Kelsea Ballerini, Chris Stapleton and Old Dominion Score 2016 ACM Awards Wins

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Even before the Nashville community descends on Las Vegas for the 2016 Academy of Country Music Awards, three very buzzy newcomers have already scored their first wins!

Kelsea Ballerini, Chris Stapleton and Old Dominion have been announced as the winners in the New Female Artist of the Year, New Male Artist of the Year and New Duo/Group of the Year, respectively. And while all three acts have plenty of reason to celebrate now, they'll also be vying for trophy number two at the ACMs ceremony on Sunday, April 3, airing on CBS at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

Ballerini, Stapleton and Old Dominion are also each up against established country powerhouses like Miranda Lambert, Jason Aldean and Zac Brown Band, in the Female Vocalist, Male Vocalist, and Vocal Group of the Year categories at the main event.


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"It's crazy!" the 22-year-old gushed of her double nominations just last month in an exclusive interview with ET. "These are my second ACM Awards, my first time doing them in Vegas."

Ballerini said that it was "really special" to be nominated in the New Female category alongside some of her closest friends, including RaeLynn, Cam and Mickey Guyton.

"It's one of those things where, like, you can't lose," she said. "I can lose, and I'm still not going to lose because one of my friends is going to get it and it's fine. And the Female category -- I mean, just to be a female in country music is so exciting, but to be in those five, that's an honor. It really is."


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Ballerini will face off with Lambert, who has taken the prize for the last six consecutive years, Carrie Underwood, Jana Kramer and Kacey Musgraves, in the Female Artist of the Year category.

But that's not the only major moment in store for Ballerini! Tune in to Entertainment Tonight next week for more exclusive scoop from our sit-down with the singer.