The 2020 Academy Of Country Music Awards treated audiences at home to the first live awards show since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
Country music’s biggest stars came together on Wednesday (September 16), taking the stages at three iconic Nashville venues: the Grand Ole Opry House, Ryman Auditorium, and the Bluebird Café. Socially distanced performances. No audiences. But still with a lot of memorable moments.
Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Thomas Rhett and Carrie Underwood kicked things off with a bang, performing a medley of some of their biggest hits. Host Keith Urban opened the show with a message of hope and shared how music – especially the storytelling power of country music – can help bring people together and inspire working together to overcome today’s challenges.
Carrie Underwood paid a touching tribute to the pioneering women of country music, honoring nearly 40 years of women in song – including Patsy Cline’s 1961 ballad “Crazy,” Martina McBride’s 1998 soaring “Broken Wing,” and songs made famous by Loretta Lynn, Barbara Mandrell, Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire.
The night also brought with it a lot of firsts.
Taylor Swift returned to the ACM stage for the first time in seven years, premiering the first-ever live performance of “Betty” at the Grand Ole Opry. The songstress kept things pretty lowkey – simply sitting on a stool, strumming a guitar. She even did her own makeup! – but she def brought on the feels with her heartfelt and moving performance.
Keith Urban and Pink also teamed up to perform “One Too Many” for the first time, rocking the stage with a high energy – but socially distanced – performance.
Justin Bieber also got his first-ever ACM nods this year – four, to be exact – for his hit collab with Dan + Shay, “10,000 Hours.”
In a surprise twist at the end of the show, this year’s Entertainer Of The Year was a tie! Carrie Underwood and Thomas Rhett both took home the prize. It was also a historic win for Carrie – she became the first woman to win Entertainer Of The Year three times. Taylor Swift is the only other woman with multiple wins for the category, with wins in 2010 and 2011.
Check out the complete list of winner below:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Luke Combs
Thomas Rhett – winner
Carrie Underwood – winner
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Maren Morris – winner
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Dierks Bentley
Luke Combs – winner
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban
DUO OF THE YEAR
Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay – winner
Florida Georgia Line
Maddie & Tae
GROUP OF THE YEAR
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion – winner
The Highwomen
NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Ingrid Andress
Gabby Barrett
Lindsay Ell
Caylee Hammack
Tenille Townes – winner
NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Jordan Davis
Russell Dickerson
Riley Green – winner
Cody Johnson
Morgan Wallen
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Center Point Road — Thomas Rhett
GIRL — Maren Morris
Heartache Medication — Jon Pardi
What You See Is What You Get — Luke Combs – winner
Wildcard — Miranda Lambert
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
“God’s Country” — Blake Shelton – winner
“One Man Band” — Old Dominion
“Rainbow” — Kacey Musgraves
“Rumor” — Lee Brice
“What If I Never Get Over You” — Lady Antebellum
SONG OF THE YEAR
“10,000 Hours” — Dan + Shay with Justin Bieber
“Girl Goin’ Nowhere” — Ashley McBryde
“God’s Country” — Blake Shelton
“One Man Band” — Old Dominion – winner
“Some Of It” — Eric Church
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
“10,000 Hours” — Dan + Shay with Justin Bieber
“God’s Country” — Blake Shelton
“One Man Band” — Old Dominion
“Remember You Young” — Thomas Rhett – winner
“Sugar Coat” — Little Big Town
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Ashley Gorley
Michael Hardy
Hillary Lindsey – winner
Shane McAnally
Josh Osborne
MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR
10,000 Hours – Dan + Shay with Justin Bieber
Dive Bar– Garth Brooks Featuring Blake Shelton
Fooled Around And Fell In Love – Miranda Lambert Featuring Maren Morris, Ashley McBryde, Tenille Townes, Caylee Hammack & Elle King – winner
Old Town Road – Lil Nas X Featuring Billy Ray Cyrus
What Happens In A Small Town – Brantley Gilbert Featuring Lindsay Ell
Congratulations to all the winners!
