Carly Pearce is a woman of many talents. The singer-songwriter returned for the second time to host the ACM Honors, proving her abilities on stage that extend far beyond her gorgeous voice. Pearce has said she hopes her career includes more than just the concert arena, including more hosting opportunities — a goal she seems well on her way to achieving.
“First of all, I have to thank the ACMs for having me back,” Pearce tells Everything Nash. “They asked me to come back, and I was so excited because hosting is really important to me. It’s been something that I think, as my career has kind of grown in the last couple of years, it’s been something that I’ve really raised my hand to the people above to let them know that that’s something that I’m passionate about. To get to do this a second year in a row, at an event that is just such a cool event, was really awesome.”
In addition to hosting, Pearce also performed her current single, “What He Didn’t Do,” a formidable task in front of so many of her peers and musical heroes.
“It was harder to host,” Pearce concedes. “But I will tell you that, when you look out and you see Shania Twain or Miranda Lambert, these women that really pave the way for you as far as songwriting goes, and you’re just singing your little song, it’s a little scary.”
The ACM Honors ceremony included performances and tributes by so many artists, including Vince Gill, Kelsea Ballerini, Dan + Shay and more — so many, in fact, that Pearce admits it is hard for her to pick a favorite.
“I think vocally, Little Big Town singing ‘The House That Built Me,’ or [Chris] Stapleton getting honored by Vince Gill,” Pearce recalls of some of the stand-out performances of the night. “But I also think just hearing Shania [Twain] speak was so special. and just as a female in country music that idolized her, it was just fun to see her get that [ACM Poet’s Award].”
The ACM Honors were held at the Ryman Auditorium, where Pearce will return for two nights, on October 26 and 27. Her headlining show was originally supposed to be just one night, but after it quickly sold out, she planned a second night at the historic venue.
“Of course, when we put out the first night, it was like, we’ll just see how it goes,” Pearce recalls. “And within an hour, we were able to put the other one on sale. All the awards and the number ones and the fun hosting things and all that stuff is super fun. But at the end of the day, selling hard tickets is the name of the game. So to be able to do that is really exciting.
“That’ll be kind of my last hurrah of the year,” she continues. “And it feels a little bit like I’m getting to end my 29 journey — obviously, I’ll be singing these songs until I’m dead — but just as a whole album, as a cycle of life, I’m getting to end it on such a prestigious event. So it feels really awesome.”
Other honorees of the night include Morgan Wallen, HARDY, the Yellowstone TV series and more.
The ACM Honors ceremony will air on Tuesday, September 13, on FOX from 8:00 to 10:00 PM ET. Find all of Pearce’s music and tour dates at CarlyPearce.com.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Academy of Country Music / Getty Images
