Whether it was the awe-inspiring opening set by MŌRIAH that silenced a room buzzing with chatter and laughter, or wise words from host, journalist, and 2025 Charley Pride Celebration honoree Marcus K. Dowling, the theme of the third annual “I’m Just Me: A Charley Pride Celebration of Inclusion” fete was that country is not limited to race or gender.
Held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, the first thing you noticed upon entering the room was its vibrant florals and greenery, turning the brunch into a country bayou, courtesy of Heks Code founder/floral designer Hekmet Ahmed.
Then there was the distinguished list of honorees: The Compton Cowboys, the Los Angeles-based equestrian collective; James Marsh, the national account director at Warner Music Nashville; and MŌRIAH, who led this year’s roster. Said MŌRIAH as she reflected on why, as a Latina artist, her background finds such a strong connection with country music, “My home is in Nashville, my roots are in LA, and my blood is Mexican. When you have that convergence of all of those cultures, country music is the perfect one because [country music] is all about three chords and the truth.”
Created to bolster the inclusive and diverse voices shaping country music’s continued expansion, the brunch has become a meaningful ACM Awards Week platform honoring artists, executives, allies, and culture shapers whose work reflects Charley Pride’s enduring legacy and helps create a more inclusive future for country music.
Country Heat Weekly podcast co-hosts Amber Anderson and Kelly Sutton delivered remarks, sharing their excitement about returning to the ACM red carpet before introducing the trailer for Charley Pride: I’m Just Me, the PBS American Masters documentary that premiered in February 2019 and is currently streaming on Prime Video.
Amazon MGM Studios, in partnership with Amazon Music and the Academy of Country Music, hosted the event ahead of the 2026 Academy of Country Music Awards, airing this Sunday
Leshelle Sargent, publicity principal at Amazon MGM Studios, delivered opening remarks on the event’s creation and its lasting impact. “Looking around this room, I’m reminded that what started as an idea has become something much bigger: a cultural moment, a community, and a movement,” she stated.
“I founded the I’m Just Me: A Charley Pride Celebration of Inclusion in May 2022 with a clear vision to create a space where legacy is honored, barriers are challenged, and the future of country music looks like all of us.”
Additional honorees included Joseph Hudak of Rolling Stone, Beverly Keel, music journalist and dean of the College of Media and Entertainment at Middle Tennessee State University, and Stephanie Davenport, vice president of A&R at Warner Music Nashville.
While attendees physically left with gifted brown suede gift bags filled with gifts from 7 Black-owned brands, what we really left with is the indelible path Charley Pride carved for country artists. He simply broke barriers by walking into the room. As one of the first Black superstars in country music, Pride built a career that reshaped the genre, even against racism and exclusion.
He became the first Black artist to top the country charts with a No. 1 record and the first performer ever to win CMA’s Male Vocalist of the Year in consecutive years. Pride rose to global fame on the strength of his voice and artistry, collecting honors including three Grammy Awards, the ACM Pioneer Award, and the Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Decades later, his presence is still felt. His impact reshaped country music, opening doors for a new generation of Black country artists, while his influence beyond music continues through the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation’s Charley Pride Fellowship Program.
The brunch was one of many events leading up to the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards. Hosted by legendary songwriter and bestselling country star Shania Twain, the ceremony will stream live on Prime Video on Sunday, May 17, from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas beginning at 8 p.m. ET.