The Red Clay Strays had a major scare on their way to the 2026 ACM Awards — one they say nearly kept them from making it to the big night at all.
The Alabama-based band revealed on the red carpet that their trip to Las Vegas took a frightening turn after their private jet reportedly experienced mechanical issues shortly after takeoff.
The Band Detailed the Scary Incident
According to the musicians, the situation became so serious that they feared for their safety while in the air.
During an interview with Yahoo Entertainment on Sunday, May 17, the group was asked what the “most country thing” they had done that week was.
Guitarist Zach Rishel did not hesitate with his answer.
“We almost died in that private jet,” Rishel said. “Part of our engine cowling flew off during takeoff.”
Bassist Andrew Bishop explained that after the issue occurred, the plane remained circling over Mobile, Alabama, for roughly two hours while the aircraft burned enough fuel to safely land.
Once back on the ground, the band was able to switch planes and continue their trip to Nevada for country music’s big night.
Drummer John Hall emphasized how unsettling the experience had been and even showed a photo of the damaged engine during the interview.
“It was terrifying,” Hall, 33, said, clarifying that the problem happened while they were already airborne.
Despite the nerve-racking start to the trip, the band still made it to the Academy of Country Music Awards — and ended up having a memorable evening.
The Band Won Big at the ACM
The Red Clay Strays took home the trophy for Group of the Year and also delivered a powerful performance of their song “Demons in Your Choir.”
Their performance stood out as one of the evening’s more emotional musical moments.
Frontman Brandon Coleman’s soulful vocals were paired with a full gospel choir, helping elevate the gospel-infused Southern rock anthem into a standout ACM moment.
The performance also highlighted the band’s signature blend of country and rock influences, a style that has helped them build momentum in recent years.
The ACM recognition marked another milestone for the group, who previously won New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year in 2025.
Accepting their latest honor, Coleman reflected on how surreal the moment felt for the band.
“Just at a loss…it doesn’t feel real, truly,” Coleman said during the acceptance speech. “We’re just some rednecks from Mobile, Alabama, and when we started playing in bars, we never thought we’d go this far.”
“We’re truly grateful and thankful for everybody,” he added.
Interestingly, this is not the first time the group has experienced a frightening moment while traveling by air.
Back in October, the band shared footage of intense turbulence during a flight to a country music festival in Salt Lake City.
In the clip, members gripped their seats as severe winds shook the plane.
At one point, Bishop tried to lighten the mood by playing Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “That Smell” from his phone, joking, “If the plane was going to go down, it’s gonna go down to Skynyrd.”
