“THE MOMENT THE ACM STAGE FELT LIKE A CHURCH.” Carrie Underwood stunned the audience with a powerful medley of gospel hymns — soaring vocals, pure emotion, every note lifting the room. Moments later, Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd took the stage together, performing as a couple in a rare, intimate duet that felt less like an award show… and more like a love story unfolding under the lights.

▶️ Watch the performances below 👇

Carrie Underwood sings a powerful medley of gospel hymns while Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd perform as a couple at the 2021 ACM Awards

Country superstar Carrie Underwood teamed up with the iconic CeCe Winans to sing a medley of gospel hymns at the Academy of Country Music Awards.

The teaming of Underwood, 38, and Winans, 56, was among the highlights of the numerous performances all across Nashville during the Sunday night telecast.

Other highlights include Maren Morris performing with her husband Ryan Hurd for the first time on an awards show, as they sang their hit Chasing After You.

Carrie sings: Country superstar Carrie Underwood teamed up with the iconic CeCe Winans to sing a medley of gospel hymns at the Academy of Country Music Awards
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Carrie sings: Country superstar Carrie Underwood teamed up with the iconic CeCe Winans to sing a medley of gospel hymns at the Academy of Country Music Awards

Team: The teaming of Underwood, 38, and Winans, 56, was among the highlights of the numerous performances all across Nashville during the Sunday night telecast
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Team: The teaming of Underwood, 38, and Winans, 56, was among the highlights of the numerous performances all across Nashville during the Sunday night telecast

Maren and Ryan: Other highlights include Maren Morris performing with her husband Ryan Hurd for the first time on an awards show, as they sang their hit Chasing After You
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Maren and Ryan: Other highlights include Maren Morris performing with her husband Ryan Hurd for the first time on an awards show, as they sang their hit Chasing After You

Underwood wore a stunning full-length beige gown with glittery sequins that lined the lacy dress.

She kicked off her performance with with a powerful a cappella rendition of Amazing Grace, the first of many classics from her gospel album My Savior.

The Jesus Take the Wheel singer then broke into Great Is Thy Faithfulness, before introduce CeCe Winans, who came out onto the stage.

Carrie's look: Underwood wore a stunning full-length beige gown with glittery sequins that lined the lacy dress
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Carrie’s look: Underwood wore a stunning full-length beige gown with glittery sequins that lined the lacy dress

Amazing Grace: She kicked off her performance with with a powerful a cappella rendition of Amazing Grace, the first of many classics from her gospel album My Savior
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Amazing Grace: She kicked off her performance with with a powerful a cappella rendition of Amazing Grace, the first of many classics from her gospel album My Savior

Carrie and CeCe: The Jesus Take the Wheel singer then broke into Great Is Thy Faithfulness, before introduce CeCe Winans, who came out onto the stage
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Carrie and CeCe: The Jesus Take the Wheel singer then broke into Great Is Thy Faithfulness, before introduce CeCe Winans, who came out onto the stage

Together they both sang a rendition of The Old Rugged Cross before Underwood was joined by a choir to close her performance with How Great Thou Art Are.

The medley received a rousing standing ovation from the crowd at the legendary Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.

Despite a rousing performance, Underwood only earned one nomination for Music Video of the Year for Hallelujah, a collaboration with John Legend.

Closing: Together they both sang a rendition of The Old Rugged Cross before Underwood was joined by a choir to close her performance with How Great Thou Art Are
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Closing: Together they both sang a rendition of The Old Rugged Cross before Underwood was joined by a choir to close her performance with How Great Thou Art Are

Standing ovation: The medley received a rousing standing ovation from the crowd at the legendary Grand Ole Opry in Nashville
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Standing ovation: The medley received a rousing standing ovation from the crowd at the legendary Grand Ole Opry in Nashville

One nomination: Despite a rousing performance, Underwood only earned one nomination for Music Video of the Year for Hallelujah, a collaboration with John Legend
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One nomination: Despite a rousing performance, Underwood only earned one nomination for Music Video of the Year for Hallelujah, a collaboration with John Legend

Another highlight from the performance side was Maren Morris and her husband Ryan Hurd performing Chasing After You at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.

The performance marked the first time the couple – who were married in 2018 and share a one-year-old son together – have performed for an awards show.

The couple performed the sultry duet amid an artificial field, with Morris rocking a billowing top and matching gold pants while Hurd rocked a white dress shirt and black pants.

Highlight: Another highlight from the performance side was Maren Morris and her husband Ryan Hurd performing Chasing After You at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville
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Highlight: Another highlight from the performance side was Maren Morris and her husband Ryan Hurd performing Chasing After You at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville

First time: The performance marked the first time the couple - who were married in 2018 and share a one-year-old son together - have performed for an awards show
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First time: The performance marked the first time the couple – who were married in 2018 and share a one-year-old son together – have performed for an awards show

Duet: The couple performed the sultry duet amid an artificial field, with Morris rocking a billowing top and matching gold pants while Hurd rocked a white dress shirt and black pants
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Duet: The couple performed the sultry duet amid an artificial field, with Morris rocking a billowing top and matching gold pants while Hurd rocked a white dress shirt and black pants

The show kicked off with Miranda Lambert and Elle King singing their new duet Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home), both rocking black sequined jumpsuits.

Lambert would ultimately perform three times in total on Sunday night, agreeing to replace Chris Stapleton’s wife Morgane at the last minute to sing the duet Maggie’s Song, wearing a white shirt, brown and black fringed coat, blue jeans and black boots.

She took to the stage a third time with Jack Ingram and Jon Randall to sing their song In His Arms, rocking a different outfit for each performance, this time wearing a demin coat, different blue jeans and a white cowboy hat.

Miranda and Elle: The show kicked off with Miranda Lambert and Elle King singing their new duet Drunk (And I Don't Wanna Go Home)
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Miranda and Elle: The show kicked off with Miranda Lambert and Elle King singing their new duet Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)

Miranda and Chris: Lambert would ultimately perform three times in total on Sunday night, agreeing to replace Chris Stapleton's wife Morgane at the last minute to sing the duet Maggie's Song, wearing a white shirt, brown and black fringed coat, blue jeans and black boots
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Miranda and Chris: Lambert would ultimately perform three times in total on Sunday night, agreeing to replace Chris Stapleton’s wife Morgane at the last minute to sing the duet Maggie’s Song, wearing a white shirt, brown and black fringed coat, blue jeans and black boots

Third performance: She took to the stage a third time with Jack Ingram and Jon Randall to sing their song In His Arms, rocking a different outfit for each performance, this time wearing a demin coat, different blue jeans and a white cowboy hat
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Third performance: She took to the stage a third time with Jack Ingram and Jon Randall to sing their song In His Arms, rocking a different outfit for each performance, this time wearing a demin coat, different blue jeans and a white cowboy hat

The evening’s only other multiple performer was Kenny Chesney, who took to the stage twice on Sunday night.

He teamed up with Kelsea Ballerini to sing her brand new song Half My Hometown from the Grand Ole Opry.

He also took to the Opry stage solo later in the awards show telecast to perform his hit Knowing You.

Kenny duet: He teamed up with Kelsea Ballerini to sing her brand new song Half My Hometown from the Grand Ole Opry
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Kenny duet: He teamed up with Kelsea Ballerini to sing her brand new song Half My Hometown from the Grand Ole Opry

Kenny solo: He also took to the Opry stage solo later in the awards show telecast to perform his hit Knowing You
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Kenny solo: He also took to the Opry stage solo later in the awards show telecast to perform his hit Knowing You

Among the other performances on Sunday night were Dierks Bentley with The War and Treaty, who covered U2’s Pride (In The Name Of Love).

Brothers Osborne performed two of their hit tracks, I’m Not For Everyone and Dead Man’s Curve.

Country legend Alan Jackson also performed two songs, You’ll Always Be My Baby and Drive (For Daddy Gene).

Dierks: Among the other performances on Sunday night were Dierks Bentley with The War and Treaty, who covered U2's Pride (In The Name Of Love)
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Dierks: Among the other performances on Sunday night were Dierks Bentley with The War and Treaty, who covered U2’s Pride (In The Name Of Love)

Brothers sing: Brothers Osborne performed two of their hit tracks, I'm Not For Everyone and Dead Man's Curve
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Brothers sing: Brothers Osborne performed two of their hit tracks, I’m Not For Everyone and Dead Man’s Curve

Legend: Country legend Alan Jackson also performed two songs, You'll Always Be My Baby and Drive (For Daddy Gene)
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Legend: Country legend Alan Jackson also performed two songs, You’ll Always Be My Baby and Drive (For Daddy Gene)

Performances also included Eric Church singing Bunch of Nothing, Luke Combs singing Forever After All and Dan + Shay with Glad You Exist

Mickey Guyton, who co-hosted the ceremony with Keith Urban, also took to the stage to perform Hold On, while Urban also performed Tumbleweed.

The performances were rounded out by Ashley McBryde singing Martha Devine, Carly Pearce and Lee Brice singing I Hope You’re Happy Now, Thomas Rhett singing Country Again, Blake Shelton singing both Austin and Minimum Wage and Chris Young and Kane Brown – “Famous Friends”

Eric sings: Performances also included Eric Church singing Bunch of Nothing, Luke Combs singing Forever After All and Dan + Shay with Glad You Exist
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Eric sings: Performances also included Eric Church singing Bunch of Nothing, Luke Combs singing Forever After All and Dan + Shay with Glad You Exist

Hosts: Mickey Guyton, who co-hosted the ceremony with Keith Urban, also took to the stage to perform Hold On, while Urban also performed Tumbleweed
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Hosts: Mickey Guyton, who co-hosted the ceremony with Keith Urban, also took to the stage to perform Hold On, while Urban also performed Tumbleweed

Ashley sings: The performances were rounded out by Ashley McBryde singing Martha Devine
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Ashley sings: The performances were rounded out by Ashley McBryde singing Martha Devine