Dierks Bentley performs during the ACM Honors.
Whether you went for the sounds or for the star-gazing, you were well rewarded at the 7th Annual ACM Honors celebration.
Staged at the Ryman Auditorium on Tuesday evening (9/10), the show was hosted by Dierks Bentley, who also performed. He was joined as a Ryman music maker by a host of others.
Dierks kicked off the night in style by rocking out on his excellent new single “I Hold On.” Later in the show, he saluted honoree Keith Whitley with “I’m Over You” and “Don’t Cheat in Our Hometown,” the latter featuring harmonies by Ricky Skaggs. The other highlight of this portion of the show was “Til a Tear Becomes a Rose,” lovingly sung by Keith’s widow Lorrie Morgan with their son Jesse Keith Whitley.
During the segment saluting Songwriter of the Year Dallas Davidson, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood of Lady Antebellum did a splendid mini-medley accompanied solely by Dave’s acoustic guitar. It combined their own “We Owned the Night” with “The One That Got Away” (popularized by Jake Owen) and “I Don’t Want This Night to End” (popularized by Luke Bryan). All three hits were co-penned by Dallas.
A portion of the show remembering George Jones was highlighted by a stunning Chris Young medley of “The Window Up Above,” “The Race Is On” and “He Stopped Loving Her Today.” Chris was vocally terrific and effortlessly classy. Unfortunately, he walked off too briskly to witness the well-deserved standing ovation given to him by every star in the house.
In paying tribute to Hank Williams, The Mavericks rocked “Your Cheatin’ Heart.” Much more powerful was the prayer-at-midnight reading of “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” by Jamey Johnson and Holly Williams, followed by their equally respectful “I Saw the Light.” Jamey and Holly nailed their numbers to the hall’s legendary floor.
Guy Clark was saluted by Robert Earl Keen via a picturesque reading of “Let Him Roll.” Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell were sublimely lustrous on Clark’s “She Ain’t Going Nowhere.” The part of the show that reflected on the ACM’s California history was capped by the Bakersfield-saluting “Together Again” by Vince Gill and Paul Franklin. They were awesome.
Paying homage to the legacy of The Judds were Kree Harrison doing an elegant version of “Love Is Alive” and Thompson Square singing a spirited and accomplished medley of “Why Not Me,” “Grandpa (Tell Me ‘Bout the Good Old Days)” and “Love Can Build a Bridge.” On the last named, the duo was joined by 10 kids from the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, recipients of the ACM’s Lifting Lives charity largesse.
After his show-opening number, Dierks offered some charming quips by way of launching the celebration. Then David Nail took over to present the ACM’s 2013 venue honors. The Red Rock Casino & Resort in Las Vegas won its first Casino of the Year award. Joe’s Bar in Chicago was Nightclub of the Year and its Ed Warm won Promoter of the Year. Jerry Hufford of the Buck Owens Crystal Palace venue in Bakersfield was named Don Romeo Talent Buyer of the Year.
Capping this segment was the naming of the Ryman Auditorium as Venue of the Year for the third time. “Winning it in this room is really special, because it gives me the opportunity to thank the entire Ryman team,” said Ryman boss Sally Williams. “Thank you to all of you who have embraced this Mother Church.”
Next, Deanna Carter presented the MBi Awards to country’s studio professionals. This was appropriate since she is the daughter of Nashville session musician Fred Carter Jr., whom she found in the background of a photo of Johnny Cash at the Ryman that is hanging backstage.
The MBI winners were Jimmie Lee Sloas (bass), J.T. Corenflos (guitar), Michael Rojas (piano), Ilya Toshinski (specialty instruments), Mike Johnson (steel guitar) and Chuck Ainlay (engineer). Sloas, Corenflos and Toshinski were all first-time winners. Not present were winners Aubrey Haynie (fiddle), Matt Chamberlain (drums) and Jay Joyce (producer).
The Mae Boren Axton Award went to Tommy Wiggins, who was one of the founders of the ACM in 1963. “I’ve walked in my career with greats: Tonight, I soar with eagles,” said Tommy. Bob Romeo presented.
During the past year, Lady Antebellum performed for a million fans in 11 countries. Member Hillary Scott also did mission work in Haiti. “They’re the perfect ambassadors for country music,” said Mike Dungan. This was why Darius Rucker presented the group with the Jim Reeves International Award.
Hillary had a baby in July and is still on maternity leave. So Charles and Dave accepted. “You have no idea how many rednecks there are in Norway,” said Dave. “You won’t make any money, but it will be the trip of your lifetime,” added Charles of the trio’s overseas adventures.
Don Schlitz presented Dallas Davidson with his Songwriter of the Year award. “In the Church of country music, I should thank God,” said Dallas.
Pictured (L-R): ACM’s Bob Romeo, Jason Aldean, Randy Owen
The ACM’s Crystal Milestone Award is for touring accomplishments. Randy Owen gave it to Jason Aldean, who revealed that he went to see Randy’s band Alabama when he was in the second grade. “I love to play live,” Jason said of his award. “I’m just glad that people enjoy what I do. I hope I can do it for a long, long time.”
The Gene Weed Special Achievement Award was presented by Steve Wariner to Blake Shelton. “I think Blake personifies grace and integrity,” said Steve. “And nobody spins a chair around like Blake Shelton,” he added, referring to The Voice.
The always-hilarious Blake riffed on the “weed” moniker of the award before turning serious. “All I dreamed about, all I cared about, all I wanted to be was one of them,” he said, referring to the stars in the crowd. “I did it: I got to be one of you.”
The ACM gave two Poet Awards. The first went to Hank Williams, presented by Big & Rich to Hank’s daughter Jett Williams and granddaughter Holly Williams. “He would have been 90 years old next week, and this is the 60th anniversary of his death,” said Jett. “His music lives on.” Added Holly, “His writing captures something in all of us.”
The second Poet Award was given to Guy Clark by Vince Gill. “I always considered what I did poetry,” said Guy. He capped his acceptance speech by reading the lyrics of “To Live Is to Fly” by the late songwriter Townes Van Zant.
I know this report is running long, but the show did clock in at three hours. Its finale was the presentation of the two Pioneer Awards. Joe Galante presented both, because both went to acts he signed.
“We thank you so much for remembering Keith Whitley’s beautiful music and his beautiful heart,” said Lorrie Morgan. Honoree Wynonna Judd was crying when she took the stage on behalf of The Judds. “The happiest times in my life were on stage with my mother,” she said. “Thank you for this. It makes me feel worthy….Judd music is alive and well….Country music is the poetry of the common man, and I look forward to the next 30 years of my career.”
As far as the star-gazing part of the agenda, the red-carpet walk had to be moved indoors because of rain. Fans stood outside under umbrellas anyway.
Inside the Ryman were Eric Paslay, Miranda Lambert, Paulette Carlson & Cactus Moser of Highway 101, Nancy Jones, Janet McBride, Jeannie Seely and a stellar band comprised of Glenn Worf, Jedd Hughes, Brent Mason, Glen Duncan, Paul Franklin and vocalists Liana Manis and Wyatt Beard.
And then there were such Bobby Karl stars as Becky Harris, Scott Borchetta, Frank Liddell, Rod Essig, Dave Pomeroy, Joe & Linda Chambers, Carla Wallace, new songwriter Mike Freeman, Whitney Daane, Charlie Monk, Sherod Robertson, Ron Cox, Pat McMaken and Barry Coburn.
“Hope you had a great time,” quoth Dierks. We did.
All photos via Getty Images.
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