ACM Awards: Keith Urban, Dan + Shay reign; Kacey Musgraves is best female artist

Keith Urban shocked country music for the second time in recent months Sunday night as the veteran Nashville star took home top honors at the 54th Academy of Country Music Awards. 

On a night when rising juggernaut Dan + Shay won the most trophies, it was Urban — a perennial nominee for the coveted entertainer of the year award — who heard his name called for the biggest prize.

"I'd been nominated (for entertainer of the year) nine times, and I'd just come to expect that the nomination is the award," Urban said after the show.

Urban, who also delivered a rousing performance of the heartfelt "Burden" during the show, also won entertainer of the year in upset fashion at November's CMA Awards. 

"Thank you so much," Urban said Sunday before nodding to his wife, actress Nicole Kidman. "Baby girl, I love you so much. To the fans out there, you are so amazing."

'Probably the greatest night of my life' 

Dan + Shay won duo, song of the year for "Tequila" and single of the year for "Tequila." The duo’s Dan Smyers will take home an additional two trophies — one for writing “Tequila” and another for producing it.

“I think somebody got the cards mixed up tonight,” Smyers quipped as the duo accepted its third win. “We owe this award to our team who fights so much for us every day. Everybody in our category, this is such an incredible category to be a part of. Everybody in country music, you’re all winners tonight.”

Added Shay Mooney: “This is probably the greatest night of my life other than the night I married my wife and had my baby. I just had to say that.”

Reba McEntire returned to 54th Academy of Country Music Awards, which aired live from MGM Grand’s Garden Arena. McEntire kept the tone poignant but light. She pointed out that it snowed recently in Las Vegas and that it was so cold women were frozen out of the entertainer category. 

“Didn’t bother Kacey Musgraves,” McEntire added. “She’s too busy carrying her Grammys.”

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Musgraves won four Grammys — including the all-genre abum of the year for her "Golden Hour" — at the awards in February. 

She picked up female artist and album of the year trophies Sunday night at the ACM Awards.

"This award goes out to any woman, girl or anybody really who is being told that her perspective or style is too different to work," Musgraves said while accepting the female artist prize. "It will work out.

"Man, making this album along with my two friends Daniel Tashian and Ian Fitchuk is some of the greatest memories of my entire life," she said. "I truly, truly appreciate this and the chance to share my perspective."

An evening of collaborations

It was a night of doubleheaders and collaborations, half of which are atypical for awards shows. The academy is known for its outside-the-box pairings, and while some of this year’s collaborations were more predictable than others, they didn’t disappoint.

Florida Georgia Line and Dick Clark Artist of the Decade winner Jason Aldean kicked off the show with “Can’t Hide Red,” a song from Florida Georgia Line’s new album “Can’t Say I Ain’t Country." Miranda Lambert partnered with George Strait on "Run." Brandi Carlile added her textured, glistening vocals to Dierks Bentley’s bluegrass-infused “Travelin’ Light.” Maren Morris and Brothers Osborne turned the Las Vegas stage into a Texas honky-tonk with “All My Favorite People.”

Kane Brown played his “Good As You” then Khalid joined him for “Saturday Nights.” Dan + Shay and Kelly Clarkson showed off their impressive vocal prowess in “Keeping Score.” Luke Combs made his ACM Awards debut looking like the third member of Brooks & Dunn as the men teamed for the duo’s first hit, “Brand New Man.” Eric Church brought out new female artist winner Ashley McBryde to sing with him on his political “The Snake.”

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McBryde was still able to have her own show-stopping moment when she delivered a sparkling version of her “Girl Going Nowhere” backed only by her acoustic guitar. She received a standing ovation.

Carrie Underwood joined actress Chrissy Metz and fellow female country singers Lauren Alaina, Maddie & Tae, and Mickey Guyton for an emotional “I’m Standing With You” during the awards’ annual Lifting Lives moment. 

“I like special moments like that,” Underwood told The Tennessean. “Everybody comes to awards shows and you want to show off your songs and you want to have a big thing happening, and I get to do that (with ‘Southbound’). But I also get to have this other moment where it will feel a different emotion.”

More time in the spotlight

It’s the opportunity for two performances on the show that makes the 54th ACM Awards different from past years. Typically, singers get one shot in the spotlight, whether that’s solo or sharing it with someone else. But this year Lambert, Underwood, McBryde and Aldean were able to pull double duty. Underwood brought the party vibe with her “Southbound” into the audience. Looking fit and sassy in a skintight black jumpsuit with cutouts; Lambert delivered a 14-year career retrospective with five of her hits in four minutes: “Kerosene,” “Gunpowder and Lead,” “Mama’s Broken Heart, “White Liar” and “Little Red Wagon.”

“It’s 14 years of milestones and songs that pushed me to a new level in business,” Lambert explained. “People have to remember a hit isn’t a position on a chart; it’s what people sing along to.”

Aldean opted for a similar path during his performance honoring his win, which was presented by George Strait. Aldean melded "Lights Come On," "Don't You Want to Stay" with Kelly Clarkson and "Dirt Road Anthem" into his trilogy. 

Upon accepting the award from Strait, Aldean said Strait was the reason he wears a cowboy hat and that it was among the proudest moments of his life.

God was another theme of the night. Thomas Rhett delivered a progressive performance of his hit “Look What God Gave Her.” Strait countered with his classic “God and Country Music.” And Blake Shelton brought a Southern rock vibe with his “God’s Country” that bridged the three.

In addition to performing, Rhett captured his first win for male artist of the year.
“I’m going to give this one to Dan + Shay so they can go home with four,” he said. “I love country music so much. Thank you guys so much for loving my music and loving my family. We are best friends with all the people in this category, and you all have shaped me as an artist.”

Other standout performances include Luke Combs’ stripped-down version of his six-week No. 1, “Beautiful Crazy.” Combs stood onstage alone and members of the audience lit up the room with their cellphone lights as he sang the ballad. With Charlie Worsham on guitar, Keith Urban delivered one of the night’s most passionate performances. Urban only recently heard “Burden” by Foy Vance. He was so moved by its message of helping others through hard times that he learned to play it. In addition, Little Big Town unveiled its heartfelt “Daughters” as little girls danced around the stage. At the end of the performance, Cam placed her hand over her heart in the audience and Carlile — the mother of two daughters — wiped tears from her eyes. 

Lyrics included: “I’ve heard of God the son and God the father, I’m just looking for a God for the daughters.”

Early award winners

To make time for more performances, many of the awards were announced ahead of the live telecast. McBryde, Combs and Lanco were named winners in the new artist of the year categories in the weeks before the show. Shane McAnally was crowned songwriter of the year at an event Friday. Bentley and Brothers Osborne learned they won music event of the year for their “Burning Man” hours before the start of Sunday’s show. Old Dominion heard it won group of the year on the red carpet before the show, and McEntire surprised Chris Janson with the video of the year award in the same place.

“This song has impacted so many people, and it continues to impact us,” Janson said. “Without my whole team at Warner Brothers Records, this never would have come to fruition. I’m just the guy who gets to take the accolade. I’m a dad, and that’s why I wrote this song. I’ve got those four kids, and the importance of respecting one another in today’s culture is much more prevalent than it ever has been. I’m just so thankful this song got its win.”

Reach Cindy Watts at ciwatts@tennessean.com or 615-664-2227 and on Twitter @CindyNWatts.