ACM honors Lynn, Alabama, Church, Bryant

Tuesday, April 7, 2015 – Loretta Lynn, Alabama, Eric Church and Luke Bryan were among the winners of Academy of Country Music Awards honors, it was announced Tuesday.

Alabama took the Career Achievement Award. The Crystal Milestone Award went to Lynn, while Bryan was chosen for the Gene Weed Special Achievement Award. Church will receive the Jim Reeves International Award.

Barry Adelman and Tim DuBois will receive the Mae Boren Axton Award; and the Poet's Award goes to songwriters Bob McDill and the late Felice and Boudleaux Bryant.

Others receiving awards were:

Bass: Glenn Worf.

Drummer: Greg Morrow.

Guitar: Tom Bukovac.

Piano/Keyboard: Michael Rojas.

Specialty Instrument: Ilya Toshinsky.

Steel Guitar: Dan Dugmore.

Audio Engineer: Chuck Ainlay.

Producer: Jay Joyce.

Songwriter: Luke Laird.

Casino: Hard Rock Live, Biloxi, MS/Small Capacity; MGM Grand, Las Vegas, NV/Medium Capacity.

Festival: Country Thunder USA: East, Twin Lakes, WI.

Nightclub: Joe's Bar, Chicago, IL.

Venue: Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN/Small Capacity; Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO/Medium Capacity; Hollywood Bowl, Hollywood, CA/Large Capacity.

Don Romeo Talent Buyer: Sally Williams, Ryman Auditorium.

Promoter: Ed Warm, Joe's Live.

The Career Achievement Award honors an individual artist, duo, group or multiple artist collaboration that advanced the popularity and acceptance of country through their efforts in the entertainment industry in multiple areas during the preceding calendar year, according to the ACM web site.

Lynn's award goes to an artist or industry leader "to commemorate a specific, remarkable achievement," the web site said.

The Weed award, won by Bryan, "acknowledges unprecedented, unique and outstanding individual achievement in country music," the ACM site said.

Church's honor "is presented to an artist for outstanding contributions to the acceptance of country music throughout the world."

The Axton award is given in recognition of dedication and service to the ACM. Adelman is executive vice president of television for dick clark productions and has been the writer and executive producer of the ACM awards. Dubois has gained acclaim as a songwriter and label head. He has been a board member of the ACM for more than 30 years.

The Poet's Award "honors songwriters for outstanding musical and/or lyrical contributions throughout their careers in the field of country music.: McDill has penned 30 number 1 songs, including Alabama's "Song of the South" and Alan Jackson's "Gone Country." The Bryant's catalogue includes the Everly Brothers' "Bye Bye Love" and "All I Have to Do is Dream" and Roy Orbison's "Love Hurts."

The off-camera honors will be acknowledged during the 9th annual ACM Honors at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on Sept. 1.