Since the inaugural Academy of Country Music Awards took place in 1966, it has featured a series of impressive performances and pivotal artist career moments. This year, Reba McEntire will host the awards for the 17th time when they air live on Amazon Prime Video on Thursday night (May 16).
Each year, artists compete for recognition among their creative peers at this industry-voted awards show, hoping to be invited to the winner's circle — a moment that recognizes and honors their creativity and years of hard work on the road , in the studio and often in the writing room. Of course, as much as the awards themselves commemorate artists' best songs and albums of the past year, the awards stage itself is also a great opportunity to look to the future, as many artists use their performance time in front of television audiences. audience to debut new music. Other times, they pay homage to those who have come before them, as the ACMs have often been a time to honor legendary country artists.
The Academy of Country Music was founded in Southern California in 1964 as a regional trade organization. Since then, the organization has heralded and supported the growth of country music, both at home and abroad. ACM is now headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee and has more than 5,000 members worldwide. The organization also has the charity arm ACM Lifting Lives, which helps those in need and focuses on health initiatives. In addition, ACM supports underrepresented groups in country music, with programs including ACM LEVel Up, a professional development and enrichment curriculum for emerging leaders, and OnRamp, a guaranteed income program for members of Nashville's Black music community. in collaboration with the Black Music Action Coalition.
Here, we look back at some of the top moments from the Academy of Country Music Awards over the years.
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Loretta Lynn's historic victory
In 1976, Lynn made history as the first woman to win Entertainer of the Year at the ACMs. She also won three additional ACM trophies that year: Top Female Vocalist of the Year, as well as Top Vocal Group (for her work with Conway Twitty) and album of the Year (with Twitty, for their Feelins'.)
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Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton Co-hosted the ACMs
In 2023, the ACMs were headlined by two iconic country artists, as Garth Brooks and Dolly Parton joined forces to co-host the ceremony. The ceremony marked Brooks' first time hosting an awards show, while Parton has previously hosted the ACMs on multiple occasions, including in 2022, when she co-hosted with Jimmy Allen and Gabby Barrett, and a solo ACM event in 2000.
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Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban Join Forces
At the 2013 ACM Awards, Tim McGraw joined forces with Taylor Swift and Keith Urban for a performance of “Highway Don't Care,” with Swift joining McGraw on vocals and Urban on guitar.
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Roy Clark wins the EOY Trophy twice
In 1974, multi-talented artist-writer Roy Clark made history by becoming the first artist to win a second ACM Artist of the Year trophy (following his first win in 1973). The respected guitarist, fiddler and banjo player – who died in 2018 – was also known for his work on the TV series Confusion. Clark was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2009.
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Carrie Underwood and CeCe Winans Take the ACMs to Church
During the 2021 ACM Awards, Carrie Underwood stunned the audience with a medley of classic anthems, which she had included on her album My savior, was released earlier that year. The medley included “Amazing Grace” and “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” when she was joined by gospel music great CeCe Winans to finish the song and then perform “The Old Rugged Cross,” with both powerful their voices to heaven. Underwood finished with a rendition of “How Great Thou Art.”
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Florida Georgia line teams with the Backstreet Boys
At the 2017 ACM Awards, Florida Georgia Line were riding high on their recent hits “HOLY” and “May We All” (the latter a collaboration with Tim McGraw). They followed by releasing the ballad 'God, Your Mama and Me', a collaboration with pop supergroup Backstreet Boys. For their performance at the ACM Awards, FGL welcomed the Backstreet Boys to join in on the romantic ballad, before blowing the crowd away with their rendition of BSB's '90s classic “Everybody (Backstreet's Back”).
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John Fogerty's 'Travelin' Band'
During the 2010 ACM Awards, John Fogerty was joined by a host of country artists — Carrie Underwood, Charlie Daniels, Miranda Lambert and Brad Paisley — to perform the Creedence Clearwater Revival classic “Travelin' Band.”
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War and Treaty Make ACM History
War and the Treaty made history at the 2023 ACM Awards when they earned their first ACM Award nomination in the Duo of the Year category. The ACM noted in its announcement of the nominees that the duo's nomination made them “the first black duo to receive a nomination in the category.”
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Reba McEntire wins ACM nod
Reba McEntire has had numerous incredible moments with the ACM Awards, from witty hosting moments to glittering award wins over the years. During the 1995 ceremony, McEntire was named Entertainer of the Year, beating fellow countrymen Garth Brooks, Alabama, Alan Jackson and Brooks & Dunn.
In 2018, McEntire's boldness was on display again when she took the stage at the ACM Awards. For her performance with Kelly Clarkson of McEntire's '90s hit Linda Davis duet “Does He Love You”, McEntire once again donned her famous revealing “red dress” with the sleeves she originally wore during of the 1993 CMA Awards.
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Taylor Swift meets Tim McGraw
In 2007, a talented teenager by the name of Taylor Swift captivated the audience at the ACM Awards with her talent and confidence during a implementation of her debut single, “Tim McGraw.” The timing of the ACM performance was apt, with McGraw sitting in the audience. During the song, Swift walked across the stage to McGraw, extended her hand and said, “Hi, I'm Taylor” — and in the process, also introduced herself to the larger music audience watching at home, noting one of her first steps to becoming one of the biggest names in music worldwide.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/lists/academy-of-country-music-awards-top-moments/
