The Most Unforgettable Moments of the 2024 ACM Awards
From Jason Aldean’s Toby Keith Tribute to Chris Stapleton and Dua Lipa’s surprise duet, here’s a recap of the best moments of “Country Music’s Party of the Year!”
Reba McEntire and Post Malone perform at the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards from Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024 in Frisco, Texas; Photo Courtesy ACM
The 59th Academy of Country Music Awards took place on Thursday, May 16, bringing “Country Music’s Party of the Year” to a global audience via Prime Video.
Taking place at the world headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys at The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, the show featured a lineup of some of country music’s hottest stars and buzzed-about artists.
The show featured an array of unforgettable moments, from touching tributes to surprise duets. Here’s a rundown of the most memorable moments of the show.
Jason Aldean Delivers Heartfelt Tribute To Toby Keith
Just a little over three months following Toby Keith’s passing, Jason Aldean graced the stage to pay a poignant tribute to the late country music legend. Accompanied by two guitarists and a string quartet, Aldean delivered an unforgettable rendition of “Should’ve Been A Cowboy.” As images of Keith flashed on the screens behind him, the Georgia native, who shared the stage with Keith last fall in Oklahoma, moved the late icon’s family to tears as they looked on from the audience. This performance marked one of Aldean’s best vocal displays in recent memory, making it all the more memorable.
Ashley McBryde and Noah Reid Bring The Laughs With Single of The Year Presentation
ACM Awards producers allowed Ashley McBryde to write her “own bit” for the show and she completely knocked it out of the park. Teaming up with Outer Range star Noah Reid to present the ACM Award for Single of the Year, McBryde turned it into a musical bit that featured hilarious takes on each of the nominated songs. For example, for “Fast Car,” she sang the lyrics “Do you have a star bar/ Is it down on lower Broadway/ Oh, you don’t/ Me neither/ I’ve heard good things about Eric’s place” to the tune of the song.
Later, Reid poked fun at the Morgan Wallen chair incident when he sang “Last night after some alcohol/ [that] chair right over there really started to piss me off/ It told me that I threw it at somebody I never met/ and my publicist keeps telling me this ain’t over yet” to the melody of “Last Night.” McBryde then quipped “You should smile in the mug shot,” a reference to Wallen’s latest mug shot where he can be seen grinning from ear to ear.
Chris Stapleton and Dua Lipa Surprise With Unexpected Duet
Thursday night was a big night for Chris Stapleton. Not only did he take home four wins, the most for any artist, but he also pulled off the biggest surprise of the evening when he sang a duet with Dua Lipa on the ACM Awards stage. The pair joined forces for a collaborative rendition of Stapleton’s “Think I’m in Love With You” from his ACM Album of the Year winning project Higher. They captivated viewers with their powerhouse vocals, making for one of the most magical moments of the night.
Reba McEntire Triumphs as ACM Awards Host
The 17th time was truly a charm for Reba McEntire, who crushed her role as ACM Awards host. She is a true professional and handles herself with grace at all times. Reba never misses and we loved seeing her up on that stage! Her show-closing performance of “I Can’t” was the cherry on top for country music fans. Fans can look forward to Reba’s return next year for the monumental 60th Academy of Country Music Awards.
Post Malone Wows In ACM Awards Debut
Post Malone more than earned his country cred with his ACM Awards debut. The genre-bending star gave fans a taste of what’s to come on his highly anticipated country album with the debut of the song “Never Love You Again” and a rendition of “I Had Some Help” (sans Morgan Wallen). Post Malone commanded a large portion of the show with his two-song performance, and he also shared the stage with host Reba McEntire for an additional musical number Together, they delivered a heartfelt a cappella rendition of “Ramblin Man” as a tribute to the late Dickey Betts of The Allman Brothers.
Cody Johnson Steals The Show With “Dirt Cheap”
Texas native Cody Johnson kept his performance simple, allowing the sentimental lyrics of his latest single, “Dirt Cheap” to shine. This was by far one of the best moments of the show as it highlighted the raw and genuine storytelling that is the truly the heartbeat of country music. As more and more artists lean into pop-infused tracks and cross-genre collabs, we can always count on Cody Johnson to keep it country.
Viewers can experience the thrill of the 59th ACM Awards all over again with the complete rebroadcast now accessible for streaming on Prime Video. Additionally, beginning tonight, Friday, May 17 at 8 p.m. EDT/5 p.m. PDT, catch the awards on the Amazon Music App and enjoy them for free on Amazon Freevee.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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