Juliet Schroder
The ACM Awards have found their hosts!
Earlier today, the Academy of Country Music revealed that 15-time ACM Award winner Keith Urban and New Female Artist of the Year nominee Mickey Guyton will have the honor of hosting the 56th Academy of Country Music Awards next month.
Expected to honor the biggest names and emerging talent in Country music, the 2021 ACM Awards marks Urban’s second year as emcee after hosting the 55th ACM Awards in September, while this marks Guyton’s first time hosting the ACM Awards and the 29th time multiple hosts have taken the ACM Awards stage. Guyton’s performance of her critically acclaimed song “What Are You Gonna Tell Her?” at last year’s show featured Urban as a surprise guest on piano.
“I’m beyond thrilled to be co-hosting with my friend Mickey,” said Urban in a statement. “I love that finally everyone will get to see her infectious energy and uber creative spirit in full light.”
“Last year I had the opportunity to perform at the Academy of Country Music Awards with someone I long admired, Keith Urban, and this year I am incredibly excited to share hosting duties with him,” added Guyton. “As I’ve said before ‘if you can see it, you can be it,’ and it’s such an honor to step onto the ACM stage as the first ever Black woman to host the show. Over the years, the Academy of Country Music has always been a home for me through opportunities both onstage and throughout their work on diversity and inclusion. This is a moment of great significance for me and I am so thrilled to share it with all the fans.”
“Following Mickey’s groundbreaking and emotional performance featuring Keith Urban at last September’s ACM Awards, the producers knew that they would make a perfect hosting duo,” said ACM, dcp and CBS in a joint statement. “Since then, Mickey had a stratospheric rise and Keith has continued to top the charts. They will make a dynamic pairing that captures the warmth, humor, and comfort that the fans are looking for, and join a legendary list of talented artists that have hosted the ACM Awards over the years.”
Last month, Kelsea Ballerini and Brothers Osborne announced the nominees for the 2021 ACM Awards on CBS This Morning, where Urban is a double nominee in the Music Event of the Year Category for his collaboration with P!nk on his latest single, “One Too Many,” for which he received an additional nomination as the song’s producer. In addition, he received a nomination for his collaboration with Thomas Rhett, Reba McEntire, Hillary Scott, and Chris Tomlin on “Be A Light.” Guyton is nominated for “New Female Artist of the Year.”
The 56th Academy of Country Music Awards will air LIVE from the Grand Ole Opry House, Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium and The Bluebird Cafe on Sunday, April 18th @ 8/7c on CBS. It will also be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.
