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Reba McEntire Talks the ACM Awards, Keys to Awards Show Hosting: ‘Keep It Interesting, Keep It Running Smoothly and Show Up’

The Academy of Country Music Awards, hosted for the 17th time by country icon Reba McEntire, will stream on Amazon Prime Video May 16.

Having hosted a previous 16 ACM Awards ceremonies when the show was held in Las Vegas and various cities in California, McEntire knows well the work involved in preparing for hosting — from working with trusted writers to create and refine dialogue used for the evening, to balancing multiple outfit changes (McEntire says this year’s fashion theme will lean “a little more tough, sexy cowgirl”). McEntire recalled how at the 2004 ACM Awards, producer Dick Clark assisted her in filling a time delay after performer Keith Urban’s guitar had been lost backstage. Through leading the ACM Awards more than a dozen times, McEntire has hosted in various configurations — both solo and co-hosting alongside artists including George Strait, Blake Shelton, Alan Jackson and John Schneider.

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