
Huge band forced to pull out of awards as star left battling illness
A huge singer was forced to pull out of The Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday. Sugarland had been due to take to the stage but it later ermeged that things had dramatically been switched up at the last minute.
Sugarland had taken to social media just one day before the prestigious event to share their excitement ahead of the awards ceremony as they encouraged fans to tune in on Prime Video. However, it emerged that the band wouldn't be on stage and were replaced at the last minute by Little Big Town who performed their track Girl Crush, originally released in 2014. But the decision didn't go unnoticed by fans who instantly took to social media to share their confusion.
"I need to know- what song were you going to sing?! Missed you tonight," said one follower. A second went on to add: "Wait, Little Big Town sang instead?" asked a second. Another took to X, formerly known as Twitter commenting: "Watching the #ACMawards solely to see Jennifer Nettles (Sugarland) perform and Little Big Town takes their place."
"I think Little Big Town replaced Sugarland on the ACMs. It looks like Jennifer didn't make it, only Kristian is there," said another. Sugarland, consisting of Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush had also been scheduled to present the Duo of the Year award but only one half of the duo took to the stage.
Kristian presented the gong to Brooks & Dunn. Explaining Jennifer's absence, he said: "I was supposed to be presenting this ACM Award for Duo of the Year with my amazing partner Jennifer Nettles. Sadly, she got sick this morning, proving that when it comes to duos, it really does take two.
"Jennifer, I love you, we love you, feel better soon." The comments instantly prompted an outpouring of support from fans, with one sharing on social media: "Get Well Soon @jennifernettles." A second typed: "@jennifernettles hope you feel better soon. You were missed!!"
Jennifer is yet to comment on her illness. Before their scheduled performance, the duo teased that they were planning on "going all out" and fans "won't want to miss" their set.
But it appears that there's no love lost between the band as Sugarland and Little Big Town joined forces last year at the CMT Music Awards for a performance of the Phil Collins hit, Take Me Home.
They later went on to release the track as a single on the same day. Elsewhere, they co-headlined a tour, the Take Me Home Tour, which ran between October 24 and December 13 of last year.
At the awards, Lainey Wilson took home the top prize of Entertainer Of The Year for the second year in a row.
And that was after she cleaned house, taking home trophies for both female artist and album of the year. "I really do have the best fans in the world," she said in her final acceptance speech, admitting to experiencing impostor syndrome. "I dreamed about entertaining. ... Country music has given me more than I deserve."
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