Blake Shelton split his hand and drew to 21, to use gambler’s parlance, at Sunday’s Academy of Country Music Awards show at MGM Grand Garden Arena.
The Las Vegas favorite performed “The Gambler,” to honor the late, legendary songwriter Don Schlitz, who penned the song and who died in April. The song also paid homage to Las Vegas itself, with Shelton backed by such classic Vegas images as the Stardust, Dunes and Aladdin signs and the neon Vegas Vic.
Shelton’s choice of show-closer had not been announced. But the crowd had expected Miranda Lambert’s “Crisco” single, the mix of country and disco released Friday.
The rebroadcast of the show, hosted for the first time by Shania Twain, is available on Prime Video. The ACM Awards announced a return to Vegas in 2027. MGM officials have confirmed the event will be back at Grand Garden Arena.
Cody Johnson won the night’s top honor, Entertainer of the Year, his first. Ella Langley led the night in total wins with seven, followed by Johnson, Lambert and Stephen Wilson Jr. with two wins. Other winners included Avery Anna, Brooks & Dunn, Jessie Jo Dillon, Parker McCollum, Riley Green, The Red Clay Strays and Tucker Wetmore.
The ACMs were extended to 2 1/2 hours, from its previous run time of two hours, allowing for 17 performances from 19 artists. Among them: Lambert, Johnson, Carter Faith, Dan + Shay, Jordan Davis, Kacey Musgraves, Kane Brown, Lainey Wilson, Lee Ann Womack, Little Big Town, Parker McCollum, Green, The Red Clay Strays, Thomas Rhett and Zach Top, along with Anna (New Female Artist of the Year) and Wetmore (New Male Artist of the Year).
Twain, Lambert and Shelton have all headlined in residency on the Strip. So have Brooks & Dunn, who partnered with Reba McEntire at the Colosseum. The duo icons fittingly won the Duo of the Year award for the 18th time, marking their second consecutive win and extending their total awards to 32.
Dunn said in the aftermath of that 32nd award, “The first time we showed up to one of these things, we got lucky and won two, and we were sitting in the middle of the back somewhere, so that means you’re not really expected to win. Music is wild west right now. Streaming kicked in, and I don’t know how deep I need to go with that, other than to say it just brought a whole new world to the table.”
No Doubt for Lambert
In an I-didn’t-have-that-on-my-ACM-bingo-card moment, Lambert posted from Sphere during No Doubt’s show Saturday night.
“NO Doubt was soooooo good! what a ride,” Lambert wrote. This really is a ride, with Lambert praising her ex-husband Shelton’s current wife, Gwen Stefani. The ACMs are historically proud of their unexpected collaborations. This one certainly qualifies. And Lambert’s snap review is spot-on. No Doubt’s show is glorious.
Urban’s amphibious moment
Keith Urban braved (well, sorta) the waves at Mandalay Bay Beach pool during his set at the ACM Next Wave: Country’s Beach Bash.
The country rock star waded into the knee-high water during “Days Go By,” thrilling the fans who were also in the drink (in every which way) and weathered 30 mph winds.
Prior to Urban’s set, Braxton Keith lost his hat, as did dozens of fans. It was a mad, or rather happy, scramble for some of these folks to find their lids.
The scene reminded of the night in June 2006, when Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band played the beach. This was just after “Love” opened at The Mirage, with rumours that Paul McCartney would turn up (he didn’t).
Starr looked out at the crowd mingling in the water and said, “We’ve played some strange places, but this one takes the cake.”
Vegas choir action
The Red Clay Strays, who are fierce, performed “Demons In Your Choir” in Sunday’s show. Demons, maybe; Las Vegas, for sure. Vegas vocalist, vocal coach and entertainment coordinator Brittany McKay contracted those singers. Check the performance on YouTube or rebroadcast. Chills.
Cool Hang Alert
Drummer-singer-songwriter-storyteller Dave Tull brings jazz (and laughter) to Vic’s Las Vegas in Symphony Park on Friday and Saturday. Shows are 7:45 and 9:15 p.m., no cover, reservations at vicslasvegas.com.
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. His “PodKats!” podcast can be found at reviewjournal.com/podcasts. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow @johnnykatson X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.
Following is the full list of winners in the 14 categories voted on by Academy members:
MAIN AWARDS:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Cody Johnson
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Ella Langley
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Cody Johnson
DUO OF THE YEAR
Brooks & Dunn
GROUP OF THE YEAR
The Red Clay Strays
NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Avery Anna
NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Tucker Wetmore
ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
Parker McCollum – Parker McCollum
Producer: Frank Liddell, Eric Masse
Publisher: Warner Chappell Music Nashville
SINGLE OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
Choosin’ Texas – Ella Langley
Producer: Miranda Lambert, Ben West
Record Company-Label: SAWGOD / Columbia Records
SONG OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
Choosin’ Texas – Ella Langley
Songwriters: Ella Langley, Luke Dick, Miranda Lambert, Joybeth Taylor
Publishers: Bada Bing & Bada Langley Publishing; Little Louder Songs; Sony Music Publishing
VISUAL MEDIA OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]
Cuckoo -Stephen Wilson Jr.
Producer: Tim Cofield
Director(s): Tim Cofield, Stephen Wilson Jr.
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Jessie Jo Dillon
ARTIST-SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Ella Langley
MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
Don’t Mind If I Do- Riley Green, Ella Langley
Producers: Dann Huff
Record Company-Label: Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment