Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert and Lainey Wilson joined forces to deliver the world premiere performance of their empowering new collaboration, “Trailblazer,” on the 60th ACM Awards stage on Thursday evening (May 8).

The trio of trailblazers — 18-time ACM host, most awarded artist in ACM history, and reigning Entertainer of the Year, respectively — announced the collaboration’s debut one day before Country Music’s Party of the Year kicked off in Texas. They took the stage together in matching, Western-style wardrobe pieces to perform “a heartfelt tribute to the pioneering women of country music who paved the way for future generations,” reads a press release issued after the show. The release adds that the collaboration “celebrates the strength, resilience, and individuality of female artists, blending vivid imagery and deep emotion to honor their legacy and express gratitude for the paths they forged.” Lambert and Wilson teamed up with Brandy Clark to write “Trailblazer.” It was produced by McEntire and Tony Brown.

The milestone 60th ACM Awards kicked off with a star-studded “Songs of the Decades” performance by McEntire, plus Clint Black, Dan + Shay, Wynonna Judd, and LeAnn Rimes and Little Big Town. The group teamed up to pay tribute to 60 years of ACM Songs of the Year.

Country Music’s Party of the Year also included performances by Lainey Wilson, Blake Shelton, Sugarland, Clint Black, Wynonna Judd, Dan + Shay, LeAnn Rimes, Alan Jackson, Backstreet Boys, Brooks & Dunn, Brothers Osborne, Chris Stapleton, Cody Johnson, Ella Langley, Eric Church, Jelly Roll, Kelsea Ballerini, Megan Moroney, Miranda Lambert, Rascal Flatts, Shaboozey, and Zach Top. The star-studded list of presenters included Black, Judd, Shelton, Sugarland’s Kristian Bush, Carly Pearce, Crystal Gayle, ERNEST, Gabby Barrett, Gretchen Wilson, Jordan Davis, Lee Ann Womack, Lionel Richie, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Parker McCollum, Riley Green, Rita Wilson, Sara Evans and The Oak Ridge Boys, plus NASCAR driver Chase Elliott and podcast hosts Amber Anderson and Kelly Sutton. iHeartRadio’s Bobby Bones interviewed artists throughout the 60th ACM Awards. Check back with iHeartRadio for interviews, recaps of epic performances and other can’t-miss moments, stunning red carpet fashion, a live-updated list of winners and more.

Sixteen-time ACM winner McEntire returned to host the show for her 18th time, more than any other artist. The event took place again at the world headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys at The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.

Jessica