Last night, all (well, most) of the stars came out for the 60th Academy of Country Music awards, hosted for a record 18th time by Reba McEntire. We say "most" because several big names, like Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen, were MIA. For Morgan's part, he apparently thought the opportunity to play golf with Tom Brady was not to be missed. But for three hours, the rest of Nashville came to Frisco, Texas in celebration of the very best in country music over the last year. As far as who the big winners were, Ella Langley took home 5 ACM awards, while Lainey Wilson won 4. Here's a rundown of everything that happened during the broadcast.
The show kicked off with a 12-minute tribute to ACM "Song of the Year" winners of years past, with a medley that included:
Reba singing “Okie From Muskogee,” Clint Black singing “Rhinestone Cowboy,” Wynonna performing the Judds' “Why Not Me,” LeeAnn Rimes singing her own “Blue” (backed by a small string section), Little Big Town sang "Girl Crush," and Dan + Shay performed their own "Tequila" The show that followed was filled with big names and lots of hardware.
- Lionel Richie presented for song of the year. WINNER: Cody Johnson for “Dirt Cheap”
- Eric Church performed “Hands Of Time”
- Miranda Lambert sang “Run”
- Ella Langley joined Miranda on Miranda's “Kerosene”
- Riley Green introduces Zach Top, who sings “Use Me”
- Oak Ridge Boys present for Group of the Year. WINNER: Old Dominion
- Blake Shelton performed “Texas”
- Lainey Wilson performed “Whirlwind”
- Clint Black presented Male Artist of the Year. WINNER: Chris Stapleton
- Reba sings “Me & Bobbi McGee” in tribute to Kris Kristofferson
- Kristian Bush presents for Duo of the Year. WINNER: Brooks & Dunn
- Kelsea Ballerini performed “Baggage”
- Chris Stapleton performed “It Takes A Woman”
- Single of the Year presented by Reba. Winner: "You Look Like You Love Me,” Ella Langley & Riley Green
- Alan Jackson performs "Remember When," after which he is presented with the brand-new Alan Jackson Lifetime Achievement Award
- Martina McBride, Gretchen Wilson, Sara Evans, Crystal Gayle and Wynnona present the award for "Female Artist of the Year." WINNER: Lainey Wilson
- Ernest introduces Jelly Roll and Shaboozey. Jelly performs "Heart of Stone," Shaboozey joins him as they sing "Amen"
- Keith Urban is the latest winner of the "ACM Triple Crown" award. To honor him, Megan Moroney performed "Stupid Boy," Chris Stapleton sang "Blue Ain't Your Color," the Osborne Brothers sang "Where The Blacktop Ends," joined by Keith himself, who came up from the crowd with guitar in hand
- Little Big Town presents the award for "Album of the Year." WINNER: Lainey Wilson for "Whirlwind"
- Cody Johnson performed "The Fall," then is joined by Brooks & Dunn for "Red Dirt Road"
- Lee Ann Womack and Parker McCollum present the award for "Music Event of the Year" WINNER: Riley Green and Ella Langley, "You Look Like You Love Me"
- Reba, Lainey Wilson and Miranda Lambert debut the new song "Trailblazer" (the song came out last night; check out the official audio to the right)
- Blake Shelton presents the award for "Entertainer of the Year." WINNER: Lainey Wilson
- Rascal Flatts and the Backstreet Boys perform "What Hurts The Most," Flatts sings "I Dare You," the Backstreet Boys perform "Larger Than Life," both bands reunite for "Life Is A Highway."
The high point of the night, though, had to be Alan Jackson's performance of "Remember When," which had many audience members in tears. If you weren't tearing up for that, his emotional acceptance speech, which you can see to the below, would have done the job.