The annual Arkansas Country Music Awards are scheduled for June 7th, 2021. While the majority of country music fans are gearing up for the CMA’s on CBS, fans in the great state of Arkansas get their very own red carpet awards ceremony!
Arkansas has bred some hit country music and bluegrass artists over the years, so it seems fit that they hold their very own country music awards to honor their local talent.
The Arkansas Country Music Awards website explains, “The highly anticipated annual red carpet event covers the current music scene, honoring legends, producers, independent artists, and more.”
Fans can purchase tickets to the annual event (although they may be limited this year due to COVID restrictions). The Arkansas Country Music Awards are being held in Conway, AR at the Reynolds Performance Hall.
The official 2021 Arkansas Country Music Awards nominees are as follows:
ENTERTAINER of the Year
David Adam Byrnes
Erin Enderlin
Jabe Burgess
Lance Carpenter
Maybe April
AMERICANA ARTIST of the Year
Grace Stormont
Maybe April
National Park Radio
Pam Setser
Ten Penny Gypsy
BLUEGRASS ARTIST of the Year
Arkansauce
Butch Suitt
Possum Trot
Spillwater Drive
Tacie and the Sunshine Band
COUNTRY ARTIST of the Year
Bailey Hefley
David Adam Byrnes
Erin Enderlin
Jabe Burgess
Ward Davis
INSPIRATIONAL ARTIST of the Year
Brenda Denney
The FlatLand Gospel Band
Grace Stormont
The Tiptons
The Villines Trio
FEMALE VOCALIST of the Year
Erin Enderlin
Grace Stormont
Mae Estes
Pamela Hopkins
Sarah Jane Nelson
MALE VOCALIST of the Year
Cory Jackson
David Adam Byrnes
Jabe Burgess
Lance Carpenter
Tyler Kinch
ACOUSTIC ACT of the Year
The Creek Rocks
Grace Stormont
Lee Street Lyrical
Mallory Everett
Ryan Harmon
VOCAL GROUP of the Year
Diane Berry / Joe Wade Smith
Hayefield
Maybe April
Nik & Sam
The Salty Dogs
ALBUM of the Year
“Black Cats and Crows” by Ward Davis. Produced by Jim ‘Moose’ Brown.
“The Country Blues” by Billy Don Burns. Produced by Charlie Ammerman, Thomas Gramuglia, Billy Don Burns, Jeff Williams, Mike Randolph and Aaron Dethrage.
“Horses and Steel” by Kenny Drain. Produced by Kenny Drain.
“Neon Town” by David Adam Byrnes. Produced by Trent Willmon.
“Rain and Whiskey” by Anna Brinker. Produced by B.J. Taylor and Kevin Sokolnicki.
SONG of the Year
“Dianne’s Song” Written by Jabe Burgess, Steve Williams and Mark Alan Springer. Performed by Jabe Burgess.
“Great Again” Written by Justin Wilson and Brice Long. Performed by Lance Carpenter.
“On Your Own” Written and performed by Grace Stormont.
“Recycled” Written by Autumn McEntire, Hannah Blaylock, Mae Estes and Josh Matheny. Performed by Mae Estes.
“Say It Again” Written by Lydia Dall, Morgan Johnston and Joe Tounge. Performed by Kelsey Lamb.
SONGWRITER of the Year
Charley Sandage
Erin Enderlin
Jason Lee Campbell
Kenny Drain
Phil McGarrah
MUSIC PRODUCER of the Year
Andy Wallis
Jon Raney
Kent Wells
Nathanael Stone
Tim Crouch
SOUND ENGINEER of the Year
Bryce Roberts
Darren Crisp
Jon Raney
Ryan Ceola
Woody Wood
PROMOTER of the Year
Alice Walker
Beth Brumley
Bill and Linda Lovett
Cliff and Susan Prowse
Joannie Howell
VIDEO of the Year
“Everything But Us” by Jabe Burgess. Directed by Noah Coffey III.
“Lost Boy” by The Render Sisters. Directed by Joe Sikkema and Pam Tillis.
“Old School” by David Adam Byrnes. Directed by Dylan Rucker.
“She Knew Better” by Abby Lindsey. Directed by Lexy Burke.
“Water” by Lauren Richmond. Directed by B.J. Taylor and Brent Wheeler.
RADIO STATION of the Year
KCYT “96.7 The Coyote,” Springdale
KDXY “The Fox 104.9,” Jonesboro
KSSN “KSSN 96,” Little Rock
KQUS “US 97,” Hot Springs
KZHE “KZ-100,” Magnolia
RADIO DJ of the Year
Amy G, KABF, Little Rock
Big Dan Hentschel, KAMO, Rogers
D.J. Taylor, KSSN, Little Rock
J.R. Runyon, Y107, Conway
Lisa Lindsey & Jim Weaver, KKYR, Texarkana
PUBLICATION / BLOG / PODCAST of the Year
AY Magazine
Acoustic Music Talk with Brad Apple
If That Ain’t Country
Jonesboro Occasions
The Vine Brothers Songwriter Series Presents:
VENUE of the Year
The Collins Theater
George’s Majestic Lounge
Jimmy Doyle Country
Kings Live Music
Ozark Mountain Hoe-Down Music Theater
YOUNG ARTIST of the Year
Lance Curtis
Lillyanne McCool
The Render Sisters
Savannah Free
TRIPPP
BASS PLAYER of the Year
Big Shane Thornton
Doug DeForest
Garrett Jones
Irl Hees
Michael Rinne
DRUMMER of the Year
Bart Angel
David O’Neal
Evan Hutchings
Jon Blum
Quinn Hill
FIDDLE PLAYER of the Year
Garry Murray
Jenee Fleenor
Jonathan Adams
Nathan Agdepa
Tim Crouch
GUITAR PLAYER of the Year
Buddy Case
Charlie White
Jon Conley
Luke Williams
Randall George
STEEL / DOBRO PLAYER of the Year
Josh Matheny
Randy Terry
Robby Springfield
Robert Jones
Zane Kin