The Academy of Country Music Award for New Artist of the Year is a new artist category presented at the Academy of Country Music Awards. This award was seen as a substitute for the ACM awards for New Male Vocalist, New Female Vocalist, and New Vocal Duo or Group. This award was first awarded in 2004 to Dierks Bentley, when this award was known as the Top New Artist of the Year.

From 2004 to 2010, the award was known as the Top New Artist of the Year.

And from 2011 to 2015, the award was known as the New Artist of the Year.

This award is given to the new artist who has gained initial fame or significantly greater recognition during the promotion of a debut or sophomore album within the eligibility period. The artist must have released a single that reached the Top 40 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs or the Mediabase Country charts. Any albums self-released through an independent label the artist owns and operates may not be counted as a debut or sophomore album, unless it produces a Top 40 single reported by Billboard’s Hot Country Songs or Mediabase Country charts.

Winners and nominees In the following tables, the years correspond to the date of the ceremony. Artists are eligible based on their work of the previous calendar year. Entries with a blue ribbon next to the artist's name have won the award; those with a white background are the nominees on the short-list.

2010s YearWinnerNominees2015 Cole SwindellDan + Shay Sam Hunt Thomas Rhett2014 Justin MooreBrett Eldredge Kip Moore2013 Florida Georgia LineBrantley Gilbert Jana Kramer2012 Scotty McCreery Hunter Hayes Brantley Gilbert2011 The Band Perry Eric Church2010 Luke Bryan Gloriana Joey + Rory

2000s YearWinnerNominees 2009 Julianne Hough Jake Owen Zac Brown Band 2005 Gretchen Wilson Big & Rich Josh Gracin Julie Roberts Josh Turner 2004 Dierks Bentley Pat Green Buddy Jewell Josh Turner Jimmy Wayne

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