FRISCO, Texas — The 60th Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards brought a night of celebration and recognition to The Star in Frisco, Texas, drawing some of the biggest names in country music. Among the stars gracing the red carpet were Cody Johnson, Jelly Roll, and Lainey Wilson, showcasing the best of the genre.
East Texas was well represented, with Jacksonville’s Lee Ann Womack and the Eli Young Band, who have strong roots in the region, making appearances.
Cody Johnson, a Trinity County native, had a remarkable night. He tied for the most nominations by a male artist, with seven nods. His big win of the evening came with the Song of the Year award for “Dirt Cheap.”
Kacey Musgraves from Golden, Texas, reached a career milestone, receiving her 30th ACM Award nomination. This year, she earned three nominations in total.
Miranda Lambert, from Lindale, took the stage to perform her hit “Run” and also celebrated the 20th anniversary of her breakout single “Kerosene,” performing it alongside Ella Langley.
Lee Ann Womack, another Jacksonville native, presented an award at the ceremony. Before heading on stage, she shared her thoughts on growing up in East Texas and her long music career.
When asked about her favorite song, Womack reflected, “People always expect me to say ‘I Hope You Dance,’ but my favorite song that I ever cut, which I didn’t write, is ‘Never Again, Again.’ It was my first single, written by Barbie Isham, a fellow Texan from Tyler. Ricky Skaggs and his wife, Sharon, sang harmony on it. That’s probably my favorite.”
The Eli Young Band, also from East Texas, reminisced about their early days performing across the region. The band recalled their challenges in getting booked at a popular bar in Tyler when they were starting out.
“We’ve always loved East Texas and Tyler,” said Mike Eli. “There was a bar owner who was tough to get in touch with back when we were starting. It took a while, but we became good friends after that. We’re excited to return to Tyler someday.”
The second day of the ACM Awards will air Friday morning, with CBS19 providing live coverage from the red carpet.
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