David Adam Burns leads the nominations with five nominations for the sixth annual Arkansas Country Music Awards, which take place Monday at the UCA’s Reynolds Performance Hall.
Raised in Sherwood and now based in Fort Worth, Barnes has been nominated for Entertainer, Country Artist, Male Vocalist and Album and Video of the Year. Last year he won top honors for Entertainer and Male Vocalist of the Year.
But closing in on Burns is newcomer JD Clayton, who has four nominations alongside Erin Enderlin. Clayton is among more than 60 people nominated for the first time this year, according to Ashton Gill, vice president of the Arkansas Country Music Awards and co-host of the show.
Clayton is from Fort Smith and currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee. He is an aspiring entertainer, Americana artist, male vocalist and songwriter.
“It’s pretty surreal,” says Clayton. His latest album is ‘Long Way From Home’, released in January. “I’ve never been aiming for any awards in the music field… It’s hard to get recognition from my home state and it’s such an honor.”
(Enderlin, a Conway native who now lives in Nashville, is no stranger to taking home the Arkansas Country Music Awards trophy. She won Songwriter of the Year five times in a row. , and has a total of 12 awards, including Entertainer of the Year 2021 and Female Vocalist of the Year 2019. This year, she has been nominated in the Entertainer, Country Artist, Female Vocalist and Songwriter categories.)
That rookie list also includes Central Arkansas five-piece band Midnight South, who are nominated for Entertainer and Vocal Duo/Group.
Midnight South bassist/vocalist Jeremy Castaldo says, “It’s just insane that they let us into a mix of so many artists.” “I’m very humbled. We’ve only been here 18 months, so it’s just a shock…we’re all in suits, so we’re going to do it right.”
Singer-songwriter Sarah Jane Nelson’s latest LP, ‘Shelby Park’, is in the running for Album of the Year. Nelson was born in Little Her Rock and spent part of her childhood in Benton, El Dorado and Star Her City before moving with her family to Monroe, Louisiana. She has previously been nominated for Album of the Year for Female Vocalist of the Year 2021 and “I’m Not Broken” in 2022.
Nelson has also acted in plays and Broadway musicals, co-producing “Shelby Park” with Jamie Tate.
“These last two records are very special to me,” she says. “They’re very vulnerable, but I love that. I spent years as an actor telling other people’s stories. And now, not all of my songs are autobiographical, but they’re definitely It comes from a very real place.”
“It’s such an honor to be nominated for the Arkansas Country Music Awards…I love Arkansas and I’m so excited to be a part of this event that celebrates the incredible talent this state has produced,” he said. she says
There are a total of 26 categories of nominations, including inspirational artists, acoustics, radio stations, venues, young artists, music producers, publications/blogs/podcasts and more.
See arkansasmusic.org for a complete list of categories and nominations.
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Enderlin, Burns, Clayton and Midnight South are among the artists scheduled to perform at Monday’s ceremony. Linda Davis, Louise Mandrell, The Blackwood Brothers, Sharon White, Ben Haggard, Lance Carpenter, Mae Estes, Tyler Kinch, Adam Hambrick, Syramore Special, Trey & Lexi Pendry, Blaine Howard, Cliff & Susan, and Pam Setser are scheduled to appear. , Grace Stormont, Keith Shimanowitz, Danny Dozier, Roger Fountain, Builderbacks, Josie Hargis.
Clayton says he’s leaning towards performing the song “American Millionaire” from “Long Way From Home.” Castaldo said Midnight South will perform their song “Better Than a Country Song.”
Each year, the ceremony celebrates Arkansas’ rich country music history with Lifetime Achievement Award winners. The 2023 class consists of Albert E. Bramley, Arbie Mandrell, Barbara Fairchild and Reggie Young.
Bramley was an influential composer of gospel music, composing “I’ll Fly Away”. https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2023/jun/04/over-60-first-timers-up-for-states-country-music/ “See you in the morning” https://www.nwaonline .com/news/2023/jun/04/over-60-first-timers-up-for-states-country-music/ “Turn on the radio” and so on. From his 1926 he worked for the Hartford Music Company in Sebastian County until 1931. Born in Hot Springs, Mandrell was the father of performers Barbara, Louise and Arlene Mandrell. He was also Barbara’s manager.
Fairchild hails from Knobel, County Clay and recorded the 1973 hits “Teddy Bear Song” and “Kid Stuff.” https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2023/jun/04/over-60-first-timers-up-for-states-country-music/ “Baby Doll” and others. Guitarist Young grew up in Osceola and played on records by Elvis Presley, Merle Haggard, George Strait, John Prine, and others.
“This year’s awards show is going to be great, too,” says country music historian and journalist Haymes. “There are 65 first-time nominees in the regular category, and four have received the very well-deserved Lifetime Achievement Award, so I think it’s going to be very good.”
He also points out that the event continues to grow, especially judging by the entries that have to be narrowed down by the selection committee.
“We have five candidates in each category, and the selection committee is picking more of those five each year. Some of the categories are really deep. ”
David Adam Burns has been nominated five times at the Arkansas Country Music Awards, topping all the nominations.
Erin Enderlin has been nominated four times at the 6th Annual Arkansas Country Music Awards, including Songwriter of the Year, and Enderlin has won five.
