Benjamin Jones
Lainey Wilson took home female artist of the year and the top award for entertainer of the year at the 2024 Academy of Country Music Awards.
“I’ve been in Nashville for 13 years doing this,” Wilson began his speech. “Everyone in this category loved me and believed in me,” she added. “And I love you for that.”
She joins an exclusive category of women who have won the top prize: Miranda Lambert was named entertainer of the year in 2022. In 2020, Carrie Underwood and Thomas Rhett tied for the title, the first time tied and the first time tied. woman has won the category since Taylor Swift in 2012.
Omar Vega/Getty Images
Wilson also opened the 59th annual ACMs with a cover of Little Texas’ “God Blessed Texas,” seamlessly jumping into her new single, “Hang Tight Honey.” Later, Clay Walker and Randy Travis presented Jordan Davis with song of the year for his ubiquitous country radio hit “Next Thing You Know.”
“First, I want to thank the fans for loving this song,” he said in his acceptance speech. “I love writing because of the songs that won song of the year, so to hold onto that now is crazy.”
Musical event of the year also went to Wilson – and Jelly Roll, for their hit “Save Me.”
“No pun intended, but seriously, this song saved me,” Jelly Roll said in her speech. “I thought I was going to die and go to jail,” he said as he became emotional — and instead celebrated being an ACM award winner.
The ACMs, held at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, just north of Dallas, were hosted by Reba McEntire.
Toby Keith honored
In one of the show’s most anticipated performances, Jason Aldean lit up the stage in a moving tribute to the late Toby Keith.
He gave the audience a moving acoustic performance of Keith’s classic “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” as the audience sang along and Keith’s family watched from the crowd.
Over the course of his career, Keith has taken home 14 ACM awards, twice winning the top award for entertainer of the year. He died in February, aged 62, after being diagnosed with stomach cancer.
Album and male artist of the year went to Chris Stapleton. “There are so many great guys in this category and I’m happy to be included in this company,” he said in his acceptance speech.
And when it came time to perform his new song “Think I’m in Love with You”, he was accompanied by a very special guest: Dua Lipa.
That wasn’t the only surprise: Post Malone debuted an all-new song, “Never Love You Again,” which turned into his new single with Morgan Wallen, “I Had Some Help.” Wallen did not introduce himself.
Instead, McEntire joined Post Malone to perform a duet of the Allman Brothers Band’s “Ramblin’ Man” in honor of Dickey Betts, who died last month. He was 80 years old.
Earlier in the night, Luke Combs – the night’s most nominated artist with eight – took home single of the year for his cover of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car.” Last year, Chapman’s 1988 song won song of the year at the Country Music Awards for Combs’ cover, making her the first black songwriter to win in the category.
Dan and Shay and Old Dominion took home the award for duo and group of the year, respectively.
The performances were fast and furious: Jelly Roll released a rock version of their new song “Liar,” followed closely by Kelsea Ballerini with Noah Kahan – taking their song “Mountain with a View” into their viral hit “Stick Season.”
Tigirlily Gold did “I Tried A Ring On,” Texas-born Cody Johnson brought his “Dirt Cheap,” and Miranda Lambert debuted her new single “Wranglers.”
Kane Brown performed a soulful cover of “Georgia On My Mind.” Thomas Rhett did “Beautiful As You” and everyone’s favorite couple, Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani, brought the adorable “Purple Irises” to the ACM stage.
Park McCollum delivered his hit “Burn It Down,” new male artist of the year Nate Smith and pop-punk powerhouse Avril Lavigne performed their new, “Bulletproof,” and host McEntire closed the show with his new single, “I can’t.”
The ACM Awards were broadcast live on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch Live.
