MAREN MORRIS and Chris Stapleton emerged as the leading nominees with six each during the 56th Academy of Country Music Awards nominations were announced Friday morning.

Morris’ strong showing is due in part to the success of her song “The Bones,” which landed her nominations for Single of the Year and Song of the Year (Morris co-wrote the crossover hit).

As an artist, she’s up for Female Artist of the Year and, as a member of the Highwomen, for Group of the Year.

Stapleton’s nominations arrive on the back of his latest album, “Starting Over.” He scored nominations for Album of the Year and Song of the Year (for the LP’s title track) and artist recognition in the Male Artist of the Year and Entertainer of the Year categories.

Other top nominees include Miranda Lambert with five, and Ashley McBryde and Thomas Rhett with four apiece.

Rhett is up for Entertainer of the Year, the top prize he shared in a tie with Carrie Underwood at the 2020 ACMs. Underwood scored only one nomination this time: Video of the Year for “Hallelujah,” her collaboration with John Legend off Underwood’s holiday album “My Gift.”

Along with Thomas Rhett, the Entertainer of the Year category includes four other male performers — Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Luke Combs, and Chris Stapleton. All women dominate the Single of the Year field, however: Morris, Lambert, Gabby Barrett, Ingrid Andress, and Carly Pearce (Pearce duets with Lee Brice on her song “I Hope You’re Happy Now”).

(SD-Agencies)