Thomas Rhett Debuts 'Beautiful as You' at 2024 ACM Awards

The annual awards show is airing live from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas tonight

Thomas Rhett onstage during the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star on May 16, 2024
Thomas Rhett performs at the ACM Awards in Frisco, Texas on May 16, 2024. Photo:

Jason Kempin/Getty

Thomas Rhett sure puts on a beautiful show!

The country star, 34, performed his upbeat single "Beautiful as You" live for the first time during the 2024 ACM Awards.

Thomas Rhett was all smiles as he began the performance from the crowd. Wearing a brown jacket, a plain white T-shirt, and light-wash denim jeans, the singer moved onto the stage, reciting each and every lyric of the new single with his band performing behind him.

During his set, the stage was lit up with sparkling white and yellow lights that beamed to the beat of the song.

Check out PEOPLE's full ACM Awards coverage here.

The self-deprecating "Beautiful as You" is all about dating someone a bit out of his league, and on the chorus, Thomas Rhett sings, “What’s someone as beautiful as you/Doin’ ridin’ ‘round with someone like me?/I swear, girl, you could have anyone you choose.”

“This is an anthem for everybody who feels like they out-kicked their coverage,” the "Die a Happy Man" artist said in a statement. “There was one day a couple years back when I was looking at my wife, and I was like, ‘Why in the world did you choose me?’ I get to be with someone who could easily be on the cover of a magazine, and I get to see her in all her forms — a partner, a mother, a friend, even a philanthropist. I just feel like I’ve got a first row seat at almost-perfection, if you will. And like the song says, ‘Seriously, what is somebody as amazing as you doing with somebody like me?’”

It's no surprise that Thomas Rhett incorporated his fans into the performance. He happily checked in with them on the red carpet, taking various photos and signing autographs.

On the red carpet, he also spoke with PEOPLE about his preparation for his special performance.

"This will be the first time we've ever gotten to play ['Beautiful as You'] in front of people, and to do that on [an] awards show is very exciting," Thomas Rhett said. "I'm excited about it." The star added he "for sure" still gets nervous before performing, but knows how to power through.

"My nerves come from caring. I just want to do well and so I think that's where the nerves come from," he said. "But ultimately, the first note that comes out of your mouth, it turns to excitement pretty fast."

Thomas Rhett added that he plans to release five new songs throughout the summer ahead of the release of his upcoming seventh album on Aug. 23.

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The 2024 Academy of Country Music Awards are streaming live on Prime Video from Ford Center at The Star in Texas.

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