The 60th Academy of Country Music Awards were a dazzling celebration of the genre’s biggest names, rising stars, and unforgettable moments. Hosted by the iconic Reba McEntire, the two-and-a-half-hour commercial-free event streamed live on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch, bringing the energy from the Dallas Cowboys’ world headquarters at The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, to a global audience across 240+ countries and territories.
The ACM Awards kicked off with a truly electrifying 12-minute all-star medley, a vibrant journey through six decades of ACM Songs of the Year. Seeing Reba McEntire revisit the classic “Okie from Muskogee,” Clint Black strumming “Rhinestone Cowboy,” Wynonna Judd belting out “Why Not Me,” LeAnn Rimes delivering the timeless “Blue,” Little Big Town harmonizing on “Girl Crush,” and Dan + Shay bringing the energy with “Tequila” was a powerful reminder of country music’s rich and evolving history.
Lainey Wilson Reigns Supreme (Again!) and Ella Langley Makes a Stunning Entrance
The night’s highest honor, Entertainer of the Year, went to the phenomenal Lainey Wilson for the second consecutive year. This impressive feat places her in the esteemed company of Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood as the only women to achieve back-to-back wins in this category. Wilson also took home Female Artist of the Year (her third consecutive win), Album of the Year for “Whirlwind,” and Artist-Songwriter of the Year (her first in the category), bringing her total ACM Award count to a remarkable sixteen. Her heartfelt acceptance speeches, especially her acknowledgment of the “girls kicking down some barn doors,” resonated with the empowering spirit of the night.
However, the night also belonged to a rising star: Ella Langley. In her very first year receiving an ACM Award nomination, Langley became the winningest artist of the evening, securing an incredible five awards! These included ACM New Female Artist of the Year, as well as ACM Single of the Year, ACM Music Event of the Year, and ACM Visual Media of the Year (as both artist and producer) for her collaboration with Riley Green on “you look like you love me.” Langley’s sheer joy and disbelief were palpable as she exclaimed she was “on cloud nine.”
Riley Green also had a successful night, taking home three ACM Awards for his work with Langley on “you look like you love me.”
Honoring a Legend and Celebrating Milestones
The 60th ACM Awards also marked the inauguration of the Alan Jackson Lifetime Achievement Award, a fitting tribute to the legendary Alan Jackson for his unparalleled contributions to country music. With over 75 million records sold and countless chart-topping hits, Jackson’s impact on the genre is undeniable. His performance of “Remember When” was a poignant moment. This namesake award will continue to celebrate iconic artists who have achieved significant national and international recognition.
Brooks & Dunn celebrated a remarkable milestone, winning ACM Duo of the Year for the first time in 15 years, marking their record-extending 17th win in the category and bringing their total ACM Award count to an astounding 31. Their heartfelt gratitude to the fans for their enduring support was a touching moment.
Old Dominion continued their reign, securing their eighth consecutive win for ACM Group of the Year, surpassing Rascal Flatts for the most consecutive wins in the category.
Chris Stapleton took home ACM Male Artist of the Year for the second year in a row (his fifth overall), inching closer to Merle Haggard’s record in the category. Jessie Jo Dillon was named Songwriter of the Year for the second consecutive year.
The night also saw first-time wins for Cody Johnson (ACM Song of the Year for “Dirt Cheap”), Zach Top (ACM New Male Artist of the Year), and The Red Clay Strays (ACM New Duo or Group of the Year).
Unforgettable Performances and Collaborations
Beyond the awards themselves, the 60th ACM Awards were packed with show-stopping performances and memorable collaborations. A highlight was the tribute to Keith Urban, who received the ACM Triple Crown Award. Chris Stapleton, Megan Moroney, and Brothers Osborne delivered powerful renditions of his hits before Urban joined Brothers Osborne on stage.
Exclusive collaborations lit up the stage, including Brooks & Dunn with Cody Johnson on “Red Dirt Road,” Jelly Roll and Shaboozey with a powerful choir on “Amen,” Miranda Lambert bringing Ella Langley out for a fiery 20th-anniversary performance of “Kerosene,” and a high-energy mashup from Rascal Flatts and Backstreet Boys.
Adding to the excitement, Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, and Lainey Wilson debuted their upcoming track, “Trailblazer,” together for the very first time.
Individual performances from Alan Jackson, Blake Shelton, Chris Stapleton, Cody Johnson, Ella Langley, Eric Church, Jelly Roll, Kelsea Ballerini, Lainey Wilson, Miranda Lambert, and Zach Top further solidified the incredible talent within country music today.
A Star-Studded Lineup of Presenters
The impressive list of presenters included a who’s who of country music, alongside figures from other entertainment spheres, highlighting the broad appeal of the genre.
The 60th Academy of Country Music Awards were a resounding success, celebrating the rich history and vibrant present of country music. Congratulations to all the winners and performers for a truly unforgettable night!
Full List of 2025 ACM Awards Winners:
MAIN AWARDS:
- ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR: Lainey Wilson
- FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Lainey Wilson
- MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Chris Stapleton
- DUO OF THE YEAR: Brooks & Dunn
- GROUP OF THE YEAR: Old Dominion
- NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Ella Langley
- NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Zach Top
- NEW DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR: The Red Clay Strays
- ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Whirlwind – Lainey Wilson
- SINGLE OF THE YEAR: you look like you love me – Ella Langley, Riley Green
- SONG OF THE YEAR: “Dirt Cheap” – Cody Johnson
- VISUAL MEDIA OF THE YEAR: you look like you love me – Ella Langley, Riley Green
- SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR: Jessie Jo Dillon
- ARTIST-SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR: Lainey Wilson
- MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR: you look like you love me – Ella Langley, Riley Green
For a deeper dive into the ACM Awards and a complete list of past and present wins and nominations, be sure to visit ACMcountry.com.
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