More than 20 country artists joined forces Sunday evening (April 5) for ACM Presents: Our Country, a two-hour television special on CBS that featured some of the genre’s biggest stars performing from the comfort of their homes.
The 2020 Academy of Country Music Awards were originally scheduled for Sunday, and following the coronavirus pandemic, the awards show was pushed to Sept. 16. Instead of giving up the time slot, the Academy decided to offer some hope and togetherness to the nation. Gayle King served as the evening’s host, promising that each performance was shot with social distancing in mind.
“There’s a lot of uncertainty about how long this will last, but one thing we do know is the healing power of music,” King said. “And nobody — I mean nobody — is better at nursing that power than country music artists.”
Some of the best moments of the special came from the unexpected. Lady Antebellum’s children stole the spotlight during a powerful performance of their latest single “What I’m Leaving For,” while Shania Twain’s performance in her stable provided some much-needed laughter as her horse kept getting closer and closer to her guitar. Good friends Brad Paisley and Darius Rucker joined forces during several performances throughout the evening, while Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani also teamed up for their latest duet, “Nobody But You,” from the comfort of Oklahoma. All the while, each act stressed to the viewer “we’re all in this together.”
Below are the 10 best moments from ACM Presents: Our Country.
10. Blake & Gwen serenade each other fireside in Oklahoma
Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani are currently on lockdown in Oklahoma together, but are passing the time by “drinking all day,” according to the country singer. “We’re happy to be in Oklahoma hiding away … drinking all day,” Shelton, dressed in camo, said. “We planned on being at the ACM Awards tonight and we wanted to sing this song there.” The pair then segued into their latest duet “Nobody But You.” As the fire crackled behind them, the couple harmonized on the breathtaking ballad of love while Shelton strummed his acoustic guitar. It ended with Stefani lovingly leaning her head on Shelton’s shoulder, giving viewers a glimpse of their life in Oklahoma together.
9. Brad Paisley & Darius Rucker’s friendship shines
Brad Paisley and Darius Rucker teamed up for two performances on ACM Presents: Our Country. The first saw Paisley singing while seated on his truck bed with an acoustic guitar for the feel-good “Mud On the Tires.” As he wrapped the song he pulled up Rucker on FaceTime for a duet of “Wagon Wheel.” Rucker, seated on his front porch in Charleston, S.C., was accompanied by Paisley who provided harmonies and fancy guitar handiwork on the sing-along anthem. As the song came to a close, the pair caught up with each other as Kimberly Williams-Paisley made an appearance from behind the camera further showcasing the magic of technology.
Later, Paisley and Rucker would join forces again as they paid tribute to the late Kenny Rogers, who passed away in March. “Kenny is the reason I’m sitting here,” Rucker said before the two launched into a memorable cover of “Lucille” and “The Gambler.”
8. Miranda Lambert eases nerves with the sound of a natural spring
Lambert performed her latest single “Bluebird” from the comfort of her farm in Tennessee. While seated on her porch, the sound of water behind her could be heard as she explained it’s from the natural springs around her property.
“I actually got married right here,” she said. “Thank goodness for technology that we could still connect. Lean into your music and let that heal you because music is medicine,” she said. Seated alone with her acoustic guitar, the reassuring lyrics of
“Bluebird” took on new meaning as Lambert delicately plucked her guitar.
7. Reigning ACM entertainer of the year Keith Urban showcases his ace musicianship
Urban was supposed to host the ACM Awards on Sunday evening, but instead he kicked off the show with a relatable message to viewers admitting that he misses “being around people” and being around live music. He decided to perform previous single “Wasted Time,” which he said has taken on a different meaning in the midst of the coronavirus.
Seated in his home studio, Urban began the song slowly with whispered vocals and delicate plucking of his acoustic guitar before picking up the pace mid-song. Showcasing his ace musicianship and killer guitar playing, Urban’s energy was contagious as he effortlessly segued from a slow start to propelling into an arena-ready rocker from the comfort of his home studio.
6. Carrie Underwood was literally drinking alone on “Drinking Alone”
Underwood appeared from her couch with a glass of red wine beside her ahead of her sultry performance of “Drinking Alone” from her latest album Cry Pretty. “Now we have to find things to do when we’re alone together,” she joked. “We’re not really alone. We are alone together, and this is exactly how we’re going to get through this mess.” As she hit play on a piano track, Underwood took viewers into her home for a stunning living room performance that highlighted her smoky vocals and powerful belt.
5. Shania Twain serenades an attentive horse from her stable
While viewers got a peek inside some of country music’s biggest stars’ homes, Twain took the camera into her stable for a two-song set. After assuring fans that “we’re all in this together,” Twain broke out into the upbeat “Honey I’m Home” and fan favorite “Man! I Feel Like a Woman” as one of her horses looked on. At one point, her horse rubbed up against her face as she was singing and licked her strings. Always a professional, Twain continued the song with a smile unphased.
4. Eric Church offers hope with new song “Never Break Heart”
The Chief offered words of wisdom to viewers ahead of his memorable performance of brand new song “Never Break Heart.” “The hardest thing about this for me is the unknown,” he said. “We fear the unknown. I have hope and you should have hope because since the beginning of time people have gathered. They gathered for fellowship, they’ve gathered for worship, they’ve gathered for prayer, they’ve gathered for song, they’ve gathered for communion, they’ve gathered for grief, but they’ve gathered — and we will gather again.
“The important thing to remember is to not fear. To be brave and to endure. That’s what this song is about,” he continued. A sentimental song about never giving up throughout life’s toughest battles, on “Never Break Heart” Church sang “It’s okay to cry, but don’t never break heart.”
3. Thomas Rhett asks all to “Be a Light”
Rhett released “Be a Light” last week, and the singer continued to spread hope with the song’s powerful lyrics and a message of togetherness. “We are all in this together. It’s weird navigating waters that are uncharted,” he said. Seated at his home with an acoustic guitar, Rhett aimed to uplift viewers with the soaring ballad and its thoughtful lyrics. “In a world full of hate/ Be a light/ When you do somebody wrong/ Make it right/ Don’t hide in the dark, you were born to shine/ In a world full of hate/ Be a light,” he sang on the poignant chorus.
2. Kane Brown & John Legend’s television debut of “Last Time I Say Sorry”
Kane Brown and John Legend made the world television debut of their memorable new duet “Last Time I Say Sorry” FaceTime. As Brown made the call to Legend he checked in with his friend and asked how he’s holding up under quarantine in Los Angeles. “Man, I don’t know what to do. I’m trying to find ways to stay creative and stay in touch with people,” Legend admitted.
Legend then settled onto his piano where the pair sang the emotive ballad of regret. With soaring vocals from Legend and Brown, the friends’ harmonies struck a chord as they belted the chorus together.
1. Lady Antebellum’s children assist on “What I’m Leaving For”
Lady Antebellum — while socially distancing from the trio’s respective homes — dedicated the performance of their poignant single “What I’m Leaving For” off their latest album Ocean to the doctors, nurses, first responders and everyone in the medical field on the frontlines of the coronavirus. “Walking out of your house, leaving your family, it’s not easy to do what you have to do,” Hillary Scott said.
Scott kicked off the song’s first verse with whispered vocals before bandmate Charles Kelley chimed in on harmony and the following verse. The trio were joined by their children as they each sang the powerful song. Kelley’s son, Ward, sat on his lap as he sang the aching ballad of leaving loved ones to chase a dream while Dave Haywood’s son, Cash, peaked out from behind his guitar as he strummed along. Soon Cash made his way to the front of the screen for some funny faces. A much needed respite from the state of the world, Lady Antebellum’s mesmerizing performance provided hope and laughter during a difficult time.
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