Jason Aldean Pays Tribute To “Best Friend” Luke Bryan At ACM Honors

ACM Honors/Merit Street Media

The ACM Honors occurred on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, At The Historic Ryman Auditorium.

The ACM Honors aired on Tuesday, September 24, on Merit Street, a TV channel owned by Dr. Phil.

What is the ACM Honors?

The ACM Honors is an awards show that celebrates special award honorees, ACM Industry, and Studio Recording Awards. The ACM Special Awards, Songwriter & Artist-Songwriter of the Year Awards, Industry Awards, and Studio Recording Awards will be celebrated at the highly anticipated annual event, a favorite within the industry.

This year’s celebration was hosted by four-time host Carly Pearce and reigning ACM Song of the Year recipient Jordan Davis.

ACM Honors/Merit Street Media

This year’s honorees include Walt Aldridge, Tony Brown, Luke Bryan, Alan Jackson, Shannon Sanders, Lainey Wilson, and Trisha Yearwood.

ACM Honors Recipients
ACM – Academy of Country Music / Facebook

Who is performing at the 2024 ACM Honors?

Eric Church, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Tyler Hubbard, Jamey Johnson, Ashley McBryde, and Keith Urban were the first performers announced.

On August 16, a second round of performers were added to the show. Those artists include Lauren Alaina, Terri Clark, Jordan Davis, Jackson Dean, Kameron Marlowe, Carly Pearce, Lee Ann Womack 15-time ACM Award winner Jason Aldean.

Jason Aldean performing ACM Honors
ACM – Academy of Country Music / Facebook

Jason Aldean paid tribute to his good friend, Luke Bryan, who was being awarded the ACM Lifting Lives Award.

ATHENS, GA – APRIL 13: Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan perform at Sanford Stadium on April 13, 2013 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Chris McKay/Getty Images)

According to the ACM website, the ACM Lifting Lives Award “is inspired by Gary Haber and presented to a country music artist, duo/group or industry professional who is devoted to improving lives through the power of music, has a generosity of spirit, and is committed to serving others.”

On the red carpet before the event, Aldean was asked about his good buddy.

“Luke is being honored with humanitarian award, which is very well deserved. He’s been one of my best friends for the last 20 years, so I got the call to ask if I would come honor him tonight and that is a no brainer. So I’m here to try and do my best at a Luke Bryan song for him.”

The reporter asked if he’d ever covered a Luke Bryan song before, to which he answered yes, but the performance wasn’t televised, so he “wasn’t afraid of messing it up!”

“He’s one of my best friends, I love him to death. I just think he’s a great person, great human, and [I] wouldn’t miss a chance to honor him.”

Aldean performed Bryan’s 2009 hit song “Someone Else Calling You Baby.” The song was included on Bryan’s second studio album Doin’ My Thing and was his second-ever number one on the Billboard chart.

Watch Aldean’s performance of “Someone Else Calling You Baby” in honor of Luke Bryan below.