ACM Awards: Reba McEntire speaks up for women during monologue
When the nominees were announced for this year's Academy of Country Music Awards, host Reba McEntire wasn't happy that there were no female nominees up for the night's top prize.
That omission was still on the country star's mind Sunday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, as she took the stage for her opening monologue.
"Do you know it snowed in Las Vegas just a few weeks ago?" she asked the audience.
"Yeah. It was so cold, it froze us women out of entertainer of the year. But you know what? That didn't bother Kacey Musgraves, because she's been too busy carrying all her Grammys around."
The ACM's 2019 entertainer of the year nominees are all men: Chris Stapleton, Jason Aldean, Keith Urban, Luke Bryan and Kenny Chesney.
"It doesn't make me very happy because we've got some very talented women out there who are working their butts off," McEntire said in February, later adding: “I’m missing my girlfriends on this list.”
McEntire is hosting the ACMs for a record 16th time this year. She said she's often asked if she's "tired" of hosting.
"My name is Reba McEntire, and I haven't been tired in 53 years," she proclaimed. "I'm a woman in the music business, and we don't have time for 'tired.' Now let's get this show started before I need a nap."
Besides beating the drum for women, she took a few lighthearted jabs at other nominees, often with their participation.
Blake Shelton — a former ACMs co-host of hers — pulled a microphone out of his jacket and asked if she needed any help.
After joking about all the jobs Kelly Clarkson currently holds down, the camera cut to the singer in the audience, drawing a sketch of McEntire and knitting a scarf.
Another quick bit saw Luke Bryan holding up a sign from the audience celebrating his 22 No. 1 singles.
"Aw Luke, look at you using all your numbers and letters," McEntire quipped.
The return of Reba: Reba McEntire: 16-time host still a perfect fit for the ACM Awards
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: ACM Awards: Reba McEntire speaks up for women during monologue
