Nate Smith brought his latest hit, “Bulletproof,” the 2024 ACM Awards stage on Thursday night (May 16), calling on Avril Lavigne to join him on the live debut of their remix.
“Been takin’ these shots, shots, shots/ 80, 90, everything they’ve got/ But the whiskey don’t kill like it’s supposed to do/ Baby, your memory must be bulletproof,” the duo sang in the chorus of the high-energy track, as they were backed by a full live band.
“She’s my absolute home slice,” Smith told Billboard of Lavigne on the red carpet ahead of the event, which was produced by Dick Clark Productions. “Avril has amazing energy. Both of our energies are really great. We’re really great friends, we like to drink white wine, we like to attempt to skateboard.”
He continued that the duo are also working on original music together: “She’s just the coolest person and so real, and she lives in the moment in every way. I love that about her.”
It was an exciting evening for Smith, who also took home new male artist of the year at the ceremony. Earlier this week, he received the rookie of the year honor at Billboard‘s Country Power Players event.
Other performers for this year’s 2024 ACM Awards included Jason Aldean; Kelsea Ballerini and Noah Kahan; Kane Brown; Jelly Roll; Cody Johnson; Miranda Lambert; Post Malone; Parker McCollum; Reba McEntire; Thomas Rhett; Nate Smith featuring Avril Lavigne; Chris Stapleton; and Lainey Wilson.
DCP is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a Penske Media Corporation (PMC) subsidiary and joint venture between PMC and Eldridge. PMC is the parent company of Billboard.
