ACM Awards Week Rocks Texas, Tune In Tonight For Awards

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Pictured (L-R): ACM CEO Damon Whiteside, ACM New Female Artist of the Year Hailey Whitters and 2020 ACM New Female Artist of the Year Gabby Barrett. Photo: Courtesy of ACM

The country music industry is celebrating all week down in Frisco, Texas in preparation for the 58th annual ACM Awards, which will air live tonight (May 11) at 7 p.m. CT on Prime Video.

In addition to rehearsals taking place throughout the week, public festivities kicked off on Tuesday (May 9) with the first day of the ACM Country Kickoff at The Star free fan festival, including a special opening ceremony with Frisco resident and RCA recording artist Corey Kent, Academy of Country Music CEO Damon Whiteside as well as local and state officials and representatives of the Dallas Cowboys.

Pictured (L-R): Brendon Anthony, Director, Texas Music Office; Corey Kent, RCA recording artist, ACM Country Kickoff performer, and Frisco, TX resident; Jeff Cheney, Mayor, Frisco, TX; Chuck Aly, Chair, ACM Board of Directors; Damon Whiteside, CEO, ACM; and Chad Estis, EVP Business Operations, Dallas Cowboys and Legends. Photo: Courtesy of ACM

Other country artists who performed at The Star were exciting up-and-coming artists Kent, Ashley Cooke, Randall King, Erin Kinsey, Chase Matthew, Ian Munsick, Neon Union and Frank Ray.

On Tuesday night (May 9), Gabby Barrett revealed some early winners at the Live From the ACMs: ACM New Artist Winners Celebration. The ACM New Male Artist of the Year was awarded to Zach Bryan, and ACM New Female Artist of the Year was presented to Hailey Whitters. Whitters performed for the crowd after accepting her award and will also take the stage at Ford Center tonight to perform live at the 58th ACM Awards, marking her win.

Pictured (L-R): Chase McGill, The Bluebird Cafe General Manager Erika Wollam Nichols, ACM CEO Damon Whiteside, Nicolle Galyon, Ashley Gorley and Hunter Phelps. Photo: Courtesy of ACM

On Wednesday (May 10), fans gathered at the ACM Country Kickoff at The Star stage were treated to performances from ACM New Male Artist of the Year nominees Dylan Scott and Nate Smith; ACM New Female Artist of the Year nominee Caitlyn Smith; ACM Music Event of the Year nominee MacKenzie Porter, who surprised the crowd with a special appearance by her chart-topping duet partner Dustin Lynch; as well as Chayce Beckham, Chapel Hart, Hannah Ellis, Tiera Kennedy, Catie Offerman, Josh Ross and MaRynn Taylor.

Elsewhere, The Bluebird Cafe and NSAI brought four of the ACM Songwriter of the Year nominees together to the brand-new Omni PGA Frisco Hotel for an intimate celebration.

Hosted by beloved actor and singer-songwriter Charles Esten (Nashville, Outer Banks), the brunch featured Nicolle Galyon, Ashley Gorley, Chase McGill and Hunter Phelps performing some of their top hits for an enthusiastic crowd. After the show, Esten surprised Gorley with his first ACM Award for ACM Songwriter of the Year.

Pictured (L-R): BBR Music Group’s Lainey Wilson and Big Loud’s Hardy with their ACM Awards for ACM Visual Media of the Year. Photo: Courtesy of ACM

ACM Radio Award winners for the 58th ACM Awards were celebrated at Frisco’s Monarch Stag Cocktail Bar, just blocks away from the ACM Country Kickoff at The Star, toasting their well-deserved recognition and the vitality of country radio.

Later on, Bailey Zimmerman, Ernest, Lainey Wilson, Jason Aldean and Hardy performed at Frisco’s Topgolf The Colony for the ACM Lifting Lives Live benefit concert. At sunset, Gorley surprised Hardy with the ACM Award for Artist-Songwriter of the Year.

After the show was over, Hardy and Wilson were surprised by SiriusXM The Highway’s Storme Warren with the news that they had won the award for ACM Visual Media of the Year for their “Wait In The Truck” music video.

Tune in to the 58th ACM Awards tonight on Prime Video.

LB Cantrell
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