ACMs news

Morgan Wallen replaced as headliner for ACM Awards benefit show in The Colony

Get better, Morgan.

Photo courtesy of Morgan Wallen

Morgan Wallen is out. Jason Aldean is in. That's the word on the headliner situation for "ACM Lifting Lives: LIVE concert" in The Colony on Wednesday, May 10.

Wallen had gotten top billing on "ACM Lifting Lives LIVE: Morgan Wallen & Friends," a fundraiser at Topgolf in The Colony benefiting Lifting Lives, the philanthropic partner of the Academy of Country Music.

But on Tuesday, Wallen posted to social media a video explaining that doctors had put him on vocal rest and he'd be canceling shows for six weeks - including his ACM-related appearances.

The 58th Academy of Country Music Awards are taking place at The Star in Frisco on Thursday, May 11; Wallen also was to perform on the show.

According to Country Now, Aldean - reigning ACM Entertainer of the Decade - was tapped as a last-minute replacement for Wallen at the sold-out benefit concert the night before the big awards show. Other performers include ACM Songwriter of the Year HARDY, reigning ACM New Female Artist and Song of the Year winner Lainey Wilson, ERNEST, Bailey Zimmerman, and DJ 13lackbeard.

The concert will follow the Topgolf Tee-Off and Rock On Fundraiser, presented by VGT by Aristocrat Gaming, taking place earlier in the day; the concert is ticketed separately from the golf tournament.

Just what does Lifting Lives do? According to a release, "in addition to distributing more than $4 million to date through its Covid Relief Fund, ACM Lifting Lives provides critical support through the Diane Holcomb Emergency Relief Fund, significant annual commitments to Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, Music Health Alliance, and the Ryan Seacrest Foundation, and individual grants to organizations that reach communities all across America."

The ACM Awards will be free to stream live for a global audience across more than 240 countries and territories exclusively on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch (it'll also stream for free the next day on Amazon Freevee).The show gets started 6 pm Thursday, May 11 at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco. There are still a limited number of tickets remaining (starting around $400) via SeatGeek, organizers say.

The Awards are being preceded by "ACM Awards Week," an entire slate of prelude parties, including:

ACM Country Kickoff at The Star, a two-day music and entertainment festival which is open to the public, free to all fans, and does not require tickets - May 9-10.
ACM Songs & Stories Powered by The Bluebird Cafe + NSAI, a private industry celebration of the top songwriters of the past year
A Dolly Parton-branded pop-up shop

The 2023 edition of the Academy of Country Music Awards will mark a return to Texas for the first time since the landmark 50th ACM Awards, which took place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington in 2015.

ACM Awards Aldean Morgan Wallen awards concerts celebrities

Fun in the Trees

Go Ape Adventure Park to bring ziplining and treetop thrills to Cedar Hill

Rendering of Go Ape Adventure Park in Cedar Hill

Image courtesy of City of Cedar Hill

The new Go Ape Adventure Park in Cedar Hill brings ziplining and more to the treetops of the Dallas suburb.

A new Go Ape Adventure Park is swinging into the Midtown district of Dallas suburb Cedar Hill. The Cedar Hill City Council approved the new park during its meeting Tuesday, August 25 meeting, according to a release.

The adventure experience, known for its ziplines, rope bridges, tree houses, and canopy walks, currently has one other DFW park, in Arlington (a Plano location is closed for repairs this season). There's also one location in the Houston area and locations in eight other states.

Designed to offer a range of experiences for people of all ages, the Cedar Hill location will pair Go Ape’s most popular attractions with new, site-specific adventures inspired by the city’s unique terrain and natural landscape, the release says.

While many details of the Cedar Hill location are still TBA, if it's anything like the Arlington park, guests can expect a Treetop Adventure, a three-hour, high-ropes course with eagle-eye views of the terrain below; and a one-hour version called Treetop Journey. The Arlington park also has a range for outdoor axe-throwing.

People at Go Ape Walk among the treetops at Go Ape!. Photo courtesy of Go Ape!

Construction is expected to begin before the end of 2026, with the goal of opening in spring 2027.

“We’re incredibly proud to partner with Cedar Hill to bring these new aerial amenities to life," said Tony Holt, CEO of Go Ape, in a statement. "From design and installation through ongoing operations, our goal is to create exceptional experiences that residents and visitors can enjoy for years to come, while adding a new dimension to the city’s recreation and visitor experience."

Midtown is an emerging district in Cedar Hill, designed to be a connected, walkable destination for retail, dining, entertainment, office, hospitality, and mixed-use development.

Go Ape will join the already-existing Library in a Park, Government Center, and Cinemark movie theater in the Midtown district.

adventure park cedar hill families kids sports-fitness ziplines