Parker McCollum and Lainey Wilson have been named the Academy of Country Music’s New Male and New Female Artist of the Year, respectively.

Each will also perform at this year’s Academy of Country Music Awards ceremony on March 7, adding their original styles to country music’s party of the year.

McCollum was earlier named an “Artist to Watch” by Billboard, HITS magazine, Rolling Stone, CMT, Opry NextStage, SiriusXM, RIAA, and more.

He released his major label debut album, Gold Chain Cowboy, last year, expanding on the success of his widely praised Hollywood Gold EP, which became the top-selling debut country EP of 2020.

Wilson is also nominated for ACM Song of the Year for her first No. 1 smash hit, “Things a Man Oughta Know,” off her critically acclaimed label debut album Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’.

She was named Billboard‘s “Top New Country Artist of 2021” as well as MusicRow‘s Discovery Artist of the Year 2021 as she continues to win over legions of fans with her signature “bell bottom country” sound and aesthetic, which blends traditional country with a modern-yet-retro flare.

(Wilson Photo: Alex Berger; McCollum Photo: David McClister)

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