Either way, it’s a cool story… but here’s what really happened.
In 2023, Chris Stapleton took home his very first Entertainer of the Year trophy at the ACM Awards, and it was actually his very first EOTY award at any major country music awards show. It’s hard to believe just a few years ago was the first time he had won that coveted trophy, but the ever-humble Stapleton gave a great speech, saying that he was “in shock” and didn’t deserve it, but he of course graciously accepted the award, noting how grateful he was to win it:
“Well, I am in shock. Truly. Thank you. By any imaginable metric, I don’t deserve this, but thank you. There are so many other great people in this category. I stand up and I play music. That’s what I try to do every night…I’ve never through of myself as somebody who would win this award, and I’m so grateful.”
He also even got a little choked up talking about his kids, who also sacrifice time away from their parents so they can go out and play music for a living.
But even more impressive than his big EOTY win, which is a massive accomplishment for any country artist and easily the most coveted award of the evening, was that Chris actually stayed behind after the show was over and helped clean up… or so we thought. Photographer John Shearer captured the moment where you see Stapleton with a leaf blower helping clean up confetti from the evenings celebrations, and the only other people around are a few stage crew people in the background also getting everything back in order.
John shared the photo with the following quote:
“Entertainer of the Year Chris Stapleton, photographed at the end of the night at the ’58th Academy Of Country Music Awards’ in Frisco, TX.”
Of course, the photo is quite striking, and because Chris is such a down-to-earth person, it seemed very much in the realm of possibility that he would go help clean some things up on his way out. It went super viral and most fans thought Stapleton was just being the nice person that he is:
But apparently, it wasn’t exactly what it looked like… Chris revealed following the show that while technically, he did help clean up some confetti, he was actually just kind of playing around with the leaf blower for a few seconds and having fun with some of the staff. It wasn’t like he stayed there for hours after scrubbing the floors and working his fingers to the bone, it was simply just the male urge to pick up a leaf blower.
In an interview a couple years ago, Stapleton told the full story behind the photo, which I’ll be honest, wasn’t exactly what I had dreamed up when I first saw it:
“The real answer is, we were walking out, and the guys were cleaning up with blowers, and I was like, ‘Hey, man, it would be pretty funny if we could grab a blower and do that. Do you think these guys would get real mad if we asked them?’
And so they were kind enough to let us do a little bit of posing, like we were actually cleaning up and taking photos. They were getting a kick out of it too, and it was a nice, spontaneous moment and we had a little fun with it, then we’d leave.”
There ya have it, folks. To play the devil’s advocate for a second, even though it wasn’t like he was on the cleaning crew, he did technically help clean up some, and I’m sure it made everyone’s night who was still there working to hang out with the newest EOTY in such a relaxed, albeit kinda strange, circumstances. But men and a leaf blower is like a moth to a flame… so in many ways, it’s not surprising at all that this is how it went down.
The ACM’s will take place in Las Vegas this year with Shania Twain hosting them next Sunday, May 17th at 8 PM ET (5 PM PT). The ceremony will be held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and streamed live on Prime Video.
Stapleton is once again nominated for EOTY alongside Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, Megan Moroney, Morgan Wallen and Lainey Wilson.
2026 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.
“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
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
Tucker Wetmore- won
Hudson Westbrook
New Female Artist of the Year
Mackenzie Carpenter
Avery Anna-won
Dasha
Caroline Jones
Emily Ann Roberts
