Rhett Akins has been named the 2018 ACM Awards Songwriter of the Year. The tunesmith learned of his victory -- his first for Songwriter of the Year -- on Friday night (April 13), during the ACM's Stories, Songs & Stars event, part of the ACM Party for a Cause, in Las Vegas, Nev.

The 2017 ACM Songwriter of the Year, Lori McKenna, presented Akins with his trophy. She and Akins were part of the ACM Stories, Songs & Stars lineup, along with Akins' fellow Songwriter of the Year nominees, Ashley Gorley, Hillary Lindsey, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne, plus Little Big Town, Midland, Akins' son Thomas Rhett and more.

"I wanna thank God, number one, for everything he's done in my life. I'm sorry, God, for everything I've done to you, but thank you for overlooking some of it, I guess," Akins said onstage. "Is there any way we could get four more awards up here?" he said, gesturing to his fellow Songwriter of the Year nominees. "I would do anything to share this with these dudes, seriously."

Throughout his career as a songwriter, Akins has cranked out hit after hit for many of the heavy hitters in country music, including "When She Says Baby" for Jason AldeanDustin Lynch's "Mind Reader" and Lee Brice's "That Don't Sound Like You." Additionally, Akins has composed several songs for his son; among Rhett's many hits that Akins wrote for or with him are "It Goes Like This," "Get Me Some of That" and "Star of the Show."

The 2018 ACM Awards are scheduled for Sunday (April 15) and will air live on CBS beginning at 8PM ET. The ceremony will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena; Reba McEntire will be hosting the show.

The Boot will be staying up late covering the most buzzed-about winners, fashion and moments at the 2018 ACM Awards. Readers can watch along with us by checking back to TheBoot.com for the latest ACMs headlines, liking The Boot on Facebook and following The Boot on Twitter.

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