The Academy of Country Music (ACM) kicked off the 4th ACM Party for a Cause Festival at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds on Friday, April 1st. Carrie Underwood headlined the “ACM Women of Country Night” featuring an all-female lineup of performers on the Ram Trucks Main Stage including Cam, Kelsea Ballerini, Martina McBride, Kellie Pickler and Maddie & Tae as well as performances by Lauren Alaina, Kelleigh Bannen, Brandy Clark and Jana Kramer on the Cabela’s Stage. During Carrie Underwood’s set, Miranda Lambert made a surprise appearance to a roaring crowd to perform “Something Bad”, while Lauren Alaina, Kelleigh Bannen, Jana Kramer and Kelli Picker all joined Carrie on stage for a big grand finale performing “Before He Cheats”.
Post-performance, ACM CEO Bob Romeo presented Carrie Underwood on stage with the ACM Lifting Lives Gary Haber Award, which recognizes a country music artist who is committed to serving others, has a generosity of spirit and shows a dedication to helping those in need. Carrie Underwood, was among the first artists to partner with ACM Lifting Lives, bringing much needed musical instruments to the public schools in her hometown, Checotah, OK.
Saturday kicked off with the ACM & Cabela’s Celebrity Tic-Tac-Toe Archery Tournament. Country music stars Luke Bryan, Chris Janson, Dustin Lynch, Justin Moore, Eric Paslay, Chris Rice, and Granger Smith, former MLB player Adam LaRoche, plus Cabela’s pro staff Wade Middleton and Kristy Titus participated in the archery tournament featuring Cabela’s state-of-the-art archery equipment.
The Tournament was followed by an all-star lineup including Frankie Ballard, Lee Brice, Chris Janson, Dustin Lynch, Chris Stapleton, Chris Young and headliner Dierks Bentley. Earlier performances featured Chase Bryant, Courtney Cole, Chris Lane, Jackson Michelson and A Thousand Horses. Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelly and Eric Paslay joined headliner Dierks Bentley on stage to perform Kelley’s debut solo single, “The Driver”, while Dustin Lynch crowd surfed from the Ram Trucks Main Stage in an inflatable boat while he sang “Where It’s At.”
The three-day festival closed out with Kip Moore, Sam Hunt, Chase Rice, Brett Eldredge, Old Dominion, Granger Smith, Lindsay Ell, and Marren Morris. Kenny Chesney headlined the final day with a full set at dawn after his performance on the 51st Academy of Country Music Awards.
Ticket proceeds benefitted the Academy’s charitable arm, ACM Lifting Lives to beneficiaries of this year’s ACM Party for a Cause Festival including Folds of Honor, Military Warriors Support Foundation, Honor Flight Southland, Navy SEAL Foundation, and Task Force Dagger Foundation. Giving from fans, partnerships with artists, and corporate sponsors have allowed ACM Lifting Lives to support military programs that use music therapy to aid veterans and wounded warriors, while providing funding to help them ease back into civilian life. Over $400,000 has been donated to various military organizations in three years.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
