Luke Bryan wins top ACM Award, but female acts own the night
Miranda Lambert, left, and Elle King perform at the 56th Academy of Country Music Awards on at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.
(Mark Humphrey / Associated Press)
NEW YORK
Carrie Underwood brought the Academy of Country Music Awards to church. Maren Morris won two honors, including song of the year. Miranda Lambert performed three times and held onto her record as the most decorated winner in ACM history. And Mickey Guyton, the first Black woman to host the awards show, gave a powerful, top-notch vocal performance.
Though female country stars didn’t compete for the night’s top prize – Luke Bryan was named entertainer of the year – they owned Sunday’s ACM Awards.
Women dominate Academy of Country Music Awards
Updated: April 19, 2021, 8:11 am
Maren Morris accepts the award for female artist of the year at the 56th annual Academy of Country Music Awards (AP)
Luke Bryan was named entertainer of the year at the Academy of Country Music Awards in Nashville, Tennessee – but the night belonged to female performers.
Maren Morris won two honours, including song of the year, at an event which featured both live and pre-recorded segments.
Miranda Lambert performed three times and held onto her record as the most decorated winner in ACM history.
Lee Brice and Carly Pearce (AP)
Country superstar Carrie Underwood teamed up with the iconic CeCe Winans to sing a medley of gospel hymns at the Academy of Country Music Awards.
The teaming of Underwood, 38, and Winans, 56, was among the highlights of the numerous performances all across Nashville during the Sunday night telecast.
Other highlights include Maren Morris performing with her husband Ryan Hurd for the first time on an awards show, as they sang their hit Chasing After You.
Carrie sings: Country superstar Carrie Underwood teamed up with the iconic CeCe Winans to sing a medley of gospel hymns at the Academy of Country Music Awards
2021 Academy of Country Music Awards: Luke Bryan wins top award, but female acts own the night
Updated 9:13 PM;
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NEW YORK (AP) Carrie Underwood brought the Academy of Country Music Awards to church. Maren Morris won two honors, including song of the year. Miranda Lambert performed three times and held onto her record as the most decorated winner in ACM history. And Mickey Guyton, the first Black woman to host the awards show, gave a powerful, top-notch vocal performance.
Though female country stars didn’t compete for the night’s top prize – Luke Bryan was named entertainer of the year – they owned Sunday’s ACM Awards.
The performances that aired on Sunday were pre-recorded at various locations in Nashville, including the Grand Ole Opry House, the Ryman Auditorium and The Bluebird Cafe.
Winners, wearing masks, accepted their awards in real time in front of small audiences made up of medical and health care workers.
Bryan was set to perform on Sunday but backed out of the show because he recently tested positive for coronavirus.
“I’m so sorry I could not be there,” he said from Los Angeles.
“And to all my fans out there and country radio, we miss touring. We’ve missed being on the road with everybody that makes me an entertainer. My bus drivers, my band, my crew – what a challenging year. But to all the fans and everybody, we’ll be back out on the road doing what we love.”