Dolly Parton rocks and shocks at the 2023 ACM Awards with a threesome joke, a live goat, an impromptu memoriam and a fiery ‘World on Fire’ debut
Country Music’s Party of the Year, the 58th annual Academy of Country Music Awards, was held Wednesday at the Ford Center at the Star in Frisco, Texas, co-hosted by superstars Garth Brooks and Dolly Parton. While Lainey Wilson was the ceremony’s grand prize winner and took home four trophies, Chris Stapleton was named Entertainer of the Year real The night’s winner was Parton – who opened the show with a risqué joke that made Brooks blush and closed the night with a performance that got everyone in the 12,000-seat hall rocking.
Brooks, who hosted an awards show for the first time ever, opened the broadcast, which was broadcast live on Prime Video, with a farewell to his legendary co-host – listing a list of ACM-honored country icons, ranging from Johnny Cash and Ranging from Merle Haggard to Keith Whitley to Randy Travis before finally declaring, “But the king of country music is a woman!” Give it up for GOAT!” Just in time, the GOAT/Queen herself, Parton, stalked onto the stage, accompanied by a real live goat named Claire, and said, “Did I hear you said you were looking for a goat?” I’ve got your goat right here!”
Proving that she really is the greatest of all time, 77-year-old Parton made Brooks and the entire crowd at the Ford Center cheer when she revealed she had long heard rumors that she was supporting both Brooks and Ms. Trisha Yearwood blurted out, “I just had a thought! I know why you’re doing that “GOAT” thing! I think it stands for ‘Garth Organized a Threesome’.”
“And I thought I couldn’t love you more,” Brooks laughed, face red. “I think I speak for everyone, not just in Texas but around the world when I say we will always love you.”
Later that evening, in a much more serious ACM moment, Parton honored two of her late friends — Naomi Judd, who died by suicide in April 2022, and Loretta Lynn, who died last October at the age of 90 — with a stunning, impromptu A cappella rendition of the anthem “Precious Memories” while an awestruck Brooks stood by, hat in hand. Calling Lynn “a heroine and one of the most significant yet still down-to-earth singer-songwriters in history,” Parton said of Judd, “We’re the same age, both real goats, Capricorns, and we loved big hair.” I still do And we loved this makeup. But most of all we loved each other.”
Parton closed out the ACMs with the live debut of “World on Fire,” the lead single from their upcoming all-star rock album. rock star. This album, an answer to them reluctant introduction 2022 inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, out November 17th, and will feature a stunning tracklisting of who’s who collaborations with Pat Benatar, Brandi Carlile, Sheryl Crow, Miley Cyrus, John Fogerty, Peter Frampton and Rob Halford , Debbie Harry, Joan Jett, Elton John, Simon Le Bon, Paul McCartney. Stevie Nicks, Steve Perry, Pink, Richie Sambora, Nikki Sixx, Ringo Starr, Sting, Ann Wilson and many others.
For “World on Fire,” however, Parton made a statement of her own, beginning her performance in a dramatically puffed skirt with a map of the world while lamenting the divided state of modern society and singing, “Show some love/ Lasst uns überwachsen/Lesst Let’s take a stand/Let’s lend a hand/Let’s heal the pain/Let’s kindness work/Let’s be friends/Let the hate end.”
In addition to Parton’s fiery finale, other performance highlights from the 58th Academy of Country Music Awards included Cole Swindell and Jo Dee Messina collaborating on “She Had Me at Heads Carolina” and Trisha Yearwood and Carly Pearce collaborating on a medley of Yearwood’s hits , Cody Johnson Celebrating Willie Nelson’s 90th birthday (who made a surprise appearance via FaceTime) with a cover of “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys,” while War and Treaty does a pared-down rendition of “Blank Page “wow” and Ed Sheeran and Luke Combs debut their duet version of Sheeran’s track “Life Goes On.”
For a full list of 2023 ACM winners, click here Here.
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