Dolly Parton, The Academy of Country Music Awards will be hosted for the first time by Garth Brooks on Thursday. Dolly Parton, a legend in her own right, will be his teammate, and it is expected that she will support him if he experiences any nerves.
“We’ve got a script that will go by just for guidance and time for the show, but I doubt very seriously that we’ll stick to it too close,” Parton said.
“It’s fun for me as a fan because I’ve always loved this woman from a distance, but we’ve never got to work like this before. So trust me, … whether the show goes on the air or not, I’m having the best time on the planet,” Brooks said.
The show’s top candidate, singer-songwriter HARDY, is up for seven awards, including two in the song of the year category. He is nominated for several songs, including “Wait in the Truck,” a duet with Lainey Wilson, the second most popular candidate. He is also up for a songwriting award for Morgan Wallen’s “Sand in My Boots.”
The country superstar won’t perform as planned due to a vocal chord issue that forced him to postpone his tour. The most-awarded artist in ACMs history this year, Miranda Lambert, may extend her lead as the evening draws to a conclusion.
She is competing for Entertainer of the Year alongside Carrie Underwood, Chris Stapleton, Jason Aldean, Kane Brown, Luke Combs, and Wallen.
Hailey Whitters and Zach Bryan, two of the contenders, have already been recognized as best new artists. Some of the biggest stars in country music will perform, including Carly Pearce, Keith Urban, Brandy Clark, and Mickey Guyton. British pop artist Ed Sheeran will also make a surprise appearance.
Starting at 8 p.m. Eastern, the show broadcasts on Amazon Prime from the Ford Center at the Star in Frisco, Texas.
Parton will perform “World on Fire,” a song from her new rock album.
Performances are a hallmark of the ACMs, which often pair artists who might not normally perform together. “They’re so frickin’ cool and I love them,” Brooks said.
