8th Academy of Country and Western Music Awards

The 8th Academy of Country and Western Music Awards ceremony was held on February 26, 1973, at Knott's Berry Farm, Buena Park, California. It was hosted by Dick Clark.

8th Academy of Country and Western Music Awards
Date	February 26, 1973
Location	Knott's Berry Farm, Buena Park, California
Hosted by	Dick Clark
Most awards	Donna Fargo (4)
Most nominations	Merle Haggard (6)
Television/radio coverage
Network	ABC

Winners and nominees

Winners are shown in bold.

Entertainer of the Year	Top Male Vocalist of the Year
Roy Clark Merle Haggard Freddie Hart Loretta Lynn Charley Pride	Merle Haggard Tony Booth Freddie Hart Ray Price Charley Pride Conway Twitty
Top Female Vocalist of the Year	Top Vocal Group of the Year
Donna Fargo Loretta Lynn Anne Murray Dolly Parton Susan Raye	Statler Brothers Brush Arbor The Buckaroos The Leightons Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn
Single Record of the Year	Song of the Year
"The Happiest Girl In the Whole USA" — Donna Fargo "If You Leave Me Tonight I'll Cry" — Jerry Wallace "It's Four in the Morning" — Faron Young "It's Not Love (But It's Not Bad)" — Merle Haggard "Pass Me By (If You're Only Passing Through)" — Johnny Rodriguez	"The Happiest Girl In the Whole USA" — Donna Fargo "Bless Your Heart" — Freddie Hart and Jack Lebsock "Funny Face" — Donna Fargo "It's Four in the Morning" — Jerry Chesnut "To Get To You" — Jean Chapel
Most Promising Male Vocalist	Most Promising Female Vocalist
Johnny Rodriguez Larry Booth Little Joe Shaver Red Simpson Red Stegall	Tanya Tucker Sharon Leighton Jonie Mosby Bobbie Roy Kathy Smith
Album of the Year
The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A. — Donna Fargo Baby Don't Get Hooked On Me — Mac Davis Best of the Best — Merle Haggard Bless Your Heart — Freddie Hart It's Not Love (But It's Not Bad) — Merle Haggard Let Me Tell You About a Song — Merle Haggard
Pioneer Award
Gene Autry Cliffie Stone