What a lovely performance!
During the 56th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Sunday,Kelsea Balleriniand fellow hitmakerKenny Chesneytook the stage to perform her fan-favorite song, “Half of My Hometown.”
On the big night, the duo sat alongside each other, socially distanced on a pair of stools, as they soulfully sang the duet — a series of purple, blue and white lights flashed behind them throughout.
Kenny Chesney and Kelsea Ballerini.Kevin Mazur/Getty
Check out PEOPLE’s fullACM Awards coverageto get the latest news on one of country music’s biggest nights.
Ballerini, 27, released the hit tune as a new single on Friday — after it originally appeared on her albumKelsea, which dropped last March.
Hours ahead of the show, she shared anInstagram photoof her stunning look, she captioned it, “Turning music city emerald.”
Days ahead of the ACM Awards performance, Ballerini expressed her excitement about her then-upcoming performance with Chesney, 53. She tweeted, “Can’t quite explain how thrilled I am to be debuting half of my hometown with@kennychesneythis Sunday on the@ACMawards. “Will I cry?”
Immediately after Ballerini and Chesney’s performance, Chris Stapleton won the coveted album of the year award, for his hitStarting Over. The star thanked his wife Morgane, who was not in attendance due to a doula commitment, during his acceptance speech.
Kelsea Ballerini.Kevin Mazur/Getty
Ballerini was up for female artist of the year against the likes ofMiranda Lambert,Ashley McBryde,Maren MorrisandCarly Pearce— Morris ultimately brought home the win.
Last year, the “Half of My Hometown” starspoke to PEOPLE about collaboratingwith Chesney, whom she described as her childhood hero.
“We’re both from Knoxville, Tennessee, which is why he’s on the song,” Ballerini told PEOPLE. “Growing up, he was the hometown hero. A couple of years ago I was about to play [in Times Square], and he took a photo of my face on the marquee, got my number, texted me and said, ‘Proud of you, hometown girl, love Kenny.'”
“When I wrote ‘Half of My Hometown,’ I sent it to him because I think we grew up really similarly, and there’s no one else I’d want on this song — and I can’t believe he did it,” Ballerini added then.
source: people.com
