Source: Chris Stapleton at the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards from Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024 in Frisco, Texas. (Sebron Snyder/Penske Media via Getty Images)
The ACM Awards‘ “Album of the Year” award has been given out every year since 1968, recognizing the attributed artist for their record.
The 21st Century has seen Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton dominate the category, with a combined eight wins. Lambert leads all artists with five wins, and all female artists with seven nominations. Stapleton tied George Strait at last year’s ceremony for the most wins by a male artist, with three. Strait leads all artists with 12 nominations.
As we’ve reached the quarter mark of the 21st Century, it’s worth taking a look back at the first 25 years of the award category, from 2000 to 2024, highlighting the artists and songs that took home some ACM Awards hardware.
The 60th ACM Awards takes place May 8, streaming on Amazon Prime.
Every ACM ‘Single of the Year’ from the 21st Century
1. Fly (2000) – The Chicks
A Place In The Sun – Tim McGraw
Breathe – Faith Hill
Cold Hard Truth – George Jones
Ride With Bob – Asleep At the Wheel
2. How Do You Like Me Now?! (2001) – Toby Keith
American III: Solitary Man – Johnny Cash
I Hope You Dance – Lee Ann Womack
One Voice – Billy Gilman
Who Needs Pictures – Brad Paisley
3. O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2002) – Various Artists
Down the Road I Go – Travis Tritt
Pull My Chain – Toby Keith
Set This Circus Down – Tim McGraw
Steers & Stripes – Brooks & Dunn
4. Drive (2003) – Alan Jackson
Home – The Chicks
No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems – Kenny Chesney
On a Mission – Trick Pony
Unleashed – Toby Keith
5. Shock 'N Y'All (2004) – Toby Keith
Honkytonkville – George Strait
Martina – Martina McBride
Mud On the Tires – Brad Paisley
Red Dirt Road – Brooks & Dunn
6. Be Here (2005) – Keith Urban
Here For The Party – Gretchen Wilson
Live Like You Were Dying – Tim McGraw
Restless – Sara Evans
When The Sun Goes Down – Kenny Chesney
7. Time Well Wasted (2006) – Brad Paisley
Feels Like Today – Rascal Flatts
There’s More Where That Came From – Lee Ann Womack
Tough All Over – Gary Allan
Twice the Speed of Life – Sugarland
8. Some Hearts (2007) – Carrie Underwood
Hillbilly Deluxe – Brooks & Dunn
It Just Comes Natural – George Strait
Me and My Gang – Rascal Flatts
These Days – Vince Gill
9. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2008) – Mirand Lambert
5th Gear – Brad Paisley
Just Who Am I: Poets & Pirates – Kenny Chesney
If You’re Going Through Hell – Rodney Atkins
Taylor Swift – Taylor Swift
10. Fearless (2009) – Taylor Swift
That Lonesome Song – Jamey Johnson
Back When I Knew It All – Montgomery Gentry
Troubadour – George Strait
Carnival Ride – Carrie Underwood
11. Revolution (2010) – Miranda Lambert
American Saturday Night – Brad Paisley
Lady Antebellum – Lady A
Play On – Carrie Underwood
The Foundation – Zac Brown Band
12. Need You Now (2011) – Lady A
Hemingway’s Whiskey – Kenny Chesney
The Guitar Song – Jamey Johnson
Speak Now – Taylor Swift
Up On The Ridge – Dierks Bentley
You Get What You Give – Zac Brown Band
13. Four the Record (2012) – Miranda Lambert
Chief – Eric Church
Hemingway’s Whiskey – Kenny Chesney
My Kinda Party – Jason Aldean
Red – Taylor Swift
14. Chief (2013) – Eric Church
Blown Away – Carrie Underwood
Red – Taylor Swift
Tailgates & Tanlines – Luke Bryan
Tornado – Little Big town
15. Same Trailer Different Park (2014) – Kacey Musgraves
Based on a True Story… – Blake Shelton
Crash My Party – Luke Bryan
Here’s to the Good Times – Florida Georgia Line
Two Lanes of Freedom – Tim McGraw
16. Platinum (2015) – Miranda Lambert
Old Boots, New Dirt – Jason Aldean
Pain Killer – Little Big Town
Riser – Dierks Bentley
The Outsiders – Eric Church
17. Traveller (2016) – Chris Stapleton
I’m Comin’ Over – Chris Young
Montevallo – Sam Hunt
Mr. Misunderstood – Eric Church
Tangled Up – Thomas Rhett
18. The Weight of These Wings (2017) – Miranda Lambert
Black – Dierks Bentley
Dig Your Roots – Florida Georgia Line
Hero – Maren Morris
Ripcord – Keith Urban
19. From A Room: Volume 1 (2018) – Chris Stapleton
The Breaker – Little Big Town
California Sunrise – Jon Pardi
Happy Endings – Old Dominion
Life Changes – Thomas Rhett
20. Golden Hour (2019) – Kacey Musgraves
Dan + Shay – Dan + Shay
Desperate Man – Eric Church
From A Room: Volume 2 – Chris Stapleton
The Mountain – Dierks Bentley
21. What You See Is What You Get (2020) – Luke Combs
Center Point Road – Thomas Rhett
Girl – Maren Morris
Heartache Medication – Jon Pardi
Wildcard – Miranda Lambert
22. Starting Over (2021) – Chris Stapleton
Born Here Live Here Die Here – Luke Bryan
Mixtape Vol. 1 – Kane Brown
Never Will – Ashley McBryde
Skeletons – Brothers Osborne
23. Dangerous: The Double Album (2022) – Morgan Wallen
29: Written in Stone – Carly Pearce
Country Again: Side A – Thomas Rhett
Famous Friends – Chris Young
The Marfa Tapes – Miranda Lambert, Jack Ingram, Jon Randall
