ACM Awards 2024

Lainey Wilson took home the biggest prize of the night at the 2024 Academy of Country Music Awards.

Wilson earned the entertainer of the year award, and also clinched the coveted Triple Crown award.

The Academy of Country Music coined its “triple crown” for winners who clinch a trophy in one of each three sections – new artist category; male, female duo or group category; and entertainer of the year. 

“I’ve been in Nashville 13 years doing this and ... first of all I just wanna say thank you so much Lord Jesus Christ," Wilson said on stage.

She thanked her team and her band for fighting for her "every single day."

"Everybody in this category has loved on me and believed in me, took me out on the road, sang songs with me, wrote with me, encouraged me every step of the way and I love y’all for that,” Lainey said. “I have the best fans in the world.”

Some of the past winners of this enviable award are Chris Stapleton (2023), Miranda Lambert (2022) and Luke Bryan (2021). In 2020, Carrie Underwood and Thomas Rhett split the honor as they tied for the achievement. 

With seven wins, Garth Brooks has the most wins in the ACM Awards category of entertainer of the year.

Fox News Digital's Breana Scheckwitz contributed to this report.

Ashley McBryde and Noah Reid had some fun with Morgan Wallen at the 2024 Academy of Country Music Awards Thursday night.

While Wallen wasn't in attendance at the show, his name was still on everyone's mind. During their introduction for single of the year, McBryde and Reid, who stars on "Outer Banks", sang an original song for each nominee.

When it came to Wallen, Reid began singing a rendition of "Last Night" with slightly different lyrics.

“Last night after some alcohol, [that] chair right over there really started to piss me off," he sang. "It told me that I threw it at somebody I never met, and my publicist keeps telling me this ain’t over yet.”

McBryde then joked, "You should smile in the mug shot."

Wallen, 31, was charged with three felony counts of reckless endangerment and one count of disorderly conduct from his alleged chair-throwing incident on April 7, the Metro Nashville Police Department said.

Post Malone was welcomed with open arms into the community at the 2024 Academy of Country Music Awards.

Reba McEntire took the stage following Malone's electric performance. She affectionately called her buddy "Posty" after forming a friendship with Malone at the Super Bowl earlier this year, and asked if they could sing a song together.

McEntire and Malone began a few verses of "Ramblin' Man" in tribute to the late Dickey Betts, one of the founding member of the Allman Brothers Band.

Betts died in April at his home in Florida, his family confirmed to Fox News Digital at the time. He was 80.

"His extraordinary guitar playing alongside guitarist Duane Allman created a unique dual guitar signature sound that became the signature sound of the genre known as Southern Rock," the Allman Brothers Band said in a statement.

"He was passionate in life, be it music, songwriting, fishing, hunting, boating, golf, karate or boxing. Dickey was all in on and excelled at anything that caught his attention."

Jelly Roll won his first Academy of Country Music award Thursday.

The country star earned the music event of the year trophy for "Save Me" with Lainey Wilson.

"No pun intended but seriously this song saved me," he said while accepting the award. "I was in a dark place, I wrote it from my soul, I knew people would connect with it, one year ago today Lainey Wilson and I stood on this stage and debuted it."

He continued, "I wrote it with a high school friend. We never thought we’d be song writers. I never thought I’d be standing here. I thought I would die and go to jail and I’m standing here as an ACM award winner! You here what I’m talking about Texas?! Let’s go baby!"

Lainey Wilson praised Reba McEntire and the women of country music while accepting the 2024 ACM award for female artist of the year.

While speaking on stage at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas, Wilson also admitted she's "best friends" with the women in the category.

She continued on, "Me and Wynonna Judd, we talk every week. She sends me devotionals."

Toby Keith was honored tonight at the Academy of Country Music Awards with a tribute performed by Jason Aldean.

Aldean’s performance of “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” was a tip of the (cowboy) hat to the late country music sensation. 

Images of the late country star flashed on the screen behind Aldean as he sang his heart out to his friend. At the end of his song, Aldean said, "We love you Toby."

Keith died on Feb. 5 after battling stomach cancer, his family revealed in a statement at the time. The country music star announced his diagnosis in June 2022.

Jason Aldean expressed a heartfelt gratitude to Toby Keith, contributing part of his musical inspiration to the late country star. Keith pushed him to be true to himself. 

"For me personally, he was a guy that I feel like ... just always spoke his mind," Aldean told Fox News Digital.

"He said what he thought, whether it was the popular opinion or not. And it wasn't, you know, it didn't always go well for him, and he didn't care. I mean, it was something that if he felt strongly about it and felt like it was something he believed in, he was going to speak his mind."

Kane Brown admitted he could have used a little liquid courage before his performance at the 2024 Academy of Country Music Awards Thursday.

Brown sang his cover of "Georgia On My Mind," the 1930 song originally made famous by Ray Charles.

Following his performance, the country music star chatted with Bobby Bones back stage where he said he was feeling slightly jittery about performing such a huge song.

“I was nervous man," Brown said. “It’s a big song but also I’m used to running around I’m not used to standing there.”

He added, “I wish I had tequila before I went on.”

Miranda Lambert swapped out her tight black dress for double denim to perform her new single, "Wranglers" at the Academy of Country Music Awards.

Earlier on the red carpet, she admitted "Wranglers" was created with her past loves and losses in mind.

"We were talking girl talk over tequila one day, writing songs and we were talking about our past and things we’ve been through, guys we dated ... not so good ones," Lambert said while chatting before the ACMs.

One month later, the song came to fruition.

"You can kind of decipher what we discussed on that day," Lambert joked.

When asked if she really did try to burn a pair of Wranglers jeans, Lambert was honest with her answer.

"How do you think I know how well made they are? Very well made. Good on y'all, Wranglers."

Dan + Shay took home the Academy of Country Music duo of the year award Thursday at the Ford center in Frisco, Texas.

“I’m freaking out right now. Shay, I love you so much brother," Dan said on stage. "I am so proud to be back up on this stage with you. We’ve been on quite a long journey over the last 10 years.

"We’ve seen a lot of highs a lot of lows but the one thing that has remained the same is the love and support of this country music community.”

Shay admitted his nerves were getting the best of him despite being in the business for quite some time.

“I’m so nervous right now," he said. "You’d think you would get less nervous the more you do this. First off, I wanna thank God, I wanna thank my wife, I wanna thank my 3 boys … It’s been a long time. I’m sorry daddy’s not home I miss you guys."

He added, "Thank you for allowing us to make country music. This is unbelievable man. God bless Texas, God bless country music and, by the way, God bless Reba McEntire."

Country music fans took social media by storm for one special performance at the Academy of Country Music Awards.

Kelsea Ballerini and Noah Kahan performed "Stick Season" during the live telecast from the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas.

"Kelsea Ballerini and Noah Kahan is the duet I’ve always needed in my life!!," one user wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Another user wrote, "I need a Kelsea Ballerini and Noah Kahan collab ASAP."

"This performance WOW. Kelsea you're perfection and album was great," one X user commented, while another simply wrote, "UNREAL."

Jordan Davis took home the Academy of Country Music award for song of the year for his hit, "Next Thing You Know."

While accepting his ACM award, Davis said, “I love song writing because of songs that won song of the year so to be holding this right now is crazy."

He added, "Thank you so much ACMs. Love you guys! Thank y’all'.”

Davis was up against Cody Johnson, Megan Moroney, Lainey Wilson and Luke Combs.

Reba McEntire opened the Academy of Country Music Awards Thursday with a few laughs.

The country music legend noted that she's "been around for a while" to be able to host the show for 17 times.

"I can remember way back when Jelly Roll was an after school snack," McEntire said.

"Luke was one of the gospels, not half the guys in country music. And a stage coach was how I got to work. But we’re not here to talk about me.

"Tonight we’re here to talk about country music and how everyone is invited and welcome here at the country music’s party of the year."

Lainey Wilson kicked off the Academy of Country Music Awards Thursday at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.

Dressed in all red in honor of her mother, she sang "God Blessed Texas."

"I wanted to be a little western, but my mama's walking the carpet with me tonight and her favorite color for me to wear is this color red," Wilson told Fox News Digital earlier on the red carpet.

"So, I'm doing it for my mama."

Wilson and Luke Combs both have their eyes on the prize with the Academy’s biggest title on the line – the ACMs Triple Crown award.

The Academy of Country Music coined its “triple crown” for winners who clinch a trophy in one of each three sections – new artist category; male, female duo or group category; and entertainer of the year. 

Miranda Lambert found inspiration from within to write her latest song.

Lambert, 40, rocked a sweeping black dress with a plunging neckline while walking the red carpet at the Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday.

She admitted her new hit "Wranglers" was created with her past loves and losses in mind.

"We were talking girl talk over tequila one day, writing songs and we were talking about our past and things we’ve been through, guys we dated ... not so good ones," Lambert said while chatting before the ACMs.

One month later, the song came to fruition. "You can kind of decipher what we discussed on that day," Lambert joked.

When asked if she really did try to burn a pair of Wranglers jeans, Lambert was honest with her answer.

"How do you think I know how well made they are? Very well made. Good on y'all, Wranglers."

Country star Parker McCollum joined his wife Hallie Ray Light at the Academy of Country Music Awards to make a big reveal.

Light showed off her baby bump for the first time on the red carpet at the ACMs on Thursday at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.

Hallie wore a beige mesh gown with a high neckline while McCollum rocked a pair of classic blue jeans with a blazer and black Stetson.

McCollum is set to perform tonight, in addition to Post Malone, Jelly Roll, Kelsea Ballerini, Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani.

Lainey Wilson is taking every chance she can to celebrate her mother.

The "Yellowstone" star admitted she dressed for success at the Academy of Country Music Awards thanks to her mom's advice.

"I wanted to be a little western, but my mama's walking the carpet with me tonight and her favorite color for me to wear is this color red," Wilson told Fox News Digital.

"So, I'm doing it for my mama."

Wilson and Luke Combs both have their eyes on the prize with the Academy’s biggest title on the line – the ACMs Triple Crown award.

The Academy of Country Music coined its “triple crown” for winners who clinch a trophy in one of each three sections – new artist category; male, female duo or group category; and entertainer of the year. 

Combs and Wilson are both nominated for entertainer of the year, and a win for either in the category would earn their spot on the coveted list.

Fox News Digital's Larry Fink contributed to this report.

Country couples' night out!

Reba McEntire mixed business with pleasure at The Academy of Country Music Awards Thursday night.

The ACM Awards host brought boyfriend Rex Linn along for a date night at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.

Reba met her beau nearly 40 years ago while working on the 1991 film, "The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw."

Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani had the same idea as they walked the red carpet together at the ACM Awards.

The powerhouse couple is set to perform tonight, in addition to Post malone, Kelsea Ballerini and Jelly Roll.

Reba McEntire took that one chance, and country music has never let her down.

The "Fancy" singer, who earned the entertainer of the year award nearly 30 years ago, returns to the stage for the 17th time to emcee the Academy of Country Music Awards Thursday, May 16, in Frisco, Texas.

In addition to her hosting responsibilities, Reba will perform her latest single, "I Can’t," during the live ACMs telecast.

Her performance comes on the heels of the news her "Happy's Place" pilot was recently picked up by NBC for a Friday night time slot in the fall. 

If McEntire's plate seems full, don’t be fooled. She's used to heavy lifting. Read more about the queen of country music.

Jelly Roll and his wife, Bunnie Xo, were feeling the love at The Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday.

The country crooner caught a few kisses from his beloved as they walked the red carpet at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.

Jelly Roll, whose full name is Jason Bradley DeFord, is a first-time nominee at the ACMs and is nominated for four ACM awards, including male artist of the year, single of the year, music event of the year, and entertainer of the year. 

Billy Ray Cyrus was the last first-time honoree to be nominated for entertainer of the year in 1992 with his mega-hit, “Achy Breaky Heart.”