Reba McEntire’s opening at the 2025 ACM Awards was not just a performance but a moment which encapsulated everything that country music is.
In a world that is sometimes tugged between glamour and grime, Reba opted to embark on the route of grime. She walked on the stage not as a thirsty to attention celebrity but as a meek storyteller bringing generations of people with her.
When the Ford Center Dimmered the mood changed. There were no tricks – no grandeur; there was silence, and reverence, and a singular spotlight on a legend just about to speak not just to his fans, but to a way of life.
Reba started with simple but effective message. She addressed her speech to the so-called country bumpkins, to those, who’ve been laughed for their rural accents, their work-worn hands, their plain clothes, and their fierce pride in an origin.
Descriptions came out of her words, dripping with history — the annihilation of stereotypes, silent pride and the staunch heartbeat of small-town America. She wasn’t defending these people; she was celebrating them. And in her doing so, she made it clear: country music soul, they are.
Then there came the first notes of Merle Haggard’s “Okie from Muskogee,” and an amazing thing was happening. The tune, a timeless gem that came out in 1969 all of a sudden became timeless and even urgent.
Reba didn’t do the song — she was the song. Every word rang with sincerity. Each verse felt like a confessional, not of hers but of those of millions who could identify in those lyrics.
The pride of being “from Muskogee” became metaphoric – this was about anywhere and everywhere where they work hard, love deeply and stick to their beliefs which are not popular in a modern culture.
The audience was spellbound. It was there on the faces – awe, nostalgia, tears. This wasn’t just another opener for an award show. It was an account taking, a confirmation of identity.
Even the hottest, radio-chart-topping style stars stood frozen, eyed fixed on the woman who brought decades of country history into one crystal-clear moment. Designers could go to hell, this was real and it was raw.
When the final chord resonated around the arena there was the briefest moment of silence, as pure as to almost hurt. Then, the floodgates opened. The standing ovation broke out not out of a sense of duty but because it was just an emotional need.
No one remained seated. It wasn’t just applause; it was gratitude. For Reba. For Merle. For the message. And for a song that reminded everyone why it is that they fell in love with country music in the first place.
From behind the scenes, producers and executives, rushed to describe what just happened. Most morally reduced précis may have been provided by ACM Executive Producer Ben Winston’s comment that, “We knew Reba would bring heart.
What we did not see coming was when she brought the soul of America to the stage”. That’s exactly what she did. She did not only set the tone for the night – she set the bar. Nothing can compare with one woman, one microphone, and one truth: not a CGI army, not a surprise guest.
As the rest of the night continued with explosive collaborations, genre-busting duets, and shiny performances, what was clear to all was that Reba’s declaration was already the emotional center of the show.
Not any subsequent moment, however spectacular, could outshine what she gave in the first few minutes. And it wasn’t even just entertaining. It was about acknowledgment. Of roots. Of struggle. Of pride.
A timeless song. Queen @reba on the mic. ✨ Don’t miss a moment. Stream the #ACMawards LIVE now → https://t.co/H8DgKcESzm pic.twitter.com/3HGEoRN64F
— ACM Awards (@ACMawards) May 9, 2025
Reba’s performance wasn’t just a homage to Merle Haggard or an acknowledgment to an old generation. It was a witness that those songs, those values and those people are still here – and they are still important.
It was a message to all the watchers sitting out on a farmhouse, hanging out on the front porch, cruising through some two-lane highway town: you are seen. You are heard. You are honored.
Within a lifetime performance, Reba McEntire was able to summarize a legacy – hers, Merle’s and country’s – with unprecedented grace and realness. She opened not just the ACM Awards, but opened all of them that night.
She opened a room for consideration, acknowledgement, and reconnection. And in doing so she had not just given the powerhouse moment of the night but one that would live long past the lights go down and the awards hunkered up.
Not only when Reba sang was it country playing in an arena, but I was privileged enough to tell my kids ‘that’s the woman I sang in that girl’s house on the ghetto.’ It was truth. And truth as she reminded us doesn’t have to be made up of the flashy; it just has to be felt.
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Grace VanderWaal: From 12-Year-Old AGT Sensation to Hollywood Star
The world first met 12-year-old Grace VanderWaal in 2016, when she appeared on America’s Got Talent (AGT) stage with just a ukulele and a song she had written. “I’m doing my own song tonight because I really think that it shows who
I am,” Grace declared, apprehensive but determined, before enthralling the crowd with “I Don’t Know My Name.” What transpired was a pivotal event that would permanently alter her life.
Both the live crowd and the millions of people watching at home were moved by Grace’s performance from the very first pluck of her ukulele. The response to her sincere lyrics, unfiltered emotion, and distinctive voice was very good.
However, the real highlight of the evening was when AGT judge Howie Mandel, who was clearly impressed by Grace’s performance, pressed the coveted Golden Buzzer, saturating the stage with golden confetti and guaranteeing Grace’s spot in the live performances.
Unable to conceal his excitement for the young star, Mandel declared, “You are a living, beautiful, walking miracle.” “I think the world is going to know your name,” he added boldly. His prediction came true as Grace’s audition went viral, garnering millions of views and catapulting her into immediate fame.
Never one to back down from a strong opinion, Simon Cowell provided yet another striking analogy. Cowell proclaimed, “I think you are the next Taylor Swift,” placing Grace beside one of the most well-known pop stars of the era. Mel B and Heidi Klum were similarly impressed; Klum merely remarked, “That is a big wow.”
Grace’s experience competing on America’s Got Talent was truly remarkable. She performed original songs week after week, showcasing her unique talent and profound emotional awareness that were well above her years.
As one of the youngest winners in AGT history, Grace secured her position by winning the $1 million grand prize at the conclusion of Season 11.
But for Grace VanderWaal, winning AGT was just the start. Since then, the adolescent sensation has pursued acting in addition to music. She debuted as an actress in 2020 in the Disney+ original movie Stargirl, in which she portrayed the title role,
a self-assured and eccentric high school girl who infuses her friends with vitality and color. The movie had positive reviews, and Grace was praised for her effortless on-screen persona.
Grace continued her acting career after that. She will feature in the upcoming epic drama Megalopolis, which is helmed by the renowned Francis Ford Coppola. She plays a blossoming pop singer in the movie, which enables her to combine her growing acting career with her musical abilities.
Many people are excited to discover how Grace’s character fits into the bigger story of this massive undertaking, and the excitement surrounding Megalopolis has been growing.
Grace VanderWaal has developed further as an actress, singer, and artist since her stint on AGT. Fans all throughout the world are still drawn to her music because of its eerie melodies and reflective lyrics.
Grace has always been committed to forging her own distinct career in the entertainment sector, even though she may be compared to Taylor Swift and other icons.
From her modest beginnings as a timid preteen playing the ukulele to her thriving Hollywood career, Grace VanderWaal has demonstrated that she is a multifaceted star with a promising future rather than merely a passing talent. The world is definitely aware of her name now, as Howie Mandel foresaw, and Grace isn’t showing any signs of stopping down.
Fans can relive Grace’s memorable audition and performances from previous seasons of America’s Got Talent, which are currently available for streaming on Peacock.
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