Baptist singer Eric Church and Chris Stapleton are leading the nominations for the 51st Academy of Country Music Awards this 2016, getting the nod in five categories each.
Church, who is known for his song "Loves Me Like Jesus Does," has been nominated for the first time as Entertainer of the Year and third time for Male Vocalist of the Year. His other nominations are for Album of the Year for "Mr. Misunderstood," Video of the Year for "Mr. Misunderstood," and Vocal Event of the Year for "Raise 'Em Up" with Keith Urban, according to the Gospel Herald.
Stapleton has been nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year, New Male Vocalist of the Year, and Vocal Event of the Year for "Hangover Tonight" with Gary Allan. He is nominated for both artist and producer in the Album of the Year category for "Traveller."
Country singing duo Joey and Rory Feek has been nominated for Vocal Duo of the Year. Joey Feek is currently battling terminal cancer.
Meanwhile, Cam, Chris Young, and Little Big Town each received four nominations. Karen Fairchild of Little Big Town received an individual nomination for Vocal Event of the Year for "Home Alone Tonight" with Luke Bryan.
Chris Janson, Miranda Lambert, and Thomas Rhett each received three nominations.
The nominees for Song of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Studio Recording Awards, and Industry Awards will be announced at a later date.
The awards ceremony will be hosted by Dierks Bentley and Luke Bryan, which will be broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 3, 2016. It will be held from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. EST/delayed PST on the CBS Television Network.
