Watch Taylor Swift Perform at the ACM Awards for the First Time in 7 Years
ACMA2020, Getty Images
The queen of pop has returned to her country roots. Taylor Swift took the Grand Ole Opry stage in Nashville to perform her song "Betty" at the ACM Awards, marking her first appearance at the award show in seven years. Swift sang a stripped-down version of the most-twangy song on Folklore (which reminds us of her old hits "Mean" and "The Best Day")—and we're totally crying into our cardigans.
Swift, a nine-time ACM winner, took the renowned Grand Ole Opry stage wearing khaki slacks, a purple sequin turtleneck, and strappy kitten heels—all by English designer (and Swift's close pal) Stella McCartney. The singer did her own minimal makeup and windblown, curly up-do for her performance, during which she sat on a stool and strummed her acoustic guitar. Tay took the spotlight onstage, accompanied only by a harmonica player whose notes rang out during the ultra-catchy chorus.
Tay is the youngest person to win the ACM award for Entertainer of the Year at the age of 21, so her return to the awards show stage was an exciting moment for country fans, and likely, the singer herself.
Watch Swift's performance of "Betty" below, and try not to sing along—we dare you.
It seems Tay will never totally abandon her country roots, no matter how many pop hits she writes.
"Betty" is one of the most talked-about songs on Folklore, with queer canon theories (which Tay debunked), possible inspo gleaned from Miss Phoebe Buffay, and legit references to Blake Lively and Ryan Reynold's kids. We're loving this stripped-down version of the song that's part of the Teenage Love Triangle on Folklore (only die-hard Swifties will understand that one).
Tay showed up at the party, and yes, we will have her, we want her. Our fingers are crossed that we don't have to wait another seven years for Swift to take the ACM Awards stage again.
