Reba McEntire, Kelsea Ballerini & George Strait were among the honored
Last night (Aug 23rd), the Academy of Country Music presented the 11th Annual ACM Honors, an evening dedicated to recognizing the special honorees and off-camera category winners from the 52nd Academy of Country Music Awards. Portions of the event, held at Nashvilleโs historic Ryman Auditorium, were taped for a two-hour special that will air on Friday, September 15th from 9-11 pm ET/PT on the CBS Television Network.
The event, sponsored by City National Bank, featured a star-studded lineup of live performances and award presentations celebrating Special Awards recipients Kelsea Ballerini (Gene Weed Milestone Award), Toby Keith (Poetโs Award), Bob Kingsley (Mae Boren Axton Service Award), Reba McEntire (Mae Boren Axton Service Award), โNashvilleโ (Tex Ritter Film Award), Dolly Parton (Gary Haber Lifting Lives Award), Shel Silverstein (Poetโs Award, awarded posthumously), and George Strait (Cliffie Stone Icon Award). The evening also honored winners of the Industry and Studio Recording Awards, along with Songwriter of the Year Award winner, Lori McKenna. The Academy of Country Music will present trophies to previously announced Special Awards recipients Eric Church (Merle Haggard Spirit Award) and Willie Nelson (Poetโs Award) at a later date.
Highlights from the event include:
- Hillary Scott opened the evening with a performance of โThe Night The Lights Went Out In Georgiaโ and was then joined by Little Big Townโs Karen Fairchild for a powerful duet performance of โDoes He Love Youโ for which they received a standing ovation. The duo then welcomed Little Big Townโs Kimberly Schlapman for a special performance of โLittle Rockโ in tribute to Reba McEntire. Fairchild, Schlapman, and Scott then presented McEntire with the Mae Boren Axton Service Award.
- Kelsea Ballerini performed โLegendsโ before receiving her award, which was presented to her by Lady Antebellum. Following her acceptance speech, Ballerini performed a medley of #1 hits including โDibs,โ โLove Me Like You Mean It,โ and โPeter Pan.โ
- Chris Stapleton performed โWhen Did You Stop Loving Me,โ and Alan Jackson performed a medley of โMarina Del Reyโ and โThe Firemanโ in tribute to George Strait before he accepted his award to a standing ovation. Following his acceptance speech, Strait took the stage and performed โHere For A Good Timeโ to a dancing audience to close out the evening. Reigning Entertainer of the Year Jason Aldean presented the award to Strait.
- Chris Janson performed โA Boy Named Sueโ and โCover of the Rolling Stoneโ in tribute to Shel Silverstein, who received his award posthumously. Silversteinโs family friend Susan Nadler accepted the award from Janson on Silversteinโs behalf.
- Toby Keith performed โShouldโve Been A Cowboyโ and โWhoโs Your Daddy?โ after songwriter Jimmy Webb presented him with his award.
- Maren Morris performed โGalvestonโ in tribute to the late Glen Campbell.
- Brad Paisley performed โMy Tennessee Mountain Homeโ in tribute to Dolly Parton.
- Bobby Bones presented Bob Kingsley with his award, after which Thomas Rhett sang a medley of his hits โDie A Happy Manโ and โCraving You.โ
- Songwriter Ross Copperman introduced Little Big Town, who performed โWhen Someone Stops Loving You,โ written by Lori McKenna, before presenting McKenna with the award.
Additional off-camera highlights included:
- Brett Young presented Studio Recording and Industry Award winners with their awards prior to the show taping.
- Cassadee Pope presented the television series Nashvilleย with the Tex Ritter Film Award. Nashville stars Clare Bowen and Charles Esten performed โSanctuaryโ in a special moment before CMTโs Frank Tanki, Opry Entertainmentโs Steve Buchanan, and Lionsgateโs Russell Ziecker accepted the award.
Presenters who took the stage at the event included Jason Aldean, Bobby Bones, Ross Copperman, Chris Janson, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Maren Morris, Brad Paisley, Cassadee Pope, Hillary Scott, Jimmy Webb, and Brett Young.