ACM Special Will Feature Home Performances From Country’s Biggest Stars
Airing in lieu of the postponed awards ceremony, “ACM Presents: Our Country” will broadcast live, acoustic sets from artists’ homes.
Following an announcement earlier this week that the 55th annual Academy of Country Music Awards would be postponed until September, amid the coronavirus pandemic, The Academy of Country Music and Dick Clark Productions have decided to fill the 5 April time slot with a special, two-hour live presentation. ACM Presents: Our Country, set to air at 8:00 pm EST/PST on CBS, will feature country artists performing acoustic sets directly from their homes.
Though a line-up has not yet been officially announced for the special, it is speculated that Keith Urban, who was slated to take over hosting duties for the award ceremony, will make an appearance. At the time of the cancellation, the only performers who had been publicly confirmed for the award show were Urban and Miranda Lambert, who was scheduled to join fellow award nominees Lindsay Ell, Caylee Hammack, Elle King, Ashley McBryde and Tenille Townes for a rendition of Elvin Bishop’s 1976 hit song, ‘Fooled Around and Fell in Love’.
Join us for ACM Presents: Our Country, an entertainment experience featuring at-home acoustic performances from your favorite country stars alongside clips of top moments from the Academy’s 55-year history! The special will broadcast April 5 @ 8/7C on CBS. #ACMOurCountry pic.twitter.com/GkeFbS6ATR
— ACM Awards (@ACMawards) March 19, 2020
In an official statement, Damon Whiteside, the Academy of Country Music’s CEO, said, “Although the highly anticipated 55th ACM Awards show is unable to take place on 5 April due to the health crisis, we still wanted to deliver fans an entertaining ACM Country Music special as planned”. He also shared that ACM Presents: Our Country would allow “Fans to connect with their favourite country artists and to relive some of the greatest moments of the ACM Awards, all from the comfort and safety of their own homes”.
Amy Thurlow, the president of Dick Clark Productions, added, “Music has always served as a powerful form of hope and solidarity during challenging times. It’s our privilege to offer audiences an uplifting message through music as well as a look back at some of the best moments in ACM Awards history.”
This year’s nominees include Maren Morris and Thomas Rhett (each up for five awards), the Highwomen (featuring Morris, Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby and Amanda Shires), Blake Shelton, Old Dominion, Kacey Musgraves and Luke Combs. ACM newcomer Justin Bieber, who co-wrote Dan + Shay’s No.1 song, ‘10,000 Hours’, is up for four nominations from the Academy, while Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus’ hit song ‘Old Town Road’ is up for Music Event of the Year.
Visit the official ACM site for more details.
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