Boring, Nondescript 2024 ACM Awards Offer Little Life

See a full record of winners at backside.

The 2024 ACM Awards broadcast Thursday night (5-16) through Amazon Prime had many pondering the query, is it higher for an awards present to be dangerous for the inadvertent leisure worth versus being so boring and nondescript you wish to gouge your eyeballs out?

The 2024 ACMs positively gave a few of the worst award present shows in nation historical past a run for his or her cash with the monotonous, predictable, and usually lifeless presentation, relegated to a web based streaming channel, broadcast from a observe facility versus an precise enviornment, and lower brief by an hour since there simply wasn’t sufficient expertise to showcase, together with skipping the style’s hottest stars, Luke Combs, Zach Bryan, and Morgan Wallen, none of whom have been in attendance.

Lainey Wilson began off the presentation performing two songs, together with “God Blessed Texas,” and her new nearly purely rock track “Cling Tight Honey.” It ended up being Lainey’s night time as she walked away with Feminine Artist of the 12 months and the coveted Entertainer of the Yr. However even that felt like par, and a punt on the ACM’s half for not wanting to place any consideration on who wasn’t there versus who was.

Reba McEntire hosted, and mentioned in her monologue that Lainey Wilson is giving Dolly Parton a “run for her cash.” Let’s perhaps sluggish the roll on these pronouncements a bit of bit. Lainey Wilson is thrilling, however she’s bought about 55 years of expertise to get to Dolly’s degree. The comparability went over about in addition to Reba’s dumb donkey jokes. The ACM’s austerity measures didn’t simply cease on the venue, the performers, or the two-hour run time. They clearly lower their price range for writers.

When Jordan Davis gained the primary award for Music of the Yr, you knew this was going to be a tough night time. “Subsequent Factor You Know” isn’t a horrible track, however to say that is the “greatest” track in nation music and cross over the Luke Combs model of “Quick Automobile” actually speaks to how the ACMs are all about who the foremost labels wish to push versus the need of the followers being codified by significant accolades.

This was doubled down when Dan + Shay gained the second award, Duo of the Yr. Not that there was any actual competitors in that class. Giving it to Brooks & Dunn after butchering the Toby Keith tribute on the CMT Awards earlier this 12 months would have been dangerous type.

Jelly Roll sang an unreleased track “Liar” in a efficiency that felt tremendous deflating, and from a man that often rises to awards present moments. Why Noah Kahan was on the presentation was a reputable query. He insists he doesn’t wish to be thought of nation, however there he was singing “Stick Season” with Kelsea Ballerini, double clutch her microphone like Carrie Underwood, however she doesn’t have the voice nor the gams to interchange Underwood on these award reveals.

There are some things you may rely on in life. The rise and fall of the solar, the altering of the seasons, and Outdated Dominion successful a rustic music Group of the Yr Award although 95% of America couldn’t decide them out of a lineup, or identify one track from them. The 2024 ACMs didn’t disappoint on this division.

It took 40 minutes into the presentation earlier than we heard a bona fide unique nation track carried out when Cody Johnson determined to ship “Filth Low cost” on a stool in a stripped-down presentation. It was a great, sentimental efficiency, however helped underscore the snooze fest side that may prevail for a lot of the night time.

Miranda Lambert’s new track “Wranglers” was purported to re-introduce her to the nation world, and be paying homage to her “gentle stuff on hearth” period. However it’s simply a variety of bark, and little or no chew, rendering one more “mid” second. Every little thing simply felt prefer it was going by the motions in the course of the night time, however even the motions have been bizarre. Crowd photographs confirmed the viewers trying round aloof. Winners didn’t know the place to go to exit the stage. Every little thing felt performative and uninspired.

Ashley McBryde and a few Amazon star did have a enjoyable little second the place they sang parodied songs making enjoyable of the Single of the Yr nominees, with McBryde singing in a jingle, “the nominees have been all guys once more.” It surprisingly was top-of-the-line moments of the night time.

Luke Combs ended up successful Single of the Yr with “Quick Automobile,” however in fact, similar to the remainder of nation music’s prime expertise, he was not there to simply accept.

The Conflict & Treaty launched Kane Brown to sing “Georgia” in tribute to Ray Charles, nevertheless it ought to have been Kane Brown introducing The Conflict & Treaty to sing “Georgia” in tribute to Ray Charles. Kane turned in an excellent mid model, whereas The Conflict & Treaty would have introduced the home down.

Thomas Rhett sang a brand new track that feels like each single different Thomas Rhett track. It was a few woman, perhaps his spouse, or one thing. The rationale performers like Zach Bryan and Noah Kahan are doing so nicely proper now as a result of they’re every part a performer like Thomas Rhett isn’t.

Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani bought in on the motion, providing a deflating radio-pushed single with their wilted “Purple Irises.” It absolutely will get the Stans singing their praises, however had others fishing for the distant, and determining how higher to spend their Thursday evenings.

The Bobby Bones backstage moments made for the proper alternatives to punch out. You actually must tip your hat to Bones and his unimaginable reward at turning any matter or dialog again to being all about him.

Every little thing felt as perfunctory as Chris Stapleton successful Male Vocalist of the Yr and Album of the Yr once more. Which in fact, he did.

Jason Aldean tributing Toby Keith isn’t the sort of tease that may become old, conventional nation followers to tune in to an awards present. However his rendition of “Ought to’ve Been a Cowboy” with simply acoustic guitars accompanied by a string quintet was really top-of-the-line moments of the night time. He found out the right way to enable the emotion to fulfill the second, in contrast to what occurred on the CMTs. Aldean deserves a hat tip for tipping his hat correctly to Toby.

On of essentially the most awkward moments of the night time was when Reba was introducing Chris Stapleton, and bought lower off half means. Then as an alternative of seeing Stapleton, we noticed pop star Dua Lipa, who sang a great half of “I Suppose I’m In Love With You.” No offense to Dua Lipa, however in a presentation already criticized for showcasing so many pop stars as an alternative of nation ones, it was one more pop star put within the combine, whereas Stapleton’s spouse Morgane who usually sings with Chris stood there like a 3rd wheel.

Then Submit Malone got here out, and unequivocally performed essentially the most nation track of the night time, with a rustic band of metal guitar and fiddle wearing Dallas Cowboys uniforms. Then he performed his large new single with Morgan Wallen “I Had Some Assist,” sans Morgan Wallen. As a result of I suppose Morgan continues to be too verboten to placed on the ACM Awards stage.

Then Malone and Reba sang a fast, acapella stanza of “Ramblin’ Man” in tribute to Dickey Betts. As soon as once more, it was an interlude that was significantly better than lots of the ultra-produced performances, together with Parker McCoullum’s lifeless acoustic model of “Burn It Down,” and the plastic, contrived efficiency coupling Nate Smith and Avril Levine.

Reba McEntire closed the present out after Lainey gained Entertainer of the Yr, and everybody stood up, regarded left, regarded proper, and questioned in the event that they couldn’t have spent their time higher, together with this reporter.

The ACMs was the robust #2 awards present to the CMAs. Now they really feel like they’re holding on for pricey life. In the end, Luke Combs, Zach Bryan, Morgan Wallen, and everybody else who skipped it made the correct determination. Don’t be shocked if an increasing number of individuals make that call with the ACMs as followers endure from awards fatigue, and the CMT awards on CBS actively look to supplant the ACMs because the #2 awards present in nation behind November’s CMAs.

WINNERS:
Entertainer of the Yr – Lainey Wilson
Album of the Yr – Chris Stapleton – Increased
Feminine Artist of the Yr – Lainey Wilson
Male Artist of the Yr – Chris Stapleton
Group of the Yr – Outdated Dominion
Duo of the Yr – Dan + Shay
Music of the Yr – Jordan Davis – “Subsequent Factor You Know”
Single of the Yr – Luke Combs – “Quick Automobile”
New Feminine Artist of the Yr – Megan Moroney
New Male Artist of the Yr – Nate Smith
New Duo or Group of the Yr – Tigerlily Gold
Artist-Songwriter of the Yr – Chris Stapleton
Music Occasion of the Yr – Jelly Roll & Lainey Wilson – “Save Me”
Visible Media of the Yr – Parker McCollum – “Burn It Down”
Songwriter of the Yr – Jessie Jo Dillon
Group of the Yr – Outdated Dominion
Duo of the Yr – Dan + Shay
Music of the Yr – Jordan Davis – “Subsequent Factor You Know”
Single of the Yr – Luke Combs – “Quick Automobile”
New Feminine Artist of the Yr – Megan Moroney
New Male Artist of the Yr – Nate Smith
New Duo or Group of the Yr – Tigerlily Gold
Artist-Songwriter of the Yr – Chris Stapleton
Visible Media of the Yr – Parker McCollum – “Burn It Down”
Songwriter of the Yr – Jessie Jo Dillon