Entertainment Awards Shows and Events Luke Bryan Accepts ACM Entertainer of the Year Award from 'American Idol' Set: 'Y'all Got Me!' "What a challenging year but to all the fans and everybody, we'll be back out on the road doing what we love," Luke Bryan said as he accepted the award By Tomás Mier Tomás Mier Tomás Mier is a former digital music writer at PEOPLE. He left PEOPLE in 2021. People Editorial Guidelines Published on April 18, 2021 11:15PM EDT Crown the country king! Luke Bryan is the 2021 Academy of Country Music Awards' entertainer of the year. "I'm in L.A., oh my God. Y'all got me. I'm amazingly surprised. What an honor," Bryan, 44, who was on set at American Idol said. "To the ACM, I'm so sorry I could not be there. I missed certainly being able to do my song. And all the winners tonight, congratulations. Oh my God. Y'all got me!" The singer then thanked his team, his wife Caroline and their sons Bo, 13, and Tate, 10. "What a great night you guys have done," he said to hosts Mickey Guyton and Keith Urban, who presented the coveted title. Check out PEOPLE's full ACM Awards coverage to get the latest news on one of country music's biggest nights. CBS "And to all my fans out there and country radio. We've missed touring, we've missed being on the road with everybody that makes me an entertainer," he continued. "What a challenging year, but to all the fans and everybody, we'll be back out on the road doing what we love." "What an amazing honor," he concluded. "I love you guys." The American Idol judge accepted the award from Los Angeles after testing positive for COVID over a week ago. (He was also set to perform.) This is Bryan's third ACM entertainer of the year award after winning it in 2013 and 2015. Bryan was up against fellow stars Eric Church, Luke Combs, Thomas Rhett and Chris Stapleton. RELATED VIDEO: American Idol Judges Give Update on Luke Bryan After COVID Diagnosis: He 'Hates' Missing Out This year, he was also up in the album of the year category for Born Here Live Here Die Here. Last year, Carrie Underwood and Thomas Rhett made history by both winning the award. The 2021 ACM Awards — which were hosted by Keith Urban and Mickey Guyton — are airing live on Sunday from 8-11 p.m. ET on CBS and Paramount+.