Reba McEntire Reveals What She ‘Mainly’ Needs to Have Backstage When She Hosts the ACM Awards

Reba McEntire

Performers know what they absolutely must have on hand when they are preparing to go onstage. In Reba McEntire’s case, she likes to keep things simple.

When the “Queen of Country” arrives at Texas’ Ford Center at The Star in Frisco on Thursday, May 16 for her 17th time hosting the 2024 cademy of Country Music Awards, the most important item she’ll need is a soothing beverage to prevent her throat from getting dry.

“Well, mainly, it's water,” McEntire recently told People while discussing her rider, or list of demands, for the awards show. The country music star also mentioned a trash can, tissues, “a clock” and snacks are on her list of backstage necessities.

“If my blood sugar gets a little low, we got to pump that back up,” she told the magazine, adding that hosting the awards show would be “no time for getting a little hangry.”

Related: 2024 ACM Awards Announces Nominees, Including Elite Honor for Jelly Roll

The ACMs announced last month that the “Fancy” singer would return to host the show, which some in the country music world refer to as the genre’s “Party of the Year.” In a press release announcing her return, McEntire said she was “tickled to pieces” to be coming back as the show’s host, adding that it was an “honor” to be “part of the past, present and now the future” of the ACMs.

The May 16 ceremony will mark McEntire’s first time hosting since 2019. The 16-time ACM Award winner is also expected to perform new music onstage at the event.

“With exciting new music coming, extensive television presence and a worldwide fanbase, Reba’s back and better than ever!” ACM CEO Damon Whiteside said in the release.

McEntire’s ACMs hosting gig will come about three months after she sang the national anthem at the 2024 Super Bowl on Feb. 11. It was her first time tackling “The Star-Spangled Banner” at a Super Bowl.

Next: Reba McEntire Sets Record Straight About Reportedly Calling Taylor Swift ‘an Entitled Little Brat’