The '8th Annual ACM Honors' Throws A Party In Nashville

Jake Owen

The ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC (ACM) hosted the "8th ANNUAL ACM HONORS" last night (9/9) at the RYMAN AUDITORIUM in NASHVILLE.  The sold-out event celebrated the special honorees and off-camera category winners from the "49TH ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS" (NET NEWS 3/21).

Special performances on the night included a collaboration between KACEY MUSGRAVES, KELLY CLARKSON, and HILLARY SCOTT of LADY ANTEBELLUM performing a medley of "Merry Go 'Round," "Tie It Up," and "Downtown" in tribute to Songwriter of the Year honoree SHANE MCANALLY.  HUNTER HAYES sang "I Wouldn't Have Missed It For The World" in tribute to RONNIE MILSAP, who was awarded the CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD along with TOBY KEITH.  Host JAKE OWEN then immediately led the audience in singing "Happy Birthday" to HAYES in celebration of his 23rd birthday.

TONY JOE WHITE performed "Polk Salad Annie" and BRENDA LEE awarded the CLIFFIE STONE Pioneer Award to the family of the late BOB BECKHAM.  The Crystal Milestone Award was given to MERLE HAGGARD during the ACM AWARDS telecast in APRIL. Awards were also given for winners in the Industry Award and Studio Recording Award categories.

DIERKS BENTLEY and DWIGHT YOAKUM were on hand to perform tributes to BUCK OWENS as he was posthumously awarded the Poet's Award along with JACK CLEMENT, DEAN DILLON, and KRIS KRISTOFFERSON. THE OAK RIDGE BOYS dedicated their performance of "Elvira" to MAE BOREN AXTON Award recipient PAUL MOORE, and THE SWON BROTHERS sang a medley of "See You Again" and "Wasted" in tribute to GENE WEED Special Achievement Award winner CARRIE UNDERWOOD.

Special guest TIM TEBOW made a surprise appearance to award RASCAL FLATTS with the JIM REEVES International Award, and CLARE BOWEN AND SAM PALLADIO sang "If I Knew Better" in honor of FLATTS and fellow JIM REEVES Award winner STEVE BUCHANAN.

For a full listing of winners and performances, visit www.ACMCountry.com.

« see more Net News