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WILL STAPLETON MAKE HISTORY AT THE ACMS?

Chris Stapleton may well be headed for his second "Triple Crown." His sophomore album, From A Room: Volume 1, is nominated for Album of the Year at the 53rd annual Academy of Country Music Awards, which will be presented on 4/15. The album won in the same category at the Country Music Awards on Nov. 8 and took the equivalent award, Best Country Album, at the Grammys on 1/28.

Stapleton's first solo album, Traveller, swept all three of these awards two years ago. If the country star does it again, he'll become the first artist to sweep all three awards twice.

From A Room: Volume 1 spawned a pair of top 20 country hits—"Either Way" and "Broken Halos." Stapleton co-produced the album with Dave Cobb.

Just five albums have swept country music's Triple Crown since 1994, when the Grammys relaunched their Best Country Album category. Here's a complete list, working backwards chronologically.

Chris Stapleton, Traveller (Mercury Nashville, 2015). Produced by Dave Cobb & Stapleton. This is the only debut album to win the Triple Crown. It's also the only album by a male solo artist to achieve this triple-pronged feat. The album spawned a #1 country hit, a remake of the George Jones classic "Tennessee Whiskey." In addition to winning the Grammy for Best Country Album, this was nominated for Album of the Year. (It lost to 1989, the first all-pop album by fellow Triple Crown winner Taylor Swift.)

Miranda Lambert, Platinum (RCA Nashville, 2014). Produced by Chuck Ainlay, Frank Liddell & Glenn Worf. This was Lambert's fifth major-label studio album. The album spawned three top five country hits—"Automatic," "Little Red Wagon" and "Somethin' Bad," a duet with Carrie Underwood, which hit #1.

Taylor Swift, Fearless (Big Machine, 2008). Produced by Nathan Chapman & Swift. This was the first album by a female solo artist to win the Triple Crown. It was also the first album that was produced or co-produced by the artist to achieve this feat. Fearless was Swift's sophomore album. In addition to winning the Grammy for Best Country Album, it won for Album of the Year. Fearless spawned five top 10 country hits, including the chart-topping "Love Story" and "You Belong with Me."

Various Artists, O Brother, Where Art Thou? (Lost Highway/Mercury, 2000). Produced by T Bone Burnett. Technically, this album didn't win the Triple Crown, but that's only because it wasn't entered for Best Country Album at the Grammys. It was entered instead—and won—for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media. (Rules didn't allow it to compete in both of these categories.) It also won for Album of the Year. The album spawned a top 40 country hit, the Soggy Bottom Boys' "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow."

Dixie Chicks, Fly (Monument, 1999). Produced by Blake Chancey & Paul Worley. This is the only album by a group to win the Triple Crown. It was the trio's second major label studio album. In addition to winning the Grammy for Best Country Album, it was nominated for Album of the Year. (It lost to Santana's Supernatural.) Fly spawned six top 10 country hits, including the chart-topping "Cowboy Take Me Away" and "Without You."

While Stapleton appears to be the front-runner to win the ACM Album of the Year award, it's not a done deal just yet. The other nominees are Little Big Town's The Breaker, Jon Pardi's California Sunrise, Old Dominion's Happy Endings and Thomas Rhett's Life Changes.

Note: The Grammys didn't have a Best Country Album award from 1966-1993, so a Triple Crown was impossible in those years. Six albums were voted Album of the Year at both the ACMs and the CMAs in that time frame. Here they are.

Garth Brooks, No Fences (Capitol, 1990). Produced by Allen Reynolds. Brooks' sophomore album spawned four #1 country hits—"Friends in Low Places," "Unanswered Prayers," "Two of a Kind, Workin' on a Full House" and "The Thunder Rolls."

George Strait, Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind (MCA, 1984). Produced by Jimmy Bowen & Strait. Strait's fourth studio album spawned three top five country hits—the title track, which reached #1, "The Cowboy Rides Away" and "The Fireman."

Alabama, The Closer You Get… (RCA Victor, 1983). Produced by Alabama & Harold Shedd. The group's fourth major-label album won a Grammy for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, suggesting that it might well have won Best Country Album if there had been such a category. The album spawned three #1 country hits—the title track, "Dixieland Delight" and "Lady Down on Love."

Willie Nelson, Always on My Mind (Columbia, 1982). Produced by Chips Moman. The title track from Nelson's 30th studio album won a Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male and received a Grammy nomination for Record of the Year. The ballad topped the country chart. The album spawned two other top five country hits—"Last Thing I Needed First Thing This Morning" and a remake of the Everly Brothers' classic "Let It Be Me."

Charlie Rich, Behind Closed Doors (Epic, 1973). Produced by Billy Sherrill. As noted, there was no Best Country Album category at the Grammys in 1973, but this was nominated for Album of the Year. (It lost to Stevie Wonder's Innervisions.) So it's all but certain it would have won Best Country Album if there had been such a category. This was Rich's 15th studio album. It spawned a pair of #1 country hits—the title track and "The Most Beautiful Girl." The title track won a Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male and received a Grammy nomination for Record of the Year.

Merle Haggard, Okie from Muskogee (Capitol, 1970). Produced by Fuzzy Owen. This was Haggard's first live album. It remains the only live album to win both CMA and ACM awards for Album of the Year. It was recorded live at the Civic Center in Muskogee, Okla. A studio recording of the title track was a #1 country hit.

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