Maren Morris took the stage at the 2017 ACM Awards to perform her new single, "I Could Use a Love Song."

The song is the third single from her celebrated debut album, Hero, and it's a turn in a very different direction, affording Morris the opportunity to put across an acoustic ballad to her audience.

The song is more sentimental than her previous releases, and Morris gave a strong vocal performance, playing an acoustic guitar and clad in a cream top with shining accents, with her newly shorter hair crunched into loose curls.

Morris was practically unknown a year ago, but she has become one of the hottest young stars in country music with the success of her debut single, "My Church," and its follow-up, "'80s Mercedes." She was one of the featured acts at the 2017 CRS New Faces of Country Music show, where she debuted "I Could Use a Love Song."

Morris also accepted her previously-announced Best New Female Vocalist ACM Award during her time onstage, mentioning her excitement despite the fact that she already knew she'd won.

She thanked artists that have taken her on the road, including Little Big Town and Keith Urban, and called the last year "the best year of my life." She also thanked everyone who voted for her, as well as her fans and country radio.

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