Dan + Shay & Kelly Clarkson Debut Duet ‘Keeping Score’ Live At ACM Awards

If you’re keeping score, then you know Dan + Shay and Kelly Clarkson had one of the best performances at the 2019 Academy of Country Music Awards.

On Sunday night (April 7), the Grammy-winning country music duo joined forces with the American Idol alum for an intimate presentation of their romantic duet “Keeping Score.” As band members Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney lit up the stage, illuminated by the warm glow of light beam fixtures, with coaxing croons and acoustic guitar riffs, Clarkson soars in the track’s second verse with her signature range and vibrato, bringing the audience to a massive ovation.

This was the first time the group has played the collaboration live with Clarkson. Moments before taking the stage to perform, Dan + Shay took the stage prior to accepting the award for Song of the Year for the tune “Tequila,” and collected the Duo of the Year trophy right after closing their showcase.

“The song was inspired by where we are in our lives,” Dan said of the track in a previous interview. “Everything is so quantifiable in this day in age. We’re at an awards show where we work so hard on this music and we pour our hearts and souls into this art and for 30 seconds you’re put on TV against your peers, people we are great friends with and sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.

The band is also in the running for Album of the Year, Video of the Year, and Music Event of the Year at tonight’s 54th annual ceremony.