CMIL’s Top 10 Moments of the 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards
10. Eli Young Band wins Song of the Year- “I dreamed of this moment my whole life,” Mike Eli of the Eli Young Band said while accepting the ACM for Song of the Year. It was clear that winning their first ACM Award was a very special moment for the band. Eli encouraged anyone with a dream to pursue it and also thanked his wife and unborn child. Lee Brice and Liz Rose, who co-wrote the song, were also on hand to accept the award.
9. Eric Church Performs “Springsteen”- Eric Church delivered a a fantastic performance of “Springsteen” at the ACMs. Church kicked off the song while standing behind a piano playing a slower version of the tune. After a few moments, the music picked up and Church broke out his guitar. We also loved watching Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman sing along from the audience.
8. Brad Paisley and Zac Brown Band Sing “Whiskey’s Gone”- Superstars Brad Paisley and Zac Brown Band teamed up for an energetic performance of ZBB’s “Whiskey’s Gone.” Paisley, who is known for his great sense of humor, took the stage donning Zac Brown’s signature look- a beanie. Wearing matching caps, the two showcased their guitar skills from the ACM Fan Jam at Mandalay Bay.
7. Blake Shelton Wins Male Vocalist of the Year- Blake Shelton took home his very first ACM Male Vocalist of the Year trophy last night. He accepted the award from Taylor Swift, who proved she can take a joke after Shelton’s opening remarks about her famous ‘surprised’ face. Shelton’s acceptance speech included a reference to Dierks Bentley’s song “Home.” It was clear that Shelton was genuinely surprised and honored to accept the award.
6. Miranda Lambert Shows Softer Side with “Over You”- Fresh off her Female Vocalist of the Year win, Miranda Lambert took the stage for an emotional performance of her latest single “Over You.” Lambert was introduced by her husband Blake Shelton, who referred to her as “Miranda Lambert-Shelton” after calling her “the most important person in my life.” Lambert appeared to be holding back tears by the of the song.
5. Rascal Flatts Play the “Banjo” with Steve Martin- Rascal Flatts with special guest Steve Martin took the stage for a performance of “Banjo,” honoring the late Earl Scruggs. The audience, including Carrie Underwood, Faith Hill, and Taylor Swift, clapped, danced, and sang along. This performance was, in our opinion, one of the best Rascal Flatts award show performances in recent years.
4. Blake Shelton and Reba Return as Co-Hosts- For the second consecutive year, Blake Shelton and Reba returned to co-host the ACM Awards. The dynamic duo, who delivered quite a few hilarious one-liners throughout the evening, once again proved that they were the perfect choice as co-hosts. We sure hope they’ll return next year!
3. Keith Urban and Dierks Bentley Pay Homage to America- Labelmates Keith Urban and Dierks Bentley undoubtedly delivered two of the best performances of the night. Urban honored the troops when he sang the self-penned “For You” from the Act of Valor soundtrack and Bentley delivered a heartfelt performance of his patriotic No.1 single “Home.” Both performers received a standing ovation.
2. Luke Bryan Gets the Audience on Its Feet- Luke Bryan, who was one of the few performers without an nomination, brought down the house with a high-energy performance of his No.1 smash, “I Don’t Want This Night To End.” Luke manged to get the entire MGM Grand out of their seats and sing along. Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, and The Band Perry were a few of the artists who were shown enjoying Luke’s moment in the spotlight. Luke may not have had a nomination, but he proved to be one of the best entertainers of the evening.
1. Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw Debut New Single- Our favorite moment of the night was when superstars Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw joined forces to debut their new duet, “Feel Like a Rock Star.” This was by far one of the most-anticipated moments of the ACMs and it did not disappoint. The song is sure to be a hit at country radio and a fan-favorite on this summer’s “Brothers of the Sun” Tour. Chesney and McGraw’s long-lasting friendship translated into an incredible performance that captured the attention of the audience, both live and at home.
*Other Notable Moments Include:
Carrie Underwood’s live television debut of “Good Girl” and Toby Keith’s “Red Solo Cup” party.
