Much like the entirety of 2020, Wednesday night’s ACM Awards looked a little different this year. Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, there was no ambient noise or applause from a live audience and performances came from three different venues — the Grand Ole Opry House, the Ryman Auditorium and the Bluebird Cafe.
For the first time in ACM history, there was a tie for Entertainer of the Year with Thomas Rhett and Carrie Underwood sharing the honor. Thomas also took Video of the Year prior to the telecast for “Remember You Young.”
The night’s other big winners were Luke Combs and Old Dominion, who each scored two awards.
Host Keith Urban kicked off the show with a bang. All five of the Entertainer of the Year performers sang an abbreviated version of an early hit in medley style.
Carrie Underwood celebrated the 95th anniversary of the Grand Ole Opry by performing a medley of classic hits from some of the queens of the Opry, including Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Barbara Mandrell, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire and Martina McBride.
Runaway June recognized the ACM’s life changing “Lifting Lives” program, while Luke Combs shared the great work that Ford is doing with “Guitars for Vets” for veterans coping with PTSD.
As closing credits rolled, Willie Nelson’s “On the Road Again” played as a homage to better days ahead.
PERFORMANCES:
- Luke Bryan – “Rain Is a Good Thing,” Eric Church – “Drink in My Hand,” Luke Combs – “When It Rains It Pours,” Thomas Rhett – “It Goes Like This,” and Carrie Underwood – “Before He Cheats” (opening medley)
- Jimmie Allen – “Make Me Want To”
- Old Dominion – a medley of hits including “Break Up With Him,” “Song for Another Time,” “Hotel Key,” and “Make It Sweet”
- Luke Bryan – “One Margarita”
- Kelsea Ballerini – “Hole in the Bottle”
- Miranda Lambert – “Bluebird”
- Morgan Wallen – “Whiskey Glasses”
- Thomas Rhett and Jon Pardi – “Beer Can’t Fix”
- Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani – “Happy Anywhere” via green screen
- Carrie Underwood – “Crazy,” “You Ain’t Woman Enough (To Take My Man),” “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool,” “Why’d You Come In Here Lookin’ Like That,” “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia,” “Broken Wing”
- Luke Combs – “Better Together”
- Tenille Townes – “Somebody’s Daughter”
- Gabby Barrett – “I Hope”
- Dan + Shay – “I Should Probably Go to Bed”
- Riley Green – “I Wish Grandpas Never Died”
- Kane Brown – “Worldwide Beautiful”
- Maren Morris – “To Hell & Back”
- Taylor Swift – “Betty”
- Eric Church – “Stick That in Your Country Song”
- Tim McGraw – “I Called Mama”
- Mickey Guyton with Keith Urban – “What Are You Gonna Tell Her”
- Keith Urban and Pink – “One Too Many”
- Trisha Yearwood – “I’ll Carry You Home”
- Florida Georgia Line – “I Love My Country”
WINNERS:
- Entertainer of the Year: (tie) Thomas Rhett and Carrie Underwood
- Female Artist of the Year: Maren Morris
- Male Artist of the Year: Luke Combs
- Album of the Year: What You See Is What You Get – Luke Combs
- Single of the Year: “God’s Country” – Blake Shelton
- Group of the Year: Old Dominion
- Song of the Year: “One Man Band” – Old Dominion
- Duo of the Year: Dan + Shay
PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED WINNERS:
- New Female Artist of the Year: Tenille Townes
- New Male Artist of the Year: Riley Green
- Video of the Year: “Remember You Young” – Thomas Rhett
- Musical Event of the Year: “Fooled Around and Fell in Love” – Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris, Ashley McBryde, Tenille Townes, Caylee Hammack and Elle King
- Songwriter of the Year: Hillary Lindsey