Even after spending more than 30 years in the music business, Tim McGraw has maintained his kindness and modesty.
Backstage at the Academy of Country Music Honors in August, where he received the ACM Icon Award, ET’s Cassie DiLaura chatted with the country singer. McGraw told ET that despite having scores of hits, ten No. 1 country albums, and three GRAMMY Awards, he still feels “undeserving” of the recognition.
On the one side, he said, “I feel like I’ve been doing it for a long time, but on the other hand, I feel like I’ve got a lot further to go. So I hope this isn’t the pinnacle of my career, but I’m grateful nonetheless.
“I’m not a big awards guy, but I really appreciate my fans,” he continued. “I respect the work of the other artists in this field. I value the creative inspiration I receive from other artists. I gain knowledge every time I listen to a new record. I’m eager for people to hear my new album and for it to be released. I’ll try to keep stepping it up.
Faith Hill, McGraw’s wife of 27 years, and two of their three kids attended the ceremony to honor him with the Icon Award, though the “Live Like You Were Dying” singer confessed he was unable to glance their way during the speech.
Because I’m bad at giving presentations, I was unable to turn to face them. And I get emotional quite quickly when I do presentations,” he admitted. I believe I handled it reasonably well.
McGraw quipped that the girls in his life will be back to making fun of him in no time, regardless of whether or not he is an icon, despite the fact that there might be strong emotions on the night.
He laughed and said, “They’ll all give me a lot of flak for it for sure. “I’m the lowest man on the totem pole with my wife and three girls. And out of all the singers in our family, I have the least talent.
At the ACM Honors, country music sensation Tim McGraw brought together a star-studded ensemble, featuring friends and collaborators such as Brett Young and Nelly, igniting a wave of nostalgia by revisiting their 2004 crossover hit, “Over and Over.”
The ACM Honors event was a momentous occasion where McGraw, the seasoned musician from the heart of the nation, couldn’t help but gush about his fondness for Nelly and their iconic collaboration. He expressed his enthusiasm for the possibility of working on another song with the hip-hop luminary. “I’d love to do another song with Nelly,” McGraw beamed. “He’s one of my favorite individuals, and I love that song, too. Oh my, we were kind of the first to do that kind of collaboration approximately 20 years ago. I am honored to have achieved a hip-hop number one.”
The anticipation is building as fans await the broadcast of the 16th annual Academy of Country Music Honors, set to air on Fox at 10 p.m. PT/ET on Monday, September 18. This event promises to be a night filled with incredible performances, heartfelt speeches, and well-deserved honors for the brightest stars in the country music constellation.
As the world of music continues to evolve, it’s heartwarming to see artists like Tim McGraw and Nelly still cherishing the memories of their groundbreaking collaboration, reminding us all of the power of music to transcend genres and bring people together. So mark your calendars and get ready to relive the magic of “Over and Over” as country and hip-hop unite once more on the ACM Honors stage.