Country music’s biggest stars came out for the genre’s “party of the year” — aka, the Academy of Country Music Awards — on Thursday, May 16. The annual event, which was held at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, featured not only big wins, but emotional ones, as well as star-studded performances that also included collabs both previously announced and surprise duets.
One of the biggest moments of the night came when Chris Stapleton took the stage to perform his Higher track “Think I’m in Love With You,” when none other than Dua Lipa joined him for a duet. (Sources tell Billboard that their collaboration is set to drop Friday, May 17.) The other pairings — which had been expected — included husband-and-wife duo Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani, Avril Lavigne with Nate Smith, and Kelsea Ballerini alongside Noah Kahan.
Speaking of performances, Post Malone, who is about to embark on his own country journey, debuted a new, unreleased song presumably from his upcoming country album. He finished his set with his new song “I Had Some Help,” which features Morgan Wallen, though the “Last Night” singer did not join in for the performance.
There were some emotional moments as well, including when Lainey Wilson, one of the night’s big winners, accepted the trophy for female artist of the year. During her speech, she shouted out not only her fellow nominees in the category, but also the women in country who helped her get to where she is now, as well as Wynonna Judd for “[giving] me devotionals every week.”
First-time nominee Jelly Roll was victorious alongside Wilson in the music event of the year category, winning for their collab “Save Me.” “This song saved me,” he told the crowd as he teared up. “I was in a dark place. I thought I would die and go to jail, and I’m standing here today an ACM Awards winner.”
The show was hosted by Reba McEntire and produced by Dick Clark Productions. (DCP is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a Penske Media Corporation subsidiary and joint venture between PMC and Eldridge. PMC is the parent company of Billboard.
From performances to acceptance speeches to candid moments in the crowd, keep scrolling for some of the best photos from the show.
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Chris Stapleton & Dua Lipa
Image Credit: Jason Kempin/Getty Images Chris Stapleton and Dua Lipa perform onstage during the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024, in Frisco, Texas.
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Reba McEntire & Post Malone
Image Credit: Jason Kempin/Getty Images Reba McEntire and Post Malone speak onstage during the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024, in Frisco, Texas.
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Miranda Lambert
Image Credit: Rich Polk Miranda Lambert performs onstage at the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards from Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024, in Frisco, Texas.
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Chris Stapleton & Dua Lipa
Image Credit: Christopher Polk Chris Stapleton and Dua Lipa perform onstage at the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards from Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024, in Frisco, Texas.
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Noah Kahan & Kelsea Ballerini
Image Credit: Rich Polk Noah Kahan and Kelsea Ballerini at the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards from Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024, in Frisco, Texas.
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Jelly Roll & Lainey Wilson
Image Credit: Jason Kempin/Getty Images Jelly Roll and Lainey Wilson accept the Music Event of the Year award for “Save Me” onstage during the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024, in Frisco, Texas.
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Reba McEntire
Image Credit: Jason Kempin/Getty Images Reba McEntire performs onstage during the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024, in Frisco, Texas.
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Kane Brown & Thomas Rhett
Image Credit: Christopher Polk Kane Brown and Thomas Rhett at the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards from Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024, in Frisco, Texas.
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Jelly Roll
Image Credit: Christopher Polk Jelly Roll performs onstage at the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards from Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024, in Frisco, Texas.
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Cody Johnson
Image Credit: Jason Kempin/Getty Images Cody Johnson performs onstage during the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024, in Frisco, Texas.
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Old Dominion
Image Credit: Jason Kempin/Getty Images Geoff Sprung, Brad Tursi, Matthew Ramsey, and Trevor Rosen of Old Dominion accept the Group of the Year award onstage during the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024, in Frisco, Texas.
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Jelly Roll
Image Credit: Jason Kempin/Getty Images Jelly Roll performs onstage during the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024, in Frisco, Texas.
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Jordan Davis
Image Credit: Jason Kempin/Getty Images Chase McGill, Greylan James and Jordan Davis accept the Song of the Year award for “Next Thing You Know” onstage during the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024, in Frisco, Texas.
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Lainey Wilson
Image Credit: Jason Kempin/Getty Images Lainey Wilson performs onstage during the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024, in Frisco, Texas.
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Post Malone
Image Credit: Jason Kempin/Getty Images Post Malone performs onstage during the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024, in Frisco, Texas.
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Nate Smith & Avril Lavigne
Image Credit: Jason Kempin/Getty Images Nate Smith and Avril Lavigne perform onstage during the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024, in Frisco, Texas.
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Reba McEntire
Image Credit: Rich Polk Reba McEntire at the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards from Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024, in Frisco, Texas.
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Miranda Lambert
Image Credit: Christopher Polk Miranda Lambert performs onstage at the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards from Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024, in Frisco, Texas.
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Jason Aldean
Image Credit: Rich Polk Jason Aldean performs onstage at the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards from Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024, in Frisco, Texas.
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Dave Cobb, Morgane Stapleton & Chris Stapleton
Image Credit: Rich Polk Dave Cobb, Morgane Stapleton and Chris Stapleton accept the Album of The Year award for “Higher” at the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards from Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024, in Frisco, Texas.
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Chris Stapleton
Image Credit: Rich Polk Chris Stapleton accepts the award for Male Artist of the Year at the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards from Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024, in Frisco, Texas.
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Kane Brown
Image Credit: Gilbert Flores Kane Brown at the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards from Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024, in Frisco, Texas.
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Nate Smith, Lainey Wilson & Avril Lavigne
Image Credit: Christopher Polk Nate Smith, Lainey Wilson and Avril Lavigne at the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards from Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024, in Frisco, Texas.
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Gwen Stefani & Blake Shelton
Image Credit: Jason Kempin/Getty Images Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton perform onstage during the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024, in Frisco, Texas.
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Randy Travis & Clay Walker
Image Credit: Rich Polk Randy Travis and Clay Walker at the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards from Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024, in Frisco, Texas.
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Bunnie XO & Jelly Roll
Image Credit: Christopher Polk Bunnie XO and Jelly Roll at the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards from Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024, in Frisco, Texas.
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Thomas Rhett
Image Credit: Gilbert Flores Thomas Rhett performs at the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards from Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024, in Frisco, Texas.