The Academy of Country Music, dick clark productions, and Wells Fargo has announced that 55th Academy of Country Music Awards performer Mickey Guyton will appear in a special moment airing during the telecast to help raise awareness around the issue of hunger during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Working with Feeding America, the largest domestic hunger-relief organization in the country, and its network of member food banks, Wells Fargo is turning many of its locations across the country into mobile food distribution centers with the goal of providing 50 million meals* to individuals and families through the Wells Fargo Drive-Up Food Bank program.
Additionally, Wells Fargo is joining forces with ACM Lifting Lives, the philanthropic arm of the Academy of Country Music, and donating $100,000 to the ACM Lifting Lives COVID-19 Response Fund. Created in response to the growing need, the fund assists individuals working in the Country Music industry who are suffering a financial crisis as a result of the pandemic. This donation is in addition to the more than $175 million the Wells Fargo Foundation has donated to help address critical community needs such as food assistance, financial health, small business, and housing stability in communities across the United States since the beginning of the pandemic.
“We are delighted to work with Wells Fargo for the 55th ACM Awards show this year and honored to have Mickey Guyton spotlight and raise awareness on the continued efforts of improving communities across the country,” said Lyndsay Cruz, executive director of ACM Lifting Lives. “Wells Fargo has provided countless resources for people to turn to during these challenging times, and their generous donation to the ACM Lifting Lives COVID-19 Response Fund will further assist those still in need in the Country Music industry seeking financial assistance.”
Hosted by reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year and 15-time ACM Award winner Keith Urban, the 55th ACM Awards, a Night of Heart and Hits Live from Nashville, Tennessee, will be broadcast on Wednesday, Sept. 16, (live 8:00-11:00 p.m. Eastern time/delayed Pacific time) on the CBS Television Network, and will be available to stream on demand on CBS All Access.
For the first time in the show’s history, the awards will take place in Nashville, broadcasting from three iconic Country Music venues: Grand Ole Opry House, Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium, and The Bluebird Cafe. As previously announced, the 55th ACM Awards will also feature performances by Jimmie Allen, Kelsea Ballerini, Gabby Barrett, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line, Riley Green, Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw, Maren Morris, Old Dominion and Thomas Rhett featuring Jon Pardi, Blake Shelton featuring Gwen Stefani, Tenille Townes, Carrie Underwood, Morgan Wallen, Trisha Yearwood and more to be announced.
Multimedia assets about the Wells Fargo Drive-Up Food Bank program can be found in the Wells Fargo Newsroom. For more information, visit ACMcountry.com. You can also like Academy of Country Music on Facebook, follow on Twitter at @ACMawards, follow on Instagram at @ACMawards, and sign up for the free ACM A-List for more immediate updates.
*50 million meals calculation is based on 1) Projected number of meals distributed through Wells Fargo Drive-Up Food Bank events and 2) Wells Fargo’s financial contributions to support Feeding America food banks 7/20/20-10/31/20. $1 helps provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America on behalf of local member food banks.