For one star-studded night, Frisco traded footballs for fiddles as the 60th Academy of Country Music Awards took over the Dallas Cowboys’ Ford Center with glitz, grit and a whole lot of twang.
Hosted by none other than Reba McEntire, who’s racked up 16 ACM Awards herself, the event on May 8, 2025, was streamed live to over 240 countries via Prime Video and Amazon’s Twitch channel. No commercials, just two and a half hours of country music glory.
The show kicked off with a turbocharged 12-minute medley of ACM Song of the Year hits, featuring legends like Clint Black, Wynonna Judd and LeAnn Rimes. Lainey Wilson once again took home Entertainer of the Year, while Ella Langley surprised everyone with five total wins. One standout moment of the night was Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert and Lainey Wilson teaming up to debut their new track, “Trailblazer,” live for the first time — exclusively on the ACM stage.
With 16 performances from 26 artists, the night was equal parts tribute, breakout and boot-stomping party. And all with a Texas twist.
Here are all of the night's winners:
Winner Highlights:
- Ella Langley led with 5 wins in her first year of nominations, including, New Female Artist of the Year, Single, Music Event and Visual Media of the Year for “you look like you love me” (with Riley Green)
- Lainey Wilson won 4 awards: Entertainer of the Year (2nd year in a row), Female Artist of the Year (3rd consecutive win), Album of the Year and Artist-Songwriter of the Year (her first in the category)
- Riley Green won 3 awards for “you look like you love me” with Langley: Single, Music Event and Visual Media of the Year
- Alan Jackson received the first-ever Alan Jackson Lifetime Achievement Award for his iconic career and legacy
- Brooks & Dunn won Duo of the Year for the first time in 15 years, bringing their total to a record 17 wins in the category
- Old Dominion earned their 8th straight Group of the Year win, breaking Rascal Flatts’ record
- Chris Stapleton won Male Artist of the Year for the 2nd year in a row and 5th time overall, just one behind Merle Haggard’s record
- Jessie Jo Dillon won Songwriter of the Year for the second time (also won in 2024)
- First-time winners included:
- Cody Johnson (Song of the Year for “Dirt Cheap”)
- Zach Top (New Male Artist of the Year)
- The Red Clay Strays (New Duo or Group of the Year)
The complete list of winners in the 15 categories voted on by Academy members:
- 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
Producer: Jay Joyce
Label: BBR Music Group / BMG Nashville - Single of the Year
"you look like you love me" – Ella Langley, Riley Green
Producer: Will Bundy
Label: SAWGOD / Columbia Records - Song of the Year
"Dirt Cheap" – Cody Johnson
Songwriter: Josh Phillips
Publishers: Warner-Tamerlane Publishing; Write or Die Music; Write the Lightning Publishing - Visual Media of the Year
"you look like you love me" – Ella Langley, Riley Green
Producer: Will Bundy
Label: SAWGOD / Columbia Records - 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
Producer: Will Bundy
Label: SAWGOD / Columbia Records
Tonight’s presenters brought a mix of country legends, chart-toppers, and familiar faces from across entertainment. The lineup included Blake Shelton, Carly Pearce, Clint Black, Crystal Gayle, ERNEST, Gabby Barrett, Gretchen Wilson, Jordan Davis, Kristian Bush of Sugarland, Lee Ann Womack, Lionel Richie, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Parker McCollum, Riley Green, Rita Wilson, Sara Evans, The Oak Ridge Boys, Wynonna Judd, NASCAR’s Chase Elliott and Amazon Music’s Country Heat Weekly co-hosts Amber Anderson and Kelly Sutton.
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