Country singer Carter Faith paid tribute to Kacey Musgraves with a widely praised cover of "Merry Go 'Round" at the 19th Academy of Country Music Honors in Nashville, performed to mark Musgraves receiving the ACM Spirit Award. Musgraves, who was unable to attend, watched the performance remotely and shared a clip on her Instagram Story, calling it something that "made me teary" — a warm endorsement that underlines the song's enduring status as one of modern country's most celebrated singles.

Faith accepted the Spirit Award trophy on Musgraves' behalf and delivered a speech praising her influence on country songwriting, recalling first hearing "Merry Go 'Round" as a child refusing to leave a Walmart car park until the song finished. The 2013 track, Musgraves' debut single, won the Grammy for Best Country Song, and the Spirit Award itself honours Merle Haggard's legacy of storytelling. The ceremony, hosted by Carly Pearce and Parker McCollum at The Pinnacle, also recognised Dolly Parton, Brett James and The Carter Family with ACM Poet's Awards, alongside honours for Eric Church, Ella Langley and Jessie Jo Dillon.