The ACM Awards has kept a big surprise under wraps: Not only is Chris Stapleton performing, but he’ll also be joined by Dua Lipa on the stage. Plus, the pair are planning to release a collaboration together, according to sources on site at the awards at Ford Theater at the Star in Frisco, Texas.
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The sources say that the collaboration will officially drop Friday (May 17), one day after the ACMs. Reps for Lipa and Stapleton did not immediately respond to Billboard‘s request for comment.
The news certainly comes as a surprise, given that the “Levitating” artist’s new album Radical Optimism dropped only a couple weeks ago with no country influences to speak of. It recently debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, where Stapleton’s staunchly country album Higher debuted at No. 3 in November.
Stapleton is nominated for a number of awards at this year’s ceremony — which is hosted by Reba McEntire and produced by Dick Clark Productions — including entertainer of the year, male artist of the year, album of the year and artist-songwriter of the year.
Both stars are set to headline October’s Austin City Limits music festival, which will also see performances from Carin León, Reneé Rapp, Foster The People, Kehlani, Teddy Swims, Benson Boone, CAAMP, Dominic Fike, The Marías, Jungle, Dom Dolla, Chappell Roan, Porter Robinson, Fletcher and more.
