Two fast-rising country stars from Alabama had a surprise interruption during a recent performance. But when Reba McEntire interrupts you, it’s OK.

Especially if she’s letting you know you just picked up an advance award from the Academy of Country Music.

The ACM has been using advance awards to build up anticipation for its awards telecast Thursday evening. The orchestrated announcements have included Alabama’s Red Clay Strays getting a call from Miranda Lambert to let them know they’d been picked as New Duo or Group of the Year. (On Thursday we’ll find out whether they also bring home the Group of the Year award. Another Alabama group, Muscadine Bloodline, is up for Duo of the Year.)

Alabama native Ella Langley is the top nominee of the year with eight in all. When she joined fellow Alabamian Riley Green on stage to sing a hit duet last Friday, she had already received the trophy for New Female Artist of the Year.

According to the ACM, Green was headlining a “Country Thunder” concert in Tampa when Langley joined him on stage for their duet “You Look Like You Love Me.” McEntire, who’ll host Thursday’s show, appeared on the screens on stage with a quick message: “Sorry to interrupt, but I have some big news. ‘You Look Like You Love Me’ has won the ACM for Visual Media of the Year. Congratulations to Ella and Riley!”

The song was Langley’s first No. 1 country single. The visual media award goes to both the artist featured in a video and its director, and since Langley is both, the ACM credits her with a double win in this case. After McEntire’s announcement, Langley was quick to tell the Country Thunder crowd that she shares the award with co-directors Wales Toney and John Park.

She’s also up for Female Artist of the Year, and the song is a contender for Single of the Year, Music Event of the Year and Song of the Year. The last one is another potential double for her, as it goes both to the artist and the songwriter. Green will share in any wins by the song, including a potential double as artist and songwriter for Song of the Year. He previously won New Male Artist of the Year in 2020.

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Langley shared McEntire’s message in an Instagram post thanking McEntire and the ACM.

The ACM Awards ceremony will be held at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. The show will be streamed live at 7 p.m. Central time on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch.