{"id":1308025,"date":"2019-04-07T20:00:27","date_gmt":"2019-04-08T02:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cmt.com\/news\/?p=1805106"},"modified":"2019-04-07T20:00:27","modified_gmt":"2019-04-08T02:00:27","slug":"meaningful-music-short-speeches-highlights-acm-awards-show","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/music-news\/meaningful-music-short-speeches-highlights-acm-awards-show\/","title":{"rendered":"Meaningful Music, Short Speeches Highlights ACM Awards Show"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"byline\">by <span class=\"author\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.cmt.com\/news\/author\/morrise\/\" title=\"Posts by Edward Morris\" rel=\"author\">Edward Morris<\/a><\/span> <span class=\"date\">4h ago<\/span><\/span> <\/p>\n<p>With its Tinseltown roots, the Academy of Country Music could never be accused of visual restraint when it came to staging its award shows.<\/p>\n<p>Often the lighting and special effects have resembled explosions in a fireworks factory. But on Sunday\u2019s gala (April 7) from Las Vegas, the emphasis was clearly on the songs.<\/p>\n<p>And there was a wealth of memorable tunes, some socially conscious, some intriguingly introspective.<\/p>\n<div class=\"photo\" id=\"48b0fbc4\">\n<div class=\"deferred_content\"><noscript class=\"deferred_content\" data-deferred-info=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;img&quot;}\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141114528-1554702259.jpg?quality=0.85&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=480\" srcset=\"http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141114528-1554702259.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=481 481w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141114528-1554702259.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=660 660w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141114528-1554702259.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=768 768w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141114528-1554702259.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=980 980w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141114528-1554702259.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=1200 1200w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141114528-1554702259.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=1500 1500w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141114528-1554702259.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=1800 1800w\" title=\"54th Academy Of Country Music Awards - Roaming Show\" class=\"js-srcset-img shortcode-image\" alt><\/p>\n<p><\/noscript><\/div>\n<div class=\"photocredit\">Jeff Kravitz\/ACMA2019\/FilmMagic for ACM<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The ageless <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cmt.com\/artists\/reba-mcentire\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Reba McEntire<\/a> was a superb host, as always, even if a scripted joke or two fell flat. Her performance of \u201cFreedom\u201d late in the show, with its refrain of \u201cLoving you feels like freedom,\u201d demonstrated that she\u2019s still the champion of strong emotional statements.<\/p>\n<div class=\"photo\" id=\"51abca85\">\n<div class=\"deferred_content\"><noscript class=\"deferred_content\" data-deferred-info=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;img&quot;}\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141096290-1-1554701443.jpg?quality=0.85&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=480\" srcset=\"http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141096290-1-1554701443.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=481 481w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141096290-1-1554701443.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=660 660w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141096290-1-1554701443.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=768 768w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141096290-1-1554701443.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=980 980w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141096290-1-1554701443.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=1200 1200w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141096290-1-1554701443.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=1500 1500w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141096290-1-1554701443.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=1800 1800w\" title=\"54th Academy Of Country Music Awards - Roaming Show\" class=\"js-srcset-img shortcode-image\" alt><\/p>\n<p><\/noscript><\/div>\n<div class=\"photocredit\">Rich Fury\/ACMA2019\/Getty Images for ACM<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.cmt.com\/artists\/thomas-rhett\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Thomas Rhett<\/a>, who would later cop the male vocalist of the year prize, kicked off the show with his high-energy \u201cLook What God Gave Her.\u201d It was a generally laudatory evening for God. He was later saluted by George Strait with \u201cGod and Country Music\u201d and Blake Shelton with \u201cGod\u2019s Country.\u201d The deity fared less well in Little Big Town\u2019s \u201cThe Daughters.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>One of the most delightful parts of the evening was watching <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cmt.com\/artists\/dan-shay\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Dan + Shay<\/a> become increasingly excited as they accepted in fairly quick succession awards for song, single and duo of the year. Each time, they seemed to find more people to hug on their way to the stage.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.cmt.com\/artists\/chris-stapleton\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Chris Stapleton<\/a> tipped his hat to traditional country music with \u201cA Simple Song,\u201d a glimpse into a factory worker\u2019s hard life and the joys of family. Then came Ashley McBryde and her triumphantly bittersweet \u201cGirl Goin\u2019 Nowhere.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"photo\" id=\"26acfa13\">\n<div class=\"deferred_content\"><noscript class=\"deferred_content\" data-deferred-info=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;img&quot;}\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141095101-1554701616.jpg?quality=0.85&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=480\" srcset=\"http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141095101-1554701616.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=481 481w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141095101-1554701616.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=660 660w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141095101-1554701616.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=768 768w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141095101-1554701616.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=980 980w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141095101-1554701616.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=1200 1200w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141095101-1554701616.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=1500 1500w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141095101-1554701616.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=1800 1800w\" title=\"54th Academy Of Country Music Awards - Show\" class=\"js-srcset-img shortcode-image\" alt><\/p>\n<p><\/noscript><\/div>\n<div class=\"photocredit\">Kevin Winter\/Getty Images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Dan + Shay teamed with Kelly Clarkson for the gently cautionary \u201cKeeping Score.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"photo\" id=\"466b73f6\">\n<div class=\"deferred_content\"><noscript class=\"deferred_content\" data-deferred-info=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;img&quot;}\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141113162-1554701739.jpg?quality=0.85&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=480\" srcset=\"http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141113162-1554701739.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=481 481w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141113162-1554701739.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=660 660w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141113162-1554701739.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=768 768w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141113162-1554701739.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=980 980w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141113162-1554701739.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=1200 1200w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141113162-1554701739.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=1500 1500w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141113162-1554701739.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=1800 1800w\" title=\"54th Academy Of Country Music Awards - Roaming Show\" class=\"js-srcset-img shortcode-image\" alt><\/p>\n<p><\/noscript><\/div>\n<div class=\"photocredit\">John Shearer\/ACMA2019\/Getty Images for ACM<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Backed by willowy dancers to underline the irony of the real labors women go through \u2014 and the expectations placed on them to succumb gracefully \u2014 Little Big Town sang \u201cThe Daughters,\u201d with its blistering refrain, \u201cI\u2019ve heard of God the son and God the father \/ I\u2019m still looking for a God for the daughters.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Theirs was the most riveting performance of the evening. Old Dominion\u2019s \u201cMake It Sweet\u201d was another stellar addition to the parade of songs about how life should be lived. \u201cLife is short,\u201d they sang, \u201cmake it sweet.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Luke Combs, holding a Red Solo cup, joined Brooks &amp; Dunn for a rip-roaring version of \u201cBrand New Man\u201d to illustrate to country newcomers how the old-pros did it.<\/p>\n<div class=\"photo\" id=\"316c4360\">\n<div class=\"deferred_content\"><noscript class=\"deferred_content\" data-deferred-info=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;img&quot;}\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141117030-1554701801.jpg?quality=0.85&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=480\" srcset=\"http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141117030-1554701801.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=481 481w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141117030-1554701801.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=660 660w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141117030-1554701801.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=768 768w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141117030-1554701801.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=980 980w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141117030-1554701801.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=1200 1200w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141117030-1554701801.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=1500 1500w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141117030-1554701801.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=1800 1800w\" title=\"54th Academy Of Country Music Awards - Roaming Show\" class=\"js-srcset-img shortcode-image\" alt><\/p>\n<p><\/noscript><\/div>\n<div class=\"photocredit\">Jeff Kravitz\/ACMA2019\/FilmMagic for ACM<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Always an arresting performer \u2014 as his subsequent entertainer of the year trophy confirmed \u2014 Keith Urban held the audience spellbound with his Good Samaritan song, \u201cBurden.\u201d The song was threaded through with the comforting lyric, \u201cCome to me my brother, and I\u2019ll sit with you awhile.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Thomas Rhett looked incredulous about his win when he came up to accept the male vocalist prize. Stumbling for just the right words of appreciation, he spotted his wife, hesitated for a moment, and then reassured her she was \u201dsmokin\u2019 hot.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"photo\" id=\"a86512da\">\n<div class=\"deferred_content\"><noscript class=\"deferred_content\" data-deferred-info=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;img&quot;}\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141110664-1554701830.jpg?quality=0.85&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=480\" srcset=\"http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141110664-1554701830.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=481 481w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141110664-1554701830.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=660 660w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141110664-1554701830.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=768 768w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141110664-1554701830.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=980 980w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141110664-1554701830.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=1200 1200w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141110664-1554701830.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=1500 1500w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141110664-1554701830.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=1800 1800w\" title=\"54th Academy Of Country Music Awards - Roaming Show\" class=\"js-srcset-img shortcode-image\" alt><\/p>\n<p><\/noscript><\/div>\n<div class=\"photocredit\">Jeff Kravitz\/ACMA2019\/FilmMagic for ACM<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Eric Church and Ashley McBryde offered the strangest song of the evening with \u201cThe Snake\u201d a dialogue between a rattlesnake and a copperhead that was accompanied by graphics of the coiling and slithering reptiles. The song might have been a parable about our eternally warring political parties when it says, \u201cEither one of them\u2019ll kill you dead\/We stay hungry, they stay fed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The much-touted Carrie Underwood segment for \u201cSouthbound\u201d featured her and her poolside buddies, Runaway June and Maddie &amp; Tae, marching away from the water\u2019s edge into the auditorium. It was easygoing and light-hearted and brought to mind a touring company\u2019s version of L\u2019il Abner.<\/p>\n<div class=\"photo\" id=\"df62224c\">\n<div class=\"deferred_content\"><noscript class=\"deferred_content\" data-deferred-info=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;img&quot;}\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141108890-1554701955.jpg?quality=0.85&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=480\" srcset=\"http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141108890-1554701955.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=481 481w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141108890-1554701955.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=660 660w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141108890-1554701955.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=768 768w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141108890-1554701955.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=980 980w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141108890-1554701955.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=1200 1200w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141108890-1554701955.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=1500 1500w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141108890-1554701955.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=1800 1800w\" title=\"54th Academy Of Country Music Awards - Show\" class=\"js-srcset-img shortcode-image\" alt><\/p>\n<p><\/noscript><\/div>\n<div class=\"photocredit\">Kevin Winter\/Getty Images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Other standouts included Kane Brown\u2019s teaming with Khalid for \u201cGood as You\u201d and \u201cSaturday Night\u201d; Jason Aldean\u2019s medley of \u201cThe Lights Come On,\u201d \u201cDirt Road Anthem\u201d and (with Kelly Clarkson) \u201cDon\u2019t You Want to Stay\u201d; Dierks Bentley and Brandi Carlile\u2019s \u201cTravelin\u2019 Light\u201d; and Miranda Lambert and George Strait\u2019s \u201cRun.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"photo\" id=\"4106b7ef\">\n<div class=\"deferred_content\"><noscript class=\"deferred_content\" data-deferred-info=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;img&quot;}\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141120596-1554702059.jpg?quality=0.85&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=480\" srcset=\"http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141120596-1554702059.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=481 481w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141120596-1554702059.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=660 660w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141120596-1554702059.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=768 768w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141120596-1554702059.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=980 980w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141120596-1554702059.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=1200 1200w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141120596-1554702059.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=1500 1500w, http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:file:http:shared:cmt.com\/news\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/GettyImages-1141120596-1554702059.jpg?quality=0.8&amp;format=jpg&amp;width=1800 1800w\" title=\"54th Academy Of Country Music Awards - Roaming Show\" class=\"js-srcset-img shortcode-image\" alt><\/p>\n<p><\/noscript><\/div>\n<div class=\"photocredit\">Rich Fury\/ACMA2019\/Getty Images for ACM<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Making her ACM Awards debut, <em>This Is Us<\/em> actress Chriss Metz led a powerful performance of \u201cI\u2019m Standing With You\u201d with Lauren Alaina, Mickey Guyton, Maddie &amp; Tae and Carrie Underwood. The moment spotlighted the organization\u2019s philanthropic initiative, ACM Lifting Lives, and its ongoing dedication to improving lives through the power of music.<\/p>\n<p>To the great relief of all \u2014 except possibly the winners \u2014 there were no long acceptances speeches to suffer through, and the show finished right on time.<\/p>\n<div class=\"author\">\n<div class=\"description\">Edward Morris is a veteran of country music journalism. He lives in Nashville, Tennessee, and is a frequent contributor to CMT.com.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.cmt.com\/news\/1805106\/meaningful-music-short-speeches-highlights-acm-awards-show\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: CMT News<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>by Edward Morris 4h ago With its Tinseltown roots, the Academy of Country Music could never be accused of visual restraint when it came to staging its award shows. Often the lighting and special effects have resembled explosions in a fireworks factory. But on Sunday\u2019s gala (April 7) from Las Vegas, the emphasis was clearly [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[159],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-1308025","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-music-news"},"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-06-12 03:49:09","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSKE Ski Country","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1308025","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1308025"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1308025\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1308025"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1308025"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1308025"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}