14 Must-See Throwback Photos of This Year's ACM Award Nominees on Red Carpets from Years Past

Shelton, whose song "Nobody But You" with fiancée Gwen Stefani earned a nod, wore a red blazer, black cowboy hat and long, curly locks to the carpet in 2005.

This songtress, who shares the lead for most nominations (a whopping six!) with Chris Stapleton, wore a gorgeous green goddess gown to the 2017 carpet.

Up for four awards this year, Thomas Rhett posed alongside wife Lauren Akins in 2012, looking super cute in coordinated black looks.

This was the year the two tied the knot, and now they are parents to three daughters, Willa Gray, Ada James and Lennon Love.

This year's video of the year nominee wore a sweet gold knee-length dress and strappy shoes to the show in 2007.

Duo of the year nominees Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney of Dan + Shay had fun on the 2014 carpet, posing alongside each other and showing off their own unique styles in different colored suits.

Up for five awards this year, Lambert wore a gold-and-teal ensemble in 2008, with matching earrings and shoes.

The star had a blast on the 2015 carpet!

Ballerini is up against Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris, Ashley McBryde and Carly Pearce for the coveted female artist of the year award this year.

Singers Maddie Marlow and Taylor Dye of Maddie + Tae looked darling in their blue and purple gowns in 2015. The two are up against Brooks & Dunn, Brothers Osborne, Dan + Shay and Florida Georgia Line for duo of the year.

The star — who's in the running for entertainer of the year and two other awards — and wife Katherine stunned on the 2013 carpet.

Eric opted for a more casual look while Katherine donned a beautiful strapless gown with flowing blonde locks.

Feast your eyes on this amazing throwback of this year's host and wife Nicole Kidman.

This will be double nominee Urban's second time hosting the show; this time around, he'll be joined by first-timer Mickey Guyton.

Artists Phillip Sweet, Kimberly Schlapman, Karen Fairchild and Jimi Westbrook of the group Little Big Town were in great spirits at the 2006 awards' red carpet.

Here's to hoping those smiles appear even bigger at this year's show, as they are nominated for vocal group of the year against Lady A, The Cadillac Three, Old Dominion and The Highwomen. Sweet, however, will be watching from home: on Thursday, his bandmates announced he tested positive for COVID-19.

Also sitting out this year due to a positive COVID-19 diagnosis, Bryan — up for entertainer of the year in 2021 — first joined the fun in 2008.

The shirt! The hair! The jeans! Bentley was one standout newcomer at the 2003 show.

Now that is a throwback. At the 1993 ACM Awards, the duo of Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn looked every bit the country singers.