The 15th Academy of Country Music Awards ceremony was held on May 1, 1980, at Knott's Berry Farm, Buena Park, California. It was hosted by Claude Akins, Loretta Lynn and Charley Pride. __TOC__
Winners and nominees Winners are shown in bold. Entertainer of the YearAlbum of the Year Willie Nelson Crystal Gayle Waylon Jennings Loretta Lynn Kenny Rogers Straight Ahead — Larry Gatlin Blue Kentucky Girl — Emmylou Harris Greatest Hits — Waylon Jennings Kenny — Kenny Rogers Sings Kristofferson — Willie Nelson |- ! style="background:#EEDD82; width=50%" |Top Female Vocalist of the Year ! style="background:#EEDD82; width=50%" |Top Male Vocalist of the Year |- | style="vertical-align:top" | Crystal Gayle Loretta Lynn Barbara Mandrell Anne Murray Dolly Parton | style="vertical-align:top" | Larry Gatlin Moe Bandy Waylon Jennings Kenny Rogers Don Williams |- ! style="background:#EEDD82; width=50%" |Single Record of the Year ! style="background:#EEDD82; width=50%" |Song of the Year |- | style="vertical-align:top" | "All the Gold in California" — Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers "Amanda" — Waylon Jennings "Coward of the County" — Kenny Rogers "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" — Charlie Daniels Band "Half the Way" — Crystal Gayle | style="vertical-align:top" | "It's a Cheating Situation" — Curly Putman, Sonny Throckmorton "All the Gold in California" — Larry Gatlin "Last Cheater's Waltz" — Sonny Throckmorton "She Believes in Me" — Steve Gibb "You're the Only One" — Carole Bayer Sager, Bruce Roberts |- ! style="background:#EEDD82; width=50%" |Top New Male Vocalist ! style="background:#EEDD82; width=50%" |Top New Female Vocalist |- | style="vertical-align:top" | R.C. Bannon John Anderson Razzy Bailey Randy Barlow Big Al Downing | style="vertical-align:top" | Lacy J. Dalton Rosanne Cash Gail Davies Louise Mandrell Sylvia |- ! style="background:#EEDD82; width=50%" |Top Vocal Group of the Year ! style="background:#EEDD82; width=50%" |Tex Ritter Movie of the Year |- | style="vertical-align:top" | Moe Bandy and Joe Stampley Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius Louise Mandrell and R.C. Bannon Oak Ridge Boys Statler Brothers | style="vertical-align:top" | The Electric Horseman Concrete Cowboys Elvis Living LegendPioneer Award Patti PageArtist of the Decade Loretta LynnJim Reeves Memorial Award Bill Ward
Performers Performer(s)Song(s)Claude AkinsLoretta LynnCharley PrideDallas Cowboys Cheerleaders"Take Me Home, Country Roads"Donna Fargo"Somebody Special"Oak Ridge Boys"Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight"Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers"Taking Somebody with Me When I Fall"Barbara MandrellEddie RabbittSong of the Year Medley"It's a Cheating Situation""She Believes in Me""Last Cheater's Waltz""You're the Only One""All the Gold in California"Dallas Cowboys CheerleadersDance PerformanceLoretta Lynn"Naked in the Rain"The Charlie Daniels Band"In America"John AndersonRandy BarlowBig Al DowningR.C. BannonRazzy BaileyTop New Male Vocalist Medley"She Just Started Liking Cheatin' Songs""Lay Back in the Arms of Someone""The Story Behind the Story""Winners and Losers""Too Old to Play Cowboy"Charley PrideJanie Fricke"Four Walls"Louise MandrellSylviaGail DaviesRosanne CashLacy J. DaltonTop New Female Vocalist Medley"Wake Me Up""It Don't Hurt to Dream""Like Strangers""Couldn't Do Nothin' Right""Crazy Blue Eyes"
Presenters Presenter(s)NotesSusan AntonDavid SoulSingle Record of the YearBobby BareZsa Zsa GaborTop Vocal Group of the YearMelissa Sue AndersonSonny JamesAlbum of the YearKitty WellsGreg EviganTop Female Vocalist of the YearRoger MillerPresented Pioneer Award to Patti PageLynn AndersonTerry BradshawSong of the YearDottie WestBarbi BentonTop Male Vocalist of the YearBarbara EdenJan-Michael VincentTex Ritter Movie of the YearCrystal GaylePresented Artist of the Decade Award to Loretta LynnMickey GilleyCharoTop New Male VocalistT.G. SheppardPresented Jim Reeves Memorial Award to Bill WardMoe BandyJoe StampleyTop New Female VocalistBobbie GentryEntertainer of the Year
References