Reba McEntire excited to host ACMs Sunday, talks shooting tribute, says there will be 'no MeToo talk

(11 Apr 2018) REBA MCENTIRE ON ACM SHOW: 'NO ME TOO TALK BECAUSE WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET POLITICAL' Country megastar Reba McEntire is ready to host the Academy of Country Music Awards this Sunday (15 APRIL) for the 15th time. McEntire joked with reporters Wednesday (11 APRIL) that she's got a game plan in mind. "Don't panic, don't sweat the small stuff. Take a deep breath, have fun," McEntire said about what she's learned after hosting 14 previous times. "Don't be nervous, you're just performing in front of millions of people, yeah." The show comes six months after a mass shooting at a Las Vegas country music festival. Many artists say they are looking forward to showing their support for the fan community and each other after the tragedy at the Route 91 Harvest Festival last October where a lone gunman killed 58 people and hundreds more were injured. The ACMs will open with a tribute to those affected by nation's deadliest mass shooting. "Well, we decided to do a tribute to all the folks that were in the ... involved, affected by the tragedy last October. I thought that was a very wonderful thing for the ACM to decide to do, opening the show with it. It's very heartfelt, very moving. Letting everyone know who was involved in it that we are still thinking and praying for them. We have not forgot them. But we came back to Vegas because we are strong. We are not going to let anything that one person tries to put fear in our heart, we are going to come back, we are going to be just as strong as ever. And we are going to pay tribute to the folks involved, and then we're going to go on and have a great show of entertainment because music heals the heart and that's what our job is, is to heal hearts and to sing music," she said. What you won't hear is any talk about the Me Too movement, or any sort of politics. "No Me Too talk because we are not going to get political. We are going to enjoy each other," said McEntire. "Our job is to entertain and so what we are going to do is to entertain you folks, get their minds off their troubles and then when they leave the auditorium – the arena or when they turn off the television set, I hope that their hearts are lighter so they can go face their troubles just a little bit more for forceful and not be so dragged down. I know so many have so many problems. We are there to uplift them." The show will feature top crossover collaborations between Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line, whose hit duet "Meant to Be" has dominated the country airwaves, as well as Keith Urban and Julia Michaels' new song, "Coming Home," which is based on a Merle Haggard guitar riff. Another highly anticipated moment is Carrie Underwood's debut of a new song called "Cry Pretty." It will be her first television appearance after sustaining an injury to her face and wrist last year due to a fall at her home. "I was devastated when I heard about her fall," said McEntire. "I was so concerned, and I texted, I sent flowers, I said 'Is there anything I can do?' But healing is a very personal thing. So I just wanted to let her to know that I was praying for her. So I haven't talked to her since the accident and I'm looking forward to seeing her, so I can go hug her neck." McEntire, who was tapped to play KFC's next Colonel Sanders, said it's not likely the founder of the fried chicken chain will make an ACM appearance. "You know, you know you know. You never know what old Colonel is going to be doing, but I don't think so. But you know, there you are," she said. The ACMs air live Sunday on CBS. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives ​​ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/4316b8b3524818bbd367d757a2eebe8c

Added 12 Aug 2026