Mickey Guyton and Keith Urban hosted the 2021 ACM Awards from a few venues in Nashville. The country music show included country icons, some sexy performances, some sweet ones and a very important history-making moment. Here are my favorite moments from the 2021 ACM Awards.
Maren Morris + Ryan Hurd’s Steamy Duet
Is it hot in here or is it just Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd? The married couple performed their song, “Chasing You,” during the 2021 ACM Awards and things were steamy. Morris channeled her inner Cher with a shimmery gold outfit while Hurd kept it classic. They embraced while serenading each other with love in their eyes, barely breaking eye contact. It was hot, hot, hot!
Alan Jackson Celebrates Family
Alan Jackson’s performance was a mix of nostalgia and lots of love for his fam. He started things off with “Drive (For Daddy Gene)” before transitioning to his more recent, “You’ll Always Be My Baby.” He wrote the latter for his daughters and the former was, of course, for his dad. The icon taking the ACM Awards for two emotional songs made his time onstage even more special.
Keith Urban Rocks ‘Tumbleweed’
Keith Urban did double duty during the ACMs. He not only co-hosted the show, but he also performed “Tumbleweed” from the Grand Ole Opry. The track was perfect for the night, kicking things up a notch with its fun beat. He performed in front of fascinating, colorful visuals with special effects. This was his first time performing it with his band.
Blanco Brown Returns to the Stage
In the fall of 2020, Blanco Brown was involved in such a serious motorcycle accident that they weren’t sure if he’d walk again. On Sunday night, Brown walked onto the ACM Awards stage and presented the award for Group of the Year. “I want to thank everyone in the country community for their love and support. And to all the first responders, there are not enough words,” he said. It was a miracle moment!
Blake Shelton Celebrates 20 Years
During the ACM Awards, Blake Shelton took the stage to celebrate 20 years of a classic. He performed his 2001 debut hit, “Austin,” before transitioning to 2021 with “Minimum Wage.” Although I enjoyed the fast-paced fun from the new single, I remembered exactly why I fell in love with the man with a mullet during the first portion of the performance.
Little Big Town Shut Down Broadway
Three-quarters of Little Big Town came together for a downtown Nashville performance on Sunday. Unfortunately, Phillip Sweet tested positive for COVID-19 and was unable to join Kimberly Schlapman, Jimi Westbrook and Karen Fairchild for “Wine, Beer, Whiskey” on Broadway. The combination of the band strutting down the street with a band marching behind them made this a very memorable performance.
Carrie Underwood + CeCe Winans Take Us to Church
Dolly Parton introduced Carrie Underwood during the show, calling the performance part of her “passion project.” The project is the country superstar’s recent gospel album, My Savior, and the performance was a medley of its tracks. It was breathtaking from the start of “Amazing Grace,” where Underwood stood under a spotlight. When she introduced the legendary Cece Winans, the two powerhouses brought the house down before Winans left the stage for Underwood to be joined by a chorus for the finale. This was a top performance from the night.
Mickey Guyton Breaks Barriers
Mickey Guyton made history on Sunday night. She was the first Black woman to host the ACM Awards when she co-hosted alongside Keith Urban. The best part was that not only did she make history but she was pretty great at it. She looked comfortable (and beautiful) and brought a very authentic feel to the hosting gig. I’d be happy to see her host again in the future.
What was your favorite moment from the 2021 ACM Awards? Let us know in the comment section.
