The 61st annual Academy of Country Music Awards took place in Las Vegas, with Shania Twain hosting the event for the first time. Twain was ready to bring drama and excitement to the stage, saying “Every outfit I’m picking out, I’m thinking, ‘Now it’s gotta be a notch higher. We need drama here—the good kind!'”
The event kicked off on Friday morning with an intimate brunch, the third annual I’m Just Me: A Charley Pride Celebration of Inclusion, at Luchini Italian Restaurant in the MGM Grand. The brunch honored the late singer, guitarist, and baseball player’s trailblazing legacy as the first Black artist to score a number-one country record.
Country stars gathered to recognize the honorees, including Beverly Keel, the Compton Cowboys, James Marsh, Joseph Hudak, Mōriah, and Stephanie Davenport, with musical performances throughout the brunch. Mōriah told Vogue, “I’m excited to be honored, but also to recognize the artists who came before me. Charley Pride paved the way for artists like myself to bring our culture into country music.”
The festivities continued with a beach party, Next Wave, at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, hosted by emerging stars Dasha and Ashley Cooke, with a closing performance by Keith Urban. The party featured beach blankets, cowboy boots, and a stage surrounded by ankle-deep water, where people danced and performers rocked out despite the wind.
On the carpet the following afternoon, it felt like a giant family reunion, with guests buzzing about the news of the day, from who’d lost the most at the casino to who’d sweep the boards later that night. Ella Langley was a popular pick to win, and Lainey Wilson was excited to perform, with her newlywed husband Devlin Hodges cheering her on.
Kelsea Ballerini was also in attendance, wearing a gilded Roberto Cavalli number and a bouncy blowout. Stella Lefty wore a 1999 Ralph Lauren look, while Carter Faith chose one from 2013. They said, “I’m like the new girl here, so it’s all very cool to me. I’m gonna be sitting there freaking out that all of these people are around me.”
Inside the ceremony, the evening swung between country’s many moods, with performances from The Red Clay Strays to Kacey Musgraves. The loudest screams of the night were reserved for heartthrobs like Parker McCollum and Riley Green. Ella Langley won several awards, including Female Artist of the Year, and was overcome with emotion, saying “I wouldn’t be standing here right now if it weren’t for those women.”
Shania Twain commented on the increase in female artists in the ACM nominations, saying “It’s about time—women are just more glamorous! I’m really happy to see it happening.” The event showcased a notable shift towards more female artists being nominated, with many outpacing male artists in nominations for the first time ever.
After the ceremony, attendees had various plans, from heading to a steakhouse to getting married. Ella Langley just wanted to take a nap, saying “A little nap—for five days!” The event was a celebration of country music and its evolving landscape, with a focus on inclusivity and recognition of trailblazing artists.
As the event came to a close, it was clear that the Academy of Country Music Awards had once again brought together a talented group of artists, with a shared passion for music and a commitment to illuminating the genre’s future. They paved the way for a brighter, more inclusive future in country music.
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