Keith Urban, Dierks Bentley, Toby Keith and Blake Shelton will pay tribute to Glen Campbell at the 10th Annual ACM Honors Tuesday night (August 30th). The legendary performer will be honored with the ACM Career Achievement Award, and the artists will perform an all-star medley of Glen’s greatest hits, finishing with a group performance of the hit “Rhinestone Cowboy.”
Keith says Glen is one of his biggest influences, mainly because he’s a “guitartist.” “I’ve always been a fan of what I like to call guitartists, you know those guitar-artists like Glen Campbell, who’s probably one of my biggest influences; those guys who knew a good song, had a great voice and played great and just the all-around guys with a guitar,’ says Keith. “When you think of Glen Campbell, you think of, I think of ‘Galveston,’ ‘Wichita Lineman,’ then I also think of him being a phenomenal guitar player.”
Toby says despite his debilitating illness with Alzheimer’s, he’s still an amazing guitar player. “He was one of the greatest guitar players of all time, and I don’t think most people realize that. I think most people saw him on the Glen Campbell Good Time Hour and some movies, and they just thought he’s a singer that sings some pop country,” says Toby. “But Glen was one of the greatest guitar players of all time too, and even when he couldn’t remember his songs he could still play them without remembering the words. It’s nice that they’re paying tribute to Glen.”
Last week, Dierks told us, “I’m honored to get the chance to perform on this tribute show for the ACMs [Honors], to be a part of this tribute. I’ve always felt connected to his music, grew up listening to it. I’m honored to be a part of it.”
Kim Campbell will accept the award on behalf of her husband of 35 years.
Previously announced performers include Luke Bryan, The Band Perry, Jason Aldean, Kelsea Ballerini, Cole Swindell, Maren Morris, Cam, Chris Young, Miranda Lambert and the night’s hosts Lady Antebellum, among others.
The ACM Honors is dedicated to celebrating all of the special honorees and off-camera category winners from this year’s ACM Awards. The two-hour special tapes Tuesday (August 30th) at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium and will air September 9th at 9pm ET/PT on CBS.
Audio / Keith Urban says Glen Campbell is one of his biggest musical influences.
DownloadKeith Urban (Glen Campbell) OC: …guitar player. :22
“I’ve always been a fan of what I like to call guitartists, you know those guitar-artists like Glen Campbell, who’s probably one of my biggest influences; those guys who knew a good song, had a great voice and played great and just the all-around guys with a guitar, you know? When you think of Glen Campbell, you think of, I think of ‘Galveston,’ ‘Wichita Lineman,’ then I also think of him being a phenomenal guitar player.”
Audio / Toby Keith talks about the legendary Glen Campbell, who he’s paying tribute to at the ACM Honors this week.
DownloadToby Keith (Glen Campbell) OC: …to ’75? :57
“The amazing thing about Glen’s deal is, Glen looks so good. Glen looks 15 years younger than he is, and he has full-blown Alzheimer’s. It’s just really sad to think that he’s in as great a shape as he is physically, except for that debilitating affliction. But, man! He was one of the greatest guitar players of all time, and I don’t think most people realize that. I think most people saw him on the Glen Campbell Good Time Hour and some movies, and they just thought he’s a singer that sings some pop country. But Glen was one of the greatest guitar players of all time too, and even when he couldn’t remember his songs he could still play them without remembering the words. It’s nice that they’re paying tribute to Glen, ‘cause he’s certainly an icon and worked with the Wrecking Crew back in the day in L.A. which is probably the band that played on most of the hits that you heard from ’65 to ’75?”
