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Alan Jackson marked a “mind blowing” milestone in his decades-long career at the 60th ACM Awards on Thursday evening (May 8).
The country legend, 66, earned the Academy of Country Music’s inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award named in his honor. Host Reba McEntire introduced Jackson to the stage. The Georgia-born Country Music Hall of Fame member took the stage to deliver a heartfelt performance of one of his most beloved ballads, “Remember When,” with nostalgic, personal images displayed on screen behind him.
“It’s quite an honor,” Jackson said as he delivered a heartfelt speech (first, though, joking that he once had a fan who named a dog after him, and “I thought that was something, but this is amazing”). “I came to Nashville with a paper sack full of songs and a crazy dream, and all these years later [to be] standing here receiving such an honor like this is just mind-blowing. II thank God all the time for all the people that helped me get here and maintain this. I can’t even begin to thank everybody…but I especially want to thank my fans all over this country – and all over the world – that have appreciated my music so much. …I do wanna especially thank one person that’s been my best friend since I was 17 years old, my wife, Denise… She’s loved me through the good and the bad and the happy and the sad and has influenced me, given me three beautiful daughters, and helped me keep my feet on the ground all these years, and I wouldn’t be here without her.”
The milestone 60th ACM Awards kicked off with a star-studded “Songs of the Decades” performance by host Reba McEntire, plus Clint Black, Dan + Shay, Wynonna Judd, and LeAnn Rimes and Little Big Town. The group teamed up to pay tribute to 60 years of ACM Songs of the Year.
Country Music’s Party of the Year also included performances by 2024 ACM Entertainer of the Year Lainey Wilson, Blake Shelton, Sugarland, Clint Black, Wynonna Judd, Dan + Shay, LeAnn Rimes, Alan Jackson, Backstreet Boys, Brooks & Dunn, Brothers Osborne, Chris Stapleton, Cody Johnson, Ella Langley, Eric Church, Jelly Roll, Kelsea Ballerini, Megan Moroney, Miranda Lambert, Rascal Flatts, Shaboozey, and Zach Top. The star-studded list of presenters included Black, Judd, Shelton, Sugarland’s Kristian Bush, Carly Pearce, Crystal Gayle, ERNEST, Gabby Barrett, Gretchen Wilson, Jordan Davis, Lee Ann Womack, Lionel Richie, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Parker McCollum, Riley Green, Rita Wilson, Sara Evans and The Oak Ridge Boys, plus NASCAR driver Chase Elliott and podcast hosts Amber Anderson and Kelly Sutton. iHeartRadio’s Bobby Bones interviewed artists throughout the 60th ACM Awards. Check back with iHeartRadio for interviews, recaps of epic performances and other can’t-miss moments, stunning red carpet fashion, a live-updated list of winners and more.
Sixteen-time ACM winner McEntire returned to host the show for her 18th time, more than any other artist. The event took place again at the world headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys at The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.