HARDY, Lainey Wilson lead ACM Awards nominees

Nashville, Tenn. (AP) – Country artist Hardy rode the success of his hit song “Wet in the Truck” with Lanny Wilson to the Academy of Country Music Awards, where he is a leading nominee.

And her duet partner wasn’t far behind, as the “Yellowstone” actor and singer-songwriter Wilson earned six nominations, including female artist of the year and album of the year, during the nominations announced Thursday.

The award show will be held in Frisco, Texas on May 11, hosted by Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks, and aired on Prime Video.

Two of Hardy’s seven nominations are in the Song of the Year category: “Wet in the Truck” and “Sand in My Boots”, a song sung by Morgan Wallen and co-written by Hardy, Ashley Gourley and Josh Osborne.

The most awarded artist in ACM history set another record when Miranda Lambert received her 17th Female Artist of the Year nomination. She surpassed Reba McEntire, who had 16 nominations in that category, and Texas native Lambert has four other nominations this year, including entertainer of the year and album of the year for critical favorite “Palomino.”

Nominees for Entertainer of the Year include Lambert, Wallen, Luke Combs, Jason Aldean, Kane Brown, Chris Stapleton and Carrie Underwood. Ashley McBride and John Pardee are nominated for Album of the Year alongside Wilson, Combs and Lambert.

Female Artist of the Year: Kelsea Ballerini, Lambert, McBride, Carly Pearce and Wilson. The Male Artist of the Year nominees are Brown, Combs, Jordan Davis, Stapleton, and Wallen.