On Tuesday, March 14, the ACM Awards announced a trio of early winners: Maren Morris takes New Female Vocalist of the Year, Jon Pardi claims New Male Vocalist of the Year and Brothers Osborne are the recipients of New Duo/Group of the Year. All three winners will get their moments to shine during the live ceremony on Sunday, April 2, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas where they’ll get to perform.
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Morris is arguably the least surprising of the three winners. She was the heavy favorite to win that award with 2/3 odds in our predictions center, defeating Cam, Lauren Alaina and Brandy Clark. At the main ACM Awards ceremony she’ll compete for three additional awards: Album of the Year (“Hero”), Single Record of the Year (“My Church”) and Female Vocalist of the Year. She was also nominated for Best New Artist at this past year’s Grammys, where she won Best Country Solo Performance for “My Church.”
Brothers Osborne were also the frontrunners in their category, getting 8/11 odds of winning New Duo/Group against their rivals Maddie and Tae, A Thousand Horses, Dan and Shay and LoCash. Brothers Osborne will face off against Maddie and Tae and Dan and Shay again at the main event, where they’re all up for Vocal Duo of the Year, but Florida Georgia Line are the favorites in that contest.
Jon Pardi’s victory for New Male Vocalist took us by surprise. We ranked him second to win with 10/3 odds, behind Brett Young. He also defeated Chris Janson, Kane Brown and Chris Lane. However, unlike Morris and Brothers Osborne, this was his only nomination this year.
Make your ACM predictions now; change them till April 2
Gold Derby readers just like YOU often turn out to be our smartest prognosticators, so it’s important that you give us your predictions. You can continue to update and change your forecasts as often as you like before winners are announced on April 2. Just click “Save” when you’ve settled on your choices. You’ll compete to win a $100 Amazon gift certificate, bragging rights and a place of honor on our leaderboard. Our racetrack odds change as you make your predictions, just as they do when you bet on the Emmys, Oscars and more. Be sure to read our contest rules and sound off on the ACM race in our music forum.
