Rascal Flatts are bringing a major crossover moment to the 60th ACM Awards in Frisco, TX, performing alongside 2000s pop icons, Backstreet Boys. The legendary bands will team up for a long-awaited collaboration on the Rascal Flatts’ emotional hit, “What Hurts The Most,” plus an extra surprise or two.
The two groups are set to perform together in Frisco, TX at the 2025 Academy of Country Music Awards. Prior to taking the stage, Brian Littrell and Kevin Richardson of the Backstreet Boys revealed how the bands from different genres ended up working together to create this pop-country blend.
“So we ran into Rascal Flatts over the years, gosh, the past 20 years. So it just kind of happened,” Brian explained to Country Now. “They just reached out ‘Hey, we want you guys to sing a song with us.’ We were like, ‘tell us which one.’ They were like, ‘you pick.” I was like, ‘we have to do ‘what hurts the most’ because its just a classic…it was just a perfect matchup.”
How The Collaboration Came To Be
Rascal Flatts’ lead singer Gary LeVox noted that the “I Want It That Way” singers were the first artists they reached out to when putting this duets project together.
“We’ve been friends for a long time and it was finally awesome to be on a project with them and rehearsals went incredible. You don’t want to miss the show.”
Kevin then jumped in to tease that “What Hurts The Most” might not be the only song that the groups will be performing on the ACM stage this week.
“We might throw a few more in there. We don’t want to give it all away right now. You’re going to have to tune in and watch but yeah we’ve got a few more tricks up our sleeves,” he hinted.
Jay DeMarcus added, “We’re doing medley, but we can’t give anything away. It’s a surprise.”
‘LIFE IS A HIGHWAY: REFUELED DUETS’ Album Coming Soon
The performance is set to be part of a larger moment tied to the country trio’s upcoming LIFE IS A HIGHWAY: REFUELED DUETS album. The project, out June 6 via Big Machine Records, finds them reimagining nine of their beloved hits including “What Hurts The Most” with Backstreet Boys, “Mayberry” with Blake Shelton, “I’m Movin’ On” with Kelly Clarkson, “I Dare You” with Jonas Brothers and more.
Meanwhile, The Backstreet Boys are cooking up a milestone project of their own. In celebration of the 25th anniversary of their chart-topping, 5-time GRAMMY- nominated album, Millennium, the group will release 25 tracks, including all 12 remastered originals, live recordings, demos, including “I Want It That Way” and B-sides, including the alternate version of “I Want It That Way” and a new song titled, “Hey.”
The project, titled Millennium 2.0, will coincide with their summer residency fittingly named Into The Millennium. They will kick things off in July with select dates at the Sphere in Las Vegas.
Rascal Flatts Reclaim Their Spot In ACM Group of the Year Category
For the first time since 2017, Rascal Flatts are back in the running for ACM Group of the Year, marking their 12th career nomination in the category and their first since taking the trophy home in 2009 for a record seventh time. This year, they are vying for the win against Flatland Calvary, Little Big Town, Old Dominion and The Red Clay Strays.
“I don’t know what to say really. It’s been a blessing and I hope we beat Old Dominion,” LeVox joked before adding, “We’re thrilled to be in the category, thrilled to have the performance. Just thrilled to be part of ACMs for 60 years.”
Their most recent nod comes on the heels of wrapping their nearly sold-out Life Is a Highway Tour. According to the group, more shows could be on the horizon.
2025 ACM Awards Performers
Rascal Flatts and Backstreet Boys appear among a stacked lineup of country acts, including Kelsea Ballerini, Blake Shelton, Eric Church, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, Chris Stapleton, Zach Top, Brothers Osborne, and Lainey Wilson, who will each bring their talent to the ACM Awards.
The show will open with a can’t-miss tribute to ACM Songs of the Year from the past six decades, featuring performances by Clint Black, Dan + Shay, Wynonna Judd, Reba McEntire, LeAnn Rimes, and Sugarland.
Viewers will also get to experience several collaborations from Jelly Roll and Shaboozey, and Brooks & Dunn with Cody Johnson.
How To Watch
16-time ACM Award-winner Reba McEntire is returning to reclaim her hosting duties yet again. This will mark the country icon’s 18th time hosting or co-hosting the event, more than any other artist in ACM history.
The 60th ACM Awards will stream live around the world on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. PT, exclusively on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch, reaching audiences in over 240 countries and territories. The show will air from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, the world headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys.
More details can be found HERE.
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