Dan + Shay Now Realize ‘It Can Be Taken Away Like That’

Dan + Shay walked away from the ACM Awards last week as the winner's of Duo of The Year. They say that winning was great, but returning to Nashville's Grand Ole Opry house to perform and see their fellow artists was their biggest thrill of the night.

After being quarantined at home during a year where the guys would have embarked on a huge headlining tour, Dan Smyers said backstage after winning, “This whole thing, it all just looks really different. We’re used to being in Vegas, so it’s nice to be back here in Nashville and to be a part of that history. Everyone’s really excited that we’re able to start working again and have this awards show and enjoy live music and see some of our friends even if it’s at a distance."

He added, "It’s an interesting situation. We’ve all been tested for COVID all week and everybody’s been healthy, knock on wood and fingers crossed. Country music is such a family so it’s hard to see someone and not be able to give them a hug, but we’re being respectful of the precautions being taken."

Symers concluded with, "Honestly, this means more to us now than ever. We haven’t had that experience of being able to tour and feel the love from fans. It’s been a blank slate, so getting recognition from our peers and from the Academy of Country Music means a lot. In the months that we were not doing a lot, now more than ever it’s an incredible honor. It never gets old. Every touring artist — we all feel that thankfulness. All of us realize it can be taken away like that.”