Morgan Wallen Humbly Accepts ACM Album of the Year Trophy, Shouts Out Son, Indie, and Fans

“I am blown away by you guys,” Wallen shared when giving a shoutout to his fans.

Lauren Jo Black

| Posted on

March 7, 2022

8:23 pm

Morgan Wallen; Photo by Getty Images for ACM

Morgan Wallen took home the ACM Album of the Year trophy for his record-breaking 2020 release, Dangerous: The Double Album.

The East Tennessee native was on-hand at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas where he took the stage to accept the coveted trophy.

Sporting a suit with a tan vest, Wallen shared a humble speech where he thanked his family fans and those involved in the album-making process.

And ACM Album of the Year goes to… Dangerous: The Double Album by @MorganWallen! #ACMawards pic.twitter.com/4AcbMY0Zyf

— ACM Awards (@ACMawards) March 8, 2022

“When I started this album I was a kid. By the time I put it out I was a father and that’s become more important to me than anything else,” Wallen began. “To my son, this album would signify that his daddy was a fighter and he chased his dreams and worked hard to make them a reality.”

He continued with a message to those who helped him make the album.

“I want to say a special thank you to all the songwriters, producers, and musicians that played on this album,” he shared. “I wish you were standing here next to me, this project would not be complete without each other.”

Wallen closed his speech as he thanked everyone who has supported him, through the highs and lows of his career.

“I’d also like to thank my good Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, my family, my close friends, my band, my team in Nashville, country radio and everyone who’s shown me grace along the way,” Wallen said before shouting out his fans.

“Most importantly I have to address my fans, personally and directly, thank you, thank you, thank you. I am blown away by you guys.”

Congratulations to this year’s winner of ACM Album of the Year @MorganWallen 🎉 #ACMawards pic.twitter.com/woAScTwR6Y

— ACM Awards (@ACMawards) March 8, 2022

The news comes as Dangerous: The Double Album became the country album with the most weeks (60) in the Top 10 in Billboard 200 chart history. This achievement breaks a record previously held by Swift’s Fearless, which sat in the Billboard 200 chart Top 10 for 59 weeks.

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

The other albums nominated in the ACM Album of the Year category included Carly Pearce’s 29: Written In Stone, Thomas Rhett’s Country Again: Side A, Chris Young’s Famous Friends, Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert and Jon Randall’s The Marfa Tapes.

The 57th Academy of Country Music Awards aired on Monday, March 7, exclusively on Prime Video at 8/7c.

Co-hosted by global icon Dolly Parton with Jimmie Allen and Gabby Barrett, the two-hour show livestreamed without commercials and featured 20+ performances from some of country music’s hottest superstars and rising newcomers.

The performance lineup included Parker McCollum and Lainey Wilson, who were crowned this year’s New Male and New Female Artist of the Year, respectively as well as Barrett, Allen, Jason Aldean, Carrie Underwood, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Walker Hayes, Maren Morris, Brothers Osborne, Thomas Rhett, Chris Stapleton, Chris Young, Lady A and Kelly Clarkson.

“The concert event of the year” also included several collaborations, including Parton featuring Kelsea Ballerini (“Big Dreams & Faded Jeans”), BRELAND featuring Thomas Rhett (“Praise The Lord”), Jordan Davis (“Buy Dirt,” feat. Luke Bryan), Brothers Osborne and Brittney Spencer (“These Boots Are Made for Walkin’”), Parmalee and Blanco Brown featuring Brooke Eden (“Just the Way”), Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde (“Never Wanted to Be That Girl”), and Chris Young featuring Mitchell Tenpenny (“At the End of a Bar”).

The 2022 ACM Awards presenters included Alan Ritchson (actor, Reacher), Derek Carr (quarterback, Las Vegas Raiders), Guy Torry (comedian, Phat Tuesdays), James Patterson (author, Run Rose Run), Jason Aldean, Kelsey Asbille (actor, Yellowstone), Luke Grimes (actor, Yellowstone), Mickey Guyton, and Tom Pelphrey (actor, Outer Range).

The ACM Awards made history as the first major awards show to livestream exclusively as it streamed live on Prime Video in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK.

Written by

Lauren Jo Black

Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.