ABC RadioIt may’ve been all glitz and glamor onstage at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Vegas on Sunday, but backstage at the 53rd ACMs, things were decidedly low-key.
New Male Vocalist winner Brett Young admitted he was happy his category was announced ahead of time, because it saved him from having to give a thank-you speech on TV.
New Female Vocalist Lauren Alaina revealed she still hadn’t gotten to have a one-on-one moment with host Reba McEntire — after she’d been too awestruck to talk to her when she called several weeks ago to tell her she’d won. The “Doin’ Fine” hitmaker confessed she did manage to snag an extra salad that Reba had ordered for lunch.
First time Vocal Group of the Year winners Old Dominion agreed it was a bit awkward that they’d just managed to break Little Big Town‘s lock on the category, after recording a duet with them for their Happy Endings album. Lead singer Matt Ramsey said they’d just threatened to punch him in the face when they passed backstage, though it was all in jest.
When Miranda Lambert arrived carrying her three trophies from the night, she couldn’t seem to wrap her mind around the idea that she’s now the winningest artist in ACM history, with a collection of 32 awards.
All the members of Midland were carrying tallboys, however, when they took the stage to talk to reporters, still celebrating their New Vocal Group win.
Three-time Entertainer of the Year Jason Aldean recalled how he’d learned a thing or two about celebrating throughout the years, mainly that he might have to scale it back a bit: The first time Jason won, he admitted he missed his plane the next day, he’d partied so much.
When Reba came back after the show, she was still wearing her glamorous 25-year-old “Does He Love You” gown, but she pulled up her dress to reveal she was also wearing her house shoes, because “my feet were killing me!”
As the backstage party came to a close, a voice in the back of the room asked, “Reba, can I have a picture with you?”
It turned out to be Lauren Alaina, who finally got her moment with one of the women who helped pave the way for her.
Copyright © 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
