At the ACM Honors in Nashville, Dierks Bentley delivered an emotional performance of "I Hold On," transforming the 2013 hit into a tribute to his late collaborator Brett James. James, a renowned songwriter who contributed to major tracks for artists including Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, and Jason Aldean, died in a plane crash in September 2025 along with his wife and daughter near Franklin, North Carolina.

The song carried layered significance for Bentley, having been originally written to reflect on his father's passing. Bentley had brought rough lyrical sketches to James after his father died, and James developed the chorus that became central to the chart-topping track. The performance at ACM Honors therefore honoured both the memory of his father and the friend whose creative partnership helped transform preliminary ideas into a country music staple.