Tonight (May 8), the Academy of Country Music celebrates 60 years of ACM Awards shows. The celebratory broadcast kicked off with a 12-minute medley of songs that won Song of the Year over the last six decades. The celebration of the past featured some of the biggest songs in the genre’s history. At the same time, generations of stars took the stage to sing those songs. The medley included Reba McEntire, Wynonna Judd, Clint Black, LeAnn Rimes, Little Big Town, and Dan + Shay.
Videos by American Songwriter
The ACM Awards opened with a nod to the past. After a brief introduction, McEntire kicked things off with a Song of the Year winner released in the 1960s. Black came next with a nod to a mega-hit from the 1970s. Judd stepped up after Black to belt one of her hits from the 1980s. Then, Rimes represented the 1990s with a powerhouse performance. Little Big Town delivered the only song of the medley that didn’t win the Song of the Year Award. Finally, Dan + Shay took center stage for a song from the 2010s.
[RELATED: Reba McEntire Closes in on Showbiz Record by Hosting Her 18th ACM Awards]
McEntire and Black were the only artists who didn’t perform their own songs. Instead, they sang Merle Haggard’s “Okie from Muskogee” and Glen Campbell’s “Rhinestone Cowboy,” respectively. Judd performed “Why Not Me” from The Judds’ 1984 debut album. LeAnn Rimes performed her 1996 breakout hit “Blue.” Little Big Town performed their 2014 hit “Girl Crush.” Dan + Shay closed the celebratory medley with their 2018 hit “Tequila.”
The ACM Awards Medley Honored Great Songwriters and Artists
The ACM Award for Song of the Year doesn’t go to artists. Instead, it goes to the songwriter. The award for Single of the Year goes to the artist who recorded the song. Below is a breakdown of the songs included in the medley and the songwriters who took home the trophies.
- Merle Haggard and Eddie Burris won for “Okie from Muskogee” in 1970
- Larry Weiss won for “Rhinestone Cowboy” in 1975
- Harlan Howard, Brent Maher, and Sonny Throckmorton won for “Why Not Me” in 1985
- Bill Mack won for “Blue” in 1997
- Nicolle Galyon, Jordan Reynolds, and Dan Smyers won for “Tequila” in 2019
Featured Image by Sterling Munksgard
Leave a Reply
Only members can comment. Become a member. Already a member? Log in.