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2020 ACM Awards Postponed Due To Coronavirus Outbreak

The 55th Academy of Country Music Awards have been postponed in the wake of the global coronavirus outbreak. The Academy…

Lauren Jo Black

| Posted on

March 15, 2020

ACM Awards; Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images

The 55th Academy of Country Music Awards have been postponed in the wake of the global coronavirus outbreak.

The Academy of Country Music revealed the news on Sunday (March 15), confirming that the show will now take place in September. Further details about the postponement have yet to be announced.

“The ACM Awards is a tentpole event for our Country Music industry, and the Academy of Country Music and dick clark productions went to great lengths to find a safe solution for the show to go on so that we can honor our artist community. This decision involved many partners, stakeholders and the industry who we have been in constant conversations with over the past several days as the situation has developed. We look forward to identifying a future date that we can celebrate with our Country community safely,” said Damon Whiteside, CEO of the Academy of Country Music.

Dubbed “Country Music’s Party of the Year,” the ACM Awards were scheduled to take place on Sunday, April 5. Keith Urban was set to host for the first time ever.

Just days ago, the ACM announced that Urban and Miranda Lambert were among the show’s performers, however, it is unclear if they will be performing at the newly scheduled event.

According to the ACM, refunds will be issued for tickets purchased for the ACM Awards and ACM Party for a Cause events, including ACM Lifting Lives Topgolf Tee-Off and ACM Beach Bash.

Written by

Lauren Jo Black

Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.