Brooks & Dunn stole the show at the 15th Annual ACM Honors with a cover of one of Miranda Lambert’s earliest hits.
The superstar duo honored the ACM Triple Crown winner with a fiery performance of “Kerosene” from the iconic Ryman Auditorium Stage.
With their guitars in hand, Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn turned the energy up to 10 as they sang along to the song Lambert co-wrote with country music icon Steve Earle.
“It did kind of hurt our feelings, when you jumped us back in 2018 by becoming the most awarded act in ACM history,” Brooks joked from the stage.
“The only thing we’ve got to fall back on is we’ve got the duo thing wrapped up,” Dunn quipped.
“Kerosene” was released as the third single and title track off Lambert’s debut album. The track climbed all the way to No.15 on the chart, becoming her very first Top 20 hit at country radio.
With her husband, Brendan McLoughlin, by her side, Lambert watched from the front row as two of her musical heroes paid tribute to her record-breaking career.
“I had an amazing night, Brooks & Dunn just sang ‘Kerosene’ I’m freaking out,” Lambert admitted following the duo’s performance.
Brooks & Dunn and Lambert recently made headlines when she made a surprise appearance at the duo’s Nashville concert over the summer. Lambert shocked fans when she appeared on stage during Brooks & Dunn’s performance of “Cowgirls Don’t Cry.” She also stuck around for a performance of B&D’s chart-topping hit, “Neon Moon.” Re-live the moment HERE.
Earlier in the show, Little Big Town took to the stage to honor Lambert with a performance of the GRAMMY-winning “The House That Built Me,” from Lambert’s third studio album, Revolution.
The Texas native qualified for the Triple Crown Award after winning ACM Top New Female Vocalist, ACM Female Vocalist of the Year, and ACM Entertainer of the Year throughout her career, an honor only seven other artists have been awarded (Brooks & Dunn, Barbara Mandrell, Kenny Chesney, Mickey Gilley, Merle Haggard, Carrie Underwood, and Jason Aldean).
Keith Urban and The Chicks have also qualified for the Triple Crown Award and have yet to receive the honor.
Hosted by reigning ACM Female Artist of the Year, Carly Pearce, the 15th Annual ACM Honors took place on Wednesday, August 24 at the famed Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee.
Dubbed “Country Music industry’s favorite night,” ACM Honors recognized several special honorees, including ACM Triple Crown Award recipient Miranda Lambert, ACM Spirit Award recipient Chris Stapleton, ACM Poet’s Award recipient Shania Twain, ACM Milestone Award recipient Morgan Wallen and ACM Film Award recipient Yellowstone.
Performers and presenters included Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, The Warren Brothers, Brooks & Dunn, Dan + Shay, Eric Church, Jordan Davis, ERNEST, Jesse Frasure, Vince Gill, Ashley Gorley, Mickey Guyton, HARDY, Wynonna Judd, Avril Lavigne, Little Big Town, Morgan Wallen, Lainey Wilson and more.
ACM Award winner and Grammy nominee Trace Adkins was also on hand to perform his cover of “A Country Boy Can Survive,” from the brand-new FOX country music drama MONARCH, in which he stars alongside Susan Sarandon and Anna Friel.
ACM Honors premiered on Tuesday, September 13 at 8/7c on FOX. The show will be available to stream the following day on Hulu.
