Country music's biggest stars attended the genre's “party of the year,” also known as the Academy of Country Music Awards, on Thursday, May 16. The annual event, which took place at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, featured not only big but emotional wins, as well as star-studded performances that also included previously announced collaborations and surprise duets.
One of the biggest moments of the night came when Chris Stapleton took the stage to perform his Higher song “Think I'm in Love With You,” when none other than Dua Lipa joined him for a duet. (Sources say Billboard that their collaboration will be released on Friday, May 17). The other couples, who were expected, included husband-and-wife duo Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani, Avril Lavigne with Nate Smith, and Kelsea Ballerini with Noah Kahan.
Speaking of performances, Post Malone, who is about to embark on his own country journey, premiered a new, unreleased song, presumably from his upcoming country album. He ended his performance with his new song “I Had Some Help,” which features Morgan Wallen, although the “Last Night” singer did not join the performance.
There were also some emotional moments, including when Lainey Wilson, one of the night's big winners, accepted the trophy for female entertainer of the year. During her speech, she not only highlighted her fellow nominees in her category, but also the women of the country who helped her get to where she is now, as well as Wynonna Judd for “[giving] You give me devotions every week.”
Jelly Roll, a first-time nominee, won alongside Wilson in the music event of the year category, winning for their collaboration “Save Me.” “This song saved me,” he told the crowd as he cried. “I was in a dark place. “I thought I was going to die and go to jail, and today I am here as the winner of the ACM Awards.”
The show was hosted by Reba McEntire and produced by Dick Clark Productions. (DCP is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a subsidiary of Penske Media Corporation and joint venture between PMC and Eldridge. PMC is the parent company of Billboard.
From performances to acceptance speeches to candid moments in the crowd, keep scrolling for some of the best photos from the show.
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Chris Stapleton and Dua Lipa
Image credit: Jason Kempin/Getty Images
Chris Stapleton and Dua Lipa perform on stage during the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards at the Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024, in Frisco, Texas.
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Reba McEntire and Post Malone
Image credit: Jason Kempin/Getty Images
Reba McEntire and Post Malone speak onstage during the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards at the Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024, in Frisco, Texas.
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Miranda Lambert
Image credit: Rico Polk
Miranda Lambert performs onstage at the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards from the Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024 in Frisco, Texas.
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Chris Stapleton and Dua Lipa
Image credit: Christopher Polk
Chris Stapleton and Dua Lipa perform onstage at the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards from the Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024 in Frisco, Texas.
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Noah Kahan and Kelsea Ballerini
Image credit: Rico Polk
Noah Kahan and Kelsea Ballerini at the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards from the Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024, in Frisco, Texas.
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Jelly Roll and Lainey Wilson
Image credit: Jason Kempin/Getty Images
Jelly Roll and Lainey Wilson accept the award for Musical Event of the Year for “Save Me” onstage during the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards at the Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024, in Frisco , Texas.
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Reba McEntire
Image credit: Jason Kempin/Getty Images
Reba McEntire performs onstage during the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards at the Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024 in Frisco, Texas.
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Kane Brown and Thomas Rhett
Image credit: Christopher Polk
Kane Brown and Thomas Rhett at the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards from the Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024, in Frisco, Texas.
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jelly roll
Image credit: Christopher Polk
Jelly Roll performs on stage at the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards from the Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024 in Frisco, Texas.
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Cody Johnson
Image credit: Jason Kempin/Getty Images
Cody Johnson performs on stage during the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards at the Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024, in Frisco, Texas.
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Old domain
Image credit: Jason Kempin/Getty Images
Old Dominion's Geoff Sprung, Brad Tursi, Matthew Ramsey and Trevor Rosen accept the Group of the Year award onstage during the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards at the Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024, in Frisco, Texas.
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jelly roll
Image credit: Jason Kempin/Getty Images
Jelly Roll performs on stage during the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards at the Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024, in Frisco, Texas.
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Jordan Davis
Image credit: Jason Kempin/Getty Images
Chase McGill, Greylan James and Jordan Davis accept the award for Song of the Year for “Next Thing You Know” onstage during the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards at the Ford Center at The Star on May 16 2024, in Frisco, Texas.
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Lainey Wilson
Image credit: Jason Kempin/Getty Images
Lainey Wilson performs onstage during the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards at the Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024 in Frisco, Texas.
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Malone Message
Image credit: Jason Kempin/Getty Images
Post Malone performs on stage during the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards at the Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024, in Frisco, Texas.
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Nate Smith and Avril Lavigne
Image credit: Jason Kempin/Getty Images
Nate Smith and Avril Lavigne perform on stage during the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards at the Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024 in Frisco, Texas.
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Reba McEntire
Image credit: Rico Polk
Reba McEntire at the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards from the Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024, in Frisco, Texas.
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Miranda Lambert
Image credit: Christopher Polk
Miranda Lambert performs onstage at the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards from the Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024 in Frisco, Texas.
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Jason Aldean
Image credit: Rico Polk
Jason Aldean performs onstage at the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards from the Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024 in Frisco, Texas.
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Dave Cobb, Morgane Stapleton and Chris Stapleton
Image credit: Rico Polk
Dave Cobb, Morgane Stapleton and Chris Stapleton accept the Album of the Year award for “Higher” at the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards from the Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024 in Frisco, Texas.
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Chris Stapleton
Image credit: Rico Polk
Chris Stapleton accepts the award for Male Artist of the Year at the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards at Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024, in Frisco, Texas.
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Kane Brown
Image credit: Gilbert Flores
Kane Brown at the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards from the Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024, in Frisco, Texas.
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Nate Smith, Lainey Wilson and Avril Lavigne
Image credit: Christopher Polk
Nate Smith, Lainey Wilson and Avril Lavigne at the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards from the Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024, in Frisco, Texas.
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Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton
Image credit: Jason Kempin/Getty Images
Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton perform on stage during the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards at the Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024, in Frisco, Texas.
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Randy Travis and Clay Walker
Image credit: Rico Polk
Randy Travis and Clay Walker at the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards from the Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024, in Frisco, Texas.
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Bunnie XO and jelly roll
Image credit: Christopher Polk
Bunnie XO and Jelly Roll at the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards from the Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024, in Frisco, Texas.
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Thomas Rhett
Image credit: Gilbert Flores
Thomas Rhett performs at the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards from the Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024 in Frisco, Texas.
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