POLL: Who Should Win Video of the Year at the 2017 ACM Awards?
When the winner for Video of the Year is crowned at the 2017 ACM Awards, it will be after beating out some tough competition. From cinematic short films with award-winning actors to vast desert vistas and beautiful costume design, this year's crop of nominated videos are just as much about showcasing the art form of imagery as the music itself.
Chris Stapleton's music video for "Fire Away" barely shows the singer at all, opting instead to place the powerful story in the hands of seasoned actors Ben Foster and Margarita Levieva. With unflinching honesty, "Fire Away" brings awareness to mental health issues as its main characters fight to stay in love (and alive) in the midst of emotional trauma. Directed by Tim Mattia, "Fire Away" is stunning in its use of cinematography and its ability to shed light on an issue that often remains hidden in the shadows.
In a world that is often divided because of race, nationality and religion, Tim McGraw's music video for "Humble and Kind" aims to break down those barriers by reminding us to love one another and "always stay humble and kind." Featuring simple-yet stunning images of human beings from all over the world, the video is a perfect complement to the song's poignant lyrics, which have already won writer Lori McKenna both a Grammys trophy and a CMA award ... not to mention a Song of the Year nomination at the ACMs.
When Miranda Lambert announced that the first single off her first record since breaking up with Blake Shelton was called "Vice," pretty much everyone assumed it would be about her ex. Instead, Lambert chose to turn the scalpel on herself, revealing with raw honesty the vices that she is capable of and using the song's music video to bring those words to life starkly. Sure, she emerges unscathed from a car crash in the opening moments, but when she stands at the crossroads, wondering which way to turn, it's obvious that the video, like the song, is about how our actions intimately affect us.
Kelsea Ballerini had a huge year in 2016, and perhaps the best evidence of that is the stunning (and massive!) music video for her history-making single "Peter Pan." Shot in the desert just outside of Las Vegas, Nev., this music video is full of adrenaline and excitement (think aerial stuns, parachuting and fast driving). The clip perfectly matches the meaning behind the song, with the thrill of adventure ultimately not being enough to sustain a relationship.
The Country Music Association pulled out all the stops to celebrate the 50th annual CMA Awards in 2016, and at the center of the celebration was "Forever Country," an epic single that combines three of the most quintessential country songs ("Take Me Home, Country Roads," "I Will Always Love You" and "On the Road Again"), sung by an all-star lineup of performers, including Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw and even Randy Travis. The imagery in the music video for "Forever Country" is just as diverse, moving all over the world and across every landscape to truly encapsulate the universal nature of country music.
Who should win Video of the Year at the 2017 ACM Awards? Vote for your pick in the poll below as often as once an hour until 11:59PM ET on March 30. We’ll compile the results for our readers vs. staff predictions prior to this year’s ACMs.
The 2017 ACM Awards are set to take place in Las Vegas, Nev., on April 2, and air live on CBS beginning at 8PM ET. For the first time ever, the show will take place at T-Mobile Arena; Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley will return as co-hosts.
The Boot will be staying up late covering the most buzzed-about winners, fashion and moments at the 2017 ACM Awards. Readers can watch along with us by checking back to TheBoot.com for the latest ACMs headlines, liking The Boot on Facebook and following The Boot on Twitter.
Country Artists React to the 2017 ACM Awards Nominations
How Well Do You Know the ACM Awards?