The Red Clay Strays had a less-than-smooth time traveling to the ACM Awards this weekend. But that’s putting it mildly…as their experience sounds downright horrifying.

The Red Clay Strays were traveling from Mobile, Alabama, to Las Vegas to attend the ACM Awards on Sunday, May 17th. The Southern rock/country rock group was nominated for Group of the Year and was also scheduled to perform during the program.

Earlier in the evening, the group stopped to chat with Yahoo on the red carpet. The interviewer asked them, “What is the most country thing you did this week?”

That’s when guitarist Zach Rishel blurted out a shocking answer, “We almost died in that private jet.”

Rishel went on to explain, “Part of our engine cowling flew off during takeoff.”

Bassist Andrew Bishop added, “We had to circle Mobile for about two hours to lose enough fuel to land again to then get some more planes.”

 

Drummer John W. Hall showed the interviewer a photo of the jet, illustrating how the torn-off cowling had left the engine fully exposed.

“That happened in the air…yeah, it was terrifying,” Hall said.

The incident immediately made The Red Clay Strays think of the 1977 crash that claimed the lives of three members of the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd: Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, and Cassie Gaines. Skynyrd’s assistant road manager, Dean Kilpatrick, Captain Walter McCreary, and First Officer William John Gray were also killed in the crash.

Thankfully, the Red Clay Strays were able to change planes in Mobile and arrived safely at the ACM Awards. Watch their interview about their scary trip in the video below.

@yahooentertainment @theredclaystrays ♬ original sound – Yahoo Entertainment

The Red Clay Strays Win Group Of The Year At The 2026 ACM Awards

Prior to Sunday’s ceremony, Old Dominion had won the ACM Award for Group of the Year eight years in a row. They hold the record for the most consecutive wins in the category.

Old Dominion was nominated again this year, but The Red Clay Strays broke their streak with their first win in the category!

The group’s frontman, Brandon Coleman, spoke as they accepted their trophy. He said:

“Thank you Jesus! Like Ella [Langley] said earlier, [I’m] just at a loss of words. It doesn’t feel real, truly. We’re just some rednecks from Mobile, Alabama.”

The Red Clay Strays also put on one of the standout performances of the night. They delivered a soul-stirring rendition of their new song, “Demons in Your Choir.”

The track will appear on the band’s upcoming album, Grateful, which is scheduled to be released on June 5. Some of the lyrics are:

“You’ve been singing with the liars,
And they’re playing your worst desires.
If I could pull you from the fire,
Then maybe I could save you,
From those demons in your choir.”

Watch The Red Clay Strays perform “Demons In Your Choir” at the 2026 ACM Awards in the video below.