Reba McEntire returns to Academy of Country Music Awards to serve as host again – and the country music icon is looking forward to the experience.
McEntire recently sat down with ET’s Rachel Smith where she reflected on getting the chance are once again hosting the ACM Awards.
Looking back on the very first time she hosted the show in 1985, the acclaimed singer said: “In some ways it feels like 100 years have passed, in some ways it feels like they’ve flown by .”
“[I have] “It’s great memories – working with Dick Clark, all the artists, the people I co-hosted with,” shared McEntire, who will host this year’s show for the 17th time.
“I think my fondest memories are the clothes that I got to wear that I wouldn’t wear anywhere else but the ACMs,” she added, before reflecting on the styling and clothing design work of Sandi Spika, who designed many of McEntire’s outfits created throughout her career.
“Sandi Spika liked to come to me and say, ‘Here, I’m drawing this little sketch, so what do you think?’ I’m like, ‘Oh my God! Can I please wear this?’” McEntire recalls. “I was her guinea pig. I think I was her little paper doll… I would never say, ‘I don’t like that,’ because I liked everything she did! And she just did other things to me.” Hair and I would try it.
This will mark McEntire’s He is hosting the show for the first time since 2019and the singer explained what brought her back.
“I saw Dolly [Parton] and Garth {Brooks]did it last year and I thought, ‘Man, this is fun!’ “They’re having a great time,” and that’s where my competitiveness came in,” McEntire joked.
The singer said she always feels “excited” when she takes the stage to host because it is always unique and unpredictable, adding: “It’s fun, I love live television. There’s nothing like it.”
Although the list of artists hasn’t been announced yet, McEntire talked about who she’d like to see take the stage – and the answer was surprising.
“Reba McEntire and Bruno Mars,” McEntire said. “I’m a big fan of Bruno.”
The 59th Academy of Country Music Awards Live streams May 16th on Prime Video.
The number of tickets for the 59th ACM Awards is limited available for purchase on SeatGeekand offers fans exclusive access to a non-stop party with their favorite country stars performing last year’s biggest hits and seats closer to the action than ever before.
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