Dua Lipa Reveals How She Kept Chris Stapleton's ACM Awards Show Secret: 'A Lot of Hooding Was Involved'

Dua Lipa's surprise appearance with Chris Stapleton at the 2024 ACM Awards on Thursday night (May 16) required some serious stealth maneuvering. The “Training Season” singer took the stage to debut a new duet with Stapleton at the awards show at the Ford Theater at the Star in Frisco, Texas, and then spoke with Advertising sign on how they pulled off the high-profile musical sneak attack.

“A lot of zip-up hoods and running in and out of the arena,” he said of the lengths the two singers' teams went to to keep the secret under wraps. “We were all trying to make sure it remained a surprise to make the moment even more special. I don't know how we did it, I'm glad we did because it's really special when it happened tonight on stage.”

Stapleton won artist and album of the year at the 59th annual ACMs, but when he performed his song “Thing I'm in Love With You” with Dua — and his wife Morgane — the audience at the Ford Theater sat down. in their place watching the two singers from different musical words merge their universes.

Dua said she was inspired to attend the ACMs and perform with Stapleton because she's a “huge fan” of the singer she called a “master of his craft.” She also enjoyed sitting down with Stapleton to brainstorm how they might reimagine the song from his Higher album. “To spend even a few days with him working with him, his band and his wife Morgane, it was just incredible. It's just one of those moments in my life where I'm so happy to be a musician and to create something and do something that's so exciting,” she said.

As of press time, reps for both singers had not responded Advertising signRequest for comment on news that they plan to release the collaboration soon.

Lipa was also excited to see fellow pop-to-country crossover star Post Malone perform at Thursday's event, but what she was most concerned about was her new album. Radical Optimismwhich debuted at the top of the Top Albums chart.

Dua said she celebrated the release of the long-awaited album at home with friends and family with food, drinks and music. And, being in Texas, he had to try some local barbecue, of course. “That and going on a hunt for the best cowboy hat,” she said of her Lone Star State adventures.

Watch Dua Lipa talk about her surprise performance and chart-topping debut album in the video above.