Chris Stapleton’s ‘Starting Over’ Honored As Album of the Year At 2021 ACM Awards

The votes are in and Chris Stapleton’s latest album, Starting Over, has been named Album of the Year at the 2021 ACM Awards.

The superstar accepted the incredible honor live from Nashville’s The Bluebird Cafe.

“Thank you for giving us this award tonight,” Stapleton shared. “We work really hard to make music, and we think a lot about it.”

The soft-spoken Kentucky native went on to thank his wife, Morgane, longtime producer, Dave Cobb, and the musicians who played on the record. 

“It means a lot to us,” he said. “It really does. Thank you, thank you very much.” 

Album Of The Year is awarded to the artist(s), producer(s) and record label(s). 

Other projects up for the title of the Album of the Year were Luke Bryan’s Born Here Live Here Die Here, Kane Brown’s Mixtape Vol. 1, Ashley McBryde’s Never Will and Brothers Osborne’s Skeletons.

The 56th ACM Awards also featured performances from Brothers Osborne, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Mickey Guyton, Alan Jackson, Thomas Rhett, Blake Shelton, Chris Stapleton, Lady A, Ashley McBryde, Keith Urban, Gabby Barrett, Jimmie Allen, Little Big Town and more.

Additionally, the show included star-studded collaborations by Dierks Bentley feat. The War And Treaty, Miranda Lambert with Jack Ingram and Jon Randall, Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd, Chris Young feat. Kane Brown, Carly Pearce and Lee Brice, as well as Carrie Underwood & CeCe Winans. The show opener featured the live debut of Elle King and Miranda Lambert’s duet, “Drunk (And I Don’t Want To Go Home).”

Co-hosted by Keith Urban and Mickey Guyton, the 2021 ACM Awards took place in Music City for the second consecutive year. The three-hour awards show took place at three iconic Nashville venues, including Grand Ole Opry House, Ryman Auditorium and The Bluebird Cafe. The awards show aired on Sunday, April 18 (live 8:00-11:00 PM ET) on CBS Television Network and were also streamed live on CBS All Access.