Darius Rucker took the stage on Sunday evening (April 15) at the 2018 ACM Awards for an uptempo performance of "For the First Time." The song is the second single to be released from his 2017 album When Was the Last Time.

Rucker's performance was buoyant and carefree, perfect for a song celebrating getting the most out of every moment and chasing new experiences. "When was the last time you did something for the first time?" Rucker sang. "Yeah, let yourself go, follow that feeling / Maybe something new is what you're needing."

In an interview leading up to his performance, Rucker explained that he knows that this ACMs ceremony is particularly special to the country music community. Artists and fans are returning to Las Vegas, largely for the first time, after the Route 91 Harvest Festival mass shooting that took place in October of 2017.

"I love watching the show because of the music," the country star says. "You know, the collaborations that they're doing. This is such a special show for us, first off because it's in Vegas. This year's been crazy, and it's the first time we've been to Vegas in a while, and so it's going to be a special show tonight."

Rucker's performance reflected a spirit of celebration of and love for the tradition of the ACMs, as well as country music as a whole. While performances varied from somber to uplifting, Rucker's performance of his feel-good anthem embraced the idea of honoring the tragedy that took place in Vegas and remembering it's victims, but also included an obvious sense of joy at being among a community of country musicians and fans.

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