriter of the year award for the second year in a row. Lindsey, whose past hits include "Jesus, Take the Wheel," "Girl Crush" and "Always Remember Us This Way," is the first songwriter to win this accolade two years running since Dallas Davidson, who took the award in 2011 and 2012. Shane McAnally has also won it twice (in 2013 and 2018) but not consecutively.
Jay Joyce will receive producer of the year for a record-extending fifth time. Joyce produced two of the albums nominated for album of the year at the 56th annual ACM Awards: Brothers Osborne's Skeletons and Ashley McBryde's Never Will. Joyce also produced one of the single of the year nominees: Miranda Lambert's "Bluebird."
Other honorees at the ACM Honors are Ken Burns’ Country Music, RAC Clark, Luke Combs, Ross Copperman, Dan + Shay, Joe Galante, Toby Keith, Lady A, Loretta Lynn, Gretchen Peters, Curly Putman and Rascal Flatts.
The evening is dedicated to recognizing the special honorees and off-camera category winners from the 55th and 56th ACM Awards. Studio recording awards and industry award winners from the 55th ACM Awards weren’t properly recognized last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
ACM special awards are voted on by the ACM board of directors. The show is executive produced by Damon Whiteside, CEO of the ACM, and written and produced by Lisa Lee.
Three of the awards will be presented posthumously: the ACM poet's award to songwriter Curly Putman, guitar player of the year to J.T. Corenflos and the 2019 producer of the year award to busbee.
ACM professional members can purchase tickets in a special pre-sale by visiting ticketmaster.com. The pre-sale code will be emailed to all professional members prior to the on-sale date. (Sign-up here for ACM emails.)
Tickets will go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. CT Friday at Ticketmaster. Prices range from $85 to $142.
A limited number (80) of VIP package tickets will be available starting Friday at 10 a.m. CT. VIP seating includes parking, VIP artist pit seating location, VIP pre-party reception with complimentary beverages and light hors d'oeuvres and an official commemorative ACM Honors Hatch Print. Tickets for VIP are priced at $1,000 at Ticketmaster.
ACM Party for a Cause (benefiting ACM Lifting Lives) will return in August, marking the first time ACM Party for a Cause will be in Nashville.
Here’s a complete list of special award honorees:
ACM Cliffie Stone icon award: veteran label executive Joe Galante and Rascal Flatts. This award is presented to a country music artist, duo/group or industry leader who 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.
ACM Gary Haber lifting lives award: Lady A and songwriter/producer Ross Copperman. This award is 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.
ACM Gene Weed milestone award: Luke Combs. This award 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.
ACM Jim Reeves international award: Dan + Shay. This award is presented to an artist or industry leader for outstanding contributions to the acceptance of country music throughout the world.
ACM Mae Boren Axton service award: RAC Clark. This award is presented to an outstanding country music artist, duo/group or industry leader in recognition of years of dedication and service to the Academy of Country Music. Clark, president of Lion’s Heart Entertainment, has produced the ACM Awards since 1999. Clark is the eldest child of legendary host and producer Dick Clark.
ACM Merle Haggard spirit award: Toby Keith. This award is presented to a singer-songwriter who is continuing the legacy of country legend Merle Haggard by following his or her own path, crafting great songs and epitomizing Haggard’s spirit through genuine performances and great storytelling.
ACM poet’s award: Loretta Lynn, Gretchen Peters and songwriter Curly Putman (posthumously). 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.
Tex Ritter film award: Ken Burns’ Country Music. This award recognizes an outstanding television movie, series or feature film released during the preceding calendar year which prominently features country music. Country Music, which premiered on PBS in 2019, was directed and produced by Ken Burns, written and produced by Dayton Duncan and produced by Julie Dunfey.
ACM songwriter of the year award: Hillary Lindsey. This award is presented to an individual known predominately as a songwriter, selected by a professional panel of judges composed of songwriters, publishers, producers, and performing rights organization representatives.
56th ACM Awards (2020 studio recording award winners):
Bass player of the year: Tony Lucido
Drummer of the year: Aaron Sterling
Guitar player of the year: J.T. Corenflos (awarded posthumously)
Piano/keyboards player of the year: Dave Cohen
Specialty instrument(s) player of the year: Ilya Toshinskiy
Steel guitar player of the year: Dan Dugmore & Mike Johnson (a tie)
Audio engineer of the year: F. Reid Shippen
Producer of the year: Jay Joyce
55th ACM Awards (2019 industry award winners):
Casino of the year – theater: The Joint: Tulsa – Tulsa, Okla.
Casino of the year – arena: MGM Grand Garden Arena – Las Vegas, Nev.
Fair/rodeo of the year: Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo – Houston, TX.
Festival of the year: Tortuga Music Festival – Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Club of the year: Joe’s Live – Rosemont, Ill.
Theater of the year: The Beacon Theatre – New York, N.Y.
Outdoor venue of the year: Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, Colo.
Arena of the year: Madison Square Garden – New York, N.Y.
Don Romeo talent buyer of the year: Gil Cunningham – Neste Live!
Promoter of the year: Brian O’Connell – Live Nation
55th ACM Awards (2019 studio recording award winners):
Bass player of the year: Jimmie Lee Sloas
Drummer of the year: Miles McPherson
Guitar player of the year: Rob McNelley
Piano/keyboards player of the year: Gordon Mote
Specialty instrument(s) player of the year: Jenee Fleenor
Steel guitar player of the year: Paul Franklin
Audio engineer of the year: Justin Niebank
Producer of the year: busbee (awarded posthumously)
NEWS
Kaiser Chiefs have announced a 20th anniversary reissue of their seminal debut album, ‘Employment’. Find all the details below.
The Leeds band released the seven-times Platinum, UK Number Two record back in 2005. It features the classic singles ‘Oh My God’, ‘I Predict A Riot’ and ‘Everyday I Love You Less And Less’.
‘Employment’ was named Best Album at the NME Awards 2006 – beating competition from Oasis, Bloc Party, Franz Ferdinand and Babyshambles – and has sold more than 2.1million copies.
Ahead of their huge 20th anniversary homecoming gig at Temple Newsam Park next Saturday (May 31) – where they’ll play ‘Employment’ in full – Ricky Wilson and co. have shared details of a special reissue to further mark the milestone.
A year typically commemorated with china, the group will celebrate two decades of their debut full-length with three brand new expanded ‘China Anniversary’ formats – which will arrive on July 18. Pre-order/pre-save here.
The 1LP edition is pressed on white vinyl and features the bonus track ‘Take My Temperature’, while the 2LP set contains 15 additional tracks, including a selection of B-sides and CD single bonus tracks, plus two previously unreleased songs, exclusive to this format.
On the 3CD set, alongside the original album, the band have added 40 tracks, including previously unreleased demo recordings, remixes, radio sessions, and a selection of live tracks that “chart their rapid rise from small club dates in Leeds, to festival headline act”.
The original album has been remastered at the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London, with the bonus material being curated by the band from their own archive.
To preview the forthcoming release, Kaiser Chiefs have shared ‘I Predict A Riot (Big Nurse Remix)’. Listen here:
The tracklists for Kaiser Chiefs’ ‘Employment – China Anniversary Edition’ are:
1LP:
Side A
1. Everyday I Love You Less And Less
2. I Predict A Riot
3. Modern Way
4. Na Na Na Na Naa
5. You Can Have It All
6. Oh My God
Side B
1. Born To Be A Dancer
2. Saturday Night
3. What Did I Ever Give You?
4. Time Honoured Tradition
5. Caroline, Yes
6. Team Mate
7. Take My Temperature
2LP:
Side A
1. Everyday I Love You Less And Less
2. I Predict A Riot
3. Modern Way
4. Na Na Na Na Naa
5. You Can Have It All
6. Oh My God
Side B
1. Born To Be A Dancer
2. Saturday Night
3. What Did I Ever Give You?
4. Time Honoured Tradition
5. Caroline, Yes
6. Team Mate
7. Take My Temperature
Side C
1. Less Is More
2. Wrecking Ball
3. Brightest Star
4. Not Surprised
5. Think About You (And I Like It)
6. Hard Times Send Me
7. Sink That Ship
Side D
1. The Letter Song
2. Seventeen Cups
3. It Ain’t Easy (Demo)
4. Run Again
5. People Need Light
6. Moon
7. Formative Years*
8. Don’t Get Me Wrong*
(*previously unreleased tracks)
3CD:
CD1
1. Everyday I Love You Less And Less
2. I Predict A Riot
3. Modern Way
4. Na Na Na Na Naa
5. You Can Have It All
6. Oh My God
7. Born To Be A Dancer
8. Saturday Night
9. What Did I Ever Give You?
10. Time Honoured Tradition
11. Caroline, Yes
12. Team Mate
13. Take My Temperature
CD2
1. Wrecking Ball
2. Brightest Star
3. Not Surprised
4. Think About You And I Like You
5. Hard Times Send Me
6. Sink That Ship
7. Less Is More
8. The Letter Song
9. Seventeen Cups
10. It Ain’t Easy (Demo)
11. Run Again
12. People Need Light
13. Moon
14. Another Number
15. I Heard It Through The Grapevine
16. Modern Way (Rhythms Del Mundo Version)
17. You Can Have It All (Light Orchestral)
18. Oh My God (Demo)*
19. Born To Be A Dancer (Demo)
20. Caroline Yes (Demo)*
21. I Predict A Riot (Demo)*
22. Modern Way (Demo)*
23. Saturday Night (Demo)*
(*previously unreleased tracks)
CD3
1. Everyday I Love You Less And Less (Spike Stent Remix)
2. I Predict A Riot (Spike Stent Remix)*
3. Na Na Na Na Naa (Polysics Remix)
4. Everyday I Love You Less And Less (Boyz Noize Remix)
5. I Predict A Riot (Big Nurse Remix)*
6. Sink That Ship (BBC Radio 2 Session for Mark Radcliffe 17/10/2005)*
7. Modern Way (BBC Radio 2 Session for Mark Radcliffe 17/10/2005)*
8. Everyday I Love You Less And Less (Live at The Mod Club, Toronto 29/05/2005)*
9. Hard Times Send Me (Live at the Academy, Birmingham 24/01/2005)*
10. Na Na Na Na Naa (Live at Glastonbury, Worthy Farm 25/06/2005)*
11. Oh My God (Live at Georg-Elser-Hallen, Munich 04/11/2005)
12. Born To Be A Dancer (Live at T In The Park, Kinross 10/07/2005)*
13. Saturday Night (Live at Joseph’s Well, Leeds 28/09/2003)*
14. Sink That Ship (Live at The Cockpit, Leeds 13/12/2004)
15. Take My Temperature (Live at the Fillmore, San Francisco 25/07/2005)
16. Time Honoured Tradition (Live at the Metro Theatre, Sydney 29/11/2005)*
17. Caroline, Yes (Live at the Metro Theatre, Sydney 29/11/2005)*
18. I Predict A Riot (Live at V Festival, Hylands Park, Chelmsford 20/08/2005)*
19. Take My Temperature (Live at Leeds Town Hall 11/05)*
20. Oh My God (Live at the Metro Theatre, Sydney 29/11/2005)*
(*previously unreleased tracks)
Speaking to NME upon announcing their big ‘Employment’ gig in Leeds – where they’ll be joined by the likes of Razorlight, The Cribs and We Are Scientists – Kaiser Chiefs said they’d be “doing nostalgia properly” at the event.
“We wanted to try and focus in and make it like a celebration of 2005 or 2006-ish,” said bassist Simon Rix.
Wilson also teased that fans could expect “songs that we wouldn’t usually play” at Temple Newsam, and promised some onstage nods to the ‘Employment’ era. “The beard’s coming off and the eyeliner is going on,” the frontman told NME.
He also looked back on playing on the NME Tour and said he was “surprised” to learn that ‘Employment’ had won the Best Album prize at the NME Awards.
In addition to next week’s Leeds show, the Kaisers have dates scheduled for Port Talbot, Bristol, Edinburgh Castle, London’s Alexandra Palace Park, Brighton Beach and other locations as part of their 2025 outdoor ‘Employment’ tour. You can find any remaining tickets here.
They’ll also make appearances at various summer festivals, including Glastonbury, Latitude, Boardmasters and Kendal Calling.
The band’s latest full-length record, ‘Kaiser Chiefs’ Easy Eighth Album’, was released last year. Speaking to NME last October, Wilson revealed that he’d already “thought of a good title” for its follow-up. “It always starts with the title,” he added.
