The Backstreet Boys and Rascal Flatts concluded the 60th Academy of Country Music Awards with a joint performance that highlighted their ability to sing in flawless harmony, bridging the gap between country and pop music.
The members of the two mega-groups stood impressively lined up on stage, dressed in black and white attire.
They began the final show-stopper with Rascal Flatts’ song “What Hurts The Most” and then moved on to perform their own track titled “I Dare You.”
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The Backstreet Boys put on an animated and vibrant show with their chart-topping song “Larger Than Life,” executing kicks and spins with a blend of pop and country flair as white lights flashed all around them.
As the finale for the evening, “Life Is A Highway” brought both acts together on stage, prompting audience members to sing and dance along with them.
As embers fell from above, the collectives concluded the night with intermingled musical styles and blended vocals.
Pop and country merge at the ACM Awards.
The previous year’s ACM Awards broadcasts on Prime Video featured prominent current stars such as Dua Lipa, Noah Kahan, and Ed Sheeran.
In today’s country music scene, pop crossovers have propelled artists like Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Post Malone, and Morgan Wallen into wider recognition.
Raj Kapoor, ACM Awards producer and show runner, served as the Backstreet Boys’ creative director for the 2017 Las Vegas residency and as a production designer for Rascal Flatts’ 2015 tour, among many others.
“Everyone will be thrilled to listen to these two vocal supergroups known for their amazing harmonies,” Kapoor stated before the performance began.
Backstreet Boys and Rascal Flatts: A decade marked by remarkable achievements
From 1996 to 2008, both Backstreet Boys and Rascal Flatts accumulated roughly three dozen top-10 hits across nine studio albums, which collectively shifted more than 70 million units.
Songs such as “As Long as You Love Me” and “Life is a Highway,” which topped domestic charts, weren’t merely country and pop successes; they symbolized a time when the music industry was selling more tangible records than at any point before.
The Backstreet Boys transitioned from an initial image reminiscent of New Kids on the Block paired with a vocal style similar to Boyz II Men, eventually becoming a group nominated for nine Grammys. Likewise, Rascal Flatts’ knack for crafting appealing tunes targeted at younger audiences, alongside their energetic performances featuring extensive use of video screens, fireworks, and laser effects, has been crucial in maintaining their popularity across ten years.
“Many times, our careers exemplified—through our fusion of country, gospel, hip-hop, R&B, and rock—that artists can thrive even as the industry erects barriers; all they must do is use their ability to break those walls down,” said Howie Dorough from the Backstreet Boys to The Tennessean.
AJ McLean stated that the group members were originally “good ol’ Southern boys,” and he highlighted their 2017 collaboration with Florida Georgia Line, “God, Your Mama and Me,” as crucial for sustaining success in country music’s competitive landscape.
“As he quipped, from the Oak Ridge Boys and Alabama all the way to Rascal Flatts and the Backstreet Boys,” added band member Nick Carter.
ACM Awards 2025: Backstreet Boys and Rascal Flatts make their return
Rascal Flatts’ first album in eight years, titled “Life Is A Highway: Refueled Duets,” will be released on June 6 through Big Machine Records.
The Backstreet Boys, Kelly Clarkson, the Jonas Brothers, and Blake Shelton team up for tracks such as “What Hurts The Most,” “Mayberry,” “I’m Movin’ On,” and “I Dare You.”
In the meantime, the Backstreet Boys are marking the 25th anniversary of their album “Millennium.” A special expanded edition called “Millennium 2.0” is set for release on July 11. This updated package includes remastered editions of the initial tracks, a fresh single named “Hey,” along with additional content such as B-sides, alternative lyrics, demo recordings, and extra material.
Its release precedes the group’s summer “Into The Millennium” residency at Las Vegas’ Sphere from July 11 to Aug. 24.
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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean:
The Backstreet Boys and Rascal Flatts will come together for a harmonious performance at the 2025 ACM Awards.