The 58th annual Academy of Country Music Awards was a night full of music, laughter and surprises. The show, which streamed live on Prime Video from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, was co-hosted by country legends Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks, who brought their charm and humor to the stage.
The ACM Awards celebrate the best in country music, from the established stars to the rising talents. This year, the nominees and winners reflected the diversity and creativity of the genre, with artists like Hardy, Lainey Wilson and Cole Swindell taking home multiple trophies.
Hardy was the most-nominated artist of the night, with seven nods. He won three awards: Visual Media of the Year for his collaboration with Wilson on “Wait in the Truck“, Artist-Songwriter of the Year and Music Event of the Year for his duet with Swindell on “She Had Me at Heads Carolina [Remix]“.
Lainey Wilson was another big winner, taking home Female Artist of the Year and Album of the Year for her critically acclaimed Bell Bottom Country. She also performed her hit single “Heart Like a Truck” on the show, showcasing her unique voice and style.
Cole Swindell was not only Hardy’s partner in crime, but also a solo winner. He won Single of the Year and Song of the Year for his catchy tune “She Had Me at Heads Carolina“, which he also performed with Jo Dee Messina as a special guest.
Chris Stapleton won the coveted entertainer of the year award. “I’m a little in shock about this one for sure,” he told Billboard backstage. “It wasn’t something that you expect to win ever, and me in particular. I don’t find myself as entertaining maybe as I think some of the other people are.”
The night also featured performances from some of the biggest names in country music, such as Miranda Lambert, Kane Brown, Luke Combs, Keith Urban and Jelly Roll. Lambert sang her latest single “Palomino” from her album of the same name, which was nominated for Album of the Year. Kane Brown and his wife Katelyn Brown performed their heartfelt song “Thank God”, which was also nominated for Single of the Year. Luke Combs rocked the stage with his anthem “Growin’ Up”, which was also nominated for Album of the Year. Luke performs in the UK later this year. Check all dates here. Urban and Jelly Roll teamed up for a powerful rendition of their collaboration “Outlaw State of Mind”.
UK pop phenomenon Ed Sheeran was a suprise guest, duetting with US country star Luke Combs during a special guest performance at the 2023 Academy of Country Music (ACM) awards. The pair gave a powerful rendition of Life Goes On from the British singer’s recently released sixth studio album – (Subtract).
The show ended with a bang, as co-host and 2022 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Dolly Parton closed out the show with a performance of a new song from her highly-anticipated rock album, “Rockstar“. The song was a surprise for the fans and the industry alike, as Dolly revealed that she had been working on a rock project for a while. She said that she wanted to try something different and challenge herself as an artist.
The ACM Awards 2023 was a night that celebrated country music’s past, present and future. It was a night that honored the achievements and talents of the artists who make country music what it is today. It was a night that showcased the diversity and creativity of the genre that appeals to millions of fans around the world. It was a night to remember.
For more information on the ACM Awards 2023 and to see the full list of winners, visit https://www.acmcountry.com/ or photos of the event over on Facebook