16th Academy of Country Music Awards

The 16th Academy of Country Music Awards ceremony was held on April 30, 1981, at the Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California. It was hosted by Larry Gatlin, Don Meredith and Tammy Wynette.

16th Academy of Country Music Awards
Date	April 30, 1981
Location	Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
Hosted by	Larry Gatlin Don Meredith Tammy Wynette
Most wins	George Jones (3)
Most nominations	Kenny Rogers (5)
Television/radio coverage
Network	NBC
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Winners and nominees

Winners are shown in bold.^[1][2]

Entertainer of the Year	Album of the Year
Barbara Mandrell Willie Nelson Dolly Parton Eddie Rabbitt Kenny Rogers	Urban Cowboy — Soundtrack Coal Miner's Daughter: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack — Soundtrack Greatest Hits — Kenny Rogers I Believe in You — Don Williams There's a Little Bit of Hank in Me — Charley Pride
Top Female Vocalist of the Year	Top Male Vocalist of the Year
Dolly Parton Lacy J. Dalton Crystal Gayle Emmylou Harris Barbara Mandrell	George Jones Ronnie Milsap Eddie Rabbitt Kenny Rogers Don Williams
Top Vocal Group of the Year	Top Vocal Duo of the Year
Alabama Charlie Daniels Band Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers Oak Ridge Boys Statler Brothers	Moe Bandy and Joe Stampley Bellamy Brothers Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius Kenny Rogers and Kim Carnes Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn
Single Record of the Year	Song of the Year
"He Stopped Loving Her Today" — George Jones "9 to 5" — Dolly Parton "Drivin' My Life Away" — Eddie Rabbitt "I Believe in You" — Don Williams "Lookin' for Love" — Johnny Lee	"He Stopped Loving Her Today" — Curly Putman, Bobby Braddock "9 to 5" — Dolly Parton "I Believe in You" — Roger Cook, Sam Hogin "Lady" — Lionel Richie "Lookin' for Love" — Bob Morrison, Wanda Mallette, Patti Ryan
Top New Male Vocalist	Top New Female Vocalist
Johnny Lee Ed Bruce Leon Everette Don King Steve Wariner	Terri Gibbs Kim Carnes Reba McEntire Sissy Spacek Sylvia
Pioneer Award
Ernest Tubb
Special Achievement Award
George Burns
Tex Ritter Award
Any Which Way You Can