The Boldest and Blandest Looks From the ACM Awards

The 57th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards were held in Las Vegas’s Allegiant Stadium on Monday night, exclusively streaming online for the first time ever. So, if you didn’t happen to tune in on Amazon Prime Video, you might not have caught all of the night’s big looks from stars like Carrie Underwood, Maren Morris, Matt James and more.

Most importantly, you might have also missed co-host Dolly Parton, one of the very best people this nation, nay, the world, has ever produced. Class act that she always is, Parton started the show with a message of solidarity to the people of Ukraine. “I don’t want to be political, and this is not; I’d rather pass a kidney stone than do that,” she said. “But I want us to send our love and hope to our brothers and sisters in Ukraine.”

“So why don’t we just dedicate this entire show to them and pray for peace around this crazy old world?” she added. Amen, Miz Parton.

American Idol alum Barrett was one of the night’s hosts. Now, I love a pant under a dress, any day, any time. But a pant under a dress with a slit up to the tit? Truly cannot be beat.

Rounding out the hosting trio was Allen, who hit the red carpet wearing a mesh shirt and looking somewhat like a particularly edgy member of DeBarge.

The Bachelor alums showed up looking cute enough but oddly mismatched. Her in a cute, spangly, but kind of blah dress, and him in an ankle-bearing take on the Canadian tuxedo. The bucket hat and bolo tie can stay, but there’s something off with the jeans.

Ever since the days of Stacy and Clinton trying to badger every woman in sight into wearing A-line dress, I’ve had a soft spot for folks who, like McBryde, sport signature streaks of grey. While the cerulean is beautiful, the stringy shoulder ties are very ‘90s mallwear, and not in the good way.