Blake Shelton brought a calming effect to the 2018 ACM Awards with his reflective performance of "I Lived It."

Host Reba McEntire entered the stage in a glamorous navy blue gown to welcome her "buddy" Shelton for a poignant performance of his latest hit. The Voice coach kept it simple with just a red acoustic guitar, his voice and a soft fiddle in the background as his voice carried the song through. Girlfriend Gwen Stefani was enamored, singing along to the chorus in the crowd: "Oh, you think I'm talking crazy / In a different language you might not understand / Oh, that's alright / That's just the kind of life that made me who I am," with a smile spread across her face. The same can be said for Dan + Shay, who were also softly mouthing the heartfelt lyrics from their seats.

Shelton is known for his lively personality, but he let the song's touching lyrics and gentle fiddle take center stage, with his emotional approach earning a standing ovation. Stefani, who's cited "I Lived It" as her favorite Shelton song of late, stood alongside the country star's peers and friends, beaming with pride at the stage.

The country superstar is up for one of the night's biggest awards, Single Record of the Year, for his chart-topping lead single off Texoma Shore, "I'll Name the Dogs." He's up against Little Big Town's "Better Man," Sam Hunt's explosive hit "Body Like a Back Road," Midland's "Drinkin' Problem" and "Broken Halos" by Chris Stapleton. Shelton and McEntire have both co-hosted the ACM Awards in the past, tag teaming the job in 2011 and 2012.

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