A memorable night at ACM Awards
Six months after last year’s tragic shooting, country music’s brightest stars return to Las Vegas for the ACM Awards to pay tribute to the fallen as big winners Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean and Miranda Lambert, among others, make it a night to remember
The 2018 Academy of Country Music Awards marked a memorable night for the victims of the massive Las Vegas shooting, comeback queen Carrie Underwood and triple-winners Chris Stapleton and Miranda Lambert.
Jason Aldean paid tribute to the 58 people who died at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas last October when he was named Entertainer of the Year on Sunday for the third consecutive time. “It’s been a rough year,” Aldean said, thanking those “that showed us love and support over the last six months.”
The ACMs brought the country music community back to Vegas six months after the deadly tragedy. Aldean was performing onstage when the shooting occurred.
“You guys are in our hearts always,” Aldean said.
Though Aldean beat out Stapleton for the top honour, Stapleton’s Sunday was met with many high points: His wife, Morgane, gave birth to twin boys; he celebrated his 40th birthday; and the leading nominee, who didn’t attend the show, won Male Vocalist of the Year and Album of the Year, where he won twice as a singer and producer.
Underwood also had a big night, returning to the stage like an A-List veteran in her first television appearance since injuring her face and wrist last year due to a fall at her home. Her powerhouse vocals shined when she performed her new song,
Cry Pretty, earning a rousing – and long – standing ovation from the audience. Immediately following the performance, she won Vocal Event of the Year for the danceinfused country song, The Fighter, with Keith Urban. “I am still kind of shaking right now,” Underwood said, appearing teary-eyed after receiving the honour.
“Seeing her stand up there and be so beautiful, she’s one of the greatest singers of all-time in any genre of music,” Lambert said backstage. But Lambert’s hard work also paid off: She made history by surpassing Brooks and Dunn as the Most decorated act in ACM history with 32 wins. She won her ninth consecutive Female Vocalist of the Year trophy and won twice for Song of the Year – as the performer and co-writer of Tin
Man. “I cannot believe this. I really can’t . ... I love country music. It’s my entire life,” Lambert said onstage. “I will never ever take it for granted.”
The longest-running No. 1 song of all-time on the country charts, Sam Hunt’s Body Like a Back Road, won Single Record of the Year; Hunt didn’t attend the show. Reba McEntire, who performed with Kelly Clarkson, hosted the three-hour show a year after Bryan and Bentley did the job. “It takes one woman to do the job of two men,” she said, earning a rousing applause. Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Kelsea Ballerini, Alan Jackson, Lady Antebellum and Dierks Bentley also performed.
I cannot believe this. I really can’t. ...I love country music. It’s my entire life.” Miranda Lambert