Avery Anna wrote a heartfelt message after winning her first-ever ACM Award.

Singer-songwriter Sam Barber surprised Anna, 22, with the ACM New Female Artist of the Year award during her performance over the weekend at the Lone Star Smokeout in Arlington, Texas. Anna emotionally accepted the honor, and followed up with a post on Instagram on Tuesday (April 28).

“I feel like we’re all winning this award together,” she wrote. “Every single one of you who has supported me, and embraced my crazy ideas, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Every single one of you have a piece of this recognition too. I love music so much, it is like breathing to me, and I can’t believe I get to do this every day with the people I love. [David Fanning] and I have scrapped our way through this industry together, he has supported me like no one else. Thank you to my whole team, and my family. I love you all so much. Thank you [Academy of Country Music], [Warner Records Nashville], the list is endless. I probably won’t shut up about this for a while. What the freak is even happening. See ya’ll in Vegas!”

The first-time ACM nominee has also shared her excitement (“I don’t have it in me to be nonchalant about this”), her family’s reactions, a glimpse of her journey until this moment, and more.

The Academy of Country Music revealed its list of nominees last month. The female-led list includes Megan Moroney, Miranda Lambert, Ella Langley and Lainey Wilson with nine, eight, seven and seven nominations, respectively, plus Chris Stapleton (six), Zach Top (five), Cody Johnson (four) and more. See the full list of nominees here.

Shania Twain will make her debut as ACM Awards host this year. The Academy of Country Music previously teased “many more unforgettable performances to be revealed in the coming weeks,” after confirming Lambert, Wilson, Johnson, Riley Green, Kacey Musgraves and Little Big Town in the lineup. The Academy also promised “unprecedented performances, exclusive collaborations, and unexpected moments from the biggest Country Music stars, all while celebrating the genre’s most iconic and emerging talent.”

The 61st ACM Awards will kick off at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. PT on Sunday, May 17 on the MGM Garden Arena stage in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Podcasts