Dylan Scott covered a classic Tim McGraw hit — and blended it with one of his own — when he took the stage at the 19th Academy of Country Music Honors on Wednesday evening (August 19).

The show returned to The Pinnacle in Nashville, Tennessee. Scott performed as a tribute to special honoree Mike Curb, who received the ACM Icon Award, “which recognizes multifaceted contributions to the Country Music genre and community,” according to the Academy of Country Music. A press release issued Thursday morning (August 20) states that “Curb was recognized for his decades-long contributions as a producer, songwriter, record executive, philanthropist, and public servant. As founder and owner of Curb Records, Curb has worked with artists including Tim McGraw, LeAnn Rimes, Lyle Lovett, Wynonna Judd, Rodney Atkins, Lee Brice, among many others. His work has extended across music, film, television, public service, including serving as Lieutenant Governor of California, and philanthropic initiatives through the Mike Curb Foundation.”

Scott performed McGraw’s “Don't Take the Girl,” which McGraw released on his 10-track studio album, Not a Moment Too Soon, in 1994. Songwriters Larry W. Johnson and Craig Martin penned the beloved ballad:

“Take Jimmy Johnson, take Tommy Thompson/ Take my best friend, Bo/ Take anybody that you want as/ Long as she don't go/ Take any boy in the world/ Daddy, please, don't take the girl”

Scott, another Louisiana-born country artist, blended his cover of “Don’t Take the Girl” with a rendition of his own hit song. Scott’s “My Girl” became his breakout single from his self-titled debut record in 2016. He wrote the anthem with Josh Kerr. Scott finished his performance of “My Girl” with a nod to McGraw’s single: “Please don’t take my girl.”

“Yeah, that's my girl/ In the passenger seat, windows down dancin' around/ Causin' a scene, that's my girl/ Sippin' Crown and Sprite, in a ball cap turned back/ Ooh, she got me like/ Yeah, baby girl, you gone and done it again/ Makin' all the guys wishin' you were with them/ But I bet they don't see what I see when I see my girl”

Other special honorees throughout the evening included Bill Anderson, Brett James, C2C: Country to Country, The Carter Family, Dolly Parton, Eric Church, Kacey Musgraves, Paramount+ series Landman, Leslie Fram and Scott Zolke. The Academy of Country Music also spotlighted ACM Artist-Songwriter of the Year Ella Langley and ACM Songwriter of the Year Jessie Jo Dillon. Scott was part of the all-star lineup, along with co-hosts Carly Pearce and Parker McCollum, plus Avery Anna, Big Kenny, Carter Faith, Dierks Bentley, Dylan Scott, Flatland Cavalry, Gabriella Rose, Gavin Adcock, Kaitlin Butts, Logan Ledger, Mark Collie, Margo Price, Megan Moroney, Sheryl Crow, Trisha Yearwood, Zach John King, and a special appearance by Brenda Lee.

Watch a clip of Scott’s performance here:

Dave Taft