ACM Awards

For the 54th year in a row, the Academy of Country Music Awards will celebrate country music’s superstars on April 7, 2019, in Las Vegas. Bring home the glitz and glam of country’s party of the year by throwing your own Academy of Country Music Awards Viewing Party! Here’s everything y’all will need, including music, food and wine suggestions.

Make Your Playlist Legendary

Honor the roots of country music with a playlist of songs from 1966, the first year of the Academy of Country Music Awards. The biggest ACM winners that year happened to also be involved in a love triangle: Buck Owens was named Top Male Vocalist; the award for Top Female Vocalist went to Buck’s ex-wife, Bonnie Owens; and Merle Haggard won Most Promising Male Vocalist – and married Bonnie that same year! Get the soundtrack to The Legend of Bonnie and Clyde, which features songs by both Bonnie Owens and Merle Haggard, and make sure to download Buck Owens’ Act Naturally, a song so great that the Beatles covered it.

Glam It Up Rustic Style

With the biggest night in country music happening in Las Vegas, decorations for your viewing party should be country rustic with a bit of Vegas flair. Think wood, burlap and galvanized steel when it comes to serving pieces, tableware and centerpieces. Scatter gold and silver confetti on the table for a little touch of Vegas, and serve Francis Ford Coppola Diamond Collection Claret in country-style mason ball jars.

Make a Southern Feast

You can’t go anywhere in the South without hearing country music, so it’s only natural to serve a Southern-inspired menu at your ACM Viewing Party. We’ve hand-selected a menu with classic comfort food dishes that are easy to prepare, complete with wine pairing suggestions.

Start with a Southern Classic

Kick off your night of country music by serving deviled eggs, an ole reliable at parties in the South. While there can be many variations when it comes to deviled eggs, there’s just no substitute for the original recipe.

Say “Yes” to Comfort Food

Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood are country music’s lovebirds – and known for their love of comfort food. In fact, Trisha has published several cookbooks to prove it! One of her go-to dishes is macaroni and cheese, a surprisingly versatile dish. Go with a classic version of the recipe, or mix it up with these new twists on mac-and-cheese, and pair with Francis Ford Coppola Diamond Collection Pavilion Chardonnay.

Serve a Crowd-Pleasing Main Dish

A culinary celebration of the South wouldn’t be complete without buttermilk-fried chicken. Or, for a meat-free option, try this Collard Green-Wrapped Catfish, which highlights how diverse Southern food can be. Pair either dish with Sofia Blanc de Blancs, and serve with this deceptively simple cornbread.

Finish with a Vegas-Style Dessert

Cap off your night with a nod to Las Vegas, home of this year’s ACM awards. Make a dark chocolate panna cotta, and add edible gold flakes (Amazon; $35) on top to make it Vegas-worthy.