Carly Pearce And Lee Brice Win ACM Music Event Of The Year

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Carly Pearce, Lee Brice. Photo: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for ACM

Carly Pearce and Lee Brice were surprised mid-interview last night (April 15) when they received an early ACM win for Music Event with their smash duet, “I Hope You’re Happy Now.” The Platinum-certified song, co-written by Luke Combs, Randy Montana and Jonathan Singleton, also won the CMA’s Musical Event of the Year back in November.

“I Hope You’re Happy Now” is also up for Single of the Year at this weekend’s upcoming ACM Awards. The power ballad faces off against a precedent-setting all-female category that includes Miranda Lambert’s “Bluebird,” Gabby Barrett’s “I Hope,” Ingrid Andress’ “More Hearts Than Mine” and Maren Morris’ “The Bones.”

“I’m over the moon on winning this award but especially happy for Carly,” says Brice of their No. 1 collaboration, which they perform live on Sunday’s (April 18) telecast. “This is her story, her song and I am honored to be a part of it. Seeing this from the very beginning from her perspective to now winning awards is full circle—and humbling but rewarding.”

“Everyone at some point in their life has found themselves caught in a relationship where you love the other person so much, yet over time, it all falls apart,” says Pearce. “When we all started talking about our lives and our journeys, every one of us had been in this position—and it’s the worst feeling. You get to a point where you have to do something, and even that doesn’t really make things better, it just creates a hole where your heart used to be. To see people respond to ‘I Hope You’re Happy Now’ the way that they have has been is incredibly affirming, because I think it makes you—wherever you are in your life—feel less alone. And having Lee’s voice, which is a bit of hurricane the way he comes in, it really brings home how hard it is for both people in these kinds of situations.”

The 56th ACM Awards will air on Sunday, April 18 at 7 p.m. CST on CBS and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.

Lorie Hollabaugh
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