Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson. Photo: ACM
Reba McEntire, host of the 54th annual Academy of Country Music Awards, called it early in the evening, as she jokingly renamed the show “Dan + Shay’s Excellent Adventure.”
Indeed the Warner Music Nashville duo went into the night tying Chris Stapleton for the most nominations with six (with the duo’s Dan Smyers earning an additional four nods).
They picked up their first-ever ACM honors for Song and Single of the Year for “Tequila,” penned by Smyers, Nicolle Galyon and Jordan Reynolds. Later in the evening, they also earned the Duo of the Year accolade.
“Country music, country radio you have changed our lives,” said Dan + Shay’s Shay Mooney in winning the Single of the Year honor, while Smyers thanked all the musicians on the song. The song’s producer Scott Hendricks said, “Thank you for letting me be a part of this.”
“We are all winners tonight,” said Smyers.
“This is the greatest night of my life, except the day I married my wife, and we had our baby,” Shay Mooney said.
Dan + Shay and Kelly Clarkson. Photo: ACM
“I’m gonna give this one to Dan+Shay so they can have a fourth win,” Thomas Rhett quipped as he picked up his first ACM Male Artist of the Year honor later in the evening.
In February, Dan + Shay offered the most-Shazamed performance of the evening at the Grammy Awards with their award-winning “Tequila,” in large part to Shay Mooney’s thunderous voice. For the ACM Awards, they brought more vocal firepower, welcoming Kelly Clarkson for a rendition of “Keeping Score.”
Powerhouse vocalists held court throughout the evening. ACM New Male Artist of the Year Luke Combs eschewed his normal dressed-down look for a suit to perform his No. 1 hit “Beautiful Crazy.”
Keith Urban is known for his guitar-driven, high octane awards show performances. This year, he detoured for an intimate cover of “Burden” by Irish singer Foy Vance. Urban’s voice was front and center, letting the song’s somber lyrics resonate in the arena as his voice grew more impassioned, soulful and captivating at the song’s crescendo.
Carrie Underwood offered two performances during the evening, including a stunning all-female group performance of the Gospel-inflected “I’ll Stand With You,” from the soundtrack to the movie Breakthrough, alongside the movie’s star Chrissy Metz (in her first live television singing debut), as well as Mickey Guyton, Lauren Alaina, and Maddie & Tae.
Underwood also offered one of the sunniest performances, starting off poolside for a rendition of the fun, flirty “Southbound,” before leading a group of dancers through the audience at the MGM arena to the stage.
Carrie Underwood performs at the ACMs. Photo: ACM
Some of the evening’s most impactful moments weren’t due to bombastic vocal range or power. Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild softly but arrestingly introduced the group’s poignant new song “The Daughters,” stringing together, and then disarming, the misguided and harmful advice young girls are often given throughout their lives.
I’ve heard of God the Son and God the father, I’m just looking for a God for the daughters, they sang, as young female dancers performed behind them. Several in the audience, including Brandi Carlile, could be seen wiping tears after the performance.
With just a guitar, ACM New Female Artist of the Year Ashley McBryde offered strength and elegance in her first ACM performance of the autobiographical “Girl Goin’ Nowhere.” She returned later in the show, opposite Eric Church as they traded verses on “The Snake,” backed by a choir.
Reba McEntire, hosting the show for a 16th time, noted the hustle females in the music industry give to their careers—as well as their lack of radio airplay and honors in country awards shows’ top categories.
“I’m a woman in the music business and we don’t have time for tired,” she stated. “[Women] were frozen out of [the] Entertainer of the Year [category]. But that didn’t bother Kacey Musgraves because she was too busy carrying her Grammys around,” Reba said.
ACMs, too. Musgraves completed the awards trifecta of wins for her album Golden Hour, taking home the Academy of Country Music’s Album of the Year honor, following her wins in the same category at last year’s Country Music Awards and February’s all-genre Album of the Year win at February’s Grammy awards. Musgraves is now the third artist to win Album of the Year at the Grammys, ACMs and CMAs, with the most recent being Taylor Swift in 2010.
“I appreciate being able to share my perspective. Making this album with these two [her producers] is one of the best memories of my life,” Musgraves said. Later in the show, she took home Female Artist of the Year as well.
“This is going out to any girl or woman who is being told her style or perspective is too different to work. It’ll work out,” she said.
Miranda Lambert. Photo: ACM
It’s been three years since Miranda Lambert released her double album The Weight Of These Wings. Lambert, the most-awarded artist in ACM Awards history (with 32), is still working on a follow up to that project, so for her ACMs performance, she offered a blazing medley of past hits “Kerosene,” “Gunpowder and Lead,” “Mama’s Broken Heart,” “White Liar,” and “Little Red Wagon.”
Maren Morris, who will join Lambert on the upcoming Roadside Bars and Pink Guitars Tour 2019 later this year, performed a track from her recently-released GIRL album. After sipping from a solo cup, she joined Brothers Osborne for the blistering, summer-ready jam “All My Favorite People.” The stage was turned into a dive bar complete with a Santa’s Pub sign, lights strung across the stage and a large neon guitar.
The performance was one of many collaborations throughout the evening.
Ashley McBryde. Photo: ACM
The show opened with Jason Aldean and Florida Georgia Line on “Can’t Hide Red,” a track from the duo’s latest album. Kane Brown collaborated with Khalid on “Saturday Nights” after he offered a take on his own solo track “Good As You.”
Meanwhile, Dierks Bentley collaborated with recent Grammy darling Carlile on “Travelin’ Light,” a song from Bentley’s recent ACM-nominated album The Mountain.
As part of the ACM Flashback series, Texans Miranda Lambert and George Strait collaborated on “Run,” as both clearly relished the performance.
“That’s the king, y’all! George Strait!” Lambert said.
Combs returned later in the evening, proving himself a Brooks & Dunn acolyte as he crooned with the duo on their hit “Brand New Man.” Recently-named Country Music Hall of Fame inductees Brooks & Dunn released the track as part of their collaborative album Reboot.
Per usual, several artists performed new music. Reba offered a masterclass performance of her new song “Freedom.” Strait’s voice was smooth and full of weathered wisdom as he offered his new song “God and Country Music.”
Male Artist of the Year winner Thomas Rhett performed “Look What god Gave Her,” while 2019 ACM Group of the Year Old Dominion offered “Make It Sweet.” Luke Bryan introduced his latest single, “Knockin’ Boots,” backed by shelves of boots.
The show slowed its pace for an intimate moment as Chris Stapleton offered “A Simple Song,” in a tastefully stripped down style, opposite his wife Morgane, who is expecting the couple’s fifth child. The song centered on appreciating the good, simple things amid life’s struggles.
Reba. Photo: ACM
The evening closed with a tribute to Jason Aldean, who was honored as Artist of the Decade. Aldean has netted 13 total ACM Awards in his career (including three consecutive Entertainer of the Year honors). He took the stage to perform “Lights Come On,” before welcoming Kelly Clarkson back to the stage for their 2010 hit “Don’t You Wanna Stay.” He then offered “Dirt Road Anthem.”
“I’ve had a hell of a decade,” Aldean said. “My whole team, thank you for the last 15 years. More than anything thank you to the country music fans, country radio. You guys have changed my life forever.”
“When we are learning to tune our guitars, this is the one we are dreaming about,” Kix Brooks said as Brooks & Dunn and Reba announced this year’s Entertainer of the Year.
Keith Urban, who was named Entertainer of the Year in November at the Country Music Awards, took home the same honor at Sunday’s Academy of Country Music Awards.
A visibly surprised Urban thanked his team and country radio and the fans. Strait closed the show with “Every Little Honky Tonk Bar.”
Click here for a full list of winners.
Tompall & The Glaser Brothers Member Jim Glaser Dies
/by Jessica NicholsonJim Glaser
Jim Glaser, who began his career as a member of the award-winning trio Tompall & the Glaser Brothers, died at his home on Saturday (April 6). He was 81.
Born James William Glaser in Spalding, Nebraska, in 1937, Jim began playing guitar at age four and began performing at local shows with his brother Tompall as The Glaser Brothers.
In 1959, Marty Robbins signed The Glaser Brothers, which by then included their brother Chuck, to his Robbins Records label, which released their first single “Five Penny Nickel.” Decca Records later purchased their contract from Robbins and Owen Bradley produced their records. During those early years, they toured with Robbins, Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline, among others, before going on their own in the early 1960s. In 1966, signing with MGM brought chart success on songs such as “Gone, On the Other Hand,” “California Girl (and the Tennessee Square),” and “The Moods of Mary.” The Glaser Brothers’ cover of the Cymarron pop hit “Rings” reached No. 7 on the Billboard charts (No. 1 on Cashbox and Record World) in 1971. In 1981, their Elektra Records release of the Kris Kristofferson song “Loving Her was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again)” reached No. 2 on the Billboard charts, staying there for two weeks.
The group ceased performing together in 1973, and reunited in 1979.
Jim earned a No. 1 hit as a solo artist with “You’re Gettin’ to Me Again” from his Man In The Mirror album (released on the Noble Vision record label). The album also notched the Top 20 song “When You’re Not a Lady” and the Top 10 hit “If I Could Only Dance With You.” Glaser earned the Academy of Country Music’s New Male Artist Award in 1983.
Jim was also a successful songwriter, including “Running Gun,” a hit for Marty Robbins, Skeeter Davis’ “What Does it Take,” Warner Mack’s “Sittin’ in an All Night Cafe,” Liz Anderson’s “Thanks A Lot For Tryin’ Anyway,” Bill Anderson’s “And I’m Still Missing You,” the Texas Tornados’ “Who Were You Thinking Of,” and “Woman, Woman” for Gary Puckett and the Union Gap.
Jim’s tenor voice can be heard on such hits as Marty Robbins “El Paso,” and, along with his brothers, on Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire,” as well as many others hit songs, including tunes by Hank Snow and John Anderson.
Along with brothers Chuck and Tompall, Glaser owned and operated Glaser Sound Studios, located at 916 19th Ave. S. in Nashville, where Kinky Friedman, John Hartford, Jimmy Payne and others recorded. Friedman recorded his Sold American album at the studio—known during the Outlaw days as “Hillbilly Central”—and Waylon Jennings recorded his classic Dreaming My Dreams there with producer Cowboy Jack Clement. Another album recorded at the studio was Hartford’s bluegrass album Aereo-Plane.
The brothers also ran Glaser Publications, which published such popular hits as “Gentle On My Mind,” “Woman, Woman,” “Sitting in an All Night Cafe,” “Streets of Baltimore” and “Where Has All the Love Gone,” helping many of their songwriters maintain control of their own creative works.
Jim’s brother Tompall Glaser died in 2013.
A private family memorial is being planned, according to a family spokesperson.
The Raconteurs Add North American Headlining Dates
/by LB CantrellAfter announcing their new album Help Us Stranger, (out June 21 via Third Man Records), The Raconteurs —Jack White, Brendan Benson, Jack Lawrence, and Patrick Keeler—have announced an extensive run of North American headline tour dates. Spanning from July to October, the tour will include previously-announced US festival appearances at Woodstock 50 and Railbird. The band will kick off their world tour with their first trip to Australia and New Zealand later this month, as well as stops in Japan, Europe, and the United Kingdom before returning to the US for their North American tour.
The tour includes two shows at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, set for Aug. 29-30.
Tickets to the North American headline dates go on sale to the general public on Friday, April 12 at 10 a.m. local time. Third Man Records Vault members will have access to the very first pre-sale starting on Tuesday, April 9 at 10 a.m. local time, running through Thursday, April 11 at 10 p.m. local time. American Express card members can purchase tickets in select markets before the general public beginning Wednesday, April 10 at 10 a.m. local time through Thursday, April 11 at 10 p.m. local time. For tickets and more information on all tour dates, visit https://theraconteurs.com/tour.
Additionally, every online ticket purchased in North America for the new headline shows will include a physical copy of Help Us Stranger on CD. Fans will also have the option to upgrade their CD to the standard black vinyl LP.
The Raconteurs 2019 World Tour:
April 16: Powerstation – Auckland, New Zealand (SOLD OUT)
April 18: Regent Theatre – Melbourne, Australia (SOLD OUT)
April 20: Big Top Sydney – Sydney, Australia
April 22: Bluesfest Byron Bay – Byron Bay, Australia *
April 24: Akasaka Blitz – Tokyo, Japan
April 25: Akasaka Blitz – Tokyo, Japan
May 25: All Points East – London, UK *
May 26: L’Olympia – Paris, France (SOLD OUT)
May 27: Cirque Royal – Brussels, Belgium (SOLD OUT)
May 28: E-Werk – Köln, Germany
May 30: Verti Music Hall – Berlin, Germany
May 31: Heartland Festival – Kværndrup, Denmark *
June 1: Orange Warsaw Festival – Warsaw, Poland *
June 2: Best Kept Secret Festival – Hilvarenbeek, Netherlands *
July 12: Masonic Temple Theatre – Detroit, MI
July 14: Eagles Ballroom – Milwaukee, WI
July 15: Armory – Minneapolis, MN
July 18: WaMu Theater at CenturyLink Field Events Center – Seattle, WA
July 19: Queen Elizabeth Theatre – Vancouver, BC
July 21: Edgefield – Troutdale, OR
July 23: Fox Theater – Oakland, CA
July 26: Greek Theatre – Los Angeles, CA
July 27: Santa Barbara Bowl – Santa Barbara, CA
July 28: Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre – San Diego, CA
August 10: Railbird Festival – Lexington, KY *
August 11: Knoxville Civic Auditorium – Knoxville, TN
August 12: Egyptian Room at Old National Centre – Indianapolis, IN
August 13: Stage AE (Indoors) – Pittsburgh, PA
August 15: Agora Theatre – Cleveland, OH
August 16: Woodstock 50 – Watkins Glen, NY *
August 17: The Anthem – Washington, DC
August 18: The Fillmore Charlotte – Charlotte, NC
August 20: Township Auditorium – Columbia, SC
August 21: Tabernacle – Atlanta, GA
August 22: Tabernacle – Atlanta, GA
August 29: Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN
August 30: Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN
September 3: Red Hat Amphitheater – Raleigh, NC
September 6: Hammerstein Ballroom – New York, NY
September 7: Kings Theatre – Brooklyn, NY
September 9: House of Blues – Boston, MA
September 12: Sony Centre for the Performing Arts – Toronto, ON
September 13: Express Live! Indoor Pavilion – Columbus, OH
October 12: The Criterion – Oklahoma City, OK
October 13: Cain’s Ballroom – Tulsa, OK
October 14: Cain’s Ballroom – Tulsa, OK
October 17: Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland – Kansas City, MO
October 18: The Pageant – St. Louis, MO
New dates in bold
* denotes festival performance
Universal Music Group Nashville Celebrates Top ACM Wins
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): UMGN President Cindy Mabe, Keith Urban, Nicole Kidman. Photo: courtesy UMG Nashville
Universal Music Group Nashville had plenty to celebrate following the 54th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, with Keith Urban taking home the top prize of the evening as the Entertainer Of The Year.
Other UMG artists celebrating their wins at the Skyfall Lounge at the Delano in Las Vegas last night included Kacey Musgraves, who won Female Artist of the Year and Album of the Year for Golden Hour, and Dierks Bentley with Brothers Osborne, who took home the trophy for Music Event of the Year for “Burning Man.”
UMG artists Carrie Underwood, Little Big Town, Dierks Bentley, Maddie & Tae, and Mickey Guyton all performed during the awards ceremony as well.
Pictured (L-R): TJ Osborne (Brothers Osborne), UMGN Chairman & CEO Mike Dungan, Lauren Alaina, Carrie Underwood, John Osborne (Brothers Osborne), UMGN President Cindy Mabe, Mickey Guyton, Diane Warren, Leslie Lewis, Caylee Hammack, Adam Hambrick, Travis Denning, Jon Langston. Photo: courtesy UMG Nashville
Pictured (L-R): Tae Dye (Maddie & Tae), Maddie Marlow (Maddie & Tae), Jordan Davis, Travis Denning, UMGN Chairman & CEO Mike Dungan, Keith Urban, Kimberly Schlapman (Little Big Town), Carrie Underwood, UMGN President Cindy Mabe, Dierks Bentley, Golden Hour Producer Daniel Tashian, Karen Fairchild (Little Big Town), Jimi Westbrook (Little Big Town), Phillip Sweet (Little Big Town). Photo: courtesy UMG Nashville
Russell Dickerson, Michael Ray, Lauren Alaina, LOCASH, Morgan Wallen Join iHeartCountry Festival Lineup
/by Lorie HollabaughRussell Dickerson, Michael Ray, Lauren Alaina, LOCASH and Morgan Wallen will perform at the Daytime Village at the upcoming iHeartCountry Festival on Saturday, May 4 from 2-5 p.m. CT in Austin.
The free daytime event at Frank Erwin Center’s North Box Office Plaza will also feature fan zones and interactive experiences by iHeartRadio’s brand partners.
The iHeartCountry Festival main stage event, hosted by Bobby Bones, will feature performances from Tim McGraw, Florida Georgia Line, Dan + Shay, Luke Combs, Little Big Town, Old Dominion, Chris Janson, Bobby Bones & The Raging Idiots, Alaina and an iHeartCountry Guitar Pull with Tenille Townes, Caylee Hammack and more.
iHeartMedia’s country stations will broadcast the event live in their local markets and at iHeartRadio.com and the event will livestream exclusively on LiveXLive.
The 2019 iHeartCountry Festival’s benefiting charity will be St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® and for every ticket sold, iHeartMedia will donate $1 to help fund the hospital’s lifesaving treatments and research. Tickets are available at TexasBoxOffice.com.
BMLG Celebrates At Post-ACMs Shindig
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Thomas Rhett, Scott Borchetta, and George Briner. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images
Big Machine Label Group’s Thomas Rhett earned the Male Artist of the Year honor at Sunday evening’s (April 7) ACM Awards in Las Vegas. After the star-studded show, the label group’s artists and execs celebrated well into the evening at Hakkasan Las Vegas Restaurant and Nightclub.
During the show, Florida Georgia Line performed “Can’t Hide Red” with BBR Music Group’s Jason Aldean, while Thomas Rhett also performed his new single “Look What God Gave Her.”
Pictured (Top row, L-R): Lauren Akins, Thomas Rhett, Danielle Bradbery, Scott Borchetta, George Briner, Brett Young, Brian Kelley of Florida Georgia Line, Jimmy Harnen, and Tyler Hubbard of Florida Georgia Line (Bottom row, L-R): Matthew Hargis, Pete Fisher, Riley Green, Mike Rittberg, and Allison Jones. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images
Pictured (L-R): Mark Wystrach and Jess Carson of Midland, Jim Weatherson, Kris Lamb, Allison Jones, and Cameron Duddy of Midland. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Big Machine Label Group
Pictured (L-R): Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum, Scott Borchetta, Dave Haywood of Lady Antebellum, and Jimmy Harnen. Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Big Machine Label Group
Pictured (L-R): Allison Jones, Danielle Bradbery, George Briner, Amber Cochran Gilbert, Brantley Gilbert, Michael Ray, Carly Pearce, Scott Borchetta, Brian Kelley of Florida Georgia Line, Jimmy Harnen, and Matthew Hargis. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Big Machine Label Group
ACM Awards: Sony Music Nashville Parties With All Their Favorite People
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): SMN EVP, A&R Jim Catino; SMN COO/EVP, Ken Robold; Tenille Townes; Ryan Hurd; Maren Morris; SMN Chairman & CEO Randy Goodman; Mitchell Tenpenny; SMN EVP, Promotion and Artist Development Steve Hodges. Photo: Michael Roberts
Sony Music Nashville had plenty to celebrate at Hakkasan Las Vegas following Sunday evening’s (April 7) ACM Awards.
Following the release of their Sony-released collaboration project Reboot, Brooks & Dunn left their mark on the ceremony performing “Brand New Man” with New Male Artist of the Year winner and Male Artist of the Year nominee Luke Combs, as well as presenting the Award for Entertainer of the Year.
Single of the Year nominee Kane Brown performed his Top 10 hit “Good As You” and welcomed Khalid for the television debut of their collaboration “Saturday Nights REMIX.” Combs also performed an acoustic arrangement of his six-week No. 1 smash “Beautiful Crazy” with co-writer Rob Williford and award-winning fiddle player Amanda Shires.
Pictured (Front row, L-R): LANCO’s Brandon Lancaster; Sony Music Nashville Chairman & CEO Randy Goodman; LANCO’s Jared Hampton and Tripp Howell; Luke Combs; Sony Music Nashville EVP, A&R Jim Catino. (Back row, L-R): Eric Steedly; Sony Music Nashville COO/EVP Ken Robold; Old Dominion’s Whit Sellers, Geoff Sprung, Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen, and Brad Tursi; Sony Music Nashville EVP, Promotion and Artist Development Steve Hodges. Photo: Michael Roberts
Miranda Lambert, a nominee for Female Artist of the Year and the most decorated winner in ACM Awards history, performed a medley of hits that included “Gunpowder and Lead,” “White Liar,” “Mama’s Broken Heart,” and “Little Red Wagon.” She then joined country legend George Strait for a stunning duet of Strait’s “Run.”
New Duo/Group of the Year winner LANCO debuted their brand new single “Rival,” while Female Artist of the Year nominee Maren Morris rocked the crowd with “All My Favorite People” featuring Brothers Osborne from her record-breaking album GIRL. Old Dominion performed their Top 5 single “Make It Sweet” and took home the trophy for Group of the Year for the second consecutive year. New Male Artist of the Year nominee Mitchell Tenpenny also attended the ceremony.
Read MusicRow‘s full recap of Sunday’s ACM Awards here.
Jason Aldean, Keith Urban, Dan + Shay, Kacey Musgraves Lead ACM Winners
/by Jessica NicholsonJason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson. Photo: ACM
Reba McEntire, host of the 54th annual Academy of Country Music Awards, called it early in the evening, as she jokingly renamed the show “Dan + Shay’s Excellent Adventure.”
Indeed the Warner Music Nashville duo went into the night tying Chris Stapleton for the most nominations with six (with the duo’s Dan Smyers earning an additional four nods).
They picked up their first-ever ACM honors for Song and Single of the Year for “Tequila,” penned by Smyers, Nicolle Galyon and Jordan Reynolds. Later in the evening, they also earned the Duo of the Year accolade.
“Country music, country radio you have changed our lives,” said Dan + Shay’s Shay Mooney in winning the Single of the Year honor, while Smyers thanked all the musicians on the song. The song’s producer Scott Hendricks said, “Thank you for letting me be a part of this.”
“We are all winners tonight,” said Smyers.
“This is the greatest night of my life, except the day I married my wife, and we had our baby,” Shay Mooney said.
Dan + Shay and Kelly Clarkson. Photo: ACM
“I’m gonna give this one to Dan+Shay so they can have a fourth win,” Thomas Rhett quipped as he picked up his first ACM Male Artist of the Year honor later in the evening.
In February, Dan + Shay offered the most-Shazamed performance of the evening at the Grammy Awards with their award-winning “Tequila,” in large part to Shay Mooney’s thunderous voice. For the ACM Awards, they brought more vocal firepower, welcoming Kelly Clarkson for a rendition of “Keeping Score.”
Powerhouse vocalists held court throughout the evening. ACM New Male Artist of the Year Luke Combs eschewed his normal dressed-down look for a suit to perform his No. 1 hit “Beautiful Crazy.”
Keith Urban is known for his guitar-driven, high octane awards show performances. This year, he detoured for an intimate cover of “Burden” by Irish singer Foy Vance. Urban’s voice was front and center, letting the song’s somber lyrics resonate in the arena as his voice grew more impassioned, soulful and captivating at the song’s crescendo.
Carrie Underwood offered two performances during the evening, including a stunning all-female group performance of the Gospel-inflected “I’ll Stand With You,” from the soundtrack to the movie Breakthrough, alongside the movie’s star Chrissy Metz (in her first live television singing debut), as well as Mickey Guyton, Lauren Alaina, and Maddie & Tae.
Underwood also offered one of the sunniest performances, starting off poolside for a rendition of the fun, flirty “Southbound,” before leading a group of dancers through the audience at the MGM arena to the stage.
Carrie Underwood performs at the ACMs. Photo: ACM
Some of the evening’s most impactful moments weren’t due to bombastic vocal range or power. Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild softly but arrestingly introduced the group’s poignant new song “The Daughters,” stringing together, and then disarming, the misguided and harmful advice young girls are often given throughout their lives.
I’ve heard of God the Son and God the father, I’m just looking for a God for the daughters, they sang, as young female dancers performed behind them. Several in the audience, including Brandi Carlile, could be seen wiping tears after the performance.
With just a guitar, ACM New Female Artist of the Year Ashley McBryde offered strength and elegance in her first ACM performance of the autobiographical “Girl Goin’ Nowhere.” She returned later in the show, opposite Eric Church as they traded verses on “The Snake,” backed by a choir.
Reba McEntire, hosting the show for a 16th time, noted the hustle females in the music industry give to their careers—as well as their lack of radio airplay and honors in country awards shows’ top categories.
“I’m a woman in the music business and we don’t have time for tired,” she stated. “[Women] were frozen out of [the] Entertainer of the Year [category]. But that didn’t bother Kacey Musgraves because she was too busy carrying her Grammys around,” Reba said.
ACMs, too. Musgraves completed the awards trifecta of wins for her album Golden Hour, taking home the Academy of Country Music’s Album of the Year honor, following her wins in the same category at last year’s Country Music Awards and February’s all-genre Album of the Year win at February’s Grammy awards. Musgraves is now the third artist to win Album of the Year at the Grammys, ACMs and CMAs, with the most recent being Taylor Swift in 2010.
“I appreciate being able to share my perspective. Making this album with these two [her producers] is one of the best memories of my life,” Musgraves said. Later in the show, she took home Female Artist of the Year as well.
“This is going out to any girl or woman who is being told her style or perspective is too different to work. It’ll work out,” she said.
Miranda Lambert. Photo: ACM
It’s been three years since Miranda Lambert released her double album The Weight Of These Wings. Lambert, the most-awarded artist in ACM Awards history (with 32), is still working on a follow up to that project, so for her ACMs performance, she offered a blazing medley of past hits “Kerosene,” “Gunpowder and Lead,” “Mama’s Broken Heart,” “White Liar,” and “Little Red Wagon.”
Maren Morris, who will join Lambert on the upcoming Roadside Bars and Pink Guitars Tour 2019 later this year, performed a track from her recently-released GIRL album. After sipping from a solo cup, she joined Brothers Osborne for the blistering, summer-ready jam “All My Favorite People.” The stage was turned into a dive bar complete with a Santa’s Pub sign, lights strung across the stage and a large neon guitar.
The performance was one of many collaborations throughout the evening.
Ashley McBryde. Photo: ACM
The show opened with Jason Aldean and Florida Georgia Line on “Can’t Hide Red,” a track from the duo’s latest album. Kane Brown collaborated with Khalid on “Saturday Nights” after he offered a take on his own solo track “Good As You.”
Meanwhile, Dierks Bentley collaborated with recent Grammy darling Carlile on “Travelin’ Light,” a song from Bentley’s recent ACM-nominated album The Mountain.
As part of the ACM Flashback series, Texans Miranda Lambert and George Strait collaborated on “Run,” as both clearly relished the performance.
“That’s the king, y’all! George Strait!” Lambert said.
Combs returned later in the evening, proving himself a Brooks & Dunn acolyte as he crooned with the duo on their hit “Brand New Man.” Recently-named Country Music Hall of Fame inductees Brooks & Dunn released the track as part of their collaborative album Reboot.
Per usual, several artists performed new music. Reba offered a masterclass performance of her new song “Freedom.” Strait’s voice was smooth and full of weathered wisdom as he offered his new song “God and Country Music.”
Male Artist of the Year winner Thomas Rhett performed “Look What god Gave Her,” while 2019 ACM Group of the Year Old Dominion offered “Make It Sweet.” Luke Bryan introduced his latest single, “Knockin’ Boots,” backed by shelves of boots.
The show slowed its pace for an intimate moment as Chris Stapleton offered “A Simple Song,” in a tastefully stripped down style, opposite his wife Morgane, who is expecting the couple’s fifth child. The song centered on appreciating the good, simple things amid life’s struggles.
Reba. Photo: ACM
The evening closed with a tribute to Jason Aldean, who was honored as Artist of the Decade. Aldean has netted 13 total ACM Awards in his career (including three consecutive Entertainer of the Year honors). He took the stage to perform “Lights Come On,” before welcoming Kelly Clarkson back to the stage for their 2010 hit “Don’t You Wanna Stay.” He then offered “Dirt Road Anthem.”
“I’ve had a hell of a decade,” Aldean said. “My whole team, thank you for the last 15 years. More than anything thank you to the country music fans, country radio. You guys have changed my life forever.”
“When we are learning to tune our guitars, this is the one we are dreaming about,” Kix Brooks said as Brooks & Dunn and Reba announced this year’s Entertainer of the Year.
Keith Urban, who was named Entertainer of the Year in November at the Country Music Awards, took home the same honor at Sunday’s Academy of Country Music Awards.
A visibly surprised Urban thanked his team and country radio and the fans. Strait closed the show with “Every Little Honky Tonk Bar.”
Click here for a full list of winners.
2019 ACM Awards Winners
/by Jessica NicholsonThe 54th annual Academy of Country Music Awards aired live from Las Vegas on Sunday (April 7). A full list of the winners is below:
(Winners in Red)
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
• Jason Aldean
• Luke Bryan
• Kenny Chesney
• Chris Stapleton
• Keith Urban
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
• Miranda Lambert
• Ashley McBryde
• Maren Morris
• Kacey Musgraves
• Carrie Underwood
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
• Dierks Bentley
• Luke Combs
• Thomas Rhett
• Chris Stapleton
• Keith Urban
DUO OF THE YEAR
• Brothers Osborne
• Dan + Shay
• Florida Georgia Line
• LOCASH
• Maddie & Tae
GROUP OF THE YEAR
• Lady Antebellum
• LANCO
• Little Big Town
• Midland
• Old Dominion
NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
• Danielle Bradbery
• Lindsay Ell
• Ashley McBryde
• Carly Pearce
NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
• Jimmie Allen
• Luke Combs
• Jordan Davis
• Michael Ray
• Mitchell Tenpenny
NEW DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
• High Valley
• LANCO
• Runaway June
ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
• Dan + Shay – Dan + Shay
Producers: Scott Hendricks / Dan Smyers / Matt Dragstrem
Record Label: Warner Music Nashville
• Desperate Man – Eric Church
Producers: Jay Joyce / Arturo Buenahora Jr.
Record Label: EMI Records Nashville
• From A Room: Volume 2 – Chris Stapleton
Producers: Dave Cobb / Chris Stapleton
Record Label: Mercury Nashville
• Golden Hour – Kacey Musgraves
Producers: Ian Fitchuk / Daniel Tashian / Kacey Musgraves
Record Label: MCA Nashville
• The Mountain – Dierks Bentley
Producers: Ross Copperman / Jon Randall Stewart / Arturo Buenahora Jr.
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville
SINGLE OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
• Down to the Honky Tonk – Jake Owen
Producer: Joey Moi
Record Label: Big Loud Records
• Heaven – Kane Brown
Producer: Dann Huff / Polow Da Don
Record Label: RCA Nashville
• Meant To Be – Bebe Rexha featuring Florida Georgia Line
Producer: Wilshire for Rock The Soul Ent
Record Label: Warner Bros. Records
• Most People Are Good – Luke Bryan
Producers: Jeff Stevens / Jody Stevens
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville
• Tequila – Dan + Shay
Producers: Scott Hendricks / Dan Smyers
Record Label: Warner Music Nashville
SONG OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
• Break Up In The End – Cole Swindell
Writers: Jessie Jo Dillon / Chase McGill / Jon Nite
Publishers: EMI April Music Inc. / Nite Writer Music (ASCAP) / Songs of Universal, Inc. / Plum Nelly (BMI) / Big Music Machine (BMI)/ Big Ass Pile Of Dimes Music (BMI)
• Broken Halos – Chris Stapleton
Writers: Mike Henderson / Chris Stapleton
Publishers: WB Music Corp./House of Sea Gayle Music, admin. by ClearBox Rights/Spirit Catalog Holdings, S.a.r.l. admin. by Spirit Two Nashville (ASCAP); Straight Six Music (BMI)
• Meant To Be – Bebe Rexha featuring Florida Georgia Line
Writers: David Garcia / Tyler Hubbard / Joshua Miller / Bebe Rexha
Publishers: BMG Platinum Songs/Kiss Me If You Can Music (BMI) (all rights administered by BMG Rights Management (US) LLC) Big Loud Mountain (BMI) and T Hubb Publishing (BMI). All Rights Administered by Round Hill Works. Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. on behalf of itself and Songs of the Corn and Jack 10 Publishing. Universal Music – Brentwood Benson Publishing (ASCAP) D Soul Music (ASCAP) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com)
• Space Cowboy – Kacey Musgraves
Writers: Luke Laird / Shane McAnally / Kacey Musgraves
Publishers: Smack Hits/Smack Songs, admin by Kobalt Music Group ltd. (GMR)/Universal Music Works/We Are Creative NBaSmack Hits/Smack Songs, LLC, admin. by Kobalt Music Group Ltd. (GMR); Universal Music Works/We Are Creative Nation/Jake and Mack Music, admin. by Universal Music Works; Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp./351 Music (BMI).
• Tequila – Dan + Shay
Writers: Nicolle Galyon / Jordan Reynolds / Dan Smyers
Publishers: Beats and Banjos (ASCAP)/ WB Music Corp. (ASCAP)/A Girl Named Charlie (BMI) / Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI) / Buckeye26 (ASCAP) / Jreynmusic (ASCAP)
• Yours – Russell Dickerson
Writers: Casey Brown / Russell Dickerson / Parker Welling
Publishers: BMG Platinum Songs/Kailey’s Dream / So Essential Tunes / Not Just Another Song Publishing / Hillbilly Science and Research Publishing/Trailerlily Music
VIDEO OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]
• Babe – Sugarland featuring Taylor Swift
Producer: Roger Hunt
Director: Anthony Mandler
• Burn Out – Midland
Producer: Ben Skipworth
Director: TK McKamy / Cameron Duddy
• Burning Man – Dierks Bentley featuring Brothers Osborne
Producer: Nate Eggert
Director: Wes Edwards
• Drunk Girl – Chris Janson
Producer: Ben Skipworth
Director: Jeff Venable
• Shoot Me Straight – Brothers Osborne
Producer: April Kimbrell
Director: Wes Edwards / Ryan Silver
• Tequila – Dan + Shay
Producer: Christen Pinkston
Director: Patrick Tracy
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR*(Off Camera Award)
• Ross Copperman
• Ashley Gorley
• Shane McAnally
• Chase McGill
• Josh Osborne
MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
• Burning Man – Dierks Bentley featuring Brothers Osborne
Producers: Ross Copperman / Jon Randall Stewart / Arturo Buenahora Jr.
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville
• Drowns the Whiskey – Jason Aldean featuring Miranda Lambert
Producer: Michael Knox
Record Labels: Macon Music, LLC; Broken Bow Records; BBR Music Group; BMG
• Everything’s Gonna Be Alright – David Lee Murphy featuring Kenny Chesney
Producers: Buddy Cannon / Kenny Chesney / David Lee Murphy
Record Label: Reviver Records
• Keeping Score – Dan + Shay featuring Kelly Clarkson
Producers: Scott Hendricks / Dan Smyers
Record Label: Warner Music Nashville
• Meant To Be – Bebe Rexha featuring Florida Georgia Line
Producer: Wilshire for Rock The Soul Ent
Record Label: Warner Bros. Records
ACM Awards: Wins For Chris Janson, Old Dominion
/by Jessica NicholsonChris Janson and Old Dominion are early winners heading into Sunday evening’s (April 7) Academy of Country Music Awards. Old Dominion earned the 2019 ACM Group of the Year honor, while Janson won the ACM Video of the Year category for “Drunk Girl,” along with producer Ben Skipworth and director Jeff Venable.
During the red carpet, ACM Songwriter of the Year winner Shane McAnally surprised Old Dominion on the red carpet at the PEOPLE Digital Red Carpet Pre-Show with the news of their win. 54th Academy of Country Music host Reba McEntire surprised ACM Video of the Year winner Chris Janson with the news backstage.
Previously announced winners include Luke Combs (New Male Artist of the Year), LANCO (New Group of the Year), Ashley McBryde (New Female Artist of the Year) and Dierks Bentley featuring Brothers Osborne (Music Event of the Year).
These awards were announced in advance of the 54th annual Academy of Country Music Awards, airing from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 7, 2019 at 8 p.m. ET / delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.
Dierks Bentley, Brothers Osborne, Shane McAnally Earn Early ACM Award Wins
/by Jessica NicholsonAs the country music industry prepares to celebrate the 54th annual Academy of Country Music Awards Sunday evening (April 7), a few industry members are already celebrating early ACM wins.
Brothers Osborne and Dierks Bentley have earned Music Event of the Year for “Burning Man,” produced by Ross Copperman, Jon Randall Stewart and Arturo Buenahora Jr.
Bentley is also nominated for Male Artist of the Year, Album of the Year (The Mountain), and Video of the Year (“Burning Man”). Brothers Osborne are also nominated for Duo of the Year and earned two Video of the Year nominations (“Burning Man” and “Shoot Me Straight”).
Meanwhile, Shane McAnally earned the Songwriter of the Year honor. Among McAnally’s current hits are Old Dominion’s “Make It Sweet,” Jake Owen’s “Down To The Honky Tonk,” and Kacey Musgraves’ “Rainbow” and Grammy-winning “Space Cowboy.”
They all join previously-announced ACM winners including New Male Artist of the Year Luke Combs, New Female Artist of the Year Ashley McBryde, and New Duo or Group of the Year LANCO.
The 54th annual Academy of Country Music Awards airs live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 7, 2019 at 8 p.m. ET on the CBS Television Network.