Chris Stapleton Welcomes Surprise Guest For ACM Awards Performance

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The 59th Academy of Country Music Awards are underway at The Star in Frisco, Texas, and Chris Stapleton took the stage to perform.

Not only are the industry’s best talents being recognized at the ACM Awards, many of them had the opportunity to perform on stage for one of country music’s biggest nights.

Chris Stapleton was part of the performance lineup in addition to being nominated for four awards this year. Stapleton, who has won a dozen ACM Awards since 2015, took the stage to perform “I Think I’m In Love With You.”

Chris Stapleton’s ACM Awards History

Chris Stapleton has earned more than 35 career ACM Award nominations, including six Entertainer of the Year and nine Male Artist of the Year nods. He took home the EOTY trophy in 2022 and has been named Male Artist of the Year 3 times!

With a dozen total ACM Award wins, Stapleton’s greatest recognition from the Academy was the rare and coveted ACM Triple Crown Award. The trophy is given to an artist or group who has won each of the following: New Male, Female or Duo/Group of the Year, Male, Female or Duo/Group of the Year, and Entertainer of the Year.

Stapleton is in good company. Other artists to have received the Triple Crown honor include Merle Haggard, Miranda Lambert, Barbara Mandrell, Brooks & Dunn, Keith Urban, The Chicks, and Kenny Chesney.

Ahead of his ACM Awards show performance, Stapleton had already won two of this year’s awards, including the coveted Male Artist of the Year award.

Chris Stapleton‘s performance at the ACM Awards show on Thursday night was one of the most anticipated of the event, and he did not disappoint.

When Chris took the stage, he surprised the audience and viewers by bringing out Dua Lipa to join him for “I Think I’m In Love With You” from his new album, Higher.

Rich Polk/Penske Media via Getty Images

It goes without saying that Chris Stapleton and Dua Lipa’s surprise ACM Awards performance will go down in country music history as one of the most memorable. Watch their performance below to find out why.