Shakira and Blake Shelton at the 2014 ACM Awards—One Unexpected Duet, One Genre Collision, and a Crowd That Didn’t See It Coming
It wasn’t country. It wasn’t pop. It was something in between—raw, smoky, and strangely magnetic. The pairing raised eyebrows before the first note, but once the harmony hit, the room leaned in. Two voices from different worlds met in a song that didn’t ask for approval—it demanded attention. The tension was real. The chemistry, undeniable. And when it ended, the applause wasn’t just loud—it was stunned. Because some collaborations don’t just cross genres. They redraw the map
Pop singer Shakira and country star Blake Shelton took to the stage together at tonight’s (April 6) 2014 ACM Awards, performing their new duet ‘Medicine’ from Shakira’s self-titled album.
Shakira, looking red hot in a short red dress with lace detailing and thigh-high leather boots, seemed thrilled to be presenting a song that veers from her normal Latin-influenced pop. She expressed her excitement on the red carpet before the show, stating she couldn’t wait “to present [her] new song to this new audience.”
While working on her 10th studio album, Shakira made her way to Nashville, Tenn., to specifically work with a City of Music team to craft the perfect sound for ‘Medicine.’ The highly anticipated country-pop song was revealed to the public on Feb. 8, with the release of Shakira’s latest album.
The excitement of Shakira’s fans and Shelton’s fans was rivaled only by Shakira herself, whose own excitement was evident in her high-energy performance and enthusiastic hair-flipping on stage. Though country isn’t her usual forte, her strong voice complimented Shelton’s own, as well as the drum-heavy tune.
Shelton was the perfect partner to choose for Shakira’s country debut, as Shelton is a seasoned veteran in the country music scene. The singer, who is hosting the ACM Awards for the second year in a row, looked at home on stage in a vest, striped tie and classic country jeans.
The two stars took turns belting out the shared lyrics of ‘Medicine,’ which includes a nod to country classics with the line “I always throw the bottle of whiskey.” Most importantly, both Shakira and Shelton seemed like they were having a blast sharing the stage.
On all counts, Shakira’s first venture into the country world has been a success.
Enjoy the music!