Chris Young's nomination for Male Vocalist of the Year ahead of the 2018 ACM Awards marks the first time in six years since he's been up for the accolade, and he doesn't take the honor lightly.

"For me being a solo male, that award that you're going to have way up on a pedestal is Male Vocalist," he tells Taste of Country and other media at a recent event. "Being able to have that nomination and to really be able to look forward to the ACMs even more than I normally would because of that, it's pretty dang special. I'm honored to be in that category."

Young is nominated alongside a group of impressive, also chart-topping vocalists in the category: Chris Stapleton, Keith Urban, Jason Aldean and Thomas Rhett. But win or lose, Young celebrate just being nominated while he's in Las Vegas next month. He says awards shows are the ideal time for artists to reconnect amidst hectic touring schedules that often keep them apart for most of the year.

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"I'll get out with my friends and just hang out. There's been some pretty cool nights where we've all kind of gotten together and taken over a craps table or something," he says. "It's just really about that camaraderie that everybody talks about at the ACMs and the CMAs. Anytime there's an award event where we're all together in one spot, a lot of us don't see each other other than that. Obviously you're in Vegas, so that makes it really easy to all go party together."

Young continues on his recently-extended Losing Sleep World Tour with Kane Brown and Morgan Evans through September. His hometown show in Nashville will have him headlining Bridgestone Arena for the first time on Sept. 22.

The 2018 ACM Awards air live on CBS from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on April 15.

Remember: The best way to watch the ACM Awards is on TV, with TOC on your phone.

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