Music

PHOTOS: Inside the 12th Annual ACM Honors

Dierks Bentley, Alan Jackson and Sam Hunt Among 2018 Honorees
by 8/23/2018

Some of country music’s biggest stars cleared everything in their calendars on Wednesday night (Aug. 22) to be at the 12th annual ACM Honors.

Lauren Alaina and Jon Pardi hosted the event at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium where special honorees and off-camera winners from the 2018 ACM Awards were celebrated with special musical tributes and moments in the spotlight. Alaina and Pardi kicked off the night with a performance of “Chasin’ That Neon Rainbow,” in honor of the Cliffie Stone Icon honoree, Alan Jackson.

Rising artist and a member of CMT’s Next Women of Country program, Kassi Ashton performed “Body Like a Backroad” in tribute to Sam Hunt, who received the Gene Weed Milestone award. Joe Diffie performed “The Grand Tour” in tribute to the late Norro Wilson, a Poet’s award recipient.

Cam covered Buck Owens’ “Cryin’ Time” in tribute to the late Mickey & Chris Christensen and Eddie Miller, the recipients of the Mae Boren Axton Service award. Morgan Evans performed his song, “Things We Drink Too,” in tribute to his late manager Rob Potts (the Jim Reeves International award recipient).

Darius Rucker, the recipient of the Gary Haber Lifting Lives award, was saluted with an Old Crow Medicine Show performance of “Wagon Wheel.” Rhett Akins, the songwriter of the year, was honored with a medley of hits performed by Dallas Davidson, Ben Hayslip and Dustin Lynch.

Pardi performed “I Hold On” in tribute to Dierks Bentley, the recipient of the Merle Haggard Spirit award. Alaina, Deana Carter and Ashley McBryde performed a medley of “You & Tequila,” “Wrong Side of Memphis” and “Strawberry Wine” before presenting Matraca Berg with her Poet’s award. Chris Stapleton ended the night with a performance of “Here in the Real World” in tribute to Jackson.

A full list of industry and studio recording award winners can be found on the ACM’s website.

Enjoy scenes from Wednesday’s event:

  1. Dierks Bentley

    Erika Goldring/FilmMagic

  2. Lindsay Ell

    ason Kempin/Getty Images for ACM

  3. Kip Moore (l) and Cam

    Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for ACM

  4. Ryan Kinder

    Erika Goldring/FilmMagic

  5. Morgan Evans (l) and Kelsea Ballerini

    Erika Goldring/FilmMagic

  6. Cam

    Erika Goldring/FilmMagic

  7. Dierks Bentley, Bobby Bones and Joe Diffie

    Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for ACM

  8. Cassadee Pope and Sam Palladio

    Erika Goldring/FilmMagic

  9. Dustin Lynch

    Erika Goldring/FilmMagic

  10. Alex Hopkins and Lauren Alaina

    Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for ACM
    Erika Goldring/FilmMagic
    Erika Goldring/FilmMagic

  11. Ashley McBryde

    Erika Goldring/FilmMagic

  12. Jimmie Allen

    Erika Goldring/FilmMagic

  13. Cam, Lauren Alaina and Lindsay Ell

    Jason Kempin/Getty Images for ACM

  14. Kassi Ashton

    Erika Goldring/FilmMagic
    ason Davis/Getty Images for AMC
    ason Davis/Getty Images for AMC

  15. Dustin Lynch (l) and Kip Moore

    Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for ACM

  16. Jon Pardi (l) and Emmylou Harris

    Jason Kempin/Getty Images for ACM

  17. Ben Hayslip, Rhett Akins and Dallas Davidson

    Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for ACM

  18. Old Crow Medicne Show

    Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for ACM
    Jason Davis/Getty Images for AMC

  19. Dallas Davidson, Dustin Lynch and Ben Hayslip

    Jason Davis/Getty Images for AMC

  20. Sam Hunt and Jon Pardi

    Jason Kempin/Getty Images for ACM

  21. Jon Pardi

    Jason Kempin/Getty Images for ACM
    Erika Goldring/FilmMagic

  22. Chris Stapleton

    Jason Davis/Getty Images for AMC

  23. Lauren Alaina, Matraca Berg, Deana Carter and Ashley McBryde

    Jason Davis/Getty Images for AMC