Dan + Shay 'Bummed' After Audio and Video Sync Issues During 2021 ACMs Performance (Exclusive)

The country music stars opened up about the tech mishap after their performance on Sunday.

Dan + Shay don't have any hard feelings after their live performance during the 2021 ACM Awards included a technical glitch.

"Apparently there was an audio/video sync issue on the television broadcast," the country music duo tweeted on Sunday, after their performance of "Glad You Exist" at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville. "We’re bummed about it, but it happens, especially when performances are happening in multiple locations."

The duo reiterated the message when speaking with ET's Rachel Smith after the awards show. 

"It's just one of those things that happens. It's nobody's fault," Dan Smyers said of the technical difficulties. "Obviously we're bummed. It was our first time performing the song on TV, but it's all good. We're proud of the song, we're proud of the message. It's just one of those things that happened, and our fans are understanding of that." 

This year's show featured dozens of artists performing over 30 songs from six different stages in three separate locations across Nashville, Tennessee -- the Ryman Auditorium, the Bluebird Cafe, and the Grand Ole Opry House.

While Smyers and Shay Mooney's performance may have been marred by some technical glitches, the pair still enjoyed a fruitful night.

The musicians earned the award for Duo of the Year for the third consecutive year, and reflected on their careers and their music.

"This is absolutely incredible to be standing on stage here at the Bluebird," Smyers marveled. "I remember visiting this place over 10 years ago before I moved to Nashville with dreams of being a songwriter in this town. I'm still just as excited every single day getting to wake up and write country music."

After the show, Mooney revealed that he didn't quite get to throw a rager for his at-home celebration.

"I'm on the Whole 30 right now, so I've got no alcohol," he told ET. "I'm very tempted to pull out some tequila to celebrate our win, but Dan's going to have to do it for me." 

ET spoke with the duo ahead of Sunday's show, and they opened up about the significance of performing "Glad You Exist" and the iconic venue.

"I performed here before I ever met Dan and it was like the craziest moment. I got to go on stage and I was like, 'This is the moment! I think I made it,'" Mooney recalled. "There was like four people out there and it was like the greatest experience of my life."

"So to be here and to be able to do this performance on a song that means so much and has become so much to other people is really special," he added.

"The song is so close to our hearts," Smyers added. "Life is short, life is fragile, and it's important for us to tell the people we care about that we care about them. And I think this past year has made us realize that we never realized the things we take for granted."

Get all of our ACM Awards coverage at ETonline.com, including the complete ACM Awards winners list.

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