Keith Urban Surprises ACM Awards’ 2020 new artist winners

The ACM has named Tenille Townes and Riley Green as the New Female Artist and New Male Artist of the Year at the 2020 ACM Awards. The country’s newcomers learned of their winning career references via surprise video calls featuring ACM Awards host Keith Urban, released online.

Urban, who is the reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year and a 15-time ACM Award winner himself, crashed video meetings with the two artists to deliver the news. Take a look at these clips below:

Green was a Taste of Country RISER in 2019. He released his debut album, Different ‘Round here, in 2019, and he scored two hits there with “There Was This Girl” and “I Wish Grandpas Never Died.” He was nominated alongside Jordan Davis, Russell Dickerson, Cody Johnson and Morgan Wallen.

“When we had to return from the road in March, I was not sure what the rest of 2020 would look like,” he says in a press release. “So it’s happened in the world since then and I’m really excited to have a moment to play music again. The love of my grandparents for country music is what led me to this moment and I have to award this prize to them. Thanks to everyone who believes in my music enough to let this Alabama guy share his songs. ”

Townes is best known for her songs “Somebody’s Daughter” and “Jersey on the Wall”, both from her main label American debut, The Lemonade Stand. She was up against Ingrid Andress, Gabby Barrett, Lindsay Ell and Caylee Hammack

‘I will always remember this feeling, standing here as a new artist,’ she states. ‘I feel so honored and incredibly grateful to just be a part of this country music community that inspires me. Receiving this ACM Award feels like believing in that community, and that means so much to me. ”

This year’s ACM Awards were postponed due to the pandemic. They are now set for September 16, 2020. The ACM Awards will take place in Nashville for the first time in the history of the 2020 ceremony, broadcast from the Grand Ole Opry House, the Ryman Auditorium and the Bluebird Cafe live on CBS.

“This year’s new artists have already experienced tremendous success, and the Academy is honored to present its first ACM award,” said Damon Whiteside, CEO of the Academy of Country Music. ‘We hope this is a memory they will carry with them as their careers continue to flourish. A huge congratulations to all the deserving nominees of this year and a special thank you to the teams of artists who helped the Academy capture the surprise, especially our host Keith Urban for making this moment monumental. We can’t wait to see Riley and Tenille at the 55th ACM Awards stage on September 16th! ”