Walker Hayes continues to capture the attention of the country music world, earning five nominations for this year’s award ACM Award.

Hayes, from Alabama, is nominated in three categories for 2022: New Male Artist of the Year, Single of the Year (for “Fancy Like”) and Song of the Year (A Songwriter’s Award , also for “Fancy Like”).

The Academy of Country Music counts that as five nominations, as Hayes is listed as Artist and Producer for Single of the Year, and Artist and Songwriter for Song of the Year. In these categories, single of the year trophies are awarded to the artist, producer and record company. The Song of the Year award is given to the songwriter, publisher and artist.

Hayes is in good company in his award categories, competing with artists such as Chris Stapleton, Ryan Hurd, Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood, and Chris Young and Kane Brown.

The winners of the 2022 ACM Awards will be announced March 7 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The ceremony – hosted by Dolly Parton, Jimmie Allen and Gabby Barrett – will be streamed live on Prime Video.

ACM nominations are a big deal for any country musician, and a first for Hayes, a veteran singer-songwriter who shot to fame in 2021 with “Fancy Like.” It’s a catchy, heartwarming anthem that celebrates pleasures like “Applebee’s on a date” and “Country kisses on my lips without Skoal in ’em.”

“Fancy Like” hit #1 on the Billboard Digital Country Songs Sales chart in June and topped the Hot Country Songs chart in July. The song went viral on TikTok, was featured in an Applebee ad, and prompted a remixed version that paired Hayes with Kesha.

Since then, his star has continued to rise.

The Mobile native, 42, was nominated for a 2021 American Music Award for “Fancy Like” in the Favorite Country Song category – he lost to Gabby Barrett and “The Good Ones” – and Hayes performed the tune during the award ceremony. in Los Angeles.

Hayes also earned a Grammy nomination for “Fancy Like” in the Best Country Song category. Winners will be announced April 3 at a ceremony in Las Vegas. He’s up for a songwriting award, and if the song wins, Hayes will share the accolade with fellow songwriters Cameron Bartolini, Josh Jenkins and Shane Stevens.

For the past year or so, Hayes has made late night television appearances, performed “Fancy Like” on the CMT Artists of the Year special and deserved platinum certification for the single from the Recording Industry Association of America.

Hayes to headline 2021 Capital One Orange Bowl halftime show at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami and made a memorable half-time appearance during the AFC Championship game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Cincinnati Bengals.

Hayes released a handful of singles following “Fancy Like”, such as “AA”, “U Gurl”, and “Drinking Songs”. All are included on his new record, “Country Stuff The Album”, released January 21 by Monument Records.

“Country Stuff” debuted at No. 10 on Billboard’s Hot 200 Chart and took No. 2 on the Billboard Country Albums Chart, according to Hayes’ publicist. The record topped the country album sales chart, the publicist said.

Hayes returns to his home country later this month on his ‘Fancy Like’ tour, performing Feb. 17 at the Saenger Theater in Mobile and Feb. 19 at Iron City in Birmingham.

Other Alabama links can be spotted in the complete list ACM nominees:

• Little Big Town, a harmonizing country-pop group linked to Sumiton and Birmingham, are nominated for Group of the Year.
• Gordon Mote – a singer, songwriter and keyboardist who grew up in Attalla – is nominated for Piano/Keys Player of the Year. This category is included in ACM’s Studio/Recording Awards.
• the Auburn Rodeo is nominated for Fair/Rodeo of the Year. This category is included in the ACM industry awards.
• The wharf amphitheater in Orange Beach is nominated for Outdoor Venue of the Year, an ACM Industry Award.
• Radio station WXFL-FM in Florence (also known as KIX 96.1) is nominated for Radio Station of the Year: Small Market. This category is included in the ACM Radio Awards.

Winners of industry, radio, and studio/recording awards are usually announced separately from the main ACM awards.