What an incredible ACM weekend in Las Vegas! I got home at 1 AM last night, but thankfully it is a beautiful day here in Nashville, so I am currently recovering by writing to you all in my jammies on my back porch. Let’s start from the beginning.
We landed in Las Vegas in the early evening on Friday and I headed straight over to my interview at MORE with the lovely Rachel Smith. She and I met in Los Angeles, by the pool, and instantly became friends, which was great because it made our interview natural and so much fun. While hanging in the green room, Rachel and I had to fit in a quick game of Pac Man…she definitely beat me!
After we said our goodbyes, I headed over to meet Phillip and the gang at Giada De Laurentiis – an incredibly beautiful restaurant. Giada’s tasting menu experience was set up like you are attending a dinner party at her house. The first course was a lovely array of cheeses and Italian meats – right up my alley! Next came a beautiful Caprese salad with juicy heirloom tomatoes and mozzarella. The main course was a Rigatoni vegetable bolognese and was nothing short of delicious. I was so full…until a beautiful copper dessert cart parked right next to our table. They offered an assortment of delicious sweet treats, and we tried a bite of every one! Definitely a great way to end the meal.
I woke up Saturday morning ready to enjoy a fun time at the Content Creator Studio powered by Cracker Barrel Studio at ACM Party For A Cause. This event was an absolute blast for me. There was a huge production space with different pods full of some of my favorite social influencers and I had the opportunity to walk around the room to meet everybody. My first stop was with WhoSay, where we played roulette karaoke. I destroyed a Jimmy Buffet song in case you were wondering. Let’s all remember, I am not the singer in the family – oops! After that, Kimberly Schlapman and I experienced some mind blowing magic with Collins Key. We couldn’t believe the tricks he was doing; Collins is extremely talented. I then shared a special memory with the beautiful Blair Fowler. She asked me if I would rather apply my make up with my left hand or allow Philip to do it. Funny thing is, Phillip actually has! I asked for his help while I was in labor with Penelopi. I wanted to look my best for the arrival of our beautiful daughter. I’ll post a photo on my Instagram for my throwback Thursday, so make sure you keep an eye out! After sharing that moment, an incredible illustrator, Alex Kim, created a piece for Sweet Ladi Jane. Side note– she has been named one of the top “5 must-follow fashion illustrators” by Vanity Fair. To finish out the amazing day, I got to snuggle with the one and only Doug The Pug!
Before I knew it, Sunday was here, and with it came the ACM awards! I was so excited and honored to attend. My morning started with the lovely Jared Keys. Jared is a wonderful hair and makeup artist who has been doing my makeup since high school! We always have a ball together.
After hair and glam, I headed to the MGM Grand to finish getting dressed before the red carpet. I always get butterflies right before we walk on. It’s fun watching everyone on the carpet while running into so many of my beautiful friends. All the lovely ladies gracing the red carpet were stunning with hearts of gold to match.
After the carpet, we headed to our seats to watch the show. My favorite performance was Little Big Town and Trombone Shorty, (I know I may be slightly biased), but it was epic! I am so proud of Phillip and his bandmates. They work tirelessly and are incredibly talented. Join me in congratulating them on their wins!
Whew – What a weekend! Anyone have recommendations for sore feet? Hope you all had a wonderful weekend as well!
