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 hosting the ceremony. 'While I've had the pleasure of spending time with him throughout the years, I can't believe we've never had the chance to work together,' Parton gushed about Brooks in a statement shared after she was announced as host. Unfortunately, fans likely won't get to see the legendary entertainers duetting, though Parton will still perform. 'I think [Brooks' wife] Trisha [Yearwood] is going to be on, too, on the show, so I figured that I'm not going to mess with that,' Parton joked to reporters at a press event. 'I don't want her kicking my little short butt!' HARDY leads the nominations this year with seven, while Lainey Wilson is close behind with six nods. Country stars Kane Brown, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert and Cole Swindell also scored an impressive five nominations each. The top prize for Entertainer of the Year will go to either Jason Aldean, Kane Brown, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Chris Stapleton, Carrie Underwood or Morgan Wallen. Why he's there: 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 Wallen was engulfed in controversy in 2021 after he was caught on video drunkenly shouting the N-word. In response, his recording contract was suspended and some radio stations stopped playing his music, while streaming services removed his songs from playlists. However, country fans responded to his use of a racial slur by buying his 2021 album Dangerous: The Double Album in even greater numbers. Lambert is the most-awarded person ever at the ACM Awards, and she broke the record for most Female Artist of the Year nominations with her 17th this year, surpassing Reba McEntire's 16. Performers at Thursday's ceremony include Jason Aldean, Kane Brown, Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Ashley McBryde, Jo Dee Messina, Jelly Roll, Cole Swindell, Keith Urban, Morgan Wallen, The War And Treaty, Lainey Wilson and Bailey Zimmerman. He's best known for his hit pop songs, but Ed Sheeran will also bring his smooth sound to the raucous show. For her performance, Parton will be debuting World On Fire, the first song on her upcoming album Rockstar. The covers LP is a departure for her, marking her first rock album, and it was inspired after she was nominated — and subsequently inducted — into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022. 2023 Academy of Country Music Awards Nominations ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR Jason Aldean Kane Brown Luke Combs Miranda Lambert Chris Stapleton - WINNER Carrie Underwood Morgan Wallen FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR Kelsea Ballerini Miranda Lambert Ashley McBryde Carly Pearce Lainey Wilson - WINNER MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR Kane Brown Luke Combs Jordan Davis Chris Stapleton Morgan Wallen - WINNER DUO OF THE YEAR Brooks & Dunn Brothers Osborne - WINNER Dan + Shay Maddie & Tae The War and Treaty GROUP OF THE YEAR Lady A Little Big Town Midland Old Dominion - WINNER Zac Brown Band NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR Priscilla Block Megan Moroney Caitlyn Smith Morgan Wade Hailey Whitters - WINNER NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR Zach Bryan - WINNER Jackson Dean Ernest Dylan Scott Nate Smith Bailey Zimmerman ALBUM OF THE YEAR Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville, Ashley McBryde Bell Bottom Country, Lainey Wilson - WINNER Growin’ Up, Luke Combs Mr. Saturday Night, Jon Pardi Palomino, Miranda Lambert SINGLE OF THE YEAR “Heart Like a Truck,” Lainey Wilson “Never Wanted to Be That Girl,” Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde “She Had Me at Heads Carolina,” Cole Swindell - WINNER “Thank God,” Kane Brown with Katelyn Brown “‘Til You Can’t,” Cody Johnson SONG OF THE YEAR “Sand In My Boots,” writers: Ashley Gorley, Josh Osborne and Michael Hardy; artist: Morgan Wallen “She Had Me at Heads Carolina,” writers: Ashley Gorley, Cole Swindell, Jesse Frasure, Mark D. Sanders, Thomas Rhett and Tim Nichols; artist: Swindell) - WINNER “‘Til You Can’t,” writers: Ben Stennis, Matt Rogers; artist: Cody Johnson “Wait in the Truck,” writers: Hunter Phelps, Jordan Schmidt, Michael Hardy, Renee Blair; artist: Hardy featuring Lainey Wilson “You Should Probably Leave,” writers: Ashley Gorley, Chris DuBois, Chris Stapleton (artist: Stapleton) VISUAL MEDIA OF THE YEAR “Heartfirst,” Kelsea Ballerini “She Had Me at Heads Carolina,” Cole Swindell “Thank God,” Kane Brown with Katelyn Brown “‘Til You Can’t,” Cody Johnson “Wait in the Truck,” Hardy featuring Lainey Wilson - WINNER “What He Didn’t Do,” Carly Pearce MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR “At The End of a Bar,” Chris Young with Mitchell Tenpenny “She Had Me at Heads Carolina [Remix],” Cole Swindell and Jo Dee Messina “Thank God,” Kane Brown with Katelyn Brown “Thinking ‘Bout You,” Dustin Lynch featuring MacKenzie Porter “Wait in the Truck,” Hardy featuring Lainey Wilson - WINNER SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR Nicolle Galyon Ashley Gorley - WINNER Chase McGill Josh Osborne Hunter Phelps ARTIST-SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR Luke Combs Ernest Hardy - WINNER Miranda Lambert Morgan Wallen All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility