Still hard to believe he’s never won an Entertainer of the Year award here.
With the 61st ACM Awards coming up next Sunday, May 17th, I thought it would be the perfect time to take a look back at some of the best performances over the decades. Given how long the award ceremony has been around, there are plenty of different, iconic moments to highlight. From George Strait and Alan Jackson’s protest with “Murder on Music Row” in 2000 and Toby Keith’s fiery performance of “Courtesy Of The Red, White, and Blue” shortly after 9/11 in 2002 to Chris Stapleton’s surprise duet with Dua Lipa on “Think I’m In Love With You” in 2024 and George Jones and Ray Charles’ collaboration on “We Didn’t See A Thing” in 1984, there are plenty to choose from.
For my money, however, one of the most underrated ACM moments from the past decade came from none other than the Chief himself, Eric Church, at the 2022 ceremony.
On a night that was pretty forgettable overall, being hosted by Jimmie Allen (yikes…) and Gabby Barrett and plagued by bad performances such as Walker Hayes performing “Fancy Like” and “AA” and Parmalee, Blanco Brown and Brooke Eden teaming up for “Just the Way,” Church proved why he’s one of the best in the business.
Instead of sticking to the tried and true award show formula of performing your latest hit or current single (Church’s was “Heart on Fire” at the time), the “Springsteen” singer, in typical fashion, went against the grain and delivered a medley spanning his entire discography at the time.
When I say his entire discography, I truly mean it. Delivering a hit from every major album, ranging from Sinners Like Me to the Heart & Soul project, Church performed a medley of 13 of his biggest hits in just under seven minutes.
Kicking things off with his debut single, “How Bout You,” he’d immediately transition into early hits like “Guys Like Me,” “Love Your Love the Most” (which got a bit short-changed all things considered) and “Smoke a Little Smoke.”
Church would then dive into some Chief hits, performing abridged versions of “Drink in My Hand,” “Springsteen” and “Creepin’.” From there, The Outsiders era began with the closing lines to the title track, the second half of “Talladega’s” chorus and “Give Me Back My Home Town.”
Mr. Misunderstood, would then kick off with a brief version of the title track, “Round Here Buzz,” which was the longest song performed during the medley with Church performing the entire chorus and “Record Year.” He’d follow that up with two tracks from Desperate Man, the title track and his 2019 #1 hit, “Some of It.”
Closing out the medley, the North Carolina native finished with the Heart & Soul project, performing Soul’s standout single, “Hell of a View” before wrapping things up with his single at the time, “Heart on Fire.” Adding the cherry on top to this legendary performance, he’d surprise the crowd by bringing out Ashley McBryde to sing harmony on “Heart on Fire’s” chorus.
Though you can argue that he set the bar too high in 2019 at CMA Fest when he pulled out a mind-blowing, 30-minute and 17-song medley of even more hits, I’ve always viewed this 2022 ACM performance as one of his most overlooked and underrated of his career.
If you’re a big fan of the Chief and want to relive one of the greatest ACM performances in recent memory before this year’s ceremony, check it out below.
2026 ACM Awards Nominees
Entertainer of the Year
Luke Combs
Jelly Roll
Cody Johnson
Megan Moroney
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen
Lainey Wilson
Female Artist of the Year
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Ella Langley
Megan Moroney
Lainey Wilson
Male Artist of the Year
Luke Combs
Riley Green
Cody Johnson
Chris Stapleton
Zach Top
Group of the Year
49 Winchester
Flatland Cavalry
Old Dominion
Rascal Flatts
The Red Clay Strays
Duo of the Year
Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Muscadine Bloodline
Thelma & James
Album of the Year
[Awarded to artist(s)/producer(s)/record Company–label(s)]
Ain’t In It For My Health – Zach Top; Producer: Carson Chamberlain; Record Company-Label: Leo33
Cherry Valley – Carter Faith; Producer: Tofer Brown; Record Company-Label: Gatsby Records / MCA
Don’t Mind If I Do (Deluxe) – Riley Green; Producers: Dann Huff, Michael Knox; Record Company-Label: Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment
I’m The Problem – Morgan Wallen; Producers: Joey Moi, Charlie Handsome, Jacob Durrett; Record Company-Label: Big Loud Records
Parker McCollum – Parker McCollum; Producers: Frank Liddell, Eric Masse; Record Company-Label: MCA
Song of the Year
“A Song To Sing” – Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton; Songwriters: Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert, Jenee Fleenor, Jesse Frasure
“Am I Okay?” – Megan Moroney; Songwriters: Megan Moroney, Luke Laird, Jessie Jo Dillon
“Choosin’ Texas” – Ella Langley; Songwriters: Ella Langley, Luke Dick, Miranda Lambert, Joybeth Taylor
“I Never Lie” – Zach Top; Songwriters: Zach Top, Carson Chamberlain, Tim Nichols
“Somewhere Over Laredo – Lainey Wilson; Songwriters: Lainey Wilson, Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson, Andy Albert, Harold Arlen & Yip Harburg
Single of the Year
“6 Months Later” – Megan Moroney
“Choosin’ Texas” – Ella Langley
“I Never Lie” – Zach Top
“Somewhere Over Laredo” – Lainey Wilson
“The Fall” – Cody Johnson
Visual Media of the Year
“6 Months Later” – Megan Moroney
“A Song To Sing” – Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton
“Cuckoo” -Stephen Wilson, Jr.
“Somewhere Over Laredo” – Lainey Wilson
“The Fall” – Cody Johnson
Music Event of the Year
“A Song To Sing” – Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton
“Amen” – Shaboozey & Jelly Roll
“Don’t Mind If I Do” – Riley Green feat. Ella Langley
“Trailblazer” – Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson
“You Had To Be There” – Megan Moroney & Kenny Chesney
Songwriter of the Year
Jessie Jo Dillon
Ashley Gorley
Charlie Handsome
Chase McGill
Blake Pendergrass
Artist-Songwriter of the Year
Luke Combs
Riley Green
Ella Langley
Megan Moroney
Morgan Wallen
New Male Artist of the Year
Gavin Adcock
Vincent Mason
Shaboozey
Hudson Westbrook
Tucker Wetmore (WINNER)
New Female Artist of the Year
Avery Anna (WINNER)
Mackenzie Carpenter
Dasha
Caroline Jones
Emily Ann Roberts
