The Academy of Country Music takes over Nashville for their 56th annual awards gala with performances from all across the city.
Keith Urban and Mickey Guyton take over the hosting duties for the 2021 edition of the event.
The awards ceremony kicked off on Saturday night with ACM Lifting Lives. Buzz Brainard and Cassadee Pope hosted the event where Jimmie Allen, Lindsay Ell, Kameron Marlow, Ian Munsick, Tyler Rich, Lily Rose, Mitchell Tenpenny, Tenille Townes, Lainey Wilson, and co-host Cassadee Pope all performed.
The Academy of Country Music recognizes that the radio DJ’s also make a major contribution to Country Music and present the Radio Awards as a part of the annual ACM Awards.
Kix Brooks of Brooks and Dunn received the National On-Air Personality of the Year Award with his “American Country Countdown”.
The 2021 Radio Station and On-Air Personalities of the Year are:
On-Air Personality of the Year Major Market went to Double L – Lois Lewis – from KNIX-FM in Phoenix, AZ
On-Air Personality of the Year Large Market went to Lexi and Banks – Lexi Papadopoulos and Jared Banks – from KUBL-FM in Salt Lake City, UT
On-Air Personality of the Year Medium Market went to Buzz Jackson from KIIM-FJ in Tucson, AZ
On-Air Personality of the Year Small Market went to Steve, Ben, & Nikki – Steve Stroud, Ben Walker, Nikki Thomas – from WXBQ-FM in Bristol, VA
The Radio Station of the Year:
Major Market went to KNIX-FM in Phoenix, AZ
Large Market went to WQDR-FM in Raleigh, NC
Medium Market went to KUZZ-AM/FM in Bakersfield, CA
Small Market went to KKNU-FM in Eugene, OR
The night of celebration begins with a musical performance by Miranda Lambert and Elle King of “Drunk (and I Don’t Wanna Go Home)”.
Health workers from Vanderbilt who were socially distanced and vacinated were in attendance at the Grand Ole Opry House.
At the Ryman auditorium Chris Young and Kane Brown performed with a live audience present.
In his first public appearance after a serious vehicle wreck last year, Blanco Brown presented the first award of the night to Old Dominion for Group of the Year.
Thomas Rhett performs a medley of songs about being Country.
Miranda Lambert returns for a performance with Chris Stapleton from the Blue Bird Cafe.
Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd recently had a baby together and join voices for a duet of “Chasing After You”.
Lady A perform “I Feel Like a Lady” on an outdoor stage along the river.
“American Idol” Gabby Barrett gives a performance from the Blue Bird Cafe.
Hootie himself – Darius Rucker – presented the award for Song of the Year to Maren Morris, Jimmy Robbins, and Laura Veltz for “The Bones”.
Dierks Bentley and The Warren Treaty join up for a performance of “In the Name of Love”.
Dolly Parton introduced Carrie Underwood for a medley of songs from her new Gospel album. CeCe Wynams joins Underwood on stage during the performance.
Eric Church performs his new song “Bunch of Nothing” on the Ryman Auditorium stage.
On the Blue Bird Cafe stage Dan + Shay perform.
Luke Combs has paired up with Ford for the Guitars for Vets program – it uses teaching music to veterans as a form of therapy and healing. Combs performs “Forever After All”.
The most awarded artist in ACM history Miranda Lambert gives a special performance of “In His Arms”.
Jimmie Allen takes the stage of the Blue Bird Cafe for a performance of “Freedom is a Highway”. Unbeknownst to Allen, his duet partner Brad Paisley walks on stage to join in for the performance.
Martina McBride presents the award for Single of the Year. For the first time in ACM history, all of the nominees are women. Carly Pearce and Lee Brice for “I Hope You’re Happy Now”.
Four time ACM Entertainer of the Year Kenny Chesney takes the stage for a performance of “The Life”. At the end of the song the ACM’s presented the In Memorium segment of the show.
Ashley McBryde performs “Martha Divine”.
At the Ryman Auditorium, Alan Jackson performs a medley of songs.
Country music star and “The Voice” coach Blake Shelton takes the stage of the Grand Ole Opry House for a performance of “P.S. If This is Austin” and “Your Love is Money”.
Leslie Jordan presents the award for Duo of the Year to Dan + Shay.
Carly Pearce and Lee Brice take the stage to perform their award winning song “I Hope You’re Happy Now”.
Co-host Mickey Guyton takes the stage of the Opry House stage for a performance of her song “Hold On”.
Ingrid Andres presents the award for Male Artist of the Year to Thomas Rhett.
Co-host Keith Urban takes the stage with his band for their first performance of “Tumbleweed”. The Australian native is a 15 time ACM Award winner.
Back at the Ryaman, Brothers Osborne take the stage for a performance of “I’m Nor for Everyone”.
Kelsea Ballarini and Kenny Chesney join up for a performance of “Half of My Hometown”.
The award for Album of the Year went to Chris Stapleton for “Starting Over”.
Amy Grant presents the award for Female Artist of the Year to Maren Morris.
Three of the four members of Little Big Town perform on the streets of Nashville while the fourth – Phillip – is stuck at home after a positive Covid test.
The award for Entertainer of the Year went to “American Idol” judge Luke Bryan who accepted the award from Los Angeles via a video feed.
Brothers Osborne close out the show at the Ryman Auditorium.
Awards not presented during the live television broadcast:
New Female Artist of the Year: Gabby Barrett
New Male Artist of the Year: Jimmy Allen
Video of the Year: Kane Brown for “Worldwide Beautiful”
Music Event of the Year: Carly Pearce and Lee Brice for “I Hope You’re Happy Now”
feature photo credit: ACM Facebook page