Ed Sheeran sings with Luke Combs at ACM Awards for first stage gig since Marvin ... trends now
Ed Sheeran pulled a genre shift Thursday night as he performed with Luke Combs at the Academy Of Country Music Awards in Texas.
The dynamic duo serenaded the delighted audience with a spirited rendition of Ed's heartbreaking ballad Life Goes On.
Released last month, the song was written in memory of Ed's friend Jamal Edwards, a music entrepreneur and Prince's Trust ambassador who died last year of what an inquest revealed was 'cardiac arrhythmia, following cocaine use.'
Following their emotional performance at Thursday's awards show, Ed and Luke were spotted backstage tipping back a couple of beers.
Their duet was Ed's first appearance onstage since his court victory last week when a New York jury decided he did not rip off Marvin Gaye's Let's Get It On.
Crossover: Ed Sheeran pulled a genre shift Thursday night as he performed with Luke Combs at the Academy Of Country Music Awards in Texas
Superstars unite: The dynamic duo serenaded the delighted audience with a spirited rendition of Ed's heartbreaking ballad Life Goes On
Grieving process: The song was written in memory of Ed's friend Jamal Edwards, who died last year of what an inquest revealed was 'cardiac arrhythmia, following cocaine use'
Ed stood accused of stealing from the number for his own song Thinking Out Loud, and professed himself 'unbelievably frustrated' by the 'baseless' claims.
He even announced that he would be 'done' with the music industry if the court found that he had indeed swiped from Let's Get It On.
After the ruling, Ed declared: 'I'm just a guy with a guitar who loves writing music for people to enjoy. I am not and will not allow myself to be a piggy bank.'
One of the jurors, 33-year-old Sophia Neis, confessed that hearing Ed perform his song live in court had an influence on the ruling.
'It's obviously cool to have anyone play music in front of you live,' she dished. 'So that was an interesting surprise decision because you're comparing music to a sheet. But it was very cool to hear Sheeran play in court.'
Fresh off his triumph, Ed hit the stage at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas near Dallas midway through the Academy Of Country Music Awards.
Ed took the stage solo to croon the beginning of Life Goes On - but was soon joined by Luke, who arrived to a round of applause from the audience.
Earlier that evening cut a stylish figure as he stepped out of his typical genre to attend the Academy Of Country Music Awards red carpet this week.
Job well done: Following their emotional performance at Thursday's awards show, Ed and Luke were spotted backstage tipping back a couple of beers
Cause to celebrate: Their duet was Ed's first appearance onstage since his court victory last week when a New York jury decided he did not rip off Marvin Gaye's Let's Get It On
Dedicated to his profession: After the ruling, Ed declared: 'I'm just a guy with a guitar who loves writing music for people to enjoy'
Terrific: Fresh off his triumph, Ed hit the stage at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas near Dallas midway through the Academy Of Country Music Awards
Acclaim: Ed took the stage solo to croon the beginning of Life Goes On - but was soon joined by Luke, who arrived to a round of applause from the audience
The 32-year-old English crooner, who counts Taylor Swift among his celebrity friends, glowed as he posed up a storm for the photographers.
He cut a casual figure in a simple white t-shirt over black trousers, adding a pop of color with a moss green jacket that appeared to be either velvet or velour.
Wearing his trademark red hair in its typical charmingly tousled do, he treated the cameras to his piercing stare as he swanned about the event.
Although Ed was not nominated for any trophies, the Galway Girl singer was nevertheless tapped to bring his star power to the stage as one of the performers.
Dashing as ever: Ed Sheeran cut a stylish figure as he stepped out of his typical genre to attend the Academy Of Country Music Awards this week
Connections: The 32-year-old English crooner, who counts Taylor Swift among his celebrity friends, glowed as he posed up a storm during the red carpet portion of the event
Viewers at home will be able to catch it on Amazon Prime Video — even without a subscription — as well as on Twitch's Amazon Music Channel.
Two country superstars whose appeal expands well beyond the limits of the genre — Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks — are
