This year the Academy of Country Music travels to Frisco, Texas – home of the Dallas Cowboys – for their annual awards presentation.
Hall of Famers Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks will host the gala event.
Fifteen time ACM Award winner Keith Urban gets the night of celebrating music started with a performance.
Garth Brooks takes the stage to the sound of his song “Friends in Low Places”. Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Charley Pride, Buck Owens, George Strait, Keith Whitley, and Randy Travis – among those that are the greatest of all time in Country music. But when you add time…the king of Country music becomes a queen – Dolly Parton – who comes on stage to “9 to 5” pulling a wagon with a goat – Claire – in it.
This is the first time Garth Brooks has ever hosted an awards show.
Five time nominee Cole Swindell and Jo Dee Messina perform “Heads Carolina, Tails California”.
The first award of the night was presented by Dak Prescott and Emmitt Smith for Song of the Year to Cole Swindell for “She Had Me at Heads Carolina”; written by Ashley Gorley, Cole Swindell, Jesse Frasure, Mark D. Sanders, Thomas Rhett, and Tim Nochols.
Kane Brown takes the stage for a performance of “Bury Me in Georgia”.
Female Artist of the Year Carly Pearce takes the stage to perform with Trisha Yearwood.
The award for Duo of the Year went to Brothers Osborne. Forty years ago Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers won the same award.
Topping the list of nominees this year, Hardy takes the stage for a performance.
The award for group of the year went to Old Dominion. Alabama won the same award 40 years ago and Rascal Flatts won it 20 years ago.
Bayley Zimmerman is this year’s Amazon Breakthrough Artist of the Year. He takes the stage for a performance.
Now 90, Willie Nelson spoke via a phone to Dolly and Garth. He is preparing for a tour. Cody Johnson takes the stage to perform “Mama, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys”.
Reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year artist Miranda Lambert is the most nominated artist in ACM history with over 50 nominations. She takes the stage for a performance.
The 2023 Country Music Hall of Famer Tanya Tucker presented Single of the Year to Cole Swindell for “She Had Me at Heads Carolina”. Swindell wandered what he did to earn the award.
The New Female artist of the year Hailey Whitters takes the stage for a performance.
The award for Music Event of the Year went to Hardy and Laney Wilson for “Wait in the Truck”.
Luke Combs takes the stage for a performance.
Ed Sheeran takes the stage to perform “Life Goes On” from his newest album “-“ (Subtract) with Luke Combs. Garth Brooks called both artists great songwriters.
Morgan Wallen was scheduled to take the stage tonight, but posted earlier that under a doctor’s advice he will be under complete vocal rest for the next six weeks. On tour, Wallen has cancelled several of his concerts.
Duo and couple The War and Treaty take the stage for a performance.
Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks paid tribute to the those who have passed on over the past year. Brooks said that they promise to keep the circle unbroken. Dolly sang a portion of “Precious Memories” A Cappella.
Dolly presented the award for Female Artist of the Year – an award she won back in 1980 – to Laney Wilson. Wilson noted she was up there because of people like Dolly Parton, who paved the way. She noted that if you are going to be a dreamer, then you better be a doer.
Entertainer of the Decade Jason Aldean takes the stage for a performance.
Ashley McBryde performs with some friends.
Garth Brooks presents the award for Male Artist of the Year – an award Merle Haggard won 50 years ago – to Morgan Wallen.
Jelly Roll takes the stage for a performance. Prior to the broadcast, Jelly Roll noted that he was very nervous to perform before Chris Stapleton. Laney Wilson joins Jelly Roll for the performance.
Throwing out parts of her costume and hat, Laney Wilson changes stages for another performance.
Keith Urban presents the Album of the Year to Laney Wilson for “Bell Bottom Country”. Wilson tells the crowd to be who you want to be because everybody else is taken.
Jordan Davis takes the stage for a performance.
Trisha Yearwood presents the award for Entertainer of the Year to Chris Stapleton! Stapleton said that he was in shock. He added that by any measurable metric, he didn’t deserve it. He said that he never thought of himself as someone who would win an award like that. He noted that he plays music and writes songs.
“Because she is the greatest of all time, she’s not only in the Country Music Hall of Fame, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”. Dolly originally asked not to be listed as a nominee because she didn’t deserve it, Dolly Parton has recorded a rock album which will be released in November. She debuts the first single – “World on Fire” – from that album to close out the 58th annual ACM Awards. She poses the question “what you gonna do when it all burns down?”
Awards not presented during the live broadcast…
New Female Artist of the Year: Hailey Whitters
New Male Artist of the Year: Zach Bryan
Visual Media of the Year: “Wait in the Truck” by Hardy and Laney Wilson
Artist-Songwriter of the Year: Hardy
Songwriter of the Year: Ashley Gorley