Who Will Take Home the Top Honors?

[Awarded to songwriter(s)/publisher(s)/artist(s)]

“A Song To Sing” – Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton; Songwriters: Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert, Jenee Fleenor, Jesse Frasure; Publishers: I Wrote These Songs; Pink Dog Publishing; Songs for the Munch Music; Songs of Influence; Sony/ATV Tree Publishing; Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp

“Am I Okay?” – Megan Moroney; Songwriters: Megan Moroney, Luke Laird, Jessie Jo Dillon; Publishers: Big Ass Pile of Dimes Music; Big Music Machine

“Choosin’ Texas” – Ella Langley; Songwriters: Ella Langley, Luke Dick, Miranda Lambert, Joybeth Taylor; Publishers: Bada Bing & Bada Langley Publishing; Little Louder Songs; Sony Music Publishing

“I Never Lie” – Zach Top; Songwriters: Zach Top, Carson Chamberlain, Tim Nichols; Publishers: Music and Magazine Publishing; Rio Bravo Music Inc; Sony/ATV Tree Publishing; Too Broke to Quit Music; Zach Top Music

“Somewhere Over Laredo” – Lainey Wilson; Songwriters: Lainey Wilson, Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson, Andy Albert, Harold Arlen & Yip Harburg; Publishers: Concord Sounds; Dtown Boogie Music; Emi Feist Catalog Inc; Songs of Riser House; Songs of Wild Cat Well Music; Sony/ATV Countryside; Story Farmer; Tacklebox Music Publishing

Newman: Each one of these songs showed a new or different facet of the performer. Additionally, the performers are also the songwriters in all nominees, which is not always the case. If Wilson’s “Somewhere Over Laredo” wins, the songwriters of 1939’s The Wizard of Oz’s “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” will become ACM Award winners since Wilson’s song very lightly interpolates the classic, which is just a wacky notion. Lambert has two chances here as songwriter/performer on “A Song to Sing” and Lambert’s “Choosin’ Texas,” which she co-wrote. “Choosin’ Texas” has become a phenomenon and seems impossible to beat. 

Winner: “Choosin’ Texas”

Nicholson: Each of these songs found the artist challenging themselves artistically, whether that’s the sultry ’70s vibe of the Stapleton/Lambert collab “A Song to Sing,” Moroney trading the scathing romantic takedowns of her debut album for the optimism of the title track to her sophomore project, or Wilson wrapping in melody and other elements from the classic “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” into her hit “Somewhere Over Laredo.” Fans immediately took to Top’s “I Never Lie,” as they did with Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas.” But given the enduring power of Langley’s smash hit, “Choosin’ Texas” seems primed for the winner’s circle.

Winner: “Choosin’ Texas”