Welp, I guess we won’t have to endure watching Luke Bryan shake his arse on stage at this year’s ACM awards (even though his latest album was much better than his past few).
The country star and American Idol judge was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Monday, and he’s subsequently been ruled out for this year’s ACM Awards on Sunday. When the performers were initially announced last week, Luke was on the list.
Bryan is one of the nominees for Entertainer Of The Year and Album Of The Year (bit of a head scratcher), and while I don’t think he should necessarily win any of those awards, you obviously hate to see anybody out sick with COVID.
This year’s show will be held in Nashville at three of the biggest venues in town, the Ryman Auditorium, The Grand Ole Opry, and the Bluebird Cafe, and will be hosted by Keith Urban and Mickey Guyton.
Performances were announced today as well:
Elle King and Miranda Lambert opening the show with “Drunk And I Don’t Wanna Go Home”
Dierks Bentley performing U2’s poignant classic “Pride (In The Name of Love)” with husband and wife duo The War and Treaty
Brothers Osborne – “I’m Not For Everyone”
Kenny Chesney – “Knowing You”
Eric Church – “Bunch Of Nothing”
Luke Combs – “Forever After All”
Dan + Shay – “Glad You Exist”
Mickey Guyton – “Hold On”
Alan Jackson – “You’ll Always Be My Baby” and a special mashup for “Drive (For Daddy Gene)”
Miranda Lambert with Jack Ingram and Jon Randall – “In His Arms”
Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd – “Chasing After You”
Thomas Rhett premiering “What’s Your Country Song” and “Country Again”
Blake Shelton celebrating the 20th Anniversary of his first hit single “Austin” as well as “Minimum Wage”
Chris Stapleton – “Maggie’s Song”
Chris Young and Kane Brown – “Famous Friends”
Carly Pearce and Lee Brice duetting on “I Hope You’re Happy Now,”
Carrie Underwood performing a medley from her new album of gospel hymns, My Savior, which will also feature a duet with CeCe Winans
Kelsea Ballerini and Kenny Chesney – “Half Of My Hometown”
Lady A will be added and performances from Ashley McBryde and Keith Urban are also on the docket. New Artist winners Gabby Barrett and Jimmie Allen will perform as well.
In all honesty though, I was really impressed with Bryan’s past album, Born Here Live Here Die Here. I was expecting the same old party anthems, especially after he released “One Margarita” as a single.
However, the rest of the album has a lot of character to it, with songs like “Bill Dance,” “Born Here Live Here Die Here,” and “Build Me A Daddy.” It feels like he’s taking it back to 2009 with a sound that reminds you of songs like “What Country Is,” and “Welcome To The Farm.”
