RAJ KAPOOR ON THE ACMs: “I LOVE TAKING CHANCES"

Oscars. Emmys. Grammys. Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Disneyland 60. Plus, all the tours, festivals, Vegas-residency and breakout awards-show performances for Mariah Carey, Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg, Shania Twain, Chainsmokers, Ariana Grande, Eminem, Juanes, Miranda Lambert and Imagine Dragons. Spectacle, music and magic are Raj Kapoor’s signature. And this year, Kapoor brings all that to the 58th Academy of Country Music Awards, streaming live on Amazon Prime on 5/1 from The Ford Center in Frisco, Texas.

At a time when awards-show viewership on broadcast TV is eroding, the Emmy-winning showrunner/producer embraces the challenge and freedom of driving this show, the first totally live, globally streamed event of its type. We’re talking two hours, no commercials, 20 performances, surprises, collaborations and Country Music Hall of Fame icons Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks as hosts.

Dolly returns. Garth makes his awards-hosting debut.

We loved having Dolly last year, and she wanted to come back. How do you say no to that? But how do you make it even bigger? Garth Brooks, of course.

Both of them change the air in any room they’re in. They have such star power. When they walk in, you feel it. Now we’re working out our host moments. We’ve shot the promos. Even at the photo shoot, you sensed the love and ad-miration they have for each other.

The ACMs have been all over the last few years.

During COVID, we moved around. When we were in Vegas, it felt like we were just one more thing. So, we’re really excited to have the Dallas Cowboys and Jerry Jones, who were such great partners for the 50^th ACM Awards at Cowboys Stadium, involved.

It seems like you’ve found a home.

This is a newer venue, with a different personality. The Ford at Star Center allows us to do a lot of things. The screens are bigger, and while it’s an arena, it’s a football facility, so it feels like a stadium. We’re looking to do an awards show meets a rock concert meets a party—and the excitement around this year is incredible. We’re almost sold out from pre-sale.

A lot of change. But it seems like Amazon is all in.

Amazon has been such a change and shift. Last year we had the training wheels on, doing a live event without any breaks. They came away all in. We’re talking a new venue, partnerships and state—and they’re supportive of it all. And it’s not only a financial commitment; they’re investing a lot of time because they care. They want to see the acts live. They’ve been out to see Carrie Underwood, Miranda (Lambert), The War & Treaty, Luke Combs. That’s a huge deal.

I’d wanted to come back to Texas; Amazon was completely open. They want to honor the legacy of the ACMs, and Texas is a great way to do that.

This show has no stops for two hours. That’s a lot of focus. Would you say you’re a daredevil?

Daredevil? I love taking chances. There are certain live moments that just connect. These shows can develop their own personalities. I think you find success honoring what’s worked, but you want to keep evolving. I think this is going to show viewers how these shows can develop.

There’s a real excitement to live. I get butterflies through the show. You never know, with acceptance speeches and performances, where that moment’s going to be. But the biggest reward is how people respond.

What’s more intense: that two-hour period, or the days after the nominations?

We’re just starting our creative conversations with all the artists; we’re talking with the managers and labels while we’re waiting on the nominations. Those few days between when the nominations are announced and when we finish booking are intense.

So you’re excited?

The amount of planning, you can’t help that. We started so much earlier—and there’s such a strong foundation to build this show from. It’s Texas, and the love of their state and their artists? We want to inject that into the show, too, as well as all the activities the ACM is bringing. It’s about honoring the legacy, the artists who win—and, of course, all the great country music.