The 23rd Academy of Country Music Awards ceremony was held on March 21, 1988, at Knott's Berry Farm, Buena Park, California, United States. It was hosted by Reba McEntire and Hank Williams Jr.. This would be the last ACM Awards show to be held at Knott's Berry Farm.
Winners and nominees Winners are shown in bold. Entertainer of the YearAlbum of the Year Hank Williams Jr. Alabama Reba McEntire Willie Nelson Randy Travis Trio — Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, & Linda Ronstadt Always & Forever — Randy Travis Born to Boogie — Hank Williams Jr. Heartland — The Judds Ocean Front Property — George StraitTop Female Vocalist of the YearTop Male Vocalist of the Year Reba McEntire Rosanne Cash Crystal Gayle Kathy Mattea Tanya Tucker Randy Travis Ronnie Milsap George Strait Steve Wariner Hank Williams Jr.Top Vocal Group of the YearTop Vocal Duo of the Year Highway 101 Alabama Exile Oak Ridge Boys Restless Heart The Judds Bellamy Brothers Foster & Lloyd Crystal Gayle and Gary Morris Sweethearts of the RodeoSingle Record of the YearSong of the Year "Forever and Ever, Amen" — Randy Travis "All My Ex's Live in Texas" — George Strait "Born to Boogie" — Hank Williams Jr. "I'll Still Be Loving You" — Restless Heart "Somebody Lied" — Ricky Van Shelton "Forever and Ever, Amen" — Paul Overstreet, Don Schlitz "80's Ladies" — K.T. Oslin "Born to Boogie" — Hank Williams Jr. "Ocean Front Property" — Dean Dillon, Hank Cochran, Royce Porter "Somebody Lied" — Larry Jenkins, Joe ChambersTop New Male VocalistTop New Female Vocalist Ricky Van Shelton Larry Boone Marty Haggard Lyle Lovett Jo-El Sonnier K.T. Oslin Nancy Griffith Libby Hurley k.d lang Dana McVickerVideo of the Year "80's Ladies" — K.T. Oslin "Forever and Ever, Amen" — Randy Travis "Little Sister" — Dwight Yoakam "My Name is Bocephus" — Hank Williams Jr. "Santa Fe" — The Bellamy Brothers "Tar Top" — AlabamaPioneer Award Roger Miller
Performers Performer(s)Song(s)Hank Williams Jr.Medley"Born to Boogie""All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight"Larry BooneK.T. OslinNew Artist Medley #1"You Don't Know Me""I Saw the Light"Tanya Tucker"If It Don't Come Easy"Dwight YoakamBuck Owens"Streets of Bakersfield"Restless Heart"Hummingbird"Nancy GriffithJo-El SonnierNew Artist Medley #2"The Pill""Jambalaya (On the Bayou)"The Judds"Old Pictures"Merle Haggard"Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Star"Dana McVickerMarty HaggardNew Artist Medley #3"I'm Sorry""I Love You a Thousand Ways"Moe Bandy"Americana"Reba McEntire"A Sunday Kind of Love"k.d. langRicky Van SheltonNew Artist Medley #4"Life's Railway to Heaven""I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love with You)"Alabama"Fallin' Again"Lyle LovettLibby HurleyNew Artist Medley #5"Stand by Your Man""Right or Wrong"Hank Williams Jr.Reba McEntire"Hey, Good Lookin'"
Presenters Presenter(s)NotesRandy TravisAnn JillianTop Vocal Duo of the YearMarie OsmondRobert ConradSingle Record of the YearEddie RabbittStepfanie KramerVideo of the YearMickey GilleyJessica WalterTop Female Vocalist of the YearSteve WarinerMarkie PostCharley PrideSong of the YearHolly DunnJohn DavidsonKathy MatteaTop Vocal Group of the YearRoy ClarkPresented Pioneer Award to Roger MillerThe Bellamy BrothersSandy DuncanTop Male Vocalist of the YearSweethearts of the RodeoExileTop New Male VocalistTop New Female VocalistT.G. SheppardDeidre HallEarl Thomas ConleyAlbum of the YearCarl PerkinsEntertainer of the Year
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