The devil was down in Nashville Monday evening for the Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards Monday night, because legendary musician Charlie Daniels was posthumously awarded the Spirit Award.
According to the ACM website, the “award is inspired by Merle Haggard and is presented to a singer-songwriter who is continuing the legacy of country legend and 20-time ACM Award Winner Merle Haggard by following his/her own path, crafting great songs and epitomizing Merle’s spirit through genuine performances and great storytelling.”
His son, Charlie Daniels Jr., accepted the award on his father’s behalf, and a musical tribute to the icon was performed by Billy Ray Cyrus, Firerose and Travis Danning, according to the website Taste of Country.
Related: EXCLUSIVE: Charlie Daniels Remembers Merle Haggard
Daniels’ bio on the award page described the legend’s contribution to country music and society as such:
Charlie Daniels freely shared his thoughts and viewpoints throughout his career, but his legacy may be his deep love for children, his fans, and his country. He devoted countless hours of his time and recruited several of his favorite artists to join him on the annual Christmas 4 Kids Tour Bus Shows. His many Volunteer Jams appealed to Country listeners who embraced Daniels’ outsized personality, while veterans and military families could not have found a more enthusiastic or patriotic advocate.
Daniels passed away in 2020 and wrote many op-eds for CNSNews, conveying the pride he had in his country and country music, as well as his disdain for anti-American practices throughout the years.
The Spirit Award is well deserved for an absolute giant in the music industry.
Follow Us On X
Things That Need To Be Said: The Writers Strike Is Still Happening?
— MRCTV (@mrctv) September 18, 2023
Leftist writers did this to themselves by pumping out agenda-riddled crap for years before this strike happened. pic.twitter.com/sWUSuBS52O