ARLINGTON, Texas – The Academy of Country Music Awards kicked off Sunday night paying tribute to veteran Merle Haggard, while George Strait sang “All My Ex’s Live in Texas” – appropriate for the awards show celebrating its 50th anniversary in a new location, the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Hosts Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan introduced Strait as the “king of country music.” He’s one of seven recipients of the 50th Anniversary Milestone Award, along with Garth Brooks, Miranda Lambert, Taylor Swift, Reba McEntire, Brooks & Dunn and Kenny Chesney.
Keith Urban and Eric Church both played guitar while Church sang “Pledge Allegiance to the Hag” in tribute to Haggard. Then – across at the second stage at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium – the country stars performed “Raise ‘Em Up” as the audience danced along, including McEntire.
“How about it Texasssssss! Dallas!” Bryan said standing next to Shelton. “They say everything is bigger in Texas and that’s why we came here.”
Shelton announced that the 2015 ACM Awards – usually held in Las Vegas – set a Guinness World Record for most attended live awards show of all-time.