2024 ACM Awards Play-by-Play

 Posted by at 8:01 pm on May 16, 2024
May 162024
 

The 2024 ACM Awards are airing live from Frisco, TX exclusively on Amazon Prime!  You do NOT need a Prime membership to watch!  For those that don’t have access to it or just don’t want to spend the time watching, we’ll be documenting a play-by-play of the show here.  Check back and refresh this page often for the latest action!  The 2-hour show (nearly commercial free) will be hosted by Reba McEntire.

  • In the minutes leading up to the show, the red carpet pre-show ended with a recorded performance of Megan Moroney performing “Tennessee Orange” since she’s currently performing in Hollywood, FL opening for Kenny Chesney at Hard Rock Live.
  • The show opens with the announcer listing off all the performers and presenters.
  • The opening act is Lainey Wilson performing a cover of “God Blessed Texas” by Little Texas! After performing most of the song, she gave her hat away to a fan then jumped back on stage to sing her new single “Hang Tight Honey.”  Post Malone approved of the performance.
  • Lainey then introduced the host for the night, Reba McEntire.  She came out to a dance version of her song “Fancy.”
  • Reba joked about how she was going to top Dolly Parton bringing her goat out on last year’s show.  She joked that she was going to bring out her donkeys, but they’ve become so famous that she couldn’t book them.
  • Reba commented that she won her first ACM Award 40 years ago.  She joked “I know what you’re thinking, how could that be when I’m only 39 years old!”  She then talked about how country is bigger than ever and growing to be inclusive to everyone, which led to her talking about Post Malone being there to perform some of his new country music.  She ran through some of tonight’s performers, including a duet between Avril Lavigne and Nate Smith.
  • She wished Happy Trails to Toby Keith, who will be honored with a performance from Jason Aldean
  • The ACM Award for Song of the Year, presented by Clay Walker and Randy Travis:
  • Reba introduced Jelly Roll, who came out to perform a new song called “Liar”
  • Reba introduced Kelsea Ballerini who performed a song we believe is called “Stick Season” with Noah Kahan
  • Bobby Bones appeared to interview Thomas Rhett who showed up with a cowboy hat and a turquoise bolo tie
  • The announcer introduced Richard Sherman and Charissa Thompson to present the next award
  • The ACM Award for Duo of the Year:
  • The announcer then introduced Little Big Town, who is celebrating being a band for 25 years.  They introduced the duo that earlier won Top New Group or Duo – Tigirlily Gold!  They performed their new single “I Tried a Ring On”
  • Tyler Cameron came out to announce the ACM Award for Group of the Year:
  • Reba introduced Cody Johnson who performed his new single “Dirt Cheap”
  • We then had an awkward transition to Bobby Bones who was backstage to interview Jelly Roll, who hyped up Cody Johnson for Entertainer of the Year
  • Dan + Shay joined Reba on stage, where she congratulated them for winning Duo of the Year.  Shay asked her how it feels to be hosting the ACM Awards for the 17th time.  She joked she’ll be legal next time she hosts.  They then introduced the most awarded artist in ACM Awards history, Miranda Lambert who performed her new single “Wranglers”
  • The announcer introduced Ashley McBryde and Noah Reid.  They did a skit with a small guitar singing parodies of the 5 Single of the Year nominations.
  • They then presented the award for ACM Single of the Year:
  • The announcer introduced The War and Treaty who talked about how Ray Charles performed on the ACM Awards 40 years ago.  They then introduced Kane Brown who came out to sing “Georgia on My Mind”
  • Kane then popped in backstage with Bobby Bones for a quick interview
  • We come back from a quick commercial to Reba introducing Thomas Rhett who performed his new single “Beautiful As You”
  • Jordan Davis and Carin Leon came out to present the ACM Award for Male Artist of the Year:
  • Reba is back to talk about the ACM Lifting Lives charity
  • Reba then introduced Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton to perform their new duet “Purple Irises”
  • We go backstage to Bobby Bones who told a couple of stories – one about Blake and Gwen, and one about Jerry Jones (to kill time while they change out the stage)
  • We come back from a commercial with the announcer introducing Blake Shelton, who came out to Toby Keith‘s “How Do You Like Me Now?”  Blake then gave a tribute speech about Toby and his legacy and thanked Toby’s family for being there.  He then introduced Jason Aldean who performed a stripped down acoustic version of “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” with a string section
  • Reba gave the ACM Award for Female Artist of the Year:
  • Reba introduced a performance by Chris Stapleton, but the song started with surprise guest Dua Lipa singing.  It was a duet on a song called “Think I’m In Love With You”
  • Bobby Bones came out on stage to introduce the ACM Radio Award winners who stood for a round of applause.  He then introduced Scotty McCreery who was out to announce the winner for ACM Award for Music Event of the Year:
  • We then go backstage with Bobby Bones who interviewed Dua Lipa and Chris Stapleton
  • Reba introduced Post Malone who performed a new song called “Never Love You Again.”  It was a true, old-fashioned country song that may have been the performance of the night. Then he performed his new single “I Had Some Help” (minus Morgan Wallen who is on the official track at radio)
  • Reba then came out to ask if Post Malone would sing a song with him.  She gave a shout out to the recently deceased Dickey Betts, then they performed a bit of “Ramblin’ Man”
  • Reba then introduced Charley Pride‘s wife and son to present the next award.  The ACM Award for Album of the Year:
  • Reba introduced Parker McCollum who performed “Burn It Down”
  • The announcer introduced Breland, who announced the winner of the Breakthrough Artist of the Year and New Male Artist of the Year, Nate Smith, who showed up to perform his new single “Bulletproof” with Avril Lavigne!
  • We go backstage again with Bobby Bones who interviewed Post Malone, who stated that his “booty hole was clenched during the whole performance.”
  • Alabama came out to present the ACM Award for Entertainer of the Year:
  • The show concludes with Alabama and Lainey Wilson introducing Reba McEntire who performed her new single “I Can’t”
  • Reba ended her performance announcing that she’ll be hosting again next year for the 60th ACM Awards.  The show ended 9 minutes later than advertised…easier to do when streaming online instead of having to fit into a network’s window