Kane Brown & Lauren Alaina’s “What Ifs” ACM Performance Still Sizzles Years Later

Back in 2018, Kane Brown and Lauren Alaina delivered a performance at the ACM Awards that no one has forgotten — and it still sends a jolt through country music fans years later. Singing their chart-topping duet “What Ifs,” the two longtime friends brought undeniable chemistry to the stage, blurring the line between storytelling and something much more electric.

From the first note, the energy between them was magnetic. Alaina’s powerhouse vocals danced around Brown’s rich tone, and as the song built, so did the tension. By the final chorus, they stood face-to-face, eyes locked, and leaned in like they were about to kiss — only to break into a hug that sent the crowd into a frenzy. It wasn’t just a duet. It was a moment.

What fans didn’t see was how awkward it felt behind the scenes. Brown later admitted the near-kiss was suggested by producers to “sell the song,” and while he was engaged to Katelyn Jae at the time, he went along with it. Alaina took it in stride, joking later, “Might as well go ahead and grab his butt too!” Their playfulness and honesty about the moment only added to their charm.

That performance earned them a Vocal Event of the Year nomination at the ACMs and won them a CMT Award for Collaborative Video of the Year. And while their lives have moved forward — Brown is now a father of three, Alaina is newly married and expecting her first child — that night on stage captured something special: two artists at the top of their game, creating sparks that fans still talk about today.