Reba McEntire Closes out the 2024 ACM Awards With Blazing Performance of ‘I Can’t’

The country star also hosted the ceremony.

Reba McEntire performs onstage during the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024 in Frisco, Texas. Jason Kempin/Getty Images

Reba McEntire brought the house down — and almost burnt it down, too — with the final performance of the night at the 2024 ACM Awards Thursday night (May 16), singing a blazing rendition of her new single “I Can’t.”

Joined by a stunning choir of gospel singers, the 69-year-old singer — who also served as the night’s host — passionately belted the lyrics to her latest track while staring down the camera, her red hair matching the curtain of pyrotechnic flames that sprung to life behind her. “I can’t row you across right now, I’m too busy building a bridge,” she sang. “I can’t throw a line right now, I’m too busy trying to live.”

The performance earned a standing ovation from Miranda Lambert, Chris Stapleton and more stars in the audience at Ford Center at the Star in Frisco, Texas. Before exiting the stage, the country icon also announced that she’d be returning to host the 2025 ACMs.

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The show comes just over a week after McEntire debuted “I Can’t” on The Voice, on which she’s currently serving her second season as a coach.

This year’s ceremony was produced by Dick Clark Productions and streamed live by Prime Video. Its other performers included Lainey Wilson — who later on won entertainer of the year — Jelly Roll, Post Malone, Dua Lipa with Chris Stapleton, Thomas Rhett, Jason Aldean and more.

DCP is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a Penske Media Corporation (PMC) subsidiary and joint venture between PMC and Eldridge. PMC is the parent company of Billboard.