The 17th Academy of Country Music Honors took place at the historic Ryman Auditorium on August 21.
Country music’s greatest came together to celebrate those who have made incredible contributions to the genre.
Carly Pearce and reigning ACM Song of the Year winner Jordan Davis hosted the event, marking Pearce’s fourth consecutive year in the role.
This year’s honorees included Walt Aldridge, Tony Brown, Luke Bryan, Alan Jackson, Shannon Sanders, Lainey Wilson, and country superstar Trisha Yearwood, who received the ACM Icon Award.
What is the ACM Icon Award?
The Icon Award is presented to an artist, duo, group, or industry leader who has significantly advanced the popularity of country music through their contributions across various aspects of the industry, according to the Academy. This includes songwriting, recording, production, touring, film, television, literary works, philanthropic efforts, and more.
Who Has Won the ACM Icon Award before?
Past recipients of the ACM Icon Award include highly respected names like Alabama, Brooks & Dunn, Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash, Charlie Daniels, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, Alan Jackson, George Jones, The Judds, Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Charley Pride, George Strait, Conway Twitty, Hank Williams, and Yearwood’s husband, Garth Brooks.
Lauren Alaina and Emmy Lou Harris Give Special Tribute Performance for Trisha Yearwood
Lauren Alaina and Emmylou Harris paid tribute to Trisha Yearwood before she took the stage to accept her Icon Award at the 17th ACM Honors. The two performed Yearwood’s 1993 hit “The Song Remembers When,” delivering such an emotional rendition that it left hardly a dry eye in the room. By the end of the song, Alaina, Yearwood, and her husband Garth Brooks were all in tears.
Listen to a clip of Trisha Yearwood’s speech as she accepts the Icon Award in the video below.