The ACM Awards Return To Las Vegas For A Fun-Filled Night

The Academy of Country Music made its grand return to Las Vegas Monday night (March 7) when country music stars, industry members, and fans gathered at Allegiant Stadium for the 57th Annual ACM Awards. Performances and award presentations streamed live on Prime Video, without commercial interruptions, for the first time in history.

For the first time ever, Miranda Lambert won the night’s top honor, Entertainer of the Year. Chris Stapleton, Carly Pearce, Old Dominion, Brothers Osborne, Lainey Wilson, Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood, and Morgan Wallen were also among the televised winners.

The incomparable Dolly Parton was the host for the evening. She first appeared on screen with a shimmery outfit that looked to be made from a broken disco ball. “We’re making history tonight,” she said of the Prime Video stream. “What happens in Vegas does not stay in Vegas.”

Parton’s co-hosts Jimmie Allen and Gabby Barrett kicked the music off with a performance of “Viva Las Vegas” and “Let’s Go To Vegas” from another stage. That’s when the camera panned around the enormous Allegiant Stadium, which held three stages. Barrett later performed a cover of Lee Ann Womack‘s “I Hope You Dance,” and Allen performed his new single, “Down Home.”

Perhaps because the show wasn’t limited by a huge television network, the energy and flow of the ACM Awards was fun and less polished. Nominees and fans danced in the aisles, and presenters let loose when announcing performers or giving out awards.

Entertainer of the Year nominee Eric Church performed a medley of his many hits early in the night. His sampling included “How ‘Bout You,” “Guys Like Me,” “Smoke A Little Smoke,” “Springsteen,” “Give Me Back My Hometown,” “Round Here Buzz,” “Record Year,” “Hell of A View,” and more. His nine album covers flashed on the screens as Church powered through his performance. Ashley McBryde appeared on stage to sing on “Heart On Fire.”

Walker Hayes performed his new single “AA” before getting the crowd on their feet for his massive hit “Fancy Like.”

When it came time to present the first televised award, Duo and Group of the Year were revealed back-to-back. Brothers Osborne were crowned as the ACM Duo of the Year. The grateful brothers thanked their fans, family and team. “About a week ago, they pulled our single from country radio,” TJ Osborne said candidly of “I’m Not For Everyone,” adding, “I needed a little bit of wind in our sails.”

Old Dominion took home their fifth consecutive Group of the Year Award, the longest winning streak in the category since 2008. “We don’t take that for granted,” frontman Matt Ramsey said, before recognizing the fighting going on in Ukraine. “We’re in this beautiful bubble here when there’s people out there fighting for their lives,” he said.

The next slate of performances included Maren Morris playing one of her new songs, “Circles Around This Town,” and Parmalee, Blanco Brown and Brooke Eden coming together for “Just The Way.” Jason Aldean—who was performing when a gunman opened fire at the Route 91 Festival in Las Vegas in 2017—introduced Chris Stapleton’s performance of “Watch You Burn,” which was written in response to the tragedy.

Yellowstone actors Luke Grimes and Kelsey Asbille, who elicited a big cheer from the country fans, were on hand to present Song and Single of the Year.

Darling Lainey Wilson won her second and third ACM Awards—she was named Best New Female Artist last week in some early award announcements—and took home trophies as the artist and co-writer for Song of the Year with “Things A Man Oughta Know.” Wilson knocked her acceptance speech out of the park. “Country music is my life,” she said, before thanking her family, her co-writers and producer Jay Joyce, and her fervent team. “Country music fans have wrapped their loving arms around me, which is a prayer answered,” she continued, before letting the huge stadium and fans at home know that “Things A Man Oughta Know” is about the golden rule: treating others the way you want to be treated.

Immediately thereafter, Aldean and Underwood won Single of the Year for their anthemic “If I Didn’t Love You.” The pair recognized the songwriters and their teams, and later performed the massive hit. After two of his artists accepted their trophies—Wilson and Aldean—the camera panned to BBR Label Group head Jon Loba who beamed up at the stage.

More performances ensued. Pearce and McBryde performed their Music Event Of The Year award-winner “Never Wanted To Be That Girl.” Thomas Rhett played “Slow Down Summer,” starting at the piano. Brothers Osborne performed their rocking “Skeletons.”

James Patterson appeared to promote his new novel with Parton and introduce his co-writer to perform a tune from the novel’s accompanying album, “Big Dreams and Faded Jeans,” with Kelsea Ballerini.

When it came time to announce the winner for Album of the Year, fans and attendees were shocked to hear Morgan Wallen’s name called for his blockbuster album Dangerous: The Double Album. This marks the first time the controversial figure has won an award for his massively successful sophomore album due to his now infamous use of a racial slur in early 2021. Wallen thanked his family, his team, and his army of fans. “Thank you to everyone who has shown me grace along the way,” he said.

For the next section of performances, Parker McCollum played his breakout hit “Pretty Heart.” Breland played “Praise The Lord,” with a gospel choir and Thomas Rhett lending their vocals to the fun song. Kane Brown sounded fabulous on a swanky new one, “Leave You Alone.” Last year’s Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan performed “Up” before playing “Buy Dirt” with Jordan Davis. Lady A played “What A Song Can Do.”

Male Artist of the Year went to Stapleton for the third time. “This is a rowdy bunch,” he said before recognizing his supporters. Pearce won the ACM Female Artist of the Year, marking her first win in the category and her second win for Music Event of the Year, bringing her total ACM Awards count to four. “This is all I’ve ever wanted to do in the whole world,” she said.

Chris Young played “At The End Of The Bar” with Mitchell Tenpenny before playing his 2019 hit “Raised On Country.” Kelly Clarkson honored host Parton with a beautiful, tender version of “I Will Always Love You.”

Parton was tasked with announcing the winner of the night’s top honor. For the first time ever, Lambert won the ACM Entertainer of the Year. But also for the first time in 17 years, the singer-songwriter was not in attendance, as she was overseas gearing up for her C2C performance.

Via video, an elated Lambert said, “I’ve been waiting for this for a really long time. I actually never thought it would happen.”

With her hands clenched in a fist, Lambert added, “This one goes out to all the singer-songwriter girls out there that are putting their blood, sweat and tears into their guitar strings. We did it! This is for us.”

Closing out the fun show on an appropriate note, Brothers Osborne and Brittney Spencer collaborated on a special performance of “These Boots are Made for Walkin’.”

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