The ACM Awards will bring some of country music’s biggest stars together on May 16 at the Ford Center in Texas. The event will feature a string of singers nominated for the night’s biggest awards, many of whom have attended the show before.
Stars like Kacey Musgraves, Kelsea Ballerini, Hannah Ellis and more are nominated for major prizes. In preparation for the award show, look back at what the 2024 nominees wore for their first red carpet appearance at the ACM Awards.
Kacey Musgraves
Kacey Musgraves at the 2013 ACM Awards.
Frazer Harrison/ACMA2013/Getty Images for ACM)
Kacey Musgraves’ first ACM Awards red carpet appearance came in 2013. She wore this Alice + Olivia white dress with feather embellishments on the skirt and ornate lace detailing on the top of the dress. She wore stacked bracelets and stud earrings as her accessories, and paired the look with nude platform heels. She is nominated for Female Artist of the Year at the 2024 ACM Awards.
Hannah Ellis
Hannah Ellis at the 2023 ACM Awards.
SUZANNE CORDEIRO/AFP via Getty Images
Hannah Ellis made her first ACM Awards red carpet appearance in 2023, just one year ago. For the event, she wore this glittering, sleeveless gown by Temraza. She’s nominated for New Female Artist of the Year at the 2024 ACM Awards.
Kelsea Ballerini
Kelsea Ballerini at the 2015 ACM Awards.
Rick Diamond/ACM2015/Getty Images for dcp
Kelsea Ballerini kept it playful on the red carpet of her first ACM Awards. She fashioned this high-low dress with circular fringe ruched detailing on the skirt and a black strapless top with sweetheart neckline. She completed the look with sandal heels and dangling gold earrings. She’s nominated for Female Artist of the Year at the 2024 ACM Awards.
Lainey Wilson
Lainey Wilson at the 2022 ACM Awards.
Denise Truscello/Getty Images for ACM
Lainey Wilson brought her own signature style to the 2022 ACM Awards. She wore a coat in burgundy with peacock feathers embroidered on the fabric. She paired the coat with stylish, wide-leg black pants and wore her hair in voluminous ’70s curls. She’s nominated for Female Artist of the Year and Entertainer of the Year at the 2024 ACM Awards.
Ashley McBryde
Ashley McBryde at the 2018 ACM Awards.
John Shearer/WireImage
Ashley McBryde took the ACM Awards red carpet in 2018. She wore a black jumpsuit, which perfectly showed off her tattoos on her arms and chest. She’s nominated for Female Artist of the Year at the 2024 ACM Awards.
Ashley Cooke
Ashley Cooke at the 2023 ACM Awards.
SUZANNE CORDEIRO/AFP via Getty Images
For her first ACM Awards in 2023, Ashley Cooke wore an emerald green dress courtesy of Sophie Couture. She paired the strapless gown with Kenneth Cole shoes and jewelry by Ettika. Her look was styled by Krista Roser. Cooke is nominated for New Female Artist of the Year at the 2024 ACM Awards.
Reba McEntire
Although she isn’t nominated this year, Reba McEntire is a decorated and venerated star in country music. The singer has 14 ACM Awards to her name with a total of 48 nominations. She wore a sky blue look at the 1985 ACM Awards. She is hosting the 2024 ACM Awards.
The Academy of Country Music Awards were first held in 1966 and honor industry performers for their accomplishments during the previous year. This year’s nominees include Kane Brown, Lainey Wilson and Jelly Roll, among others. There will be performances by Jason Aldean, Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert and more. The ACM Awards are May 16.
