ACM Awards 2024: Everything to Know About Country Music's Party of the Year

• The ACM Awards are hosted by Reba McEntire, marking her 17th time taking on the role
• Nominations are led by Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen and Megan Moroney
• Performers taking the stage include Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani, Miranda Lambert, Post Malone and more

Get ready to party, country music fans! The ACM Awards are almost here.

With Reba McEntire hosting the evening, the 59th annual Academy of Country Music Awards will stream live from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas on Thursday, May 16, on Prime Video.

Luke Combs is the most-nominated artist of the night with eight nods, while Megan Moroney and Morgan Wallen trail closely behind with six each. Moroney has the most for a female artist at the award show.

Viewers who tune in to the show will also be in for a star-studded lineup of performances by artists like Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani, Post Malone and Kelsea Ballerini and Noah Kahan.

Check out PEOPLE's full ACM Awards coverage here.

Reba McEntire will host

The "Fancy" singer is returning as host for the 17th time and will also take the stage for a performance.

"I am tickled to pieces to get to host the ACM Awards for the 17th time! What an honor to have been part of the past, present and now the future of the Academy of Country Music with Amazon Prime Video," said McEntire in a statement. "I can’t wait to get to Texas and see everybody May 16th!"

McEntire has previously won 16 ACM Awards and holds the record for the most nominations in the female artist of the year category.

Speaking to PEOPLE ahead of the show, McEntire said she's looking forward to spending time with fellow musicians in the country genre.

"I like to go visit with everyone. I love live television. I get to sing a song, see what everybody else is promoting, their new material, but basically just to get to see my old friends and meet new people," McEntire said. "I hope everyone tunes in and watches."

She also revealed which staple products would be stocked in her backstage rider.

"Well, mainly, it's water. Got to have a trash can, my Kleenexes and a clock so I'm not late," the performer said, "and we have to have a few snacks around there. If my blood sugar gets a little low, we got to pump that back up, because [there's] no time for getting a little hangry. We don't want to be that!"

Festivities will kick off with a special preshow

This year's preshow, presented by Prime Video and Amazon, will be hosted by by Amber Anderson, Makho Ndlovu, Katie Neal, Elaina D. Smith and Kelly Sutton.

It will also feature a special performance by the "Tennessee Orange" singer.

The preshow will begin at 7 p.m. ET on Prime Video and the Amazon Music Channel on Twitch.

Luke Combs, Megan Moroney and Morgan Wallen lead the pack for most nominations

This year's nominations are led by Combs, who earned eight total. His nominations include entertainer of the year, make artist of the year, album of the year, song of the year, single of the year and music event of the year alongside Riley Green for "Different 'Round Here."

Moroney, who's the most-nominated female artist of the night, earned six nominations. She is nominated for female artist of the year, new female artist of the year, song of the year, visual media of the year and music event of the year alongside Old Dominion for "Can't Break Up Now."

Wallen also earned six nominations and ties Combs for receiving nominations in the most categories.

Tracy Chapman is a first-time nominee for writing "Fast Car," which she originally released in 1988. Combs re-released the song in 2023 and his cover reached No. 1 on the Country Airplay chart on No. 2 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart.

More first-time nominees include Kassi Ashton, Tyler Childers, Ashley Cooke, Hannah Ellis, Flatland Cavalry, Jelly Roll, Kameron Marlowe, Kylie Morgan, Neon Union, Restless Road, Conner Smith and Tigirlily Gold.

Expect a star-studded performance lineup

This year's show is going to be a wild ride with so many stars taking the stage for iconic performances.

For starters, this year's show will feature a slew of duets like Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani, Kelsea Ballerini and “Stick Season” singer Noah Kahan, and Nate Smith and Avril Lavigne.

More performers include: Post Malone (marking his ACM Awards stage debut), Parker McCollum,  Jason Aldean, Kane Brown, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Thomas Rhett, Chris Stapleton and Lainey Wilson.

Jason Aldean will take the stage to pay tribute to late country star Toby Keith, who died in February at at the age of 62 following a stomach cancer diagnosis.

"Honored to pay tribute to my friend, the one and only @tobykeith with a special performance of 'Should've Been a Cowboy"' at the @acmawards. Join me as we celebrate his legacy and the mark he left on country music," Aldean wrote over an image of Keith promoting the ACM Awards on his Instagram Story on Tuesday.

Your favorite stars will be presenting

This year's presenters include Alabama, BRELAND, Jordan Davis, Sara Evans, Little Big Town, Ashley McBryde, Randy Travis and Clay Walker.

Charley Pride's family members, including his wife, Rozene Pride, and son, Dion Pride, will also attend to help hand out awards. The country music legend died at age 86 on Dec. 12, 2020.

More presenters include Tyler Cameron, Carin León, Noah Reid, Richard Sherman and Charissa Thompson.

How to watch

You can tune into the 2024 ACM Awards exclusively on Prime Video starting at 8 p.m. EST on Thursday, May 16.