Chris Stapleton named Entertainer of the Year at 2023 ACM Awards

Dolly Parton loves having a little fun on stage!

Chris Stapleton took home the coveted Academy of Country Music entertainer of the year honors, while Lainey Wilson was named female artist of the year and Morgan Wallen was male artist of the year at tonight’s 58th annual ACM Awards.

There were some big winners at the 2023 ACM Awards tonight!

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic At the 58th annual Academy of Country Music Awards, the top prize, entertainer of the year, was handed out to Chris Stapleton, even as Lainey Wilson and Hardy won in the the greatest number of categories, with four each — two of which they shared for the duet “Wait in the Truck.” Technically, Hardy walked away with six trophies, since the ACMs offer double awards for artists who co-write their nominated songs. Accepting for album of the year, Wilson said, “I wrote 300 songs during the pandemic.” Noting that some fans have said listening to her “Bell Bottom Country” album helped save their lives, Wilson said, “Writing these songs saved mine.” She quoted one of her own lines: “Be who you are, ’cause everybody else is taken.”

The 2023 Academy of Country Music Awards (ACMs) is here. The 58th annual award show, co-hosted by country legends Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks, is held in Frisco, Texas this year.This will be Parton's second time hosting the show and Brooks' first time taking on the role.

Ed Sheeran just made his debut at the 58th annual ACM Awards and he delivered a powerful performance with some help from Luke Combs.The «Shape of You» singer hit the stage Thursday night at the Ford Center's The Star in Frisco, Texas, and performed «Life Goes On» while strumming his guitar and rocking an appropriately country denim ensemble.Sheeran turned the number — off his just-released album — into a duet with Combs, who joined the English singer on stage in a surprise appearance that gave the song a fantastic country music flair.After the unexpected pairing, host Garth Brooks took the stage to ask the artists about their collaboration and how they made it come together.«We met like 2018, I'd heard Luke's music through a friend… and we've just been friends for years now,» Sheeran said, smiling, «and it's been great.»Sheeran's performance comes exactly one week after a verdict sided with him in a copyright trial over his «Thinking Out Loud» track. A New York City jury ultimately found that the 32-year-old singer did not copy Marvin Gaye's 1973 hit, «Let's Get It On,' for his 2014 hit track. After the verdict was reached, Sheeran, who was forced to miss his grandmother's funeral in Ireland to attend the trial, publicly released a statement about his win and the case as a whole.»I am obviously very happy with the outcome of the case, and it looks like I'm not going to have to retire from my day job after all — but, at the same time, I am unbelievably frustrated that baseless claims like this are allowed to go to court at all," Sheeran's statement read.

Garth Brooks to host the 58th Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, and they kicked things off with a fun opening number that took a decidedly risqué turn.Brooks hit the stage with a big smile and welcomed the audience with a love-fest between him and his co-host, Dolly Parton, whom he called the G.O.A.T. and introduced with her well-deserved title of the «King of Country Music.»«Did I hear you say you were looking for a G.O.A.T.?» Parton said, coming out onto the stage pulling a cart with a real goat in it. «I've got your G.O.A.T.

Lainey Wilson is dating! And it appears she had just one rule for her date when they attended the 58th Academy of Country Music Awards: don't steal her thunder!The «Heart Like a Truck» songstress spoke to ET's Rachel Smith on Thursday in Frisco, Texas and before diving into country music's biggest night, Wilson had to get a little something, something off her chest when it came to her date, former NFL quarterback Devlin Hodges.«Yup, yup. I brought me a hot date tonight,» she tells ET.

Dynamic duo! Hosts Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks brought the laughs — and made the crowd blush — during their 2023 ACM Awards opening monologue.

Hubba hubba! The 2023 ACM Awards provided Us with major eye candy. 

Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks went all out for their opening monologue at the 58th Academy of Country Music Awards.

Jason Aldean hit the red carpet at the 2023 Academy of Country Music Awards with his wife Brittany.

Dolly Parton brought sizzle to the south and proved everything is bigger in Texas as they walked the red carpet at the 58th annual Academy of Country Music Awards. Parton, who is hosting the show with another country legend, Garth Brooks, rocked a sparkling one-piece jumpsuit at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.  Miranda Lambert simply stunned wearing a royal blue gown adorned with rhinestones.  Lambert broke another record for ACM history when she received her 17th female artist of the year nomination, surpassing Reba McEntire's 16 nominations.

It’s going to be a big night for Miranda Lambert, who is one of the most-nominated artists of the evening!

Lainey Wilson looks great in a cut out, silky sage green look while arriving for at the 2023 Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday night (May 11) at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.

William Earl One of country music’s biggest nights is here. The 58th annual Academy of Country Music Awards is airing Thursday night, and you can watch it from the comfort of your own home. The Official ACM Awards Red Carpet Show – hosted by Amber Anderson, Priscilla Block, BRELAND, Elaina Smith and Kelly Sutton – is streaming live on Thursday, May 11 at 7 p.m. ET I 4 p.m. PT. This year’s top ACM Awards nominees include HARDY, Lainey Wilson, Kane Brown, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert and Cole Swindell. The livestream will feature interviews with major country stars and special performances from Dalton Dover, Tigirlily Gold and Matt Stell. Thursday’s live show will be available to all on Prime Video, with Amazon Prime non-subscribers able to take advantage of a 30-day free trial, as well as viewable for free via Amazon’s Twitch channel. Come Friday, it will be available for perpetual streaming on the Amazon Music app and on Amazon Freevee, starting at 8 p.m. ET/5 PT.

Jordan Davis is celebrating at the 2023 Academy of Country Music Awards with his pregnant wife Kristen!

Ed Sheeran is considering switching up his music career in a big way.

Garth Brooks is finally ready to take the stage and host his first-ever awards show!Brooks and wife Trisha Yearwood were all smiles at the 58th annual ACM Awards on Thursday as they walked the carpet outside the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, and they stopped to talk with ET's Rachel Smith about the big night.«I feel good,» shared Brooks — who had been very open about being nervous to emcee the show, alongside returning host Dolly Parton. «I just talk about country music, [and] I do that all that night long.»«He’s been walking, pacing a lot, which means he’s really thinking about it — and a little bit nervous,» Yearwood said with a smile.

The higher the hair, the closer to God! Dolly Parton made fans do a double — and triple — take during the 2023 ACM Awards as she continued to switch up her ensembles.