Country music's biggest and brightest stars gathered in Las Vegas for the 2018 Academy of Country Music Awards on Sunday night. It was an exciting night all around, but it was a particularly great night for the women of country music. While all of the Entertainer of the Year nominees were men this year, host Reba McEntire made sure to call out that fact in her monologue. It's true that having the biggest award of the night populated by only male nominees is unfortunate, but it was one of the only low points for a night that made sure to celebrate the incredible accomplishments of women in country music.
From Reba's awesome job as host to the many flawless performances, this was a great night for the women of country music. We've put together a list of all the amazing moments at the 2018 ACM Awards that celebrated women, inspiring all of us watching from home. Just a warning, though...this might make you want to watch the show all over again.
Reba McEntire's Monologue
Not only did Reba call out the all male nominee situation in her opening monologue, she also (unsurprisingly) cracked up the audience with a number of hilarious jokes. Her monologue was so genuinely funny it made me wonder why there isn't a reboot of her sitcom Reba yet. Her biggest hit was definitely her friendly barb at Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley, who hosted last year, saying "I guess they finally figured out it only takes one woman to do the job of two men."
Miranda Lambert Broke an Impressive Record
Miranda Lambert did something pretty incredible at the 2018 ACM Awards on Sunday. The country superstar made history when she won the Song of the Year award for "Tin Man," marking her thirtieth ACM win. When they called out her name, she became the most-awarded artist in the history of this award show. She then went on to win another award later in the night, putting an even bigger distance between her and Brooks & Dunn, who have twenty-nine ACM awards.
Dierks Bentley Honors Everyday Female Heroes With “Woman, Amen” Performance
Bentley took the stage to honor everyday female heroes with his new anthem "Woman, Amen" during the show. While he definitely did that, he also honored one very special person at the end of his performance. Bentley made his way down into the crowd to find his wife, Cassidy Black, for a super sweet kiss and hug. It was seriously so heartwarming and was one of the highlights of the night.
Carrie Underwood Returned to the Spotlight
At long last, Carrie Underwood has returned to her rightful place at center stage. After suffering a serious injury to her face, Underwood took some time away from the spotlight to heal. Now, though, she's back and better than ever. She performed her new song "Cry Pretty" at the ACM Awards and had one of the longest standing ovations I've ever seen. So glad she's back.
The Amazing Performances from All the Women of Country Music
Fans of country music were treated to a number of incredible performances from the powerful women of country music. Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire, Kelly Clarkson, Maren Morris, Kelsea Ballerini, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, and more all performed, showing the world that their talent is a force to be reckoned with.
What a special night. Congratulations to all the winners, as well as the trailblazing women in the country music community.