Nashville Takes Over Texas For ACM Awards Week 2024

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Lainey Wilson & Jelly Roll. Photo: Catherine Powell

A multitude of country singers, songwriters and industry professionals have been partying in Texas for ACM Week, leading up to tonight’s (May 16) 59th annual ACM Awards.

On Wednesday (May 15), the Grand Ole Opry hosted the “Opry NextStage Live From Texas” at the Lava Cantina in Frisco. The sold-out show was hosted by Jelly Roll, who is nominated for four awards tonight. The event featured performances from Anne Wilson, Chase Matthew, Ella Langley, Flatland Cavalry, Madeline Edwards and Wyatt Flores, all of whom are members of this year’s Opry NextStage class.

Opry NextStage alums Restless Road and Tenille Townes also performed. As did Lainey Wilson, who notched four nominations this year.

Pictured (L-R, Back Row): Colton Pake and Zach Beeken of Restless Road, Chase Matthew, Wyatt Flores, Jelly Roll, Jason Albers, Celto Cordero & Reid Dilllon of Flatland and Ian Munsick. (L-R, Front Row): Garrett Nichols (Restless Road), Ella Langley, Madeline Edwards, Anne Wilson, Wesley Hall, Adam Gallegos & Jonthan Saenz of Flatland and Tenille Townes. Photo: Catherine Powell

Tuesday night (May 14) brought the 2024 Billboard Country Power Players Awards at Gilley’s in Dallas. The event honored influential players in country music. Wilson was presented with the Record Breaker award, newly-crowned New Male Artist of the Year Nate Smith earned the Rookie of the Year honor, Linda Martell received the Legend Award, Groundbreaker went to The War & Treaty and Big Loud’s Seth England was honored with Executive of the Year.

“As country music reaches new heights in popularity, we were thrilled to bring this event to Dallas for the first time celebrating the biggest power players in country music,” said Melinda Newman, Executive Editor of Billboard, West Coast and Nashville. “It’s our privilege to highlight the tremendous talent in this genre and celebrate it alongside one of the biggest weeks in country music history.”

Additional celebrations were in store for Shaboozey for hitting No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs Chart with “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” and WME’s Jay Williams with the Billboard Country Power Players’ Choice Award.

Ashley Gorley & Nate Smith. Photo: Gilbert Flores

Also on Tuesday night, Parker McCollum, who already won an ACM award this year for Visual Media of the Year, hosted a pre-party at The Lincoln Experience Center in Frisco. Attendees heard performances from McCollum, Scotty McCreery and Hannah Ellis.

“If someone had told me years ago that I would be celebrating my own collection with Lucchese alongside two ACM nominations in my very own backyard of Texas, I would not have believed it,” said McCollum. “It’s so humbling to be doing what I love with the people I love, and my Lucchese family has played a significant role in making that happen.”

Earlier on Tuesday, Breland hosted the first ever “Charley Pride Celebration of Inclusion Brunch” at the Omni PGA Frisco Resort in Frisco. The inaugural event celebrated 16 honorees for their work championing diversity in country music.

Breland. Photo: Courtesy of SSM&L

The class of honorees included Alice Randall, Alicia Warwick, Armand Hutton, Dion Pride & Mrs. Rozene Pride, Kortney Toney, Reyna Roberts, Rissi Palmer, Shannon Sanders, The War and Treaty, Tiera Kennedy, Wendy Moten and Willie “Prophet” Stiggers.

Sanders took the stage to honor Pride and his family, including his son Dion and widow Rozene.

The 59th ACM Awards will stream live on Thursday, May 16. Hosted by Reba McEntire, the show will feature live performances from Jason Aldean, Kane Brown, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Post Malone, Parker McCollum, Thomas Rhett, Chris Stapleton, Lainey Wilson and more. See a full list of nominees here.

Madison Hahnen
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