At last, Shania Twain has returned to Las Vegas—even if only for one night. The queen of country pop, who has held down three successful Strip residencies, will host the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 17 for the first time. This year’s performers include Blake Shelton, Cody Johnson, Ella Langley, Kane Brown, Lainey Wilson and many more.
Ahead of her big debut, Twain spoke with the Weekly about hosting, her love for Sabrina Carpenter and the possibility of a dream duet with Shelton.
You’ve had a really strong connection to Las Vegas throughout your career. How does it feel to return to host this year’s Academy of Country Music Awards?
It feels really good. I’m always happy to be in Vegas anyway, because it’s my entertainment home. There’s no better place to have the ACMs than Las Vegas. I’ll be really happy to be there representing country music, representing the artists, the performers [and] welcoming the audience who are watching from all over the place. I just feel that I’m hosting my own home in my own hometown of entertainment, if that makes sense. It’s fitting.
You having so many career milestones at these awards makes the return as host feel almost full-circle.
It’s very much full circle. I think that when you’ve been in the industry so long … I mean, I started onstage at 8 years old, there’s inevitably going to be more than one full-circle moment in your career. But it’s meaningful. It’s meaningful to be able to be there to support artists that have worked so hard to get there, who are just starting their careers. I understand them. I’ve been through what they have been through, at least to the extent of career-related things, and I’m there to help support them through it, and to make it an exciting night for the fans.
With so many up-and-coming country artists entering the scene, who’s impressing you these days?
Well, it’s hard to avoid Ella Langley because she’s so present right now with such strong music. Lainey Wilson ... she’s already established, but I think she is there for the long run. She’s going to keep establishing longevity, and that is something that I really am looking forward to from her. There’s a lot of new artists that I have not met yet. I’ve heard their music and I’m loving what I hear. I love what a lot of the men are doing, too. I mean, I love Shaboozey, and I think we’re opening up to more originality.
There are more women right now than we’ve seen in a while, but I think that is just because we’re more conscientious of the fact that maybe the doors have been closed a little too tight. Let’s loosen up a little bit and let’s make room for some talent that I think we’re really missing out on. And some of those are female.
I love the friendship you’ve cultivated with Sabrina Carpenter. Do you ever see echoes of your early career in how she’s navigating country and pop?
Oh, she is so country.I know she’s pop but …I love Dolly [Parton] so much, and this is why I’m saying it. But I feel like Sabrina Carpenter is a reincarnation of Dolly in real time. I really mean that in the most complimentary way.She’s been working on her career for such a long time. That’s somebody that is long overdue for being at the top. And I would love to see her like, come on, bring on the country girl.
You’re also doing a concert series in London with Harry Styles, another young pop star, this summer. What can your U.K. audience expect from those shows? And what’s next?
The London audience can expect a lot of gratitude from me, because I was invited there personally by Harry, and that’s his home country, and I’m his guest. I’m very honored by it, and I love England. I love being there, so I’m going to enjoy that extended stay. It’s 12 shows. It’s Wembley [Stadium]. It’s outstanding. I will be taking it all in as much as I can. I want to be out riding horses in the park and experiencing London.
The fans, they’ll sense my joy to be there, and it’ll be energetic. They’re going to hear all the hits. I’m there to make them happy. I love the fans over there. They’re wonderful and supportive, and they’ve been supportive for so long.
Blake Shelton was a surprise addition to the ACM Awards lineup. I know you’re a big Blake fan. Is there any chance you’ll stop by his Ole Red bar after the show? Maybe you could get that duet you’ve always wanted.
Ha! That’s a good point. Oh boy, that would be nice to have time for that. I really love Blake. He’s such a sweet man and a great singer. I recently saw him in Vegas actually performing, and it was really a great show. He’s got way more hits than I even remembered and is such a strong live singer, and he’s funny. Yeah, I don’t know, I would love to do that. I’m glad you reminded me of that.
ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS May 17, 5 p.m., $131+. MGM Grand Garden Arena, axs.com.
