Garth Brooks cleaned up at the ACM Awards back in 1991.
There probably wasn’t an artist that had a more dominant run in the 90s than Garth Brooks. Everything he touched turned to gold, and at the 26th annual Academy of Country Music Awards, that was on full display. The country star took home not one, not two, not three (I’ll skip the next couple numbers to save us some time), but six separate awards in one night.
All of those wins are listed below:
-Top Country Video (“The Dance”)
-Song of the Year (“The Dance”)
-Single of the Year (“Friends in Low Places”)
-Album of the Year (No Fences)
-Top Male Vocalist
-Entertainer of the Year
At the time, Garth’s big night set a record for most awards won for a single year at the ACMs (Faith Hill tied that record in 1999, as did Chris Stapleton in 2016).
It wasn’t necessarily a shock that Garth Brooks was awarded with all of those trophies. Many expected him to win a number of the categories he was nominated in, but even the “If Tomorrow Never Comes” singer was shocked when he had already been up on stage five times, and heard his name called once more for the “Entertainer of the Year” title.
Garth Brooks’ own website (where most of Garth’s news is now shared) even pinpointed the moment that truly froze Brooks in place. Alabama was up on stage presenting the award, and when they did a count down and all exclaimed Garth’s name at once, the country music superstar had to take a moment to fully grasp what had just happened:
“When they said Garth’s name in unison, he sat for a few seconds in stunned silence before hugging his family and stepping to the podium. He thanked his booking agency, Buddy Lee Attractions, his band and crew, and ‘most of all, those people that fill those concert seats and slept out overnight for tickets. You guys are crazy, but I’m having a ball!'”
Though Brooks was undoubtedly having a ball in the 1990s, for a moment at the 1991 ACM Awards, he didn’t move a muscle. He just sat in his chair and tried his best to soak in the moment. Then he got up on stage and gave his acceptance speech, which you can view below:
Pretty soon, another “Entertainer of the Year” will be named. The 61st Annual ACM Awards will air live from Las Vegas this Sunday, May 17, 2026 at 8 P.M. EST on Prime Video.
61st Annual ACM Awards Nominees
Entertainer of the Year
Luke Combs
Jelly Roll
Cody Johnson
Megan Moroney
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen
Lainey Wilson
Female Artist of the Year
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Ella Langley
Megan Moroney
Lainey Wilson
Male Artist of the Year
Luke Combs
Riley Green
Cody Johnson
Chris Stapleton
Zach Top
Group of the Year
49 Winchester
Flatland Cavalry
Old Dominion
Rascal Flatts
The Red Clay Strays
Duo of the Year
Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Muscadine Bloodline
Thelma & James
Album of the Year
[Awarded to artist(s)/producer(s)/record Company–label(s)]
Ain’t In It For My Health – Zach Top; Producer: Carson Chamberlain; Record Company-Label: Leo33
Cherry Valley – Carter Faith; Producer: Tofer Brown; Record Company-Label: Gatsby Records / MCA
Don’t Mind If I Do (Deluxe) – Riley Green; Producers: Dann Huff, Michael Knox; Record Company-Label: Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment
I’m The Problem – Morgan Wallen; Producers: Joey Moi, Charlie Handsome, Jacob Durrett; Record Company-Label: Big Loud Records
Parker McCollum – Parker McCollum; Producers: Frank Liddell, Eric Masse; Record Company-Label: MCA
Song of the Year
“A Song To Sing” – Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton; Songwriters: Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert, Jenee Fleenor, Jesse Frasure
“Am I Okay?” – Megan Moroney; Songwriters: Megan Moroney, Luke Laird, Jessie Jo Dillon
“Choosin’ Texas” – Ella Langley; Songwriters: Ella Langley, Luke Dick, Miranda Lambert, Joybeth Taylor
“I Never Lie” – Zach Top; Songwriters: Zach Top, Carson Chamberlain, Tim Nichols
“Somewhere Over Laredo – Lainey Wilson; Songwriters: Lainey Wilson, Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson, Andy Albert, Harold Arlen & Yip Harburg
Single of the Year
“6 Months Later” – Megan Moroney
“Choosin’ Texas” – Ella Langley
“I Never Lie” – Zach Top
“Somewhere Over Laredo” – Lainey Wilson
“The Fall” – Cody Johnson
Visual Media of the Year
“6 Months Later” – Megan Moroney
“A Song To Sing” – Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton
“Cuckoo” -Stephen Wilson, Jr. (Winner)
“Somewhere Over Laredo” – Lainey Wilson
“The Fall” – Cody Johnson
Music Event of the Year
“A Song To Sing” – Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton
“Amen” – Shaboozey & Jelly Roll
“Don’t Mind If I Do” – Riley Green feat. Ella Langley
“Trailblazer” – Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson
“You Had To Be There” – Megan Moroney & Kenny Chesney
Songwriter of the Year
Jessie Jo Dillon (Winner)
Ashley Gorley
Charlie Handsome
Chase McGill
Blake Pendergrass
Artist-Songwriter of the Year
Luke Combs
Riley Green
Ella Langley
Megan Moroney
Morgan Wallen
New Male Artist of the Year
Gavin Adcock
Vincent Mason
Shaboozey
Hudson Westbrook
Tucker Wetmore (Winner)
New Female Artist of the Year
Avery Anna (Winner)
Mackenzie Carpenter
Dasha
Caroline Jones
Emily Ann Roberts
