Cody Johnson Gets Crowd Singing With Cover Of Willie Nelson Classic

Just seconds after Willie Nelson FaceTimed the 2023 ACM Awards crowd and hosts Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks on Thursday, May 11th, the talented Cody Johnson hit the stage to celebrate the country legend's 90th birthday (April 29th).

Singing the Waylon Jennings and Nelson classic "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys," Johnson's rich voice guided the star-studded crowd into a full-blown sing-a-long. Country stars like Trisha Yearwood, Cole Swindell, and Jo Dee Messina were all caught on camera passionately singing along to the beloved 1978 hit. To bookend his performance, Johnson sent out one last birthday shout-out to Nelson: "Happy birthday, Willie. Burn one for me tonight."

Country music's biggest stars were honored at the 58th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday night. Two of the genre's most iconic superstars Parton and Brooks teamed up to co-host the show live from Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. HARDY and Lainey Wilson dominated this year's nominations with seven and six nods respectively. Kane Brown, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, and Cole Swindell each earned five nominations this year. For one of the night's most coveted awards, Entertainer of the Year, Jason Aldean, Kane Brown, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Chris Stapleton, Carrie Underwood, and Morgan Wallen were all in the running. Keep up with the 2023 ACM Awards winners here!

Other performers included Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert, Luke Combs, Lainey Wilson, Kane Brown, Ashley McBryde, Jo Dee Messina — returning to the ACM Awards stage for the first time in more than two decades — Dolly Parton, Cole Swindell, Keith Urban, Morgan Wallen, The War and Treaty, and first-time ACM Awards performers Jelly Roll, Bailey Zimmerman, and Ed Sheeran.