From the first informal awards ceremony at the Hollywood Palladium in 1966 to today’s star-studded show on CBS, generations of country’s biggest superstars have graced the Academy of Country Music Awards stage. Now, for the first time ever, the ACM is opening its archive to reveal candid, never-before-seen photographs and memorabilia capturing some of the greatest moments in the history of country music.

Rich with backstage and performance photographs, compelling behind-the-scenes stories, and firsthand accounts from country legends and contemporary artists, This Is Country: A Backstage Pass to the Academy of Country Music Awards offers a rare and intimate glimpse into the history, trends, and evolutions of the genre.

With contributions by Reba McEntire, Loretta Lynn, George Strait, Garth Brooks, Alabama’s Randy Owen, Blake Shelton, Luke Bryan, Marty Stuart, and many more, this book is a trove of history and celebrity, and a must-have for fans of country music.