Keeping it country awards not chord up in Oscar gaffe
THE Academy of Country Music Awards generally air about a month after the Oscars, which usually doesn’t hold any particular significance. However, this year, the ACMs are the first televised award ceremony after the most epic mistake in award show history, when La La Land was accidentally announced as best picture instead of Moonlight, the actual winner.
Think there will be any jokes about it at the ACMs?
“I feel like if something like that were to happen, I am definitely not giving the award back,” host Luke Bryan said. “If they announce me as entertainer of the year and then recant that, I’m just going to run straight to the airplane and fly home.”
“I might just steal one, actually,” added host Dierks Bentley, a frequent nominee.
Bryan and Bentley, two of Nashville’s biggest stars, are hosting the show for the second year and know their job: Set a celebratory tone, keep the show moving and throw in a few not-too-mean jabs about fellow country stars.
Duets include superstar couple Tim McGraw and Faith Hill; Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood; Thomas Rhett and Maren Morris; Reba McEntire and Christian singer Lauren Daigle; Bentley and Cole Swindell; and Florida Georgia Line and the Backstreet Boys.
That’s right, the famed 1990s boy band will have a high-profile performance slot during the ceremony, as the group is featured on Florida Georgia Line’s latest single, God, Your Mama, and Me. The two acts are going on tour together, so the appearance makes sense – though some viewers aren’t thrilled when non-country singers perform at a country award show. (See: everyone from Beyoncé to Nick Jonas to Fall Out Boy.)
As for callbacks, ACMs executive producer Pete Fisher urges the audience to “stay tuned” for how the show will address the best picture disaster, which he calls “every award show’s biggest nightmare” – Washingto Post.