On the eve of the Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards, an exclusive gala was held to honor the achievements of none other than 25x award-winning duo, Brooks & Dunn. Hosted by Bobby Bones, the night featured the likes of Eric Church, Lainey Wilson, Zach Top, Megan Moroney, Cody Johnson and Keith Urban performing songs from the legendary duo throughout the night at the Omni PGA Frisco.
After the gala kicked off with a dinner, a silent auction which benefited the Academy’s mental health-focused charity partner, ACM Lifting Lives, and a highlight reel of memorable moments to honor the show’s 60th anniversary. Church, Urban, Johnson and Moroney all took the stage to perform some of the duo’s biggest hits.
Johnson provided a unique, subdued performance of their 2003 hit, “Red Dirt Road,” a song that he previously appeared on in Brooks & Dunn’s first Reboot album in 2019.
Additionally, Church, in typical Chief fashion, delivered an incredibly soulful cover of their 1995 #1 hit, “You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone.”
Despite all the killer covers throughout the night, the highlight of the gala was undoubtedly the grand finale. With Brooks & Dunn finally taking the stage, the duo was joined by the likes of Church, Top, Wilson, Moroney, Johnson and Urban for a star-studded performance of “Play Something Country.”
In what can only be described as a look at country’s past, present and future, it’s safe to say that this was an incredible selection of artists in the mainstream to honor the legacy of the most iconic duo in the genre’s history. There’s plenty of room for criticism of the Academy, from some questionable picks to notable absences; however, last night’s 60th anniversary gala was undoubtedly a success.
The ACM Awards air tonight at 8 p.m. ET on Prime Video live from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.
Watch here:
A full list of ACM nominees are as follows:
Entertainer of the Year
- Morgan Wallen
- Chris Stapleton
- Cody Johnson
- Lainey Wilson
- Luke Combs
- Jelly Roll
- Kelsea Ballerini
Male Artist of the Year
- Morgan Wallen
- Chris Stapleton
- Luke Combs
- Jelly Roll
- Cody Johnson
Female Artist of the Year
- Lainey Wilson
- Megan Moroney
- Ella Langley
- Kacey Musgraves
- Kelsea Ballerini
Album of the Year
- Whirlwind – Lainey Wilson
- Cold Beer & Country Music – Zach Top
- F-1 Trillion – Post Malone
- Am I Okay (I’ll Be Fine) – Megan Moroney
- Beautifully Broken – Jelly Roll
Single of the Year
- “I Had Some Help” – Post Malone & Morgan Wallen
- “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” – Shaboozey
- “you look like you love me” – Ella Langley & Riley Green
- “White Horse” – Chris Stapleton
- “Dirt Cheap” – Cody Johnson
Song of the Year
- “Dirt Cheap” – Cody Johnson (Josh Phillips)
- “I Had Some Help” – Post Malone & Morgan Wallen (Louis Bell, Ashley Gorley, Charlie Handsome, Jonathan Hoskins, Post Malone, Ernest Keith Smith, Morgan Wallen and Chandler Paul Walters)
- “4X4XU” – Lainey Wilson (Lainey Wilson, Jon Decious, Aaron Raitiere)
- “The Architect” – Kacey Musgraves (Kacey Musgraves, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne)
- “you look like you love me” – Ella Langley & Riley Green (Ella Langley, Riley Green, Aaron Raitiere)
Group of the Year
- The Red Clay Strays
- Old Dominon
- Flatland Cavalry
- Rascal Flatts
- Little Big Town
Duo of the Year
- Dan + Shay
- Brooks & Dunn
- The War and Treaty
- Brothers Osborne
- Muscadine Bloodline
New Male Artist of the Year
- Bailey Zimmerman
- Zach Top (WINNER)
- Tucker Wetmore
- Shaboozey
- Gavin Adcock
New Female Artist of the Year
- Ella Langley (WINNER)
- Ashley Cooke
- Kassi Ashton
- Dasha
- Jessie Murph
New Duo/Group of the Year
- The Red Clay Strays (WINNER)
- Treaty Oak Revival
- Restless Road
Artist-Songwriter of the Year
- Luke Combs
- Morgan Wallen
- ERNEST
- Lainey Wilson
- HARDY
Music Event of the Year
- “I Had Some Help” – Post Malone & Morgan Wallen
- “you look like you love me” – Ella Langley & Riley Green
- “I’m Gonna Love You” – Cody Johnson & Carrie Underwood
- “Cowboys Cry Too” – Kelsea Ballerini & Noah Kahan
- “we don’t fight anymore” – Carly Pearce & Chris Stapleton
Songwriter of the Year
- Ashley Gorley
- Josh Osborne
- Jessie Jo Dillion (WINNER)
- Jessi Alexander
- Chase McGill
Visual Media of the Year
- “Dirt Cheap” – Cody Johnson
- “4X4XU” – Lainey Wilson
- “I’m Gonna Love You” – Cody Johnson & Carrie Underwood
- “Think I’m In Love With You” – Chris Stapleton
- “you look like you love me” – Ella Langley