Luke Bryan walked away from the 56th annual ACM Awards with the night’s highest honour on Saturday (April 18), and he took home his third award as the Entertainer of the Year. Even as one of the biggest genre performers and with a second gig with A&E’s American Idol, he says that he was stunned to hear his name mentioned.
Speaking to reporters via video chat following the show In a video chat after the show, the “Down to One” producer admitted his surprise at the victory. He was actually going to bed thinking that the Entertainer of the Year days were over.
“You should never take these awards as a given,” the singer said. “I’ve had two wins for Entertainers of the Year [before, and there’s been a few times when I thought that I could have had another one but didn’t. So I think you tell yourself that you’re not going to win anymore. To win a second time is extremely special.”
Bryan received his very first ACM ETOY award in 2013 following the popularity of his album Tailgates and Tanlines. The award came just a couple of decades into Bryan’s career, and Bryan was genuinely feeling then that the award had come too quickly. He returned in 2015 following Crash My Party, and when he looks back, Bryan says it’s almost like there’s no rhyme and justification for how you can make the right decision. However, that’s not the reason he’s playing the game.
“My First Entertainer of the Year. When I won, I wasn’t sure if I was worthy. I didn’t feel that it was right. I was concerned that it could be a bit too soon,” he admitted. “I believe that the stars, the universe and the power of the universe are the ones who create these events. … Therefore, I believe what you need to consider when you’re in the middle performing in the field of country music is that you aren’t able to become absorbed in one year, you cannot get involved within two years. You need to be engaged in doing this because you love it.”
The star said that winning the most prestigious award on the field could put you in a headlock. If you’re not careful, however, the man has been around long enough to ensure that his head is straight. The next step is to be a part of the musical moment and also be an example for artists who are on the climb up the ladder. He hopes to leave a legacy to the future generation of stars.
“I think the key is to try to keep your feet planted on the ground in all the above,” Bryan said. “When you begin to see success in the field of music, it’s possible to become a little confused and be in a season when you’re unhappy with the person you are in your career as an artist, but then things occur. I believe that it’s just a matter of trying to take a calm, calm approach to hopefully make a situation in which you are able to do this for a number of years. And that’s the only goal that I’ve ever had to achieve… And the only thing I’d like for anyone who is coming up behind me to be able to enjoy that chance as well.”
The annual 56th ACM Awards aired live on CBS on April 18 and was held in Nashville for the second year due to concerns about COVID-19. Luke Bryan was crowned Entertainer of the Year, and Maren Morris was awarded Male Artist of the Year Female accolades as well. Thomas Rhett was named the Male Artist of the Year. Find the complete coverage here, including the complete list of winners and video of the show’s incredible performances.
