Cody Johnson smiled and singing along as Luke Bryan took the stage in his honor.

Bryan covered the Texas-born superstar’s hit single, “'Til You Can’t,” during the 18th ACM Honors, hailed the “Country Music Industry’s favorite night.” The star-studded event took place last month at the new “cutting-edge” venue, The Pinnacle, in Nashville, Tennessee. It aired during a three-hour special episode of CMT Hot 20: ACM Honors Edition on Saturday (September 27).

“If you got a chance, take it, take it while you got a chance/ If you got a dream, chase it, 'cause a dream won't chase you back/ If you're gonna love somebody/ Hold 'em as long and as strong and as close as you can/ ’Til you can’t”

Johnson released “'Til You Can’t,” written by Ben Stennis and Matt Rogers, no Human: The Double Album in 2021. Bryan covered it as a tribute to Johnson, who received the ACM Spirit Award, which was inspired by late legend Merle Haggard. The Academy of Country Music presents the honor to an artist “who is continuing the legacy…by following his/her own path, crafting great songs and epitomizing Merle’s spirit through genuine performances and storytelling.” Previous Spirit Award winners include Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, Charlie Daniels, Toby Keith, Miranda Lambert, and Chris Stapleton.

“Before signing to a major label, Cody Johnson built his fan base entirely from the ground up,” the Academy of Country Music stated. “His unwavering commitment to traditional Country values and his Texas roots have set him apart in a time when the genre often trends toward pop. With nearly 10 billion global streams, Johnson’s sound resonates deeply with heartland America and pays homage to the spirit of Merle Haggard’s timeless storytelling. Staying true to his traditional Country sound, Johnson is not just a success story—he is.”

Carly Pearce returned to host the ACM Honors for her fifth consecutive year. This time, she teamed up with first-time co-host Russell Dickerson. The pair hosted the televised special alongside CMT’s Cody Alan and Carissa Culiner. Pearce and Dickerson also performed during the ACM Honors, along with Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild, Amy Grant, HARDY and more.Honorees included Johnson, Lori Badgett, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Jessie Jo Dillon, Jelly Roll, Mac McAnally, Rissi Palmer, Randy Travis, “Twisters,” Ben Vaughn, and Lainey Wilson. Watch Bryan’s performance below.

Angie Ward