Reba McEntire kicked off the milestone 60th ACM Awards with a proud nod to her home state on Thursday evening (May 8).

The legendary country star — born in McAlester, Oklahoma — took the Texas stage to start the “Songs of the Decades” performance, paying tribute to 60 years of country music. McEntire delivered a rendition of a 1969 classic “by the late, great Merle Haggard,” she said as she covered “Okie From Muskogee.”

McEntire passed the mic to Clint Black, who tipped his hat to the 1970s with his rendition of Glen Campbell’s “Rhinestone Cowboy.” Wynonna Judd followed with her iconic 80s anthem, “Why Not Me,” which she and her late mother, Naomi Judd, released as beloved duo The Judds in 1984. LeAnn Rimes transported the audience back to the mid-90s with her stunning rendition of “Blue,” the title track of her debut major-label album that arrived in 1996. Little Big Town and Dan + Shay moved ahead to the 2010s with “Girl Crush” and “Tequila,” respectively (with Shay Mooney stunning the crowd with a powerfully-held final note).

The star-studded “Songs of the Decades” kicked off Country Music’s Party of the Year, which also included performances by 2024 ACM Entertainer of the Year Lainey Wilson, Blake Shelton, Sugarland, Clint Black, Wynonna Judd, Dan + Shay, LeAnn Rimes, Alan Jackson, Backstreet Boys, Brooks & Dunn, Brothers Osborne, Chris Stapleton, Cody Johnson, Ella Langley, Eric Church, Jelly Roll, Kelsea Ballerini, Megan Moroney, Miranda Lambert, Rascal Flatts, Shaboozey, and Zach Top. The star-studded list of presenters included Black, Judd, Shelton, Sugarland, Carly Pearce, Crystal Gayle, ERNEST, Gabby Barrett, Gretchen Wilson, Jordan Davis, Lee Ann Womack, Lionel Richie, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Parker McCollum, Riley Green, Rita Wilson, Sara Evans and The Oak Ridge Boys, plus NASCAR driver Chase Elliott and podcast hosts Amber Anderson and Kelly Sutton. iHeartRadio’s Bobby Bones interviewed artists throughout the 60th ACM Awards. Check back with iHeartRadio for interviews, recaps of epic performances and other can’t-miss moments, stunning red carpet fashion, a live-updated list of winners and more.

Sixteen-time ACM winner McEntire returned to host the show for her 18th time, more than any other artist. The event took place again at the world headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys at The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Watch the “Songs of the Decades” performances below.

Karla Cantrell