The 2023 Academy of Country Music Awards is a ceremony that people still talk about. The evening featured Ed Sheeran and Luke Combs who delivered an unforget table performance, that left fans in awe. Their duet of “Life Goes On” stunned the audience as it blended Sheeran’s pop style and Luke’s country sound, proving how cross-genre collaboration can create magic together. The evening got even better when Shania Twain also joined in. The collaboration of the three legendary icons was a celebration of music’s ability to unite diverse styles.
The next day Sheeran released two versions of “Life Goes On”: one came from his own album, ‘Subtract,’ and the other featured Luke Combs adding his country flair. This wasn’t any ordinary song—it felt like a bridge between two different musical worlds and fans absolutely loved it. The live performance quickly racked over 15 million views on YouTube, becoming an internet sensation, sparking comments, saying things like, “I had no idea two people from such different music genres could sound so good together,” and, “I want Ed to collab with everyone!” If you haven’t seen the video yet, check out the performance below—you’re in for a surprise!
Life Goes On: Ed Sheeran ft. Luke Combs | 58th ACM Awards Live Performance
Ed and Luke’s friendship goes way before this performance. They met back in 2018 and instantly hit it off right away, and over time, their bond grew stronger. Both of them love experimenting with music, so working together on “Life Goes On” felt natural.
Luke Combs’ journey to success has been incredible. He’s a dropout who wanted to chase his dream of becoming a country star. He gained recognition in 2014 when he released his first Extended Play, “The Way She Rides.” He dropped his debut album, “This One’s For You,” in 2017 which started topping charts, packed with songs that spoke straight to the heart. Ed became a fan of Luke’s music and reached out to him wanting to collaborate instantly.
Luke Combs – Dive (Live with Ed Sheeran)
When Ed and Luke performed “Life Goes On” together at the ACM Awards, it was clear the two artists respected and admired each other. Ed’s smooth soothing voice paired perfectly with Luke’s big, emotional country sound. The performance was proof that pop and country could come together. In a way it felt fresh and exciting.
Fans are still talking about how powerful their performance was. Some said things like, “The emotion in Ed’s voice next to Luke’s is just incredible,” while others hoped this was just the beginning of more collaborations between the two stars. The buzz around their performance also got people thinking about the possibility of more cross-genre projects in the future.
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Ed himself has shown a lot of interest in exploring country music further. In an interview the same day as the ACM Awards, he shared how much he enjoyed working with Luke and how he’d love to keep mixing country and pop in his music. That means fans can likely expect more amazing collaborations like this one.
It’s performances like this that show how music can bring people together, no matter what kind of songs they usually listen to. Sheeran and Combs created something truly special, seamlessly blending their styles into a moment fans will be eagerly waiting to see again.