Chris Stapleton serenaded wife Morgane Stapleton when the pair took the stage at the milestone 60th ACM Awards on Thursday evening (May 8).

The award-winning country star delivered a heartfelt rendition of “It Takes A Woman,” one of 14 tracks that appeared on Stapleton’s fifth studio record, Higher, in 2023. The record also included “White Horse,” “Think I’m in Love With You,” the title track and more. Stapleton and Morgane produced the record together alongside Grammy winner Dave Cobb.

Stapleton returned to the stage with a soulful cover of Keith Urban’s “Blue Ain’t Your Color.” It was part of a star-studded tribute to Urban when he received the coveted Triple Crown Award on stage. he earned the rare honor after winning the Top New Male Vocalist, Male Vocalist of the Year and Entertainer of the Year honors throughout his career. Megan Moroney and Brothers Osborne also took part in the tribute (with Urban himself jumping in at the end).

The milestone 60th ACM Awards kicked off with a star-studded “Songs of the Decades” performance by host Reba McEntire, plus Clint Black, Dan + Shay, Wynonna Judd, and LeAnn Rimes and Little Big Town. The group teamed up to pay tribute to 60 years of ACM Songs of the Year.

Country Music’s Party of the Year also included performances by 2024 ACM Entertainer of the Year Lainey Wilson, Blake Shelton, Sugarland, Clint Black, Wynonna Judd, Dan + Shay, LeAnn Rimes, Alan Jackson, Backstreet Boys, Brooks & Dunn, Brothers Osborne, Chris Stapleton, Cody Johnson, Ella Langley, Eric Church, Jelly Roll, Kelsea Ballerini, Megan Moroney, Miranda Lambert, Rascal Flatts, Shaboozey, and Zach Top. The star-studded list of presenters included Black, Judd, Shelton, Sugarland’s Kristian Bush, Carly Pearce, Crystal Gayle, ERNEST, Gabby Barrett, Gretchen Wilson, Jordan Davis, Lee Ann Womack, Lionel Richie, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Parker McCollum, Riley Green, Rita Wilson, Sara Evans and The Oak Ridge Boys, plus NASCAR driver Chase Elliott and podcast hosts Amber Anderson and Kelly Sutton. iHeartRadio’s Bobby Bones interviewed artists throughout the 60th ACM Awards. Check back with iHeartRadio for interviews, recaps of epic performances and other can’t-miss moments, stunning red carpet fashion, a live-updated list of winners and more.

Sixteen-time ACM winner McEntire returned to host the show for her 18th time, more than any other artist. The event took place again at the world headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys at The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.

Mel Taylor