The Oak Ridge Boys are back — and on their first ACMs red carpet in 14 years.
The iconic vocal quartet — made up of Duane Allen, William Lee Golden, Richard Sterban, and Ben James (who replaced original vocalist Joe Bonsall after his death in 2024) — hit the carpet in Frisco, Texas, on Thursday, May 8, in classic country attire. Their appearance seemingly marks the “Elvira” singers’ first time at the event since 2011.
While Allen, 82, Sterban, 82, and James, 29, all opted for black-on-black looks (save for James, who paired his velvet button-down with dark blue jeans) and subtle cowboy boots, Golden, 85, stole the show with his iconic snow-white beard and traditional country-western shirt. He topped off the look with a cowboy hat and dark, opaque sunglasses.
Despite apparently not attending the awards show for more than a decade, the five-time Grammy winners have won four Academy of Country Music awards, including the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award in 2008.
Earlier on Thursday, the band took to social media to reminisce about their first ACM Award win in 1979.
“Here’s a Throwback Thursday to 1979, when we won the ACM – Academy of Country Music award for Vocal Group of the Year,” the group wrote via Facebook, sharing a clip of their acceptance speech.
One day prior, on Wednesday, May 7, the band announced that they would be presenting at the famed awards show.
“So excited to be presenting at the 60th @acmawards 🎵,” the group wrote across their social media accounts, along with tune-in info for the show. “Celebrate six decades of Country Music with us.”
After 50-plus years of touring, the Oak Ridge Boys are currently on their final tour — the American Made Farewell Tour, where they have dates all over the U.S. and Canada.
